Silicon Valley Business School

Contents of SVBS Course: Torts & Product Liability

Businesses of all types are required to maintain certain minimum standards concerning product liability, and undertake steps to protect customers and others from harm. An understanding of these issues is important for executives in businesses large and small. In this module, students explore the law of torts in the United States. Topics include intentional torts, negligence, strict liability, tort remedies and extension of tort liability to third parties.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Upon completion of this course you will be able to:

Appreciate the law in the U.S. relating to intentional torts, negligence, strict liability and the remedies available to the injured parties from U.S courts.
Identify the elements of various intentional torts.
Determine if a claim of negligence could be justified by the facts of a case.
Identify defenses against a case of negligence.
Identify the elements of a case of product liability.


Course Sections

The course is organized into the following sections:

Torts: Introduction, History & Source of Law
Torts: Negligence
Torts: Strict Liability
Torts: Product Liability
Torts: Remedies & Liability
Torts: Variety of Grounds for Tort Claims
Torts: Intentional

Torts: Introduction, History & Source of Law
  • Video ~ Torts -- History & Source of Law

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  • Video ~ An Overview of Tort Law

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  • Handout ~ Torts -- History & Source of Law

    • PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Torts -- History & Source of Law".
  • Reading ~ Common Law Background of 19th Century Tort Law

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    Torts: Negligence
  • Video ~ Torts -- Negligence

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  • Video ~ But For and Substantial Factor Causation

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  • Video ~ Res Ipsa Loquitor

    • What is Res Ipsa Loquitor? This video discusses circumstances where a plaintiff in a negligence lawsuit may rely on the circumstances of an accident to prove that a defendant breached her duty of care.
  • Video ~ Negligent Infliction Of Emotional Distress

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  • Video ~ Comparative Negligence

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  • Video ~ Contributory Negligence

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  • Handout ~ Torts -- Negligence

    • PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Torts -- Negligence".
  • Reading ~ Negligence Definition & Overview

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  • Reading ~ Negligence

    • Negligence describes a situation in which a person acts in a careless (or "negligent") manner, which results in someone else getting hurt or property being damaged.
  • Reading ~ Negligence: Background

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  • Reading ~ Elements of a Negligence Case

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  • Reading ~ Standards of Care and the "Reasonable Person"

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  • Reading ~ Proving Fault: What is Negligence?

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  • Reading ~ Defenses to Negligence Claims

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  • Reading ~ Contributory and Comparative Negligence

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  • Reading ~ Slip and Fall Injuries

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  • Reading ~ Slip and Fall Accidents Overview

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  • Reading ~ Proving Fault in Slip and Fall Accidents

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  • Reading ~ Indoor Slip and Fall Accident Conditions

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  • Reading ~ Conditions Leading to Outdoor Slip and Fall Accidents

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  • Reading ~ Slip and Fall FAQ

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  • Reading ~ Dog Bites and Animal Attacks

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  • Reference ~ Elements of a Negligence Case: The 5 Proofs Explained Simply

    • Proving negligence is the basis for holding a company or person legally responsible after a careless action resulting in harm. It is the principle used for determining fault and accountability for careless actions which result in injury. The U.S. legal system generally recognizes a system of proof known as "The Five Elements of Negligence." In a trial where negligence is a factor the courtroom is instructed to assess if the following elements have been established before reaching a verdict: Duty, Breach of Duty, Cause in Fact, Proximate Cause and Damages. This guide defines what negligence is and explain each element in detail and provide examples so you can see if applying them to your claim satisfies the requirements.
    Torts: Strict Liability
  • Video ~ Torts -- Strict Liability

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  • Handout ~ Torts -- Strict Liability

    • PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Torts -- Strict Liability".
  • Reading ~ Strict Liability

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  • Reading ~ Abnormally Dangerous Activity

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  • Reading ~ Economic Analysis of Alternative Standards of Liability in Accident Law

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    Torts: Product Liability
  • Video ~ Lawyer's Perspective on Product Liability Suits

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  • Reading ~ Product Liability Law

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  • Reading ~ What is Product Liability?

