LAW 323 Law of Torts I

NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
COURSE CODE :LAW 323
COURSE TITLE:LAW OF TORT I
COURSE
LAW323
GUIDE
LAW OF TORT I
Written by:
Mrs. Omotayo Tekaron Abisoye,

LLM, and
Mr. Ayodeji E. O. Ige, LL.M, M.A(Ibadan), B.L, ACIS
14/16 Almadu Belloo Way
National Open University of Nigeria
Victoria Island, Lagos.
Course Co-ordinator:
Mr. Ayodeji E. O. Ige,

14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way
Course Editor:
Professor Justus A. Sokefun

Programme Leader
Ifidion Oyakhiromen Ph.D, BL

NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

Headquarters
Victoria Island
Lagos
Abuja Office
No. 5 Dar es Salaam Street
Off Aminu Kano Crescent
Wuse II, Abuja
Nigeria
e-mail: [email protected]
URL: www.nou.edu.ng
Published by:
National Open University of Nigeria 2008
First Printed 2008
ISBN: 978-058-856-6
All Rights Reserved
CONTENTS
PAGES
Introduction ..
What you will learn in this Course ...
Course Aims .
Course Objectives
Working Through this Course ..
Course Materials
Study Units
References.
Assignment File.
Presentation Schedule
Tutor-Marked Assignments .
Final examination and grading .
Course marking schedule..
Course overview
How to get the Most From this Course
Tutors and Tutorials..
Summary
1
1
1
1-2
2
2
3
3
3
3-4
4
4
5
5
5-6
7
8
Introduction
Law of Torts is a two semester course. You would take the first part in the first semester.
The code is LAW 323. It is a foundation level course and is available to all students
towards fulfilling core requirements for the degree in Law.
The course will discuss basic law principles. The material has been developed to suit
students in Nigeria by adapting practical examples from within our jurisdictions.
This course guide tells you briefly what the course is about, what course materials you
will be using and how you can work your way through these materials. It suggests some
general guidelines for the amount of time you are likely to spend on each unit of the
course in order to complete it successfully. It also gives you some guidance on your tutor
marked assignment (TMAs). Detailed information on TMAs is found in the separate
assignment file, which will be available to you in due course. There are regular tutorial
and surgery classes that are linked to the course. You are advised to attend these sessions.
What you will learn in this Course

The over aim of LAW 323 is to introduce the fundamental principles and applications of
Law of contract. During this course you will learn about, Nature of contract, formation of
Contract, legality and Public Policy, Terms of Contract, condition warrantees and other
clause.
Course Aims
5
The aim of the course can be summarized as follows: this course aims to give you an
understanding of general principles of law and how they can be used in relation to other
branches of law.
This will be achieved by aiming to:
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
Introduce you to the basic sources of law of Torts

History of the Law of Torts
Principle of liability in Torts
Trespass to a person.
Course Objectives
To achieve the aims set out above, the course sets overall objectives. In addition, each
unit also has specific objectives. The objectives are always included at the beginning pf a
unit; you should read them before you start working through the unit. You may want to
refer to them during your study of the unit to check on your progress. You should always
look that you have done what was required of you by the unit.
Set out below is the wider objectives of the course as a whole. By meeting these
objectives you should have achieved the aims of the course as a whole.
On successful completion of this course, you should be able to:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
Explain the term Law of Torts

Differentiate the difference between
Nature of the Law of Trots
What constitute Law of Torts
Building blocks of the Law of Torts
Negligence
Assault
Occupiers Liability..
Working Through this Course

To complete this course you are required to read the study units, read set books and other
materials: Each unit contains self-assessment exercises, and at points in the course you
are required to submit assignments for assessment purposes. At the end o \f the course is
a final examination. The course should take you about 12 weeks or more in total to
complete. Below you will find listed all the components of the course, what you have to
do and how you should allocate your time to each unit in order to complete the course
successfully on time.
Course Materials
6
Major components of the course are:

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Course guide;
Study units;
Textbooks;
Assignment file and
Presentation schedule.
In addition, you obtain the set book; these are not provided by NOUN, obtaining them is
you own responsibility. You may purchase you own copies. You may contact your tutor
if you have problems in obtaining these textbooks.
Study Units
These are 21 study units in this course, as follows:
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Unit 5
Historical background and general principles of tortuous liability

Trespass
Negligence
Defences in relation to torts
Damages
Each unit contains a number of self-tests. In general, these self-tests question you on the
materials you have just covered or required you to apply it in some way and, thereby, help
you to gauge your progress and to reinforce your understanding of material. Together
with TMAs, these exercises will assist you in achieving the stated learning objectives of
the individual units of the course.
References
There are some books you should purchase for yourself:
The Nigeria Law of Torts ; Kodilinye and Aluko
Fleming; G. John: The Law of Torts, Sweet & Maxwell, Street on Torts.
Assignment File
In this file you will find all the details of the work you must submit to your tutor for
making. The marks you obtain for these assignments will count towards the final mark
you obtain for this course. Further information on assignments will be found in the
Assignment file itself and later in this course guide in the section on assignment. You are
7
to submit five assignments, out of which the best four will be selected and recorded for
you.
Presentation Schedule
There are two aspects to the assessments of the course. First are the TMAs, second, there
is a written examination.
In tackling the assignments, you are expected to apply information, knowledge and
techniques gathered during the course. The assignments must be submitted to your tutor
for formal assessment in accordance with the deadlines stated in the presentation schedule
and the Assignment file. The work you submit to your tutor for assessment will count for
30% of your total course mark.
At the end of the course you will need to sit for a final written examination for three hours
duration. This examination will also count for 70% of your total course mark.
Tutor-Marked Assignments
There are five tutor-marked assignment in this course. You only need to submit four of
five assignments. You are encouraged, however, to submit all five assignments, in which
case the highest four assignments count for 30% towards your course mark.
Assignment questions for the units in this course are contained in the Assignment file.
You will be able to complete your assignments from the information and materials
contained in your set books, reading, and study units. However, it is desirable in all
degree level education to demonstrate that have read and researched more than the
required minimum. Using other references will give you a broader viewpoint and may
provide a deeper understanding of the subject. When you have completed each
assignment send it together with a TMA form to your tutor. Make sure that each
assignment reaches your tutor on or before the deadline given in the presentation schedule
and Assignment file. If, for any reason, you cannot complete your work on time, contact
your tutor before Assignment is due to discus the possibility of an extension. Extensions
will not be granted after the due date unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Final examination and grading

The final for LAW 323 will be of two hours duration and have a value of 70% of the total
course grade. The examination will consist of questions that reflect the types of selftesting, and tutor-marked problems you have previously encountered. All areas of the
course will assessed.
Use the time between finishing the last unit and sitting the examination to revise the entire
course. You might find it useful to review your self-assessment exercises, TMAs and
8
comments by your tutorial facilitator before the examination. The final examination
covers information from all parts of the course.
Course marking schedule

The following table lays our how the actual course mark allocation is broken down:
Assessment
Assignments 1-4
Marks
Four assignments, best three marks of the count at
30% of course marks.
Final examination 70% of overall course marks
Total
100% of course marks
Table 1 course-marking schedule
Course overview
This table brings together the units, the number of weeks you should take to complete
them and the assignments that follow them.
Unit
Title of work
Weeks activity
Course Guide
General Introduction
Week 1
Week 1
An overview of the Law of Week 2

torts
The Reception of the Law Week 3

of Torts in Nigeria
The principles of liability
Week 4
in Tort
Assessment
(end of unit)
Assignment 1
Other principles of liability Week 5

in the Law of Tort
Assignment 2
Trespass to the person:

Assault
Battery
False imprisonment and
intentional harm to the
person
Trespass to chattels
Assignment 3
7
8
9
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
9
Assignment 4
10
11
Conversion
Detinue
Week 10
Week 11
12
Duty of care
Week 12
13
14
15
Standard of care
Proof of negligence
Shock
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
16
17
Contributory negligence
Assignment 5
Week 16
Defences to the Tort of Week 17
18
Negligence
Mistake
Week 18
19
20
Occupiers Liability
Damages
Week 19
21
Assessment of Damages
Week 20
Table 2 course organizer
How to get the Most From this Course

