LW5003 - Tort Law

In this module you will develop a critical understanding of Tort Law in England and Wales. Tort Law concerns the circumstances in which a person may be liable to provide a remedy to another for the consequences of a civil wrong (other than a breach of contract). You will learn about why and how the law has evolved to create obligations in Tort Law, the shape and extent of those responsibilities and the remedies available for failure to meet those obligations. Topics include:

? An introduction to the nature and function of Tort Law

? Trespass to the person – personal rights to freedom from intentional interference with bodily integrity

? Negligence:

o Duty of care – when a duty of care is owed to another, and the scope of that duty

o Breach of the duty of care – the standard of care expected, and determining when it is met

o Causation and remoteness – the principles determining the extent of responsibility for loss

o Defences – full and partial defences available

o Psychiatric harm – as a particular problematic area in negligence law

? Occupiers’ liability to persons on their premises (lawfully and otherwise)

? Vicarious liability – when a person may be responsible in Tort law for the actions of another person

? Nuisance – the law of private nuisance

? Remedies

You will develop knowledge and critical understanding of Tort Law in these aspects, reading and applying cases, statutes and other material to answer problem questions and essay questions.

You will learn through 24 x large group sessions, 12 x small group sessions, and tutor guided and student independent learning.

Large group sessions introduce you to key Tort Law principles and themes in each topic, giving you a structured overview of how those principles relate to establishing liability in a topic by looking at case law, statutes and other sources. Sessions enable you to understand different topics and develop problem-solving skills specific to each topic, which, in turn, will help you to engage effectively with independent learning and tackle exercises in small group sessions.

Small group sessions focus on developing your skills in applying principles and problem-solving skills in the different topics. Sessions include an exercise where you will use and apply your knowledge and understanding from large group sessions and independent learning to tackle a problem question in each topic in a structured way, focussed to a given set of facts. Other guided exercises may build your awareness and recognition of other areas beyond the problem question, to give you a broader overview.

Independent learning enables you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of Tort Law topics, and includes tutor-guided independent learning to support your engagement in large and small group sessions. Resources available from the dedicated module e-Learning Portal (eLP) include recorded lectures, guided reading using digital online reading lists, interactive self-evaluation tasks and tools. You have an opportunity for valuable feedback on your independent learning

You will learn through 24 x large group sessions, 12 x small group sessions, and tutor guided and student independent learning.

Large group sessions introduce you to key Tort Law principles and themes in each topic, giving you a structured overview of how those principles relate to establishing liability in a topic by looking at case law, statutes and other sources. Sessions enable you to understand different topics and develop problem-solving skills specific to each topic, which, in turn, will help you to engage effectively with independent learning and tackle exercises in small group sessions.

Small group sessions focus on developing your skills in applying principles and problem-solving skills in the different topics. Sessions include an exercise where you will use and apply your knowledge and understanding from large group sessions and independent learning to tackle a problem question in each topic in a structured way, focussed to a given set of facts. Other guided exercises may build your awareness and recognition of other areas beyond the problem question, to give you a broader overview.

Independent learning enables you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of Tort Law topics, and includes tutor-guided independent learning to support your engagement in large and small group sessions. Resources available from the dedicated module e-Learning Portal (eLP) include recorded lectures, guided reading using digital online reading lists, interactive self-evaluation tasks and tools. You have an opportunity for valuable feedback on your independent learning

You will be supported by a mix of approaches. The Tort Law module is carefully designed to focus on the important concepts and themes in Tort Law, and aims to give you a structured approach to learning and the ability to develop analysis and problem-solving skills. The large group sessions, small group sessions and independent learning are designed to be used together to help you to understand the topics covered in an effective, efficient way. Your independent learning, outside scheduled teaching, is tutor-guided, to support your engagement in large and small group sessions – and supported by a dedicated module e-Learning Portal (eLP) which will include recorded lectures, webcasts, guided reading using digital online reading lists, interactive self-evaluation tasks, including self-test quizzes on Tort Law topics and other tools. Your module tutor is there to support you, by email, in person or through the eLP, to help you to understand any aspects of the module. Some large group sessions aim to enable students specifically to improve techniques for approaching the assessment.

