LW1TOR-Tort

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Restricted to LLB students.
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Ms Jessica Fish
Email: j.fish@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
To introduce the student to the underlying principles of the law of tort.

Aims:
The module aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the techniques of legal reasoning characteristic of a system based largely upon decided cases.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that the student will be able to:
•identify the basic structure of the law of tort and its fundamental principles;
•recognise the legal issues arising from a given set of facts;
•analyse reported cases and evaluate arguments based upon them;
•be able to formulate arguments for and against particular conclusions;
•consult original legal materials and reflect upon them;
•develop a critical awareness of the way in which the law of tort operates in society.

Additional outcomes:
The module also aims to develop the capacity to present an argument orally and in writing and to defend it against opposing points of view.

Outline content:

• Role and purposes of tort;


• Trespass to the person;


• Fundamentals of Negligence
  
  
  
  • Duty of care
  
  
  • Breach of duty
  
  
  • Causation and remoteness
  
  
  
  


• Economic loss including negligent misstatement;


• Vicarious liability;


• Psychiatric injury;


• Defences in negligence;


• Public and private nuisance;


• Rylands v Fletcher;


• Trespass to land;


• Occupiers' Liability;


• Defamation;


• Types of and assessment of damages. 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
There will be 40 lectures, spread across the two terms and eight fortnightly tutorials for which students will be expected to prepare topics for group discussion. Written exercises will also be set during the module which will be marked and returned by the tutors concerned. These exercises will not, however, form part of the summative assessment of a student’s overall performance on the module. A written test will be taken by all students in January to provide practice in working under examin ation conditions. The scripts will be returned with comments, the marks will not form part of the module’s summative assessment.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	20	20	2
Tutorials	4	4
Guided independent study:	75	75
Total hours by term	99	99	2
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:
3 hours

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Formative assessment methods:
One un-assessed essay of 4 pages in length (Autumn Term)
One piece of un-assessed peer marked work (Spring Term)

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
40%.

Reassessment arrangements:
As for the original examination, but taken in
August/September.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 30 March 2023