In distance learning the study units replaces the university lecturer. This is one of the
great advantages of distance learning; you can read and work through specially designed
study materials at you own pace, and at a time and place that suite you best. Think of it as
reading the lecture instead of listing to a lecturer. In the same way that a lecturer might
recommend some reading, the study units tell you when to read recommended books or
other material, and when to undertake practical work. Just as a lecturer might give you an
in-class exercise, your study units provides exercises for you to do at appropriate time.
Each of the study units follows a common format. The first item is an introduction to the
subject matter of the and how a particular unit is integrated with the other units and the
course as a whole. Next is a set of learning objectives. These objectives let you know
what you should be able to do by the time you have completed the unit. You should use
these objectives to guide your study. When you have finished the unit you must go back
and check whether you have achieved the objectives. If you make a habit of doing this
you will significantly improve your chances of passing the course.
The main body of the unit guides you through the required reading from other sources.
This will usually be either from your recommended books or from a reading section.
Self-assessment exercises are interspersed throughout the unit, and answers are given at
the end of units. Working through these tests will help you to achieve the objectives of
the unit and prepare you for the assignments and the examination. You should do each
10
self-assessment exercise as you come to it in the study unit. There will also be numerous
examples given in the study units; work through these when you come to them, too.
The following is a practical strategy for working through the course. If you run into any
trouble, telephone you tutorial facilitator or visit you study centre. Remember that your
tutors job is to help you. When you need help, dont hesitate the call and ask you tutor.
1.0
2.0
3.0
Read this course guide thoroughly

Organize a study schedule. Refer to the Course overview for more details. Note
the time you are expected to spend on each unit and how the assignments relate to
the units. Important information, e.g. details of your tutorials, and the date of the
first day of the semester is available. You need to gather together all this
information in one place, such as your diary or a wall calendar. Whatever method
you choose to use, you should decide on and write in your own dates for working
on each unit.
Once you have created your own study schedule, do everything you can to stick to
it. The major reason that students do not perform well is that they get behind with
their course work. If you get into difficulties with your schedule, please let your
tutor know before it is too late for help.
Tutors and Tutorials

There are 10 hours of tutorials provided in support of this course. You will be notified of
the dates, times and location of these tutorial together with the name and phone numbers
of your tutor, as soon as you are allocated a tutorial group.
Your tutor will mark and comment on your assignments, keep a close watch on your
progress and on any difficulties you might encounter and assistance will be available at
the study centre. You must submit your tutor-marked assignments to your tutor well
before the due date (at least two working days are required). They will be marked by
your tutor and returned to you as soon as possible.
Do not hesitate to contact you tutor by telephone, e-mail, or during tutorial sessions if you
need to. The following might be circumstances in which you would find help necessary.
Contact you tutor if:
a. You do not understand any part of the study units or the assigned readings
b. You have difficulty with the self-assessment exercises
c. You have a question or problem with an assignment or with your tutors
comments on an assignment or with the grading of an assignment.
You should try your best to attend the tutorials. This is the only chance to have face to
face contact with your tutor and to ask question which are answered instantly. You can
raise any problem encountered in the course of your study. To gain the maximum benefit
11
from course tutorials, prepare a question list before attending them. You will learn a lot
from participating in discussions actively.
Some of the questions you may be able answer are not limited to the following:
1. Distinguish between Battery and Assault. What defences would be available for
both.
2. What are the ingredient needed to proof false imprisonment
3. Distinguish between trespass to chattel, detinue and convertion
4. What are the defences available against trespass.
5. What are the three element of negligence and how are they established
6. What defences are available in an action for negligence
Summary
Of course the list of question that you can answer is not limited to the above list. To gain
the most from this course you should try to apply the principles that you encounter in
every day life. You are also equipped to take part in the debate about legal methods.
Wed wish you success with the course and hope that you will find it both interesting and
useful.
12
MAIN
COURSE
Course Code:
LAW 323
Course Title:
Law of Torts I
Written by:
Mrs. Omotayo Tekaron Abisoye,

Victoria Island
Lagos.
Course Co-ordinator:
Mr. Ayodeji E. O. Ige,

Victoria Island
Lagos.
Course Editor:
Professor Justus A. Sokefun,

Victoria Island
Lagos.
13
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MODULE 1
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Unit 5
Unit 1 General Introduction

An overview of the Law of torts
The Reception of the Law of Torts in Nigeria
The principles of liability in Tort
Other principles of liability in the Law of Tort
MODULE 2
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Unit 5
Unit 6
Defences in relation to torts
Volenti non fit injuria (Consent)

Exclusion clauses and consent
Mistake
Necessity
Limitation of actions
MODULE 5
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Negligence
Duty of care
Standard of care
Proof of negligence
Shock
Contributory negligence
MODULE 4
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Unit 5
Trespass
Trespass to the person: Assault

Battery
False imprisonment and intentional harm to the person
Conversion
Detinue
MODULE 3
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Unit 5
Historical background and general principles of tortuous

liability
Damages
Remoteness of damages
Assessment of damages
Occupiers liability
14
MODULE 1
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Unit 5
Historical background and general principles of tortuous

liability
An overview of the Law of torts
The principles of liability in Tort
Other principles of liability in the Law of Tort
UNIT 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
2.0
3.0
7.0
Introduction
Objectives
Main content
3.1
Definition of tort
3.2
The purpose of the law of torts
3.3
The Rule in Smith v. Selwyn
Conclusion
Summary
Tutor Marked Assignments
References and further reading
1.0
INTRODUCTION
4.0
5.0
6.0
This unit considers the definition, objectives and the scope of the law of tort. It also takes
an overview of the subject.
2.0
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this unit you should be able to:

(i)
(ii)
(iii)
Define law of torts;

Understand the purpose of the law of torts; and
Explain the rule in Smith v. Selwyn.
3.0
MAIN CONTENT
3.1
Definition of tort
The word tort is derived from the latin word tortus, which means twisted. It came to
mean wrong and it is still so used in French: Jai tort; I am wrong. In English, the
15
word tort has a purely technical legal meaning a legal wrong for which the law
provides a remedy.
Academics have attempted to define the law of tort, but a glance at all the leading
textbooks on the subject will quickly reveal that it is extremely difficult to arrive at a
satisfactory, all embracing definition. Each writer has a different formulation and each
states that the definition is unsatisfactory.
Let us now consider some of these definitions.
To use Winfields definition as a starting point, we can explore the difficulties involved
(Rogers, Winfield & Jolowicz on Tort, 15th edn, 1998, London: Sweet & Maxwell, p.4):
Tortious liability arises from the breach of a duty primarily fixed by law; this duty
is towards persons generally and its breach is redressable by an action for
unliquidated damages.
In a similar tone, Prof. Sir John W. Salmond in his book Salmond and Heuston, Law of
Tort, 18th ed. P. 11, defined tort as:
A civil wrong for which the remedy is a common law action for unliquidated
damages, and which is not exclusively the breach of contract or the breach of trust
or other merely equitable obligation.
On the other hand, Kodilinye (Kodilinye, The Nigerian Law of Torts, p.1) defined tort as:
A civil wrong involving a breach of duty fixed by the law, such duty being owed to
persons generally and its breach being redressable primarily by an action for
damages.
From the above definitions, one can deduce that a tort is a breach of a civil duty imposed
by law and owed towards all persons, the breach of which is usually redressed by an
award of unliquidated damages, injunction, or other appropriate civil remedy. In other
words, a tort is a breach of a civil duty imposed by law, which remedy is unliquidated
damages, injunction, or other appropriate remedy. A tort is a civil wrong that is not
exclusively a breach of contract, and which is usually compensated by an award of
unliquidated damages, injunction or other appropriate remedy. Thus, tort is the breach of
a civil duty imposed by law towards all persons, the remedy of which is mainly monetary
compensation, injunction or other appropriate civil remedy.
As we can see, tort is not easy to define, first, because the difference between tort and
other civil wrongs is a thin line. Sharing this view, Kenny (Kennys, Outline of Criminal
Law, 16th ed. by J. W. Cecil 1952, p. 543.) said:
16
To ask concerning any occurrence, is this a crime or is it a tort? is to borrow SIR

