| Actions Against Parents for Torts of Children |
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| Generally, parents are not liable for the torts of their minor children. However, there are exceptions to this general rule, and parents may be held liable in certain circumstances.More... |
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| Criminal Conversation with a Spouse |
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| Under the common law, there was a tort for criminal conversation with a spouse. Although most states have enacted statutes that abolished the tort, there are a few states in which a spouse may bring an action against a third party for the tort.More... |
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| Abuse of Process |
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| It should be obvious that the purpose of the civil justice system is to permit people to obtain justice. Unfortunately, people sometimes try to use the civil justice system for improper purposes, such as revenge. As one would expect, using the civil justice system solely for improper purposes is prohibited by law. The personal injury lawsuit that addresses improper use of the civil justice system, and improper use of the criminal justice system other than malicious prosecution, is known as abuse of process.More... |
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| Structured Settlements |
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| When a plaintiff brings a personal injury action against a defendant for damages and the parties decide to settle the case, they may enter into a structured settlement to compensate the plaintiff for his injury. Structured settlements are monetary awards for damages that are paid in installments over a period of time. They are frequently used to settle tort cases involving severe injuries in which large damages are sought (e.g., products liability, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases) because of the defendant's inability to pay the amount in one lump sum.More... |
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| Truth and Privilege Defenses to Defamation |
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| Defamation lawsuits are not easy to win because the plaintiff must both prove the difficult elements of his or her case and avoid the many defenses to defamation. This article discusses some of the standard defenses to defamation, including truth and privilege.More... |
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