This thesis is about corporate attribution in private law. Unlike human persons, companies are artificial legal persons. They lack a physical body with which to act, and a mind with which to think. English law therefore developed the concept of attribution so that legal rules could be applied to companies. Attribution is the process of legal reasoning by which the acts and states of mind of human individuals acting for a company are treated as that of the company, so as to establish the company’s rights against and obligations owed to other parties. This thesis examines the rules of attribution across the private law of obligations, focusing on the law of contract, tort, unjust enrichment, and selected aspects of equitable liability. Three main arguments are made in this thesis. First, there is a sharp distinction between the rules of attribution and the substantive rules of private law to which they apply. The former belongs in the law of persons, and it concerns when the acts and states of mind of an individual can be attributed to a company. The latter belongs in the law of obligations. Second, the same rules of attribution should be, and have largely been used across the entire expanse of private law. Regardless of the area of private law in which the question of attribution arises, the same question is being asked, and so the law’s answer should be the same. Like should be treated alike. This is normatively desirable, because it ensures coherence across private law. Third, it is therefore possible to state the rules of attribution that apply in private law. The acts of an individual A will be attributed to the company C where they were (i) specifically authorised (‘specific authority’), (ii) where A performs an act within the class of acts that A has power to do on behalf of C, even if A is acting in breach of duty (‘actual authority’), or (iii) where A has either been placed in a position or been held out by C such that a reasonable person in the position of a third party would reasonably believe that A had the power to act for C (‘apparent authority’). A’s knowledge will be attributed to C where it is material to the class of acts that A had specific or actual authority to do on behalf of C. Although commonly thought to be a series of diverse, disparate rules found in different doctrines and different areas of law, the rules of attribution form a remarkably coherent, consistent whole across private law.

No presente estudo buscar-se-á investigar a corresponsabilidade do lesado na responsabilidade civil, inserido no direito brasileiro no artigo 945 do Código Civil. Assim, inicialmente, tratar-se-á da conexão do tema com o dano fortuito e o dano causado a si mesmo para, em sequência abordar a corresponsabilidade do lesado com enfoque sobre a função preventiva da responsabilidade civil ao incentivar não somente o lesante a não reincidir em atos ilícitos, mas também a vítima. A corresponsabilidade do lesado será apresentada como exceção ao princípio da reparação integral do dano. A seguir, passa-se a tratar da corresponsabilidade da vítima e os estudos a respeito do nexo de causalidade e a análise das teorias da causalidade. Merece também exame a aplicação nos casos de corresponsabilidade do lesado e sua incidência quando da responsabilidade objetiva. Será demonstrada uma análise da recepção da corresponsabilidade do lesado nas legislações estrangeiras com enfoque especial ao sistema da commow law com a contributory negligence e sua migração para o comparative negligence. Em capítulos específicos são abordados estudos a respeito do dever de colaborar com a mitigação do próprio prejuízo (duty to mitigate the loss) e também a interlocução com o artigo 935 do Código Civil. Outro centro do presente estudo é a proporção na redução equitativa do dano quando identificada a concausalidade da vítima pelo magistrado e a contribuição da disciplina de direito e economia para o tema. / The present study will seek to investigate comparative negligence in tort law inserted in Brazilian law in the article 945 of the Civil Code. So initially it will treat the theme of connection with the accidental damage and damage to yourself to sequentially treat the comparative negligence focusing on the preventive function of liability to encourage not only the perpetrator not reoccur in unlawful acts and also presents it as an exception to the principle of full compensation for the damage. Following going to deal with the comparative negligence and the studies of the causation and the analysis of causality theories. Also worth examining the application of the victim responsibility cases and its impact when it focuses strict liability. It will be shown an analysis of the injured responsibility reception in foreign legislation being given special attention to the commow law system with contributory negligence and their migration to the comparative negligence. In specific chapters are covered studies on the duty to mitigate the loss and also interlocution with Article 935 of the Civil Code. Another center of the study is the proportion equitable harm reduction when concausalidade identified the victim by the magistrate and the contribution of the discipline of Law and Economics at the subject.

