The analysis of tort law is one of the most well-developed applications of economic methodology in the study of law. in this essay, we provide an overview of the economic approach to tort law, analyzing the effects of liability rules on care incentives. We catalogue a variety of possible tort regimes, systematically breaking down possible assignments of liability in terms of primary and secondary rules, and describe how their permutations distribute the costs of accidents (and the concomitant incentives to exercise precautionary care). We further consider what factual circumstances may render one tort regime preferable to another from the perspective of policymakers. / El análisis de la responsabilidad civil extracontractual ha sido unade las aplicaciones más y mejor desarrolladas aplicaciones de la metodología económica en el estudio del Derecho. e n el presente ensayo, ofrecemos un vistazo general de la aproximación económica a la responsabilidad civil extracontractual, analizando los efectos de las reglas de responsabilidad en los incentivos de precaución. Catalogamos una variedad de regímenes de responsabilidad, desglosando sistemáticamente las posibles asignaciones de responsabilidad en términos de reglas primarias y secundarias; asi como describimos como sus transformaciones distribuyen los costos de los accidentes (y los incentivos concomitantes para tomar las medidas precautorias). Consideramos luego que circunstancias empíricas o facticas pueden determinar que un régimen de responsabilidad extracontractual sea preferido sobre otro desde la perspectiva del legislador.

Please read the abstract (Synopsis) in the section, 00front, of this document / Thesis (DPhil (HMS))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences / unrestricted

L’abandon d’enfant est un phénomène ancien qui a traversé les siècles. Au XXIème siècle, force est de constater qu’il est protéiforme. L'abandon d'enfant entraîne des effets importants sur les liens familiaux qui se verront bouleversés, eu égard au comportement adopté par l'auteur de l’abandon et au moment où l’abandon s’est produit. Ainsi, l’enfant peut être abandonné par son ou ses parents à la naissance, ce qui empêche la création du lien de filiation entre ces derniers. Le mineur ne sera donc pas rattaché juridiquement à sa mère et/ou à son père. Par ailleurs, après l’établissement du lien filial, l’enfant et les parents vont nouer des liens familiaux qu’ils vont développer au fil du temps, mais un certain nombre de facteurs peuvent altérer ces relations familiales qui se seront tissées entre les membres d’une même famille, aboutissant dans certains cas à l’abandon de l’enfant. Dès lors, la victime est toujours l’enfant qui est vulnérable et sans défense. Le législateur doit donc tout mettre en œuvre pour protéger le bien-être et l’intérêt de ce dernier. Toutefois, le droit positif en vigueur peut mettre en échec la création ou la poursuite du lien familial entre l’ascendant et le descendant. Par conséquent, ne serait-il pas opportun, pour certains types d’abandon, de réadapter les mesures et sanctions en vue du maintien des liens familiaux ? A l’inverse, le cadre normatif est-il suffisant et efficace pour sanctionner les comportements d’abandon des parents ? Notre objectif a donc été de proposer diverses mesures pour pallier ces difficultés, en mettant l’accent sur la préservation du lien parental lorsque l’intérêt de l’enfant le commande. / Child abandonment is an old phenomenon that has spanned centuries. In the 21st century, it should be noted that it has become a multi-sided issue. Child abandonment has a significant impact on family relationships which are likely to be disturbed given the behaviour of the abandoning parent and the moment when the abandonment occured. A child may thus have been abandoned by his or her parent(s) at birth, which hinders the creation of a child-parent relationship. Therefore this minor will not be legally attached to his/her mother and/or father. Furthermore, once the filiation has been established, the child and his parents will weave family bonds that they will develop over time, but a certain amount of factors may impair the family ties that will have been created among family members, leading, in some cases, to child abandonment. Subsequently the vulnerable and helpless child is bound to be a victim. Lawmakers should hence do their utmost to protect the well-being and the interest of the latter. Nervertheless the positive law in force may compromise the creation or the continuation of the family relationship among the lineage. As a result, would it not be appropriate, in some cases of abandonment, to readjust measures and sanctions (civil penalties) with a view to maintaining family bonds ? Conversely is the legal framework sufficient and effective to punish abandoning parents ? Therefore our objective consisted in suggesting various measures to overcome those difficulties while emphasizing the protection of family relationship when required by the child’s interest.