In small group sessions, you will get valuable feedback on your independent learning from your tutor, and this will be helped by outline answers and structured answer plans being made available, to help you to develop your skills.

Support can also come from your personal guidance tutor, and, at a programme level, from the Programme Leader. The University Library offers a range of online and personal skills development opportunities which you can access.

You will be supported by a mix of approaches. The Tort Law module is carefully designed to focus on the important concepts and themes in Tort Law, and aims to give you a structured approach to learning and the ability to develop analysis and problem-solving skills. The large group sessions, small group sessions and independent learning are designed to be used together to help you to understand the topics covered in an effective, efficient way. Your independent learning, outside scheduled teaching, is tutor-guided, to support your engagement in large and small group sessions – and supported by a dedicated module e-Learning Portal (eLP) which will include recorded lectures, webcasts, guided reading using digital online reading lists, interactive self-evaluation tasks, including self-test quizzes on Tort Law topics and other tools. Your module tutor is there to support you, by email, in person or through the eLP, to help you to understand any aspects of the module. Some large group sessions aim to enable students specifically to improve techniques for approaching the assessment.

In small group sessions, you will get valuable feedback on your independent learning from your tutor, and this will be helped by outline answers and structured answer plans being made available, to help you to develop your skills.

Support can also come from your personal guidance tutor, and, at a programme level, from the Programme Leader. The University Library offers a range of online and personal skills development opportunities which you can access.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:

You will be expected to:

• Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the development, underlying concepts, principles and context of substantive areas of Tort Law and be able to initiate and undertake critical analysis within those areas.

• Apply and interpret substantive Tort Law in the wider context of a hypothetical problem.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

You will be expected to:

• Understand how to apply a range of source material which may include primary, secondary, doctrinal and policy materials, to address Tort Law problems and be able to propose reasoned alternative solutions supported by critical judgement of the merits of particular arguments.


• Recognise ambiguity and uncertainty in the law and identify potential alternative conclusions and provide supporting reasons for them.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

You will be expected to:

• Develop intellectual independence by being able to ask and answer cogent questions about Tort Law, identify gaps in knowledge and acquire new knowledge.

Knowledge & Understanding:

You will be expected to:

• Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the development, underlying concepts, principles and context of substantive areas of Tort Law and be able to initiate and undertake critical analysis within those areas.

• Apply and interpret substantive Tort Law in the wider context of a hypothetical problem.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

You will be expected to:

• Understand how to apply a range of source material which may include primary, secondary, doctrinal and policy materials, to address Tort Law problems and be able to propose reasoned alternative solutions supported by critical judgement of the merits of particular arguments.


• Recognise ambiguity and uncertainty in the law and identify potential alternative conclusions and provide supporting reasons for them.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

You will be expected to:

• Develop intellectual independence by being able to ask and answer cogent questions about Tort Law, identify gaps in knowledge and acquire new knowledge.

Formative assessment

On an ongoing basis you will have a mix of formative assessment opportunities including:

? Periodic online multiple choice questions (MCQs) accompanying each topic in Tort Law, synchronised with the sequence of topics in your large group sessions, throughout the delivery of the module. Questions will have feedback on answers.

? Answer plans to problem questions in small group sessions – providing a structure of an answer to a problem question – release synchronised with the end of the delivery of a particular small group session cycle.

? Past assessment questions available, together with points of answer available and (where possible), markers’ comments on good/less good performance.

? Past assessment questions and answers (with grades) available, with anonymised feedback on previous answers.

? In-session formative feedback on your independent learning in your small group sessions

? In-session formative feedback on your independent learning and large group sessions using learning technology (classroom response technology - TurningPoint) in large group sessions

Summative assessment

A single two-hour examination comprising 100% of the module assessment

Your tutors will be looking for your ability to investigate and analyse problems in Tort Law.

The relevant Law School grading and assessment criteria will apply, and be made available from the start of the module. They will be considered in a large group session.

You will be provided with appropriate written or oral feedback (as appropriate), and, as part of your reflective development, such feedback can be used in the preparation of subsequent module assessments on the programme