JAMES STEPHENs apt illustration no wiser than it would be to ask concerning
a man; is he a father or a son? For he may well be both.
Secondly, tort is difficult to define because the law of tort runs through the whole of law.
Explaining this feature of tort, KEETON (Law of Torts, 15th ed, 1984 p. 2-3) observed:
In the first place, tort is a field which pervades the entire law, and is so
interlocked at every point with property, contract and other accepted
classifications, that as the student of law soon discovers, the categories are quite
arbitrary. In the second, there is a central themerunning through the cases of
what are called torts, which although difficult to put into words, does distinguish
themfrom other types of cases.
In order to understand tort, it may be helpful to withdraw for a moment from the problems
of definition and take an overview of the subject to consider the nature of the duties which
are imposed and the interests which are protected by this branch of civil law.
3.2
The purpose of the law of torts
The word tort means wrong. Any unjustifiable interference with the right of another
person may be a tort. As a part of civil law, the purpose of the law of tort is to prohibit a
person from doing wrong to another person, and where a wrong is done, to afford the
injured party, right of action in civil law, for compensation, or other remedy, such as an
injunction directing the wrongdoer who is known as a tortfeasor to stop doing the act
specified in the court order and so forth. Damages is the monetary compensation that is
paid by a defendant to a plaintiff for the wrong the defendant has done to him.
The essential aim of the law of torts is to compensate persons harmed by the wrongful
conduct of others. The substantive law of torts consists of the rules and principles which
have been developed to determine when the law will and when it will not grant redress for
damage suffered. Such damage takes several different forms such as physical injury to
persons; physical damage to property; injury to reputation; and damage to economic
interests. The law of torts requires every person not to cause harm to others in certain
situations, and if harm is caused, the victim is entitled to sue the wrongdoer for damages
by way of compensation.
Monetary damages are the normal remedy for a tort. But there is another important
remedy, the injunction, which is a court order forbidding the defendant from doing or
continuing to do a wrongful act. Whether the plaintiff is claiming damages or an
injunction, he must first prove that the defendant has committed a tort, for the law of torts
does not cover every type of harm caused by one person to another. The mere fact that
As act has caused harm to B does not necessarily give B a right to sue A for damages in
tort, unless B can show that As act was of a type which the law regards as tortuous, that
is, actionable as a tort.
17
Thus, the purpose of the law of tort is to prohibit torts, and where a tort is committed the
law of tort provides a remedy for it, by an award of damages or other appropriate relief.
The law of tort deals with a wide variety of wrongs, related and unrelated. Thus, the law
of tort enforces rights and liability and provides remedy in the areas covered by the law of
tort which includes the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Trespass to person, that is, assault, battery and false imprisonment.

Malicious prosecution
Trespass to chattel, that is, conversion and detinue
Trespass to land
Negligence
Nuisance
The Rule in Rylands v. Fletcher(strict liability)
Liability for animals
Vicarious liability
Occupiers liability
Defamation
Deceit
Passing off
Economic torts, such as, injurious falsehood, interference with contract, etc.
Essentially, the law of torts protects personal and property interests from being harmed by
other persons. Everyone is under a duty not to interferes with the interests of other
persons. Where a person interferes with the interest of another person, without legal
justification or excuse, the law of tort intervenes to apportion blame and award damages
or other appropriate remedy. The main remedies available to a person in the law of tort
are several and include:
1.
2.
3.
Award of damages that is monetary compensation. See the case of Shugaba v.

Minister of Internal Affairs & Ors (1981) 2 NCLR 459.
Injunction and/or:
Any other remedy, such as, an order to abate a nuisance, or for specific restitution
of a chattel of which the plaintiff has been dispossessed, etc.
The law of tort should be of interest to the average individual because tort is an everyday
occurrence and the law of tort provides remedy for many common incidents of daily life.
The torts which occur everyday include trespass to person, nuisance, negligence, etc. The
law of tort defines tortuous acts, apportions blame and determines the appropriate remedy
to be granted when a tort has been committed.
A summary of the objectives of tort

18
The objectives of the law of tort can be summarized as follows:

1.
Compensation: The most obvious objective of tort is to provide a channel for

compensating victims of injury and loss. Tort is the means whereby issues of
liability can be decided and compensation assessed and awarded.
2.
Protection of interests: The law of tort protects a persons interests in land and
other property, in his or her reputation, and in his or her bodily integrity. Various
torts have been developed for these purposes. For example, the tort of nuisance
protects a persons use or enjoyment of land, the tort of defamation protects his or
her reputation, and the tort of negligence protects the breaches of more general
duties owed to that person.
3.
Deterrence: It has been suggested that the rules of tort have a deterrent effect,
encouraging people to take fewer risks and to conduct their activities more
carefully, mindful of their possible effects on other people and their property. This
effect is reflected in the greater awareness of the need for risk management by
manufacturers, employers, health providers and others. This is encouraged by
insurance companies.
4.
Retribution:
An element of retribution may be present in the tort system.
People who have been harmed are sometimes anxious to have a day in court in
order to see the perpetrator of their suffering squirming under cross-examination.
This is probably a more important factor in libel actions and intentional torts than
in personal injury claims which are paid for by insurance companies. In any event,
most cases are settled out of court and the only satisfaction to the claimant lies in
the knowledge that the defendant will have been caused considerable
inconvenience and possible expense.
5.
Vindication: Tort provides the means whereby a person who regards himself or
herself as innocent in a dispute can be vindicated by being declared publicly to be
in the right by a court. However, again it must be noted that many cases never
actually come before a court and the opportunity for satisfaction does not arise.
6.
Loss distribution: Tort is frequently recognized, rather simplistically, as a

vehicle for distributing losses suffered as a result of wrongful activities. In this
context loss means the cost of compensating for harm suffered. This means redistribution of the cost from the claimant who has been injured to the defendant, or
in most cases the defendants insurance company. Ultimately, everyone paying
insurance or buying goods at a higher price to cover insurance payments will bear
the cost. The process is not easily undertaken and it involves considerable
administrative expenses which are reflected in the cost of the tort system itself.
There are also hidden problems attached to the system, such as psychological
difficulties for claimants in using lawyers and the courts, and practical difficulties
such as the funding of claims which may mean that many who deserve
19
compensation never receive it. It has been suggested that there are other less
expensive and more efficient means than tort for dealing with such loss
distribution.
7.
Punishment of wrongful conduct: Although this is one of the main functions of

criminal law, it may also play a small part in the law of tort, as there is a certain
symbolic moral value in requiring the wrongdoer to pay the victim. However, this
aspect has become less valuable with the introduction of insurance.
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 1

What do you understand by injunction?
3.3
The Rule in Smith v. Selwyn (1914) 3 KB 98
The common law rule in Smith v. Selwyn states that where a civil wrong is also a crime,
prosecution of the criminal aspect must be initiated, or reasons for default of prosecution
given, before any action filed by the plaintiff can be heard. Thus, it was the position that
where a tort was also a crime, the filing of criminal proceedings against the wrongdoer,
preceded the filing of a civil suit by the aggrieved party. This is known as the rule in
Smith v. Selwyn. When the rule in Smith v. Selwyn was not observed, the civil action by
the plaintiff could not proceed and it was bound to fail as long as the defendant had not
been prosecuted or a reasonable excuse given for the lack of prosecution.
Formerly, the proper course when a civil suit was filed, was for the court to stay
proceeding in the civil action until the criminal prosecution was finally completed.
Exception to the Rule in Smith v. Selwyn
The right of an aggrieved party to sue in tort is not affected, once the matter was reported
to the police and the police in the exercise of their discretion decide not to press criminal
charges.
In Nwankwa v. Ajaegbu (1978) 2 LRN 230, The plaintiff reported an assault. The police
did not bring criminal proceedings. The plaintiff then brought civil action claiming
damages for assault and battery. The defence contended that the civil action could not
proceed as criminal charges had not been filed by the police. The court held that the civil
action was not caught by the rule in Smith v. Selwyn which required that where a case
discloses a felony, the civil action should be stayed until criminal proceedings were
concluded. The plaintiff having reported the assault to the police, whose duty it was to
prosecute, if the police in their discretion failed to press charges, it was not the fault of the
plaintiff. He was free to initiate civil proceedings for remedy.
Abolition of the Rule in Smith v. Selwyn in Nigeria
20
However, the rule in Smith v. Selwyn which has been abolished in Britain, also no longer
apply in Nigeria. In view of the fact that the rule is a breach of the Nigerian Constitution
and other statutes, that is to say:
1.
2.
3.
Criminal Code Act;