Die verschiedenen Konzepte fahrlässiger Mittäterschaft werden dargestellt und als nicht überzeugend befunden. Der Hauptteil der Arbeit analysiert nach der kursorischen Feststel-lung, dass das Analogieverbot der Figur nicht entgegensteht, konkret die Unbegründbarkeit fahrlässiger Mittäterschaft auf der Grundlage des höchstpersönlichen Schuldprinzips, das als verfassungsrechtlicher Grundsatz die Grundlage des gesamten Strafrechtssystems bildet. Die richtige Lösung bei fahrlässigem Zusammenwirken besteht in einer Vorverlagerung des Fahrlässigkeitsschuldvorwurfs unter Annahme eines psychischen Beitrags zum Erfolgseintritt. Dies entspricht sowohl dem Wesen der Fahrlässigkeitsdelikte als auch dem Schuldprinzip. / This study critically analyzes the various ideas for negligent co-perpetration and concludes that this legal idea is not convincing. The main part of this study is to analyze that negligent co-perpetration lacks justification based on the guilt principle, which is the foundation of the entire criminal justice system, although negligent co-perpetration could be established, since this does not violate the prohibition of analogy. And the desirable solution for cases of neg-ligent cooperation is concretely presented.: To advance the accusation of negligence in ac-cordance with the nature of the criminal negligence and the guilt principle. The criminal negligence is based on the single concept of perpetrator and the psychological contribution could establish the illegality of behaviour. In order to apply this solution, the illegality of neg-ligent behavior must always be proven. Then there is no need for negligent co-perpetration.

In the light of almost daily media reports of accidents and incidents of violence in South African schools, it can be assumed that most South African schools are unsafe. This study investigates the manner in which rural public schools implement the school safety regulations prescribed by the South African Schools Act to ensure learner safety. This qualitative study investigates the implementation of the Schools Act’s safety regulations at four public schools situated in the rural areas east of Pretoria in Gauteng. Data was gathered using interviews with the principals of these schools as well as by the observation and recording of the normal day-to-day activities at the school and by an analysis of each school’s school safety policy. The interviews with the principals focused on the manner in which each school implements the regulations for school safety in areas such as access to the school and the conducting of searches, the arranging of trips and excursion and the planning and managing water-based activities and the early release of learners. Observation at each of the four schools focused on the physical condition of the school and the schools’ procedures for playground duty, fire fighting and emergency drills. The analysis of each school’s safety policy aimed to determine the compliance of these policies with the Schools Act regulations and to determine the practicability and effectiveness of each policy. The researcher’s conclusions include the fact that none of four schools had an effective and practicable school safety policy in place and were not implementing their inadequate policies effectively. He suggests among other things a comprehensive compulsory school safety training programme including aspects such as information on the intent, content and aims of the school safety regulations, the concepts of liability and negligence and methods for drafting, adopting and implementing effective school safety policies. Copyright / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Education Management and Policy Studies / unrestricted

This dissertation examines the significance of the Kansas Tort Claims Act of 1979 on state of Kansas court decisions in litigation against Kansas school districts and their employees. Through providing a historical perspective of the adoption and abolishment of the doctrine of sovereign immunity in the United States, which subsequently led to the enactment of the Federal Tort Claims Act, and ultimately led to the Kansas Tort Claims Act, the researcher analyzes pertinent case law and scholarly commentary pertaining to school negligence litigation. The goal of the analysis is to answer the following research question: How have Kansas state courts interpreted the Kansas Tort Claims Act in litigation against state school districts and their employees? Although the KTCA provides citizens with a vehicle for redress against governmental entities by virtue of tort claims, the KTCA also provides immunities from liability for governmental entities and their employees under exceptions to the KTCA. Most notably, the discretionary function exception and the recreational use exception are two exceptions to liability applied in a significant number of tort cases against Kansas school districts and employees. The case law analysis provides explanations for the types of actions of negligence that Kansas courts have qualified for school district or school employee liability, and, when permitted, negligent actions that qualified for immunity under a KTCA exception to liability.

