Law of Negligence

Subject LAWS70229 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 7 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

March, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: The total class time is between 24 and 26 hours.
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Corequisites: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Recommended Background Knowledge: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Non Allowed Subjects: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Core Participation Requirements: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.

Contact

For more information, contact the Melbourne Law Masters office.

Email law-masters@unimelb.edu.au or phone +61 3 8344 6190.

Alternatively, visit our website:

www.masters.law.unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

Principal topics will include:

  • Duty of care:
    • The general approach in novel situations
    • Key issues – liability of statutory authorities, liability for omissions, defective structures, psychiatric injury, pure economic loss
  • Breach of duty: Standard of care
  • Causation
  • Damage: What constitutes damage, remoteness
  • Defences: Contributory negligence, voluntary assumption of risk
  • Claims associated with birth
  • Vicarious liability
  • Concurrent liability
  • Interstate and international torts.
Objectives:

A student who has successfully completed this subject should:

  • Be aware of developments in relation to the principles of negligence law in the High Court of Australia and in the highest courts of comparable common law countries
  • Have considered the theories under which development of the law of negligence occurs
  • Have considered the application of the theories in a range of novel situations that have recently come before the courts in Australia
  • Have considered recent statutory reform of negligence law in Australia.
Assessment: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Prescribed Texts: Core subject materials will be provided free of charge to all students. Some subjects require further texts to be purchased. Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date

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