Interpretation Act; and
The Nigerian Constitution
The rule in Smith v. Selwyn for instance breaches sections 6(6)(b), 17(2)(e), 46(1) and
315(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which provisions forbid the blocking of access to court.
The above mentioned provisions of the Nigerian Constitution guarantee right of access to
court for every person to institute action for the protection, or determination of his civil
rights and obligations according to law.
The applicability of the rule in Smith v. Selwyn in Nigeria was considered by the Court of
Appeal in the case of Veritas Insurance Co. Ltd. V. Citi Trust Investments Ltd. (1993) 3
NWLR Pt. 281, P. 349 at 365 CA. where it held that in view of the provisions of the
Nigerian Constitution, Criminal Code Act and the Interpretation Act, the rule no longer
applies in Nigeria. Niki Tobi JCA as he then was, reading the unanimous judgment of the
Court of Appeal said:
It appears that the decisions to the effect that the rule applies in Nigerian law were
made per incuriam. It is my view that the rule is not applicable in Nigeria in view of the
very clear two local statutory provisions. Section 5 of the Criminal Code Act is one,
section 8 of the Interpretation Act is another. Let me state verbatim ad literatim the
provisions the provisions of the two statutes: First, section 5. The section provides that
the Criminal Code: Shall not affect any right of action which any person would have had
against another if the Act had not been passed.
Second, section 8 (of the Interpretation Act). The section provides thus: An enactment
shall not be construed as preventing the recovery of damages in respect of injury
attributable to any act by reason only of the fact that the enactment provides for a
penalty, forfeiture or punishment in respect of the act.
In the light of the above statutory provisions, it is not correct to contend, that the rule
applied in the case. It does not. Apart from the clear position of our law, it does not even
seem to be a sensible thing to stop a plaintiff from instituting an action merely because
the criminal action on the same matter has not been prosecuted. Certainly, a man who is
aggrieved should have nothing to do with a criminal matter before instituting a civil
action. The criminal matter is the concern of the State, so to say, while the civil matter is
the concern of the aggrieved individual. The rule is now an anachronism even in
England, since the enactment of the Criminal Justice Act 1967, an Act which put to final
rest the erstwhile distinction between felony and misdemeanour.
21
In view of the above provisions of the law, the rule in Smith v. Selwyn no longer apply in
Nigeria. See also Adediran v. Interland Transport Ltd. (1991) 9 NWLR Pt. 214, P. 155
SC. Finally, the rule does not also apply in the United Kingdom where it originated, as it
was abolished by the Criminal Justice Act 1967, which abolished the distinction between
felony and misdemeanour in the United Kingdom.
4.0
CONCLUSION
In this unit we have learnt generally about the law of tort, we learnt about the summary of
the objective of the Law of tort which includes but not limited to (a) compensation, (b)
protection of interest, Differences, retribution, vindication loss of distribution, punishment
for wrongful conduct, injunction and the rule in Smith v Selwyn.
5.0
SUMMARY
The objectives of the law of tort can be summarized as follows:

1.
Compensation:
The most obvious objective of tort is to provide a channel for
compensating victims of injury and loss. Tort is the means whereby issues of
liability can be decided and compensation assessed and awarded.
2.
Protection of interests: The law of tort protects a persons interests in land and
other property, in his or her reputation, and in his or her bodily integrity. Various
torts have been developed for these purposes. For example, the tort of nuisance
protects a persons use or enjoyment of land, the tort of defamation protects his or
her reputation, and the tort of negligence protects the breaches of more general
duties owed to that person.
3.
Deterrence:
It has been suggested that the rules of tort have a deterrent
effect, encouraging people to take fewer risks and to conduct their activities more
carefully, mindful of their possible effects on other people and their property. This
effect is reflected in the greater awareness of the need for risk management by
manufacturers, employers, health providers and others. This is encouraged by
insurance companies.
4.
Retribution:
An element of retribution may be present in the tort system.
People who have been harmed are sometimes anxious to have a day in court in
order to see the perpetrator of their suffering squirming under cross-examination.
This is probably a more important factor in libel actions and intentional torts than
in personal injury claims which are paid for by insurance companies. In any event,
most cases are settled out of court and the only satisfaction to the claimant lies in
the knowledge that the defendant will have been caused considerable
inconvenience and possible expense.
5.
Vindication:
Tort provides the means whereby a person who regards
himself or herself as innocent in a dispute can be vindicated by being declared
22
publicly to be in the right by a court. However, again it must be noted that many
cases never actually come before a court and the opportunity for satisfaction does
not arise.
6.
Loss distribution: Tort is frequently recognized, rather simplistically, as a

vehicle for distributing losses suffered as a result of wrongful activities. In this
context loss means the cost of compensating for harm suffered. This means redistribution of the cost from the claimant who has been injured to the defendant, or
in most cases the defendants insurance company. Ultimately, everyone paying
insurance or buying goods at a higher price to cover insurance payments will bear
the cost. The process is not easily undertaken and it involves considerable
administrative expenses which are reflected in the cost of the tort system itself.
There are also hidden problems attached to the system, such as psychological
difficulties for claimants in using lawyers and the courts, and practical difficulties
such as the funding of claims which may mean that many who deserve
compensation never receive it. It has been suggested that there are other less
expensive and more efficient means than tort for dealing with such loss
distribution.
7.
Punishment of wrongful conduct:

Although this is one of the main
functions of criminal law, it may also play a small part in the law of tort, as there is
a certain symbolic moral value in requiring the wrongdoer to pay the victim.
However, this aspect has become less valuable with the introduction of insurance.
6.0
TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT

Discuss the objectives of the law of torts.
7.0
REFERENCES
Harpwood Vivienne: Modern Tort Law, 5th ed., US: Cavendish Publishing Ltd,
2003.
23
UNIT 2
An Overview of the Law of Torts
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
Introduction
Objectives
Main content
3.1
Tort compared with some other laws
3.2
Forms of Action
3.3
Classification of torts
Conclusion
Summary
1.0
INTRODUCTION
In this unit, we shall distinguish tort from other legal conceptions and consider the forms
of action. We will also consider the various classifications of tort and how the law of torts
was received into Nigeria.
2.0
OBJECTIVES

(i)
(ii)
(iii)
compare torts with other laws;

understand the forms of action in tort;
classify torts; and
3.0
MAIN CONTENT
3.1
Tort compared with some other laws
The dividing line between tort and other civil wrongs is thin. Furthermore, tort runs
through the whole law. Like crime, a tort may occur in any other area of law.
We shall briefly compare tort with the following areas of law:
1.
2.
3.
Criminal Law
Law of Contract; and
Trust
24
Tort and crime