Reasonableness as a concept used in determining delictual liability or liability in tort law, is either embraced or perceived by some as frustrating. It is a normative concept which is inextricably linked with the concepts of fairness, justice, equity, public policy and the values of the community. These concepts assist in providing value judgements in determining liability. It is apparent from this study that the influence of reasonableness is predominantly implicit on the French law of delict, but more explicit on the South African law of delict and Anglo-American tort law. Its influence varies with respect to each element of tort or delictual liability. In order to hold a person liable for a delict or tort, it is only reasonable that all the elements of a delict or tort are present. Common to all the jurisdictions studied in this thesis is the idea of striking a balance between the defendant’s interests promoted, the plaintiff’s interests adversely affected and the interests of society. Where liability is based on fault, the reasonableness of conduct is called into question. In respect of causation whichever test or theory is used, what must ultimately be determined is whether according to the facts of the case, it is reasonable to impute liability on the defendant for the factually caused consequences. Whether loss or harm is required, assumed or not required, the question of the appropriate remedy or compensation which is reasonable under the circumstances is called into question. In South African and Anglo-American law, the multiple uses of the standards of the reasonable person, reasonable foreseeability of harm, reasonable preventability of harm, whether it is reasonable to impose an element of liability, or whether it is reasonable to impute liability, often cause confusion and uncertainty. At times, the role of these criteria with regard to a specific element may be valid and amplified while, at other times, their role is diminished and controversial. However, there is nothing wrong with the concept of reasonableness itself; indeed, it is a necessary and useful concept in law. Rather, it is the way that it is interpreted and applied in determining liability that is problematic. / Private Law / LL. D.

The fastest growing field of law is undoubtedly that of Medical Law with the civil and disciplinary cases flowing from it. Globalization, international communication, development and evolution of Law as well as Medicine, cause this worldwide rising medical litigation. Humanitarian rights, post-modern scepticism and even iconoclastic attitudes contribute to this phenomenon. Medico-legal litigation and disciplinary complaints rise (in South Africa) up to 10 per cent per year. To assist the courts and legal profession, in medico-legal issues, helping the parties where the plaintiff has the burden of proof and the defendant for rebuttal, a medical expert witness must be used. The dilemmas and pitfalls arise, in that although knowledgeable medical experts could be used to guide the courts to the correct decision, the lack of a legal mind setting, court procedure and legal knowledge could affect the relevance, credibility and reliability, making the medical evidence of poor quality. The legal profession, deliberately, could “abuse” medical expert witnesses with demanding and coercion of results, which have unrealistic and unreasonable expectations. “Case building” occurs, especially in the adversarial systems of law, making the medical expert vulnerable under cross-examination, when it is shown that the witness has turned into a “hired gun” or is unfair. Thus, lacunae develop, making reasonable cases difficult and a quagmire of facts have to be evaluated for unreasonableness, credibility and appropriateness, compounded by the fact that seldom, cases are comparable. The danger is that the presiding officer could be misled and with limited medical knowledge and misplaced values, could reach the wrong findings. Several cases arguably show that this has led to wrongful outcomes and even unacceptable jurisprudence. The desire to “win” a case, can make a medical witness lose credibility and reasonableness with loss of objectivity, realism and relevance. With personality traits and subjectivity, the case becomes argumentative, obstinate and could even lead to lies. The miasmatic, hostile witness emerges, leading to embarrassing, unnecessary prolongation of court procedures. The medical expert witness should be well guided by the legal profession and well informed of the issues. Medical witnesses should have legal training and insight into the legal and court procedures. At the time of discovery of documents, via arbitration or mediation, medical experts should strive to reach consensus and then present their unified finding, helping the parties fairly and expediting the legal procedure and processes. / Private Law / LLM

