Schedule

Torts · Fall 2026

The current Torts reading and assignment schedule.

Subject to change as classes progress.

Reading abbreviations

  • Ward Farnsworth & Mark F. Grady, Torts: Cases and Questions (3d ed. 2019) (hereinafter “CB”).

  • Kenneth S. Abraham, The Forms and Functions of Tort Law (6th ed. 2022) (hereinafter “FF”).

    Digital access is available through the library’s West Academic Study Aids subscription.

Welcome!

Class 1 · Monday, Aug. 17

Introduction; What is a tort?

Unit 1 — Intentional Torts

Class 2 · Wednesday, Aug. 19On deck: Panel 1

Battery—intent

  • CB: 1–11 (Vosburg and Notes 1–13)
  • FF: 25–30

Class 3 · Friday, Aug. 21On deck: Panel 2

Battery—harmful or offensive touching

  • CB: 11–14

Class 5 · Wednesday, Aug. 26On deck: Panel 4

Trespass

  • CB: 26–32 (Desnick and Notes 1–7)
  • FF: 41–42

Class 6 · Friday, Aug. 28On deck: Panel 5

Conversion

  • CB: 37–41 (Introduction and Notes 1–2); 42–45 (Notes 5–7); 46–50 (Notes 10–12)

Class 7 · Monday, Aug. 31On deck: Panel 1

False imprisonment

  • CB: 50–59
  • FF: 32–33

Class 8 · Wednesday, Sept. 2On deck: Panel 2

Assault

  • CB: 59–64 (Notes 1–4)
  • FF: 30–32

Class 9 · Friday, Sept. 4On deck: Panel 3

Intentional infliction of emotional distress

  • CB: 64–75 (Introduction, Givelber excerpt, and Notes 1–8)
  • FF: 34–37
  • Note: Class will be held on Zoom.

Monday, Sept. 7

Labor Day

No class

Class 10 · Wednesday, Sept. 9On deck: Panel 4

Privileges—defense of person and property

  • CB: 79–81 (Katko); 83–87 (Notes 4–8)
  • FF: 40–41

Class 11 · Friday, Sept. 11On deck: Panel 5

Privileges—private and public necessity

  • CB: 89–91 (Ploof and Notes 1–2); 91–97 (Vincent and Notes 1–5); 98–100 (Notes 2–4)
  • FF: 42–50

Class 12 · Monday, Sept. 14

Practice essay #1

Class 13 · Wednesday, Sept. 16

Summary: Intentional torts

Unit 2 — Negligence: Introduction and Standard of Care

Class 14 · Friday, Sept. 18On deck: Panel 1

Negligence: Introduction, standard of care, and the reasonable person

  • CB: 112 (Restatement 283); 115–119 (Notes 2–5); 122–123 (Notes 1–2); 127–128 (Note 4)
  • FF: 68–73

Class 15 · Monday, Sept. 21On deck: Panel 2

Risks and precautions

  • CB: 128–138 (Carroll Towing and Notes 1–6); 140–142 (Note 8); 144–146 (Notes 10–12)
  • FF: 78–85

Class 16 · Wednesday, Sept. 23On deck: Panel 3

Custom and the problem of medical malpractice

  • CB: 146–147 (T.J. Hooper); 149–151 (Notes 3–4); 151–156 (Notes 5–9)
  • FF: 85–99

Class 17 · Friday, Sept. 25On deck: Panel 4

Negligence per se; judge and jury

  • CB: 156–164 (Herzog and Notes 1–9); 168–173 (Holmes excerpt and Notes 1–5)
  • FF: 99–108

Class 18 · Monday, Sept. 28On deck: Panel 5

Res ipsa loquitur (I)

  • CB: 174–178 (Byrne and Notes 1–3); 179–180 (Notes 5–7); 182–186 (Judson and Notes 2–3)
  • FF: 109–114

Class 19 · Wednesday, Sept. 30On deck: Panel 1

Res ipsa loquitur (II)

  • CB: 188–194 (Ybarra and Notes 1–7)
  • FF: 114–123

Class 20 · Friday, Oct. 2

Practice essay #2

Midterm

Class 21 · Monday, Oct. 5

Midterm examination

Unit 3 — Defenses

Class 22 · Wednesday, Oct. 7On deck: Panel 2

Contributory and comparative negligence

  • CB: 493–494 (Introduction and Notes 1–2); 499–503 (McIntyre and Note 1); 505–507 (Notes 5–10)
  • FF: 173–190