The main purpose of criminal law is to protect the interests of the public at large by
punishing those found guilty of crimes, generally by means of imprisonment or fines and
it is those types of conduct which are most detrimental to society and to the public welfare
which are treated as criminal. A conviction for a crime is obtained by means of a criminal
prosecution, which is usually instituted by the State through the agency of the police.
A tort on the other hand, is a purely civil wrong which gives rise to civil proceedings, the
purpose of such proceedings being not to punish wrongdoers for the protection of the
public at large, but to give the individual plaintiff compensation for the damage which he
has suffered as a result of the defendants wrongful conduct.
Another important difference between tort and crime in Nigeria is that the entire criminal
law has been codified in the form of the Criminal Code of Southern Nigeria and the Penal
Code of the Northern states, whereas the law of torts remains a creature of judicial
precedent modified here and there by statute.
There thus fundamental differences between criminal and tortuous liability. It is
significant however that some torts, particularly trespass, have strong historical
connections with the criminal law. So the same act may be both a tort and a crime, for
example, assault, false imprisonment and defamation are both torts and crimes. See
sections 252, 365, 373-381 of the Criminal Code and sections 263, 264 and 391 of the
Penal Code.
There are in addition several examples of conduct which are both criminal and tortuous. If
A steals Bs bicycle, he will be guilty of stealing (a criminal offence, see sections 382-388
of the Criminal Code and sections 286-290 of the Penal Code), and at the same time be
liable to B for the tort of conversion. Again, if A wilfully damages Bs goods, he is liable
for the crime of malicious damage to property (see section 451 of the Criminal Code and
section 326 of the Penal Code) and for the tort of trespass to chattels. The effect in such
cases is that the civil and criminal remedies are not alternative but concurrent, each being
independent of the other. The wrongdoer may be punished by imprisonment or fine and
he may also be compelled in a civil action for tort to pay damages to the injured person by
way of compensation.
Finally, an important distinction between tort and crime is that, to succeed in a criminal
trial, the prosecution must prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. The same does not
exist in civil actions because in an action in tort the plaintiff need only prove his case
upon a balance of probabilities. However, where a tort is also a crime, the criminal
standard of proof is under the Evidence Act is what is also required in the civil trial. In
other words, whenever the commission of a crime is directly in issue in any civil or
criminal proceedings, it must be proved beyond reasonable doubt. See section 138(1)
Evidence Act 2004 and the case of Okuarume V. Obabokor (1966) NMLR 47. It is
25
therefore easier for a plaintiff to succeed in tort than for the prosecution to secure a
conviction in crime.
Tort and Contract
Tort is a breach of a duty imposed by law. In many instances, the parties in a tort are
previously unconnected. There is often no privity of contract. Tort is concerned with
protecting interests and compensating wrongs, injuries or damage. Liability in tort is often
based on fault or occurrence of damage. It is alsoconcerned with unsafe products.
Liability is determined by the remoteness of damage based on foresight of the type of
harm. Tort aims to restore a plaintiff to his pre-accident or pre-wrong position. Limitation
of time runs from the date the wrong or damage occurred.
A contract is a binding agreement between two or more persons. The main distinction
between tort and contract is that in tort the duties of the parties are primarily fixed by law,
whereas in contract they are fixed by the parties themselves. In other words, contractual
duties arise from agreement between the parties; tortuous duties are created by operation
of law independently of the consent of the parties. However, parties to a contract are also
subject to those underlying rules and principles of contract which the law imposes on
them.
Secondly, the duties owed by two contracting parties towards another are frequently not
duties which they expressly agreed upon but obligations which the law applies.
Conversely, some duties in tort can be varied by agreement, for example, the duties owed
by the occupier of premises to his visitors; and liability in tort can be excluded altogether
by consent (the doctrine of volenti non fit injuria),
When a wrong arises exclusively from a breach of agreement between parties, then the
wrong is not a tort but a breach of contract, or trust, or other legal or equitable obligation
as the case may be. On the other hand, if the relationship of the plaintiff and the defendant
is such that a duty of care arises irrespective of contract and a wrong is done, and the
defendant is negligent, then the wrong is often a tort even though it may also be a crime.
In other words, if the law imposes a duty on a person to take care, so that his conduct does
not injure his neighbour, if the person fails to exercise reasonable care, the wrong that
may result is often a tort, even though it may also be a crime or other civil wrong.
In Kelly V. Metropolitan Railway Co. (1895) 1 Q.B. 944 CA., the plaintiff sued the
defendant railway company for personal injuries he suffered due to the negligence of the
servants of the company while he was traveling on the railway. The court held that the
case was founded upon tort and not contract, although the tort occurred as a result of a
contract to carry him as a passenger. See also Tai Hing Cotton Mill V. Lui Chong Hing
Bank (1986) 2 All ER 947.
In Jackson V. Mayfair Window Cleaning Co. Ltd. (1952) 1 ALL ER 215, the plaintiff
house owner contracted the defendant company to clean his house. In the course of
cleaning a chandelier, it fell from the ceiling and was damaged. In an action for
26
negligence for its damage, the court held that the company had failed to exercise
reasonable care in the cleaning of the chandelier and gave judgment in favour of the
plaintiff. The cause of action was not the failure of the company to perform the contract to
clean the house, but it arose out of the breach of duty to exercise reasonable care to keep
the plaintiffs properties safe. The plaintiffs claim was founded on tort and not on
contract. See also the case of Henderson V. Merrett (1994) 3 All ER 506.
On the other hand, where a damage is purely contractual, then any breach of agreement
between the parties can only be remedied by a claim for breach of contract. This view was
affirmed by the Supreme Court in Quo Vadis Hotel Ltd V. Nigeria Marine Services Ltd.
(1992) 6 NWLR Pt. 250, p.653 at p.664 SC.
Sometimes a wrongful act may be both a tort and a breach of contract. For example: (i) if
A has contracted to transport Bs goods and due to As negligence the goods are lost or
damaged. A will be liable to B both for breach of the contract of carriage and for the tort
of negligence. (ii) A dentist who negligently causes injury in the course of extracting a
tooth may be liable to the patient both for breach of an implied term in his contract with
the patient to take reasonable care and for the tort of negligence. See the following cases:
Nigerian Bottling Co. Ltd. V. Ngonadi (1985) 1 NWLR pt. 4, p. 739 SC.
Abusomwan V. Mercantile Bank of Nig. Ltd. (1987) 3 NWLR pt. 60, p. 196 SC.
Osemobor V. Niger Biscuit Co. Ltd. (1973) NCLR 382.
Amadi V. Essien (1994) 7 NWLR pt. 354, p. 91 CA.
Lastly, there are some areas of overlap between contract and tort. For instance, a victim of
fraudulent misrepresentation in contract may sue for the tort of deceit, and a victim of
negligent misrepresentation may sue for the tort of negligence. Also, there are some
concepts which are common to both contract and tort, for example, the concepts of
remoteness of damage and agency. The main object of legal proceedings in both contract
and tort is damages. That is monetary compensation and or a grand of other appropriate
remedy to the injured party for the injury or loss occasioned to him by a breach of
contract or commission of a tort.
Tort and Trust
Tort and trust are civil laws. A trust arises in any situation where one or more persons
hold property for the benefit of another person or objects. However, there is little or no
difference between the legal rights and liabilities of tort and trust. The only real difference
is mainly that of history; that the law of tort arose or developed from common law, whilst
the law of trust grew from the doctrine of equity in the Court of Chancery.
In other words, the remedies of tort are mainly based on law, whilst the remedies of trust
were originally equitable and discretionary, although many remedies are now legal or
statutory. Both laws of tort and trust have since then been developed by statutory
enactments.
27
Similarly, tort, crime, contract and trusts are not exclusive; a single conduct can give rise
to liability in all these areas of law. Thus, where a trustee steals trust funds or
misappropriates trust property, he may be liable for breach of trust under civil law. The
trustee may also be successfully prosecuted for breach of trust in criminal law. Where the
trust was constituted by a written instrument, there may be liability for contractual failure
to carry out the trust duties. Additionally, there may be liability in tort for detinue, or
conversion of the trust property.
Where a single wrongful act gives rise to a right of claim in several areas of law, it is
advisable to bring the action in that one or more areas of law where it will yield the
desired remedy. Therefore, the party who is suing should rely upon that aspect of law
which puts him in a more favourable position. See the case of Chessworth V. Farar
(1967) 1 QB 407 at 110; (1966) 2 All ER 107.
3.2
Forms of Action
In order to understand the categories, boundaries and definitions of modern torts, it is

necessary to look at their historical origins. There is probably no branch of the common
law (apart from English land law) which is more rooted in the past than the law of torts.
Torts were developed from about the thirteenth century onwards in the Kings common
law courts, in which every action had to be commenced by the issue of a royal writ. Each
writ was in a set of form, known as a form of action. There was a limited number of
recognized forms of action and each plaintiff had the difficult task of fitting his claim into
an existing form: if his claim did not fit, he had no remedy. This system of writs and
forms of action dominated the law of torts and indeed the whole common law system
until the forms of action were eventually abolished by the Common Law Procedure Act in
1852. Before the abolition of the forms of action, the question in every tort claim was not
has the defendant broken some duty owed to the plaintiff? but has the plaintiff any
form of action against the defendant, and, if so, what from?
The main forms of action in tort were: (i) the writ of trespass and (ii) the writ of trespass
on the case, or simply the action on the case. The writ of trespass lay only for
forcible, direct and immediate injury to land, persons and chattels. Examples include
where the defendant throws a log of wood at the plaintiff, striking him as he walks along
the road. The action on the case, on the other hand, covered all injuries that were indirect
and consequential or non-forcible. For example where the defendant negligently leaves a
log of wood in the road over which the plaintiff stumbles and is injured (indirect injury),
or where the defendant defames or deceives the plaintiff (non-forcible injury).
Before 1852 it was vital to choose the correct form of action trespass for direct, forcible
injury; case for indirect or non-forcible injuryand if the plaintiff made the wrong choice,
his claim failed. Now all the plaintiff needs to do is to set out the relevant facts in his
statement of claim. Nevertheless, the distinction between direct and consequential injury
28
still remains. Thus the modern tort of trespass is concerned with direct injuries; whilst the
tort of nuisance (derived from the action on the case) covers indirect injuries. See
Onasanya V. Emmanuel (1974) 9 C.C.H.C.J. 1477, at p.1484 where throwing water and
refuse onto plaintiffs land was held to be trespass and allowing excreta to seep into
plaintiffs well from defendants salga was held to be nuisance. See also Lawani V. West
African Portland Cement Co. Ltd. (1974) 2 W.S.C.A. 36 at pp.41, 42.
It is no longer necessary for the plaintiff to plead any particular form of action, but he
must nevertheless show that some recognized tort has been committed. He can do this
only by showing that the defendants conduct comes within the definition of trespass,
nuisance, negligence, etc., as the case may be. The boundaries and definitions of modern
torts thus depend to a large extent on the boundaries of the old forms of action; hence
Maitlands celebrated remark: The forms of action we have buried, but they still rule us
from their graves.
3.3
Classification of torts
The classification of torts is a good academic exercise. The classification of torts helps to
ensure a better understanding and study of the law of tort as a whole by putting it in a
better perspective. It also helps to know the relationship between various torts. Torts may
be classified according to the kind of rights or interests which they protect. Therefore,
torts may be grouped as follows as those that protect or concern:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Personal Interests
Interference with judicial process
Property interests
Interest in reputation
Economic interests
Interference with relationships; and
Miscellaneous interests
Let us briefly examine the classes of torts.