L'obligation de sécurité informationnelle - c'est-à-dire la tâche qui incombe aux entreprises d'assurer l'intégrité, la confidentialité et la disponibilité de l'information découle, tant en droit québécois que dans une majorité de juridictions occidentales, d'une série de dispositions législatives imposant non pas l'adoption de comportements ou l'utilisation de technologies ou de procédés identifiables, mais bien l'implantation de mesures de sécurité «raisonnables », «adéquates », ou « suffisantes ». Or, dans un domaine aussi embryonnaire et complexe que celui de la sécurité informationnelle, domaine dans lequel les solutions disponibles sont multiples et où la jurisprudence est éparse, comment une entreprise peut-elle jauger avec justesse l'étendue de son obligation? Bref, comment établir ce que ferait une entreprise raisonnablement prudente et diligente dans un domaine où il n'existe actuellement aucune balise législative, jurisprudentielle ou même coutumière permettant de fixer avec justesse le niveau de diligence imposé par le législateur? L'absence de sécurité juridique offerte par une telle situation est patente et nécessite une reconfiguration du cadre opératoire de l'obligation de sécurité informationnelle afin d'en identifier les composantes et les objectifs. Cet exercice passera par la redéfinition de l'obligation de sécurité informationnelle comme obligation de réduire les risques qui guettent l'information à un niveau socialement acceptable. En effet, la sécurité pouvant être définie comme étant la gestion du risque, c'est donc le risque qui réside au cœur de cette obligation. Or, en analysant les risques qui guettent un système, soit en analysant les menaces qui visent à exploiter ses vulnérabilités, il est possible d'établir quelles contre-mesures s'avèrent utiles et les coûts associés à leur mise en œuvre. Par la suite, il devient envisageable, en recourant à la définition économique de la négligence et en prenant compte des probabilités de brèches de sécurité et des dommages escomptés, d'établir les sommes optimales à investir dans l'achat, l'entretien et la mise à jour de ces contre-mesures. Une telle analyse permet ainsi de quantifier avec un certain degré de précision l'étendue de l'obligation de sécurité informationnelle en offrant aux entreprises un outil s'inspirant de données matérielles auxquelles elles ont librement accès et s'intégrant aisément dans le contexte juridique contemporain. / In Quebec, as in most western jurisdictions, the duty to ensure information security, i.e. the obligation bestowed upon companies to protect the integrity, confidentiality and availability of information, stems from a series of legal dispositions which, rather than to impose a certain conduct, or the use of given technologies or processes, simply demand that "reasonable", "adequate", or "sufficient" security measures be applied. However, in a field an nascent and complex as information security, where available solutions are numerous, and where case law is sparse, how can a company reliably predict the full extend of its duty? In other words, how can one establish what a reasonably prudent and diligent company would do in a field where laws, case law, and even customs fail to dictate precisely what level of diligence is sought by the legislator? The lack of legal certainty offered in such a case is obvious, and requires us to reconfigure the framework associated with the duty to ensure information security in order to identify its components and objectives. Such an endeavour begins with redefining the duty to ensure information security as a duty to reduce information-related risk to a socially acceptable leve1. Since security stems from risk management, it can therefore be said that risk is at the core of said duty. By analysing risk, i.e. by identifying the threats that aim to exploit a system's vulnerabilities, it becomes possible to specify which counter measures could be useful and what costs they may entail. From that point, it's feasible, if using the economic definition of negligence (which is based on the probability of a security breach, and the damages incurred), to establish the optimal amount that should be invested in the purchasing, upkeep and replacement of these counter measures. This type of analysis will allow companies to quantify, with a certain degree of precision, the extend to which they need to ensure information security by giving them a set of tools based on easily accessible data. Furthermore, said tools appear to be fully compatible with the current legal landscape.

In a 3-year timeframe, nearly 800 student negligence suits were filed, and most involved some claim of personal injury. Despite heightened public attention of negligence lawsuits against school districts and their employees, an empirical study of court decisions revealed that the volume of litigation against school districts remained steady from 1990 to 2005, the majority of cases were ruled in favor of the school district employees, and government and official immunity were most often the basis for these rulings. Researchers have concluded that immunity laws are strong in the United States, although they vary by state in their application. However, a primary recommendation was that, because of the misconception of a lack of immunity for public school employees, a comprehensive study on governmental and official immunity is needed. This dissertation employed legal research, analysis, and methodology to engage in a comprehensive investigation of teacher immunity in the four southern states of Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and New Mexico. Of central concern to this dissertation was the Tort Claims Act of 1978 from the State of New Mexico. The Tort Claims Act is the vehicle by which immunity is granted to public school employees. Court findings over the last 35 years point to three primary domains under which cases pertaining to immunity fall: negligence (62.5%), evaluation and supervision (16.7%), and student discipline (8.3%). Immunity appears strong across all three domains; however, only future studies on cases by state will determine whether states in the southwest United States are the norm or an anomaly.