Welcome to LawShelf’s video-course on intentional and negligence torts. This basic tort law class introduces viewers to the most common torts and the bases upon which personal injury laws in the United States are built.

This is an introductory-level course and no prior knowledge experience in law is required.

The course starts with intentional torts, with the opening module discussing the basic intentional torts, including battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and trespass to land and chattel.

The second module moves to more “modern” torts, including nuisance, misrepresentation (both intentional and negligent), interference with contracts, malicious prosecution and abuse of process. The module also discussed vicarious liability, the principle by which employers are often held liable for torts committed by their employees.

The third module looks at defenses to intentional torts, including self-defense, defense of others, defense of property, content, necessity and justification. We’ll look at when these defenses apply and their limitations.

Modules 4 and 5 turn to negligence, which makes up the bulk of tort lawsuits brought in the United States. We’ll look at the requirements and nuances of the four elements of negligence: duty, breach, causation and damages. We’ll also look at other doctrines that impact negligence actions, such as res ipsa loquitur, negligence per se and dram shop laws.

The final module looks at other special rules impacting negligence lawsuits. We’ll look at when statutes, situations or agreements impose duties to act. We’ll also look at special responsibilities imposed on property owners to maintain safe premises and rules to protect “Good Samaritans,” who are protected from liability when their voluntary help goes awry. We’ll look at the defenses of contributory negligence and assumption of risk. Finally, we’ll touch on strict liability, which allows liability even without negligence or fault in some cases.

At the end of this course, you should be familiar with the landscape of tort law and well prepared to focus on more specialized areas of tort law such as product liability and vicarious liability.

Best of luck and we welcome your feedback.