Torts Protecting Personal Interests
The torts that protect a person, or prohibit trespass to person include the torts of trespass,
such as, assault, battery, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, the Rule in Rylands
V. Fletcher, negligence, occupiers liability, etc. These torts are concerned with protecting
a person from being injured in the body. They also protect the freedom, liberty and
dignity of a person from being denied by way of arrest, false imprisonment, etc.
Torts Prohibiting Interference with Judicial Process
The torts that prohibit interference with judicial process include malicious prosecution.
This tort aims to protect persons against criminal prosecution without lawful excuse.
29
Torts Protecting Property Interests

The torts that protect interests in property include trespass to chattel, trespass to land,
nuisance, the Rule in Rylands V. Fletcher, negligence and interests in intellectual
property, such as, copyright, passing off, injurious falsehood, patents, trademark, etc.
These torts protect the proprietary interests of a person.
Torts Protecting Interests in Reputation
The tort that protects the reputation of a person is the tort of defamation. The law of
defamation which is divided into libel and slander protects a persons right to his good
reputation. It deals with wrongs to reputation. Defamation is also a crime. In criminal law,
defamation consists of slander and libel. However, if a person does not have a good
reputation, then there is nothing for the law to protect as the case may be.
Torts Protecting Economic Interests
The torts which protect economic interests include; vicarious liability, deceit, passing off,
interference with contractual relations and inducing breach of contract, malicious or
injurious falsehood, conspiracy, intimidation, occupiers liability, etc. These torts protect
the economic interests of a person, such as economic relations and trading interests. They
protect the right of a person to be free from financial or economic harm.
Torts Prohibiting Interference with Relationships
The torts which protect relationship between one person and another person include,
interference with contractual relations, enticement and harbouring, etc. On the other hand,
the law of tort cares about economic and contractual relationships. For instance, the law
of tort protects one contracting party from being denied the service of the other
contracting party through inducement by a third party to break the agreement. See the
case of Lumley V, Gye (1853) 118 ER 749, 1083 and British Motor trade Asso V.
Salvadori (1949) Ch. 556.
The torts of enticement and harbouring are old common law torts which protect the
matrimonial rights of married persons; for instance the right of one spouse not to be
denied the consort of the other spouse by a third party. Although, enticement and
harbouring are valid torts in Nigeria, they have been abolished in England. (See section
2(9) of the Administration of Justice Act, United Kingdom; and the case of Best V.
Samuel Fox & Co. (1952) 2 All ER 394.) Furthermore, in these modern days, nobody will
want to sue for these torts because they want to relate with their spouse freely and not by
force of law.
30
Torts Protecting Miscellaneous Interests

This group of torts covers other multifarious and less common interests which are
protected by the law of torts.

Mention the various classifications of torts.
4.0
CONCLUSION
One of the mysteries of Legal Education is the exact or precise meaning and ambit of tort
liability. Tortuous liability arises from the breach of a duty of primary care fixed by law.
Such duty is towards persons generally and its breach is redressable by an action for
unliquidated damges. Although universally acclaimed, this definition does little more
than purport to assist us to distinguish tort form other branches of Law.
5.0
SUMMARY
In this unit, you learnt about the Law of Tort in comparison and difference between Torts
and Crime, Tort and Breach of Trust, Tort and Contract.
6.0
Write short notes on the following:

(i)
Tort and crime
(ii)
Tort and contract
(iii) Tort and breach of trust
7.0
REFERENCES
Criminal Code of the Southern States of Nigeria

Penal Code of the Northern States of Nigeria
31
UNIT 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
Introduction
Objectives
Main content
3.1
How law of tort was received into Nigeria
3.2
Sources of the Nigerian law of tort
Conclusion
Summary
1.0
INTRODUCTION
The evolution of the law of tort has been somewhat haphazard and it is an area of law
which is still developing. Note until 1932, was negligence officially recognized by the
House of Lords in England as a separate tort, has negligence been of central importance.
However, the vast majority of tort claims today are for negligence. Negligence has proved
the most appropriate action in modern living conditions, especially since the development
of the motor car. We shall consider how the law of torts was received into Nigeria.
2.0
OBJECTIVES

(i)
(ii)
explain how the law of torts was received into Nigeria;

enumerate the sources of the Nigerian law of tort.
3.0
MAIN CONTENT
3.1
How Law of Tort was received into Nigeria
The law of tort is a part of the common law of England which is itself, a part of the
English law. The law of tort came into Nigeria when English law was received into
Nigeria by virtue of local statutes that permitted the application of English law in Nigeria.
The English law which was introduced into Nigeria is made up of three aspects. These
are:
1.
2.
3.
The common law of England

Equity; and
The statutes of general application in force in England on January 1, 1900.
32
Among the local statutes that received the laws of England for application in Nigeria were
the Supreme Court Act 1914, the Interpretation Act and the High Court laws of the
Regions. These Nigerian statutes received the English common law, equity and statutes
of general application, which were in force in England on January 1, 1900 and made them
applicable in Nigeria. Later on, in the Western Region of Nigeria, the regional parliament
enacted the Law of England (Applicable) Law and limited itself to receiving only English
common law and equity. See section 3, Laws of Western Region of Nigeria, 1959.
This law made statutes of general application in respect of subject matters that were
within the legislative competence of the Western Region parliament inapplicable to the
Region. The Western Region parliament then re-enacted such English statutes of general
application that were relevant for the region mutatis mutandis and made them part of its
law to fill the gaps that would have been created.
It is generally agreed that the cut off January 1, 1900 date is applicable only to English
statutes of general application and therefore bars English statutes made after that date
onwards to this day, from application in Nigeria. Thus, the principles of English common
law and equity which are current in England should apply in Nigeria as they are not
affected by the January 1, 1900 cut off date. Provided that:
1.
Such principle of common law is not in conflict with any Nigerian statute or case
law on the subject matter; and
2.
The jurisdiction of the relevant court permits it to apply English law, subject of
course to the overriding power of the court in question to ascertain the current state
of the law in England.
In the light of the fact that statutes made in England after January 1, 1900 are not
applicable in Nigeria, the legislature at the Federal, State and local councils levels now
have the full responsibility of enacting legislations to meet the needs of Nigeria and
maintain parity with legal developments in other countries, especially common law
countries, such as England and the rest of the Commonwealth of Nations.
In this wise, many statutes have been enacted by the legislatures in Nigeria. Some of these
statutes are reproductions mutatis mutandis of the relevant English legislations after
which they are modelled. Examples are the Defamation Law, Law Reform (Torts) Law,
Fatal Accidents Law, Weights and Measures Act, Food and Drugs Act and the Consumer
Protection Council Act to mention a few. (See Laws of Lagos State, 2003 and Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria, 2004).
It is hoped that the enactment of statutes in Nigeria will be a pro-active, timely and
responsive exercise, so that reform will continue to be made in deserving aspects of
Nigerian law. For instance, in the law of tort, such as, in trespass to goods, liability for
defective buildings and structures, etc.
33
3.2
The Sources of the Nigerian law of tort
The sources of the Nigerian law of tort are several. They include:
1.
2.
3.
Common law
Case law; and
Statutes
We shall briefly examine these.
COMMON LAW
Common law or the common law of England is known and called by this name because it
is the law which was common to all parts of England and Wales. It grew over time from
the practices, customs and ways of life of the people. Therefore, common law is the
general custom of the people of the United Kingdom. It is largely an unwritten law as
opposed to statutory law which is codified.
The first common law judge was the king himself. He held court and sat as judge. The
people sought justice at his hands. He was the dispenser of justice and the people reveried
him. When the king became too busy by reason of state affairs to hear all the cases
coming before him, he appointed members of his court or council to sit in judgment and
minister justice on his behalf throughout the realm. Though the king was not physically
present in the court-room, he was assumed to be there spiritually, guiding the hand of
justice. Thus, any disrespect or disobedience to the judge was considered to be disrespect
or disobedience to the king or the spiritual presense of the king. Thus, punishment of such
contempt of court by the presiding judge was just as swift and as sure as punishment by
the king would have been. See C. F. Padfield, Law Made Simple, 1978 5th ed. p.11 and
also Don R. Pember, Mass Media Law, 2nd ed. p. 296.
Itinerant Judges and the growth of common law
The common law of England really started to grow as a result of the practice of the kings
who appointed and sent out royal judges, on itinerary to dispense justice in the countries
of the realm on his behalf and in his name. These itinerant justices went out from London
to all of the kingdom on visits regularly, to dispense better justice which obtained the
approval of the people.
The royal judges were usually nobel personalities, such as, bishops, barons, knights and
other nobility and were appointed from the kings council. These judges were mainly
untrained in law and when they came to a country, they first of all had to ascertain the
custom of the country, or community, which custom they then applied in the local country
court to the cases brought before them. The judgments given in these cases were then
enforced in the name of the king.
34
The complete formation of common law

