| Defense of Property |
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| Generally, a person has a legal right to use reasonable force to prevent the commission of a tort (such as trespass or conversion) against his or her property. Therefore, if a person uses force to prevent the commission of a tort against his or her property and he or she is sued for assault, battery, or another intentional tort, he or she may claim defense of property as a defense to the action. A person is required to make a request to desist before using force to defend his or her property unless such a request would be futile or dangerous.
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| Dram Shop Laws |
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| Under a "dram shop law," a business that sells alcohol to an intoxicated customer may be liable when the customer injures a third party. Most dram shop cases involve drunk driving. More... |
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| Federal Teacher Protection Act -- Exceptions |
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| Under the federal Teacher Protection Act (TPA), a school employee may be immune from civil liability when a student is injured as a result of the employee's attempt to discipline or control the student. However, the TPA does not apply under some circumstances. More... |
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| Gross Negligence |
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| "Gross negligence" means carelessness or recklessness that amounts to a conscious disregard for the safety of others. Gross negligence involves a higher degree of carelessness than ordinary negligence. For example, dumping toxic waste into your neighbor's swimming pool would constitute gross negligence. More... |
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| Acts of God |
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| In the context of the law, an "act of God" is an accident caused by extraordinary natural forces. An accident caused by lightning, a flood, a hurricane, or an earthquake may constitute an act of God. More... |
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