    • Product liability refers to a manufacturer or seller being held liable for placing a defective product into the hands of a consumer.
  • Reading ~ Legal Basis for Liability in Product Cases

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  • Reading ~ Time Limits for Filing Product Liability Cases: State-by-State

    • A product liability lawsuit must be filed with the court within the period of time designated by each state. These time limits are called the "statute of limitations."
  • Reading ~ Defects in Manufacturing

    • Defects in manufacturing occur when a product is improperly manufactured and departs from its intended design.
  • Reading ~ Product Liability and Guns

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  • Reading ~ Pharmaceutical Drug Liability

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    Torts: Remedies & Liability
  • Video ~ Torts ~ Remedies

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  • Video ~ Torts ~ Eggshell Plaintiff

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  • Video ~ Torts ~ Vicarious Liability

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  • Video ~ Torts ~ Joint Liability

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  • Handout ~ Torts ~ Remedies

    • PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Torts ~ Remedies".
  • Handout ~ Torts ~ Eggshell Plaintiff

    • PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Torts ~ Eggshell Plaintiff".
  • Reading ~ Vicarious Liability

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  • Handout ~ Torts ~ Vicarious Liability

    • PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Torts ~ Vicarious Liability".
  • Handout ~ Torts ~ Joint Liability

    • PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Torts ~ Joint Liability".
    Torts: Variety of Grounds for Tort Claims
  • Video ~ Torts ~ Defamation

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  • Video ~ Torts ~ Defamation Defenses

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  • Video ~ Torts ~ False Light

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  • Video ~ Torts ~ Disclosure (of Confidential Information)

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  • Video ~ Torts ~ Appropriation

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  • Video ~ Torts ~ Intrusion

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  • Video ~ Torts ~ Economic & Business

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  • Video ~ Torts ~ Judicial

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  • Handout ~ Torts ~ Defamation

    • PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Torts ~ Defamation".
  • Handout ~ Torts ~ Defamation Defenses

    • PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Torts ~ Defamation Defenses".
  • Handout ~ Torts ~ False Light

    • PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Torts ~ False Light".
  • Handout ~ Torts ~ Disclosure (of Confidential Information)

    • PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Torts ~ Disclosure (of Confidential Information)".
  • Handout ~ Torts ~ Appropriation

    • PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Torts ~ Appropriation".
  • Handout ~ Torts ~ Intrusion

    • PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Torts ~ Intrusion".
  • Handout ~ Torts ~ Economic & Business

    • PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Torts ~ Economic & Business".
  • Handout ~ Torts ~ Judicial

    • PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Torts ~ Judicial".
    Torts: Intentional
  • Video ~ Torts -- Intentional

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  • Video ~ Conversion

    • What is the tort of "Conversion"? This video discusses "Conversion", where defendant intentionally and without authority deprives plaintiff of the use of his personal property.
  • Video ~ How Do You Prove Libel and Slander?

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  • Handout ~ Torts -- Intentional

    • PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Torts -- Intentional".
  • Reading ~ What are Intentional Torts?

    • A "tort" is some kind of wrongful act that causes harm to someone else. This definition covers a wide range of actions, and the legal field of torts is split up into many different subcategories. One of the ways torts are split up is by the mental state of the person that does the wrongdoing. When the person that acts wrongly actually intends to perform the action, it becomes what is known as an "intentional tort."
  • Reading ~ Torts and Personal Injuries

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  • Reading ~ Assault, Battery and Intentional Torts

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  • Reading ~ Assault Basics

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  • Reading ~ Elements of Assault

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  • Reading ~ Battery Basics

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  • Reading ~ Battery in Special Situations

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  • Reading ~ False Imprisonment

    • False imprisonment is the unlawful restraint of a person against her will by someone without legal authority or justification.
  • Reading ~ Defamation, Libel and Slander

    • Not all torts result in bodily harm. Some cause harm to a person's reputation instead. Defamation is the general tort that encompasses statements that damage one's reputation. There are different forms of defamation, including libel and slander. The difference between libel and slander is simply whether the statements are written (libel) or spoken (slander).
  • Reading ~ Emotional Distress and Privacy

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    Certificate Course
    This certificate tracks your progress and tests you in each section. Once you have passed all the quizzes, submitted an assignment and reviewed all the materials, you will be awarded a certificate of completion.