On completing their regular circuits, the judges returned to the royal courts at
Westminster, London and discussed the customs they ascertained from the various
countries and the decisions they gave in the cases. As a result of sifting these customs,
discarding those which were unreasonable and retaining those which were fair and using
good judgment and reason, the judges over time arrived at a uniform body of custom law
from these customs which commonly applied in the kingdom.
This uniform body of custom law, formed from the customs of the people is and has since
been known as the common law of England. Common law continued to grow with the
application of stare decisis, which means let the decision stand. Stare decisis is the
practice of standing by an earlier decision and applying it to the new case at hand. Stare
decisis is the application of judicial precedent whereby any legal rule or law rightly stated
or formed in a new case was applied and followed by other judges in subsequent matters
and problems of law which were similar to the earlier case sought to be followed as
precedent.
English text writers generally agree that the formation of common law was completed
around 1250 A. D. at which time Henry de Bracton (d.1268) wrote his famous book
known as Treatise on the Laws and Customs of England. This book is regarded as the
first exposition of a portion of this law of England. By this time, common law through
application of judicial precedent had become more certain and predictable, thus acquiring
the basic essentials of a good law which are certainty, uniformity and consistency.
However, with the possession of these qualities, new problems arose. Common law was
inflexible and worked hardship in some cases, whilst it did not even provide redress for
litigants in other instances. Thus, common law was inadequate to meet all legal problems.
At this time, Equity, which was fairness, natural justice or good judgment, was then
developed by the Lord Chancellor of England and his colleagues in the Court of
Chancery, together with statute law, were brought in to act as a gloss to supplement and
smoothen the hardships and fill in the gaps of the common law, thus making English law
a more complete legal system. The common law of England has today reached all parts of
the world, especially the Commonwealth of Nations which are sometimes referred to as
common law countries, or common law jurisdictions.

Define common law.
CASE LAW OR JUDICIAL PRECEDENT

Case law or judicial precedent is law formed from earlier decided cases. It is law formed
from the legal principles laid down in earlier cases. Thus case law or judicial precedent is
the practice of following precedents or law laid down in earlier cases. In other words, case
35
law is law based on the principle of stare decisis, that is, the practice of standing by and
applying an earlier decision, provided that the case at hand is similar to the earlier case or
cases sought to be followed.
In both civil and criminal cases, judges usually state the reasons for a decision, when
giving a ruling or judgment. In future, when a case involving similar facts comes before a
court, the judge will refer to the reasons for the decision in the earlier case. If the principle
of law to be applied in the present case is the same, the judge will then follow the earlier
decision, that is, the legal principles established in the earlier case. This practice of
following the legal principles or law laid down in earlier cases that are similar to the case
at hand, causes law to be more certain and uniform in application. The law so laid down
in earlier decided cases is called case law, as opposed to statute law which is usually
codified at the instance of the relevant law maker, or for instance, customary law which
usually grows over time from the customs and ways of life of the people who are subject
to the customary law.
The bindingness of case law
Likewise, the position in other countries, the judgments of the highest courts in Nigeria,
such as, the Supreme Court at Abuja and the Court of Appeal which has several divisions
sitting in various parts of the country, have from time always commanded the greatest
respect. The general rule of precedence established long ago in England in the 19 th
century and which is consistently observed in the Nigerian legal system, is that decision
of the higher courts bind the lower courts. Thus the decisions of the Supreme Court which
is the highest court in Nigeria binds all courts in the country.
The order of precedence or bindingness of case law
The order of bindingness of case law is usually according to the superiority of the court
that decided the given case. The order of precedence or bindingness of decisions as it
applies in the courts in Nigeria is as follows:
S/N Name of Court
1.
Supreme Court
2.
Court of Appeal
(The practice of the
English Court of Appeal
as stated in Young V.
British Aeroplane Co.
(1994) KB 718 is
applicable to the court.
3.
High Court
Courts bound to follow decision

All courts in Nigeria, but not itself
Itself and all lower courts in Nigeria. However, it is not
bound by its own decision in the following instances:
(a) It is free to choose between two conflicting
decisions of its own;
(b) It is not bound to follow its own decision, which
though not overruled, but cannot stand with a decision
of the Supreme Court; and
(c) Finally, it is also not bound to follow its own
decision which was given per incuriam, that is, a case
decided based on its peculiar facts.
Itself and lower courts.
36
4.
Magistrate Court
Their decisions do not bind any other court. Also, they

are not bound to follow their own previous decision.
Courts of co-ordinate jurisdiction or equal powers

Courts of co-ordinate jurisdiction are courts of equal status or equal powers. Each division
of the Court of Appeal is of equal status with another division of the Court of Appeal
sitting in another part of the country, and each is not bound by the others decisions. But
in practice, each court does pay attention to the rulings and judgments of the other and the
decisions of each court has a strong persuasive influence on the other divisions of the
court in order to ensure certainty and uniformity of the law. This position also applies to
the High Courts. The High Courts, whether it is a Federal High Court or a State High
Court are also courts of co-ordinate jurisdiction, equal power or of equal status.
Thus stare decisis, or the practice of referring to earlier decisions and drawing similarity
from them to the present case, in order to reach a decision in the case at hand is known as
the application of judicial precedent. The practice of judicial precedence leads to case law.
Case law is law developed or formed from decisions reached in earlier cases.
Nigerian Judges and case law
In Nigeria, it is not the duty of judges to make law but to interpret and apply the law as it
is. But in countries where case law in the strict sense of law making by judges obtain, it
will be necessary to emphasis certainty and flexibility side by side, so that certainty will
not lead to rigidity, while flexibility to create new law on the other hand should also not
lead to uncertainty and thus hamper the development of the law to meet the needs of
society.
Examples of case law or judge made law
Some notable examples of law making or case law arising from judicial decisions of
judges in the law of tort are:
1.
The Rule in Rylands V. Fletcher (1866) LR. 1 Exch. 265, (1861-1873) All ER 1.
Affirmed in (1868) LR 3 HL 330. The case was decided by Blackburn J. as he then
was. In this case, His Lordship in the English High Court laid down the law that a
person who brings anything that is likely to do mischief onto his land or premises,
is strictly liable for any injury caused by it if it escapes.
2.
Donoghue V. Stevenson (1932) All ER 1. Where Lord James Atkin in the House of
Lords established the concept of duty of care, when it exists and to whom it is
owed. The duty of care as laid down by Lord Atkin in the law of negligence is that
a person whose action is likely to cause harm, should be careful and conduct
himself in such a way to avoid harm to anyone.
LEGISLATIONS
37
Common law and equity are important parts of Nigerian law. However, before and since
independence, legislations or statutes have continually increased in power and coverage in
Nigeria. Today, legislations are the main source of law making, reform and legal
development in Nigeria, just as in other countries.
The National Assembly has power to make and repeal laws for the peace, order and good
government of Nigeria, while the House of Assembly of a State has power to make laws
for the peace, order and good government of a state. By means of legislation, successive
governments have reformed and continued to affect more positively the social, economic
and political life of the country. For instance, criminal law is entirely statutory and thus it
is completely codified or written in Nigeria, so also are many aspects of civil law.
Legislations or statutes are usually enacted by parliament in writing, that is in written
form and are therefore called written law, as opposed to the common law of England or
customary laws in Nigeria which are not strictly in codified form or code law. However,
common law and customary law are partly unwritten and partly written nowadays
especially when it is written as part of the judgment or decision of a court.
Legislations are usually enacted in the legislature or parliament, such as the National
Assembly or House of Assembly of a State, which are made up of the elected
representatives of the people. In a parliament, the law has to be passed according to the
prescribed legislative procedure stipulated in the Constitution. After the required number
of readings and debate, some of the laws require at least two third votes of the total
members to become law, whilst others require only a simple majority of votes.
The National Assembly in Nigeria is made up of two houses or chambers, that is, the
Senate which is the upper house and the House of Representatives which is the lower
house. Some legislatures have a single house, for instance a State House of Assembly in
Nigeria. After a bill, as a law is first called, has been passed, it has to be sent to the
President or the State Governor, as the case may be, who assents to it by subscribing or
appending his signature to it and it becomes law.
Where the executive vetoes the bill by not signing it, the legislature may override the
executive and on its own by the required two-third majority vote, pass the bill into law
and the signature of the President or Governor as the case may be, will no longer be
required. The National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly can enact statutes within
the ambit of the legislative lists assigned to them by the Nigerian Constitution.
Legislations or statutes are known by different names depending on the legislature or law
maker that enacted the statute or the government in power. In Nigeria, statutes or
legislations include:
1.
2.
Acts and Laws

Decrees and Edicts
38
3.
4.
Bye-Laws; and
Delegated Legislations or subsidiary legislations, etc.
Let us briefly examine these.