Class 23 · Friday, Oct. 9On deck: Panel 3

Express, primary, and secondary assumption of the risk

  • CB: 508–514 (Notes 1–6); 515–519 (Murphy and Note 1); 522–523 (Note 6); 523–527 (through Note 2); 528–529 (Note 4)
  • FF: 190–195

Unit 4 — Negligence: Duties

Class 24 · Monday, Oct. 12On deck: Panel 4

Duties arising from affirmative acts

  • CB: 195–201 (Introduction, Yania, and Notes 1–3); 202–205 (Notes 5–7)
  • FF: 261–263

Class 25 · Wednesday, Oct. 14On deck: Panel 5

Duties arising from undertakings

  • CB: 205–210 (Hurley and Notes 1–6)
  • FF: 263–265

Friday, Oct. 16

Wellness Break

No class

Class 26 · Monday, Oct. 19On deck: Panel 1

Special relationships

  • CB: 211–216 (Notes 1–6); 217–221 (Tarasoff and Notes 1–2)
  • FF: 265–268

Class 27 · Wednesday, Oct. 21On deck: Panel 2

Duties arising from the occupation of land

  • CB: 228–229 (Notes 1–2); 230–240 (Note 5 on page 230 through Note 5 on page 240)
  • FF: 268–271

Unit 5 — Negligence: Causation

Class 28 · Friday, Oct. 23On deck: Panel 3

But-for causation

  • CB: 271–272 (Introduction and Grimstad); 276–277 (Note 4); 278–284 (Herskovits and Note 1)
  • FF: 125–131

Class 29 · Monday, Oct. 26On deck: Panel 4

Alternative liability

  • CB: 290–293 (Summers and Notes 1–4); 294–300 (Sindell and Notes 1–7)
  • FF: 131–148

Class 30 · Wednesday, Oct. 28On deck: Panel 5

Proximate causation: remoteness and foreseeability

  • CB: 305–318 (Polemis, Overseas Tankship, and Notes 1–12)
  • FF: 149–154

Class 31 · Friday, Oct. 30On deck: Panel 1

Proximate causation: intervening causes and limitation of duty

  • CB: 318–325 (Brauer and Notes 1–8d); 328–335 (Palsgraf)
  • FF: 154–172

Class 32 · Monday, Nov. 2

Practice essay #3

Class 33 · Wednesday, Nov. 4

Summary: Negligence

Unit 6 — Strict Liability and Products Liability

Class 34 · Friday, Nov. 6On deck: Panel 2

Liability for animals; strict liability and negligence

  • CB: 343–350 (Introduction, Behrens, and Notes 1–4); 353–356 (Rylands and Notes 1–2); 358–359 (Notes 7–8)
  • FF: 197–206

Class 35 · Monday, Nov. 9On deck: Panel 3

Abnormally dangerous activities

  • CB: 362–367 (Restatements 519 and 520, and Indiana Harbor); 368–369 (Note 2); 372 (New Restatement)
  • FF: 206–212

Class 36 · Wednesday, Nov. 11On deck: Panel 4

Respondeat superior

  • CB: 373–378 (Bushey and Notes 1–5); 379–381 (Notes 7–8)
  • FF: 212–214

Class 37 · Friday, Nov. 13On deck: Panel 5

Products liability: manufacturing defects and design defects

  • CB: 385–394 (MacPherson and Escola); 400–405 (Restatement and Welge); 412–420 (Restatement, Dawson, and Notes 1–3)
  • FF: 225–235

Class 38 · Monday, Nov. 16On deck: Panel 1

Products liability: failure to warn

  • CB: 424–428 (American Tobacco); 434–437 (Notes 6–8); 438–442 (McMahon and Note 1)

Class 39 · Wednesday, Nov. 18

Summary: Strict liability

Class 40 · Friday, Nov. 20

Practice essay #4

  • Note: Tentative.

Thanksgiving break

Monday, Nov. 23

Thanksgiving holiday

No class

Wednesday, Nov. 25

Thanksgiving holiday

No class

Friday, Nov. 27

Thanksgiving holiday

No class

Unit 7 — Damages

Class 41 · Monday, Nov. 30On deck: Panel 2

Compensatory damages

  • CB: 451–455 (through Note 4), Note 6, Note 8; 462–466 (through Note 7)
  • FF: 241–249 (Section I only)
  • Note: Tentative.

Class 42 · Wednesday, Dec. 2On deck: Panel 3

Punitive damages

  • CB: 462–489 (excluding Sunstein excerpt)
  • FF: 258–259
  • Note: Tentative.
  • Note: Final MWF class meeting.