This module is designed to provide students with an understanding of the law of tort, as well as the necessary skills to apply the law to a range of case studies. A tort is a civil wrong that unfairly causes someone else to suffer a loss. The module examines a number of Torts and also examines the impact of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Topics covered include:

- Negligence (including psychiatric injury and economic loss)
- Occupiers' liability
- Nuisance
- Defamation & Privacy
- Trespass
- Vicarious Liability
- Remedies & Defences

The learning strategy for this module is based around students committing a total of 300 hours of activities towards achieving the learning outcomes. These will be split between 72 hours of direct contact with a tutor and 228 hours of directed, guided and self-study, together with preparation for and completion of the assessment tasks.

Contact will include a mixture of small and larger group activities, much of it based on the principles of practice and problem based learning. Learning will be organised into a series of sessions where students will be required to participate. Each session will be based around a problem or issue, and students will work towards a range of solutions by specifying objectives, identifying constraints, obtaining background information, applying related theory and knowledge based around the subject matter.

Large group sessions seek to establish an overview framework within which selected theories and rules of the subject matter can be more effectively developed. They will verify and consolidate knowledge and understanding and will engage in more detailed exposition of selected theories, rules and constraints.

The guided learning will incorporate a mixture of activities, some of which will require groupwork and electronic interaction. The learning will be facilitated by use of the VLE platform and discussions/interactions between students and tutors.

Students will be expected to be familiar with contemporary discussions in this area of law, and to bring a range of ideas to bear on the discussions. Thus, although there will be a framework of knowledge and understanding, students will be actively, rather than passively, engaged in the process of both learning about, and increasing understanding of, the subject matter.

The module will use a blend of teaching methods to enable different styles of learning to be facilitated. The differing methods will also be a platform for the development of essential skills such as intellectual skills, communication skills and problem solving, as well as research, teamwork, negotiation, presentation, referencing, argument, judgement and appropriate use of IT.

1. A pre-seen PBL written exam (50%)
2. An unseen MCT exam based on a pre-seen scenario (50%)

To pass this module, students must obtain a mark of at least 40% .

Additional Assessment Details:

Working towards the assessment tasks will be a key element of the learning, and tutors will be available to guide students through the process. Face to face contact sessions focussed on assessment activities will be scheduled into the timetable.

PLEASE NOTE ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENTS FOR Semester 1 2020/21 DUE TO COVID-19 AS FOLLOWS: Coursework - 2500 word Assignment for remote submission - 50% Written Exam - 2 hr Unseen Written Exam

Module Study Guide
Access to appropriate primary and secondary legal resources
Computing facilities will be needed to access material available via Blackboard and the Web.
Specialist software (Lexis-Nexis, Westlaw)

Introductory Text
Tort Law Directions: Vera Bermingham and Carol Brennan: 5th Edition: May 2016

Standard/General Text
Tort Law: Kirsty Horsey and Erika Rackley: 4th Edition: July 2015

Advanced Text
Markesinis and Deakin's Tort Law: Simon Deakin, Angus Johnston and Sir Basil Markesinis: 7th Edition: 2012

Detailed Further Reading is contained in module study guide.

1. DEMONSTRATE AN ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY IN WRITING
Knowledge and Understanding

2. DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRINCIPLES OF TORT LAW.
Application

3. SELECT AND APPLY THE PRINCIPLES OF NEGLIGENCE AND OTHER SELECTED TORTS TO PROBLEM AND ESSAY AND MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS.
Enquiry

4. DEMONSTRATE AN ABILITY TO CONDUCT INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AND STUDY, INCLUDING THE USE OF ELECTRONIC RESOURCES.
Communication
Learning

You will find that Tort is a fast-moving area of civil law, one influenced by the Human Rights Act. You will explore many ethical dilemmas about the way in which society deals with accident compensation and loss distribution. The module is designed to provide you with an understanding of the main torts in English law, including negligence, trespass and defamation. Tort Law is also a module which embeds various important skills such as legal research, problem-solving, interviewing and the ability to apply the law to a range of scenarios.