Esta dissertação trata dos fundamentos teóricos da responsabilidade civil a partir da perspectiva exposta na obra de Emest Weinrib. A questão central do trabalho refere-se, de um lado, à discussão da abordagem formalista, que permite a compreensão do direito e de sua autonomia em relação a outras esferas - em especial à política - e, de outro lado, à relação entre o formalismo e a fundamentação da responsabilidade civil na justiça corretiva. Por fim, o trabalho analisa as críticas oferecidas ao arcabouço teórico weinribiano, procurando discutir os limites da obra de Weinrib e as possíveis falhas de interpretação dos próprios críticos. / This thesis examines the theoretical foundation of the concept of tort as presented in the work of Ernst Weinrib. It discusses both the formalist approach to torts, which allows for the understanding of Law as autonomous from other areas - notably, from politics - and, on the other, the connections between formalism and the theoretical foundation of the concept of tort from the standpoint of corrective justice. This thesis also analyses the criticism Weinrib\'s work has received, discussing the limits of Weinrib\'s contribution and the possible flaws of some critical approaches.

This study contributes to the knowledge and understanding of the application of hazing law and response of courts to case law where hazing has been alleged between the years of 1980-2013. This study expands upon the 2009 research conducted by Carroll, Connaughton, Spengler and Zhang, which used a content analysis methodology to look at anti-hazing case law as applied in cases where educational institutions were named as defendants, and the 2002 unpublished dissertation of Guynn which explored anti-hazing case law and its application in cases involving high school students. This study examines all court cases between 1980-2013 where a judicial opinion was written and an allegation of hazing or an injury resulting from hazing occurred. This study uses content analysis methodology to identify, code and analyze cases and applies analogical reasoning to the case review to 1) examine the breadth of legal cases that occurred between 1980-2013, 2) identify the legal issues most likely to be created by an incident of hazing, and 3) apply predictive analysis for how those issues may impact individuals, organizations, and institutions. The study identified that legal issues related to 1) tort liability and negligence, 2) allegations of violations of 42 U.S.C. Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act, 3) hazing, 4) assault and battery, and 5) Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 were most commonly argued in courts of law following an incident of hazing. A discussion of each area of law and the parameters under which a court would make decisions in this area of law were provided for discussion.

Plečiantis sritims, kuriose valstybė dalyvauja kaip privalomus vykdyti nurodymus duodantis subjektas, sudėtingėjant valstybės aparatui, daugėja atvejų, kai valstybė neužtikrina kvalifikuoto, efektyvaus valstybės pareigūnų darbo ir tai dažnai lemia žalos mažiau teisių santykyje su valstybe turinčiam asmeniui atsiradimą. Kita vertus, valstybei imantis reguliuoti vis daugiau visuomeninio gyvenimo sričių, auga visuomenės pasitikėjimas, kad situacija yra kontroliuojama valstybės institucijų. Tokiose srityse atsiradus žalos kyla pagrįstas visuomenės interesas ieškoti už ją atsakingo. Kadangi valstybė yra išskirtinis, nuolat egzistuojantis teisės subjektas, nukentėjusiajam palanku siekti visų nesėkmių finansinę naštą perkelti į valstybės biudžetą. Dėl to valstybės deliktinės atsakomybės ribos šiuolaikinėje teisinėje valstybėje stipriai plečiasi. Tačiau atlyginant valdžios institucijų sukeltą žalą yra perskirstomi tos pačios visuomenės, kurios dalimi yra nukentėjusysis, materialiniai resursai, todėl kyla klausimas, kiek valstybės atsakomybės plėtros tendencija atitinka pačių nukentėjusiųjų interesus. Disertacija siekiama išanalizuoti valstybės deliktinės atsakomybės raidos tendencijas Europos valstybėse ir JAV, įvertinti tradiciškai šioje srityje taikomos valstybės imuniteto doktrinos pagrįstumą šiuolaikinėje teisinėje valstybėje, valstybės atsakomybės galimybę ir būtinybę srityse, kurios tradiciškai laikytos už civilinės jurisdikcijos ribų, atskleisti plačių valstybės atsakomybės... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / With the expansion of areas where the state participates as a subject having the right to give mandatory instructions, the state apparatus getting more and more complex, the number of cases when the state fails to ensure efficient, qualified work of the state officials is also increasing. On the other hand, when state takes over more and more areas of public life under its control, at the same time the trust from the society that the situation is controlled by the state institutions grows as well. When damage occurs in such areas a legitimate interest of the society to find the liable for it arises. Since the state is an exclusive subject of law – it does exist all the time – it is very convenient from the point of view of the victim to shift the financial burden of all failures onto the state budget. Therefore the limits of state liability are rapidly expanding in a contemporary state governed by the rule of law principle. Nevertheless, reparation of damage caused by public institutions determines re-distribution of material resources of the same society, a part of which the victim is. Therefore the question of how far the expansion of state liability limits corresponds to the interests even of the same plaintiffs arises. The purpose of the study is to analyze the development trends of the state liability in tort in European countries and the United States of America, to evaluate the justification of the state immunity doctrine in the modern legal state, traditionally... [to full text]

This thesis demonstrates the level of environmental disaster that oil TNCs have brought into Sub-Sahara Africa as a direct consequence of economic globalization. The analysis reveals the weaknesses of the environmental regime in the Sub-Sahara African region, particularly in Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon as well as the lack of administrative capacity of the governments. The thesis explores alternative means through which environmental responsibility of oil TNCs could be pursued at the supranational arena and within the legal system of home states of the oil TNCs. It seeks to do so by examining the phenomenon of tort-based action for foreign direct liability of the parent oil TNCs for the conduct of their foreign subsidiaries extraterritorially.

The applied practice of duty of care of the educator in historically Afrikaans medium secondary schools in the districts of Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp. When a parent sends his child to school the learner is entrusted to the care of educators, and the educator acts as a person in loco parentis regarding the physical protection of the learner. In order to ensure this safety of learners, it is necessary to create a climate of safety and security for them by utilizing rules and regulations. This implies that the educator, in the application of the practice of duty of care, is obliged to protect the learner from physical damage. The compulsion laid upon the educator to ensure the physical welfare of learners entrusted to his care, results from a delegated obligation (the in loco parent/s-position of the educator) and an original obligation. It is important for the educator to evaluate, comprehend and apply his position and the accompanying standard of the practice of duty of care legally required in the light of relevant legislation, legal adage and common law principles. Literature study has shown that the obligations and responsibilities regarding the duty of care of educators are established by a combination of determinants, inter alia statutory legislation, South African and International legal adage and elements of common law. There is no separate field of laws to exclusively determine and influence education but rather an eclectic field of legislation comprising norms and standards from the entire field of legislation as applicable in contemporary South Africa. With the accent currently on the professional conduct of the educator, they should keep in mind that they, like any other professional person, will be evaluated by stricter measures. In establishing negligence from an educator, the skills and care are expected from the educator as a professional person, an expert in the field of teaching with specialised knowledge. Thus, the conduct of an educator is measured by the elevated standards as expected from the reasonable expert. An empirical investigation was launched by means of a questionnaire completed by post level -1 educators and heads of department in historically Afrikaans secondary schools in the Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp districts. The aim of this research was to establish • the insight, perceptions and knowledge of the educators regarding key legal questions with reference to their care of duty practice and • the extent to which the duty of care practices of the educators meet with the requirements of educational law. The empirical investigation established inter alia that • respondents generally seem to possess reasonable knowledge of education laws regarding the practice of their duty of care; • most of the respondents seem not to be able to apply their knowledge of educational laws to their duty of care; • it seems that the practice of duty of care of the majority of the respondents does not meet with the elevated standards expected legally from a professional educator and that • specialised training in education law has the most significant effect on the practice of duty of care of the educator. With regard to the findings, specific recommendations were made, relevant to role players in education on macro, meso and micro level. These recommendations should promote a heightened standard in the practice of care of duty with practicing educators. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The applied practice of duty of care of the educator in historically Afrikaans medium secondary schools in the districts of Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp. When a parent sends his child to school the learner is entrusted to the care of educators, and the educator acts as a person in loco parentis regarding the physical protection of the learner. In order to ensure this safety of learners, it is necessary to create a climate of safety and security for them by utilizing rules and regulations. This implies that the educator, in the application of the practice of duty of care, is obliged to protect the learner from physical damage. The compulsion laid upon the educator to ensure the physical welfare of learners entrusted to his care, results from a delegated obligation (the in loco parent/s-position of the educator) and an original obligation. It is important for the educator to evaluate, comprehend and apply his position and the accompanying standard of the practice of duty of care legally required in the light of relevant legislation, legal adage and common law principles. Literature study has shown that the obligations and responsibilities regarding the duty of care of educators are established by a combination of determinants, inter alia statutory legislation, South African and International legal adage and elements of common law. There is no separate field of laws to exclusively determine and influence education but rather an eclectic field of legislation comprising norms and standards from the entire field of legislation as applicable in contemporary South Africa. With the accent currently on the professional conduct of the educator, they should keep in mind that they, like any other professional person, will be evaluated by stricter measures. In establishing negligence from an educator, the skills and care are expected from the educator as a professional person, an expert in the field of teaching with specialised knowledge. Thus, the conduct of an educator is measured by the elevated standards as expected from the reasonable expert. An empirical investigation was launched by means of a questionnaire completed by post level -1 educators and heads of department in historically Afrikaans secondary schools in the Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp districts. The aim of this research was to establish • the insight, perceptions and knowledge of the educators regarding key legal questions with reference to their care of duty practice and • the extent to which the duty of care practices of the educators meet with the requirements of educational law. The empirical investigation established inter alia that • respondents generally seem to possess reasonable knowledge of education laws regarding the practice of their duty of care; • most of the respondents seem not to be able to apply their knowledge of educational laws to their duty of care; • it seems that the practice of duty of care of the majority of the respondents does not meet with the elevated standards expected legally from a professional educator and that • specialised training in education law has the most significant effect on the practice of duty of care of the educator. With regard to the findings, specific recommendations were made, relevant to role players in education on macro, meso and micro level. These recommendations should promote a heightened standard in the practice of care of duty with practicing educators. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

In this paper, I use data from the Florida Closed Claims Database to investigate how Florida’s 2003 non-economic damage cap legislation impacted elderly malpractice claimants. More specifically, I measure whether or not non-economic damage caps adversely impact claimants in counties with high elderly densities. To measure the effect of Florida’s non-economic damage caps, I look at multiple metrics that measure both elderly claimants’ monetary gains and their access to the justice system after the reform is passed. I find mildly conclusive evidence that counties with higher elderly density, and assumedly more elderly claimants, are more likely to settle cases before reaching a jury trial and are less likely to file a medical malpractice claim. Conversely, though, I find limited evidence supporting the idea that elderly claimants receive less monetary damage payments or drop cases more. Overall, then, my findings are not consistent with the view that non-economic damage caps significantly discriminate against elderly claimants.

In regards to health care, the civil tort system serves to both deter negligent behavior on the part of the provider and compensate victims for losses which must include bodily harm attributable to negligent medical care. Due to the unique malpractice landscape that evolved in the United States, national tort reform has increased over the last several decades and a need for reliable data exists. This paper matches claims from the National Practitioner's Data Bank to an independent state data bank to determine is systematic, nonrandom differences between the observations exist. The paper found that systematic differences existed and their existence was implicitly proven in a paper published in 2013. This calls into question the current state of knowledge surrounding medical malpractice liability reform.