Acts and Laws
Statutes enacted by the National Assembly are called Acts, that is, Acts of Parliament;
while statutes passed by a State House of Assembly are called Laws. However, any
statute passed by a parliament, whether it is the National Assembly or House of Assembly
of a State is known as an Act of Parliament. Various acts and Laws have been passed to
regulate different aspects of the law of tort in Nigeria.
Decrees and Edicts
When a military government is in power, a statute passed by the Federal Military
Government of Nigeria is called a Decree while a law enacted by the Military
Government of a State is called an Edict. However, a military government in power may
by law convert and deem specified decrees and edicts to be Acts or Laws respectively and
from the date of such legislation making the conversion, the affected decree or edict are
referred to as an Act or Law, such as was done by the government of General Ibrahim
Babangida in the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.
All decrees in the Laws of Nigeria 1990 are called Acts, even though most of the statutes
were decrees of the Federal Military Government. Furthermore, when a democratic
government assumes power, all existing decrees and edicts that are not abolished by the
Constitution are deemed converted and are thereafter referred to as Acts and Laws from
the day the Constitution takes effect.
Bye-Laws
Legislations passed by a Local Government Council are known as bye-laws. Many local
government councils across the country have various bye-laws which have one thing or
the other to do with the law of tort, especially with regard to cleanliness of premises,
obstruction of public roads, etc.
Delegated Legislation
Apart from the above mentioned statutes, we also have delegated legislation. This is
legislation made by some administrative officer, authority or body under power delegated
or given to that person, authority or agency by the Constitution or other enabling statute
permitting such administrative authority to make laws. Examples of administrative law
makers or rule makers include, the President, Governors, Ministers, Commissioners,
ministries, departments, public agencies, etc acting under appropriate enabling statutes
which empower them to make delegated legislation.
39
Delegated legislation is also known as subsidiary legislation or subordinate legislation.

Delegated or subsidiary legislation is usually controlled by parliament, in that the
proposed orders or rules are supposed to be printed and laid before parliament which may
then debate them and approve same for enforcement, amend or reject it. These subsidiary
legislations when made according to the stipulated procedure are valid laws just as the
parent statute itself.
Delegated legislation is an indirect form of legislation because they are laws made by
persons who are not members of parliament. Delegated legislation may take various
forms. These include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Statutory instruments
Orders-in-council
Bye-laws
Regulations, rules, orders and directives
Rules of court, forms and precedents, etc.
Annually, many statutes are passed by the National Assembly and State Houses of
Assembly; and much subsidiary legislation especially in the form of rules and regulations
are made pursuant to these parent statutes by various administrative authorities. See
statutes contained in the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 edition e.g Weights and
Measures Act.
4.0
CONCLUSION
It is important in the knowledge of general principles of Law to be acquainted with the

Sources of Law applicable in a particular country and locality. This is because the whole
body of Law culminating in a proper reception of the Legal System is determined by the
sources of applicable Laws.
5.0
SUMMARY
In this unit, we discussed the various sources of the Law of Tort, legislation and the
Received English Law and Equity and Common Law.
6.0
1.
2.
What do you understand by stare decisis?

What is delegated legislation?
7.0
REFERENCES
1.
Bodunde Bankole; Tort: Law of Wrongful Conduct: Lipservice Publications (1998),
Lagos.
40
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Fidelis Nwadalo: the Criminal Procedure of the Southern States of Nigeria, Mij Publisher,
Ltd, Lagos (1996).
John G. Fleming: The Law of Torts (1977), The Law Books Co. Ltd publisher, London.
Sweet & Maxwell.
A. Street: The Law of Torts Sweet & Maxwell (1977), London
G. KODILINYE & Oluwole Aluko: Nigeria Law of Torts. Spectrum Law Publishers,
1999.
The Criminal Procedure of the Northern States of Nigeria.
41
UNIT 4
The Principles of Liability in Tort
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
Introduction
Objectives
Main content
3.1
Damage and liability in Tort
Conclusion
Summary
1.0
INTRODUCTION
Generally, each kind of tort has its own rules of liability. However, the rules which
determine liability in various torts include the following:
1.
The principle of fault or negligence: Liability in many torts is based on the

principle of negligence or existence of fault, with the exception of strict liability
torts. For instance, liability in the torts of negligence, occupiers liability,
professional negligence, road traffic accidents, etc are based on the principle of
fault or negligence.
2.
The principle of damage: Here, liability attaches because the claimant or plaintiff
has suffered damage as a result of the defendants conduct. This is with the
exception of torts which are actionable per se, that is without the necessity of
proving damage, for instance, trespass and libel.
3.
De minimis non curat lex: Which means the law does not bother or concern itself
with trivialities and thus there is no liability.
4.
Intentional damage is never too remote: Where a damage is intentional, the

wrongdoer is usually liable.
5.
A tortfeasor takes his victim as he finds him: This is known as the egg shell rule,
thin skull rule or the unusual plaintiffs rule.
6.
Strict liability: As a general rule, the principle of strict liability means that a
defendant is liable for his tort, even though there is no fault or negligence on his
part and whether or not damage is done to the plaintiff.
We shall examine these principles of liability in the next two units with the exception of
the principle of fault or negligence which shall be examined fully later.
42
2.0
OBJECTIVES

(i)
explain the principle of damage.
3.0
MAIN CONTENT
3.1
Damage and liability in Tort
Often times, for a defendant to be held liable for a tort, the plaintiff must have suffered
damage as a result of the conduct of the defendant. Where damage has been proved by a
plaintiff, then the test of reasonable foreseeability or remoteness of damage will be
applied to determine the extent, scope or amount of damage for which the defendant will
be held liable and ordered to pay to the plaintiff.
However, because damage does not always lead to liability, three principles exist with
respect to damages. These are:
1.
Damage without legal wrong: that is damnum sine injuria. This means that there is
no legal remedy even though loss was suffered.
2.
Legal wrong without damage: that is injuria sine damnum. This means that there is
liability and remedy based on fault, even though there is no damage.
3.
Damage leading to tortuous liability and legal remedy: This is damage and legal
remedy. This is the commonest situation in most torts and civil claims.
Ordinarily, a damage is a loss or injury suffered by a person. A damage may be physical

such as one done to the body and property, or economic, that is financial, etc.
Furthermore, the word damage also means the money compensation which is usually
paid by a wrongdoer to a person who suffered a loss or injury. Thus damage is the
estimated money compensation which court usually orders a defendant to pay to a
plaintiff or claimant who has suffered a loss or injury. See the following cases: Mahon V.
Osborne (1933) 2 KB 14; Byrne V. Boadle (1863) 159 ER 299 and Ward V. Tesco Stores
Ltd. (1976) 1 All E 219.
We shall now examine the various principles regarding damage.
3.1.1 Damage without a legal wrong: Damnum sine injuria
Damage without a legal wrong or damnum sine injuria is a loss or damage which does not
have a legal remedy. Damage without a legal injury is where a wrong or damage has been
done to a person, nevertheless, the person has no right of action to recover compensation
because no legal wrong has been committed. It is a damage suffered without the breach of
43
a legal right. Thus, the mere fact that a person has been harmed does not entitle him to
maintain an action, unless a legal wrong has been done to him.
For a suit to succeed, the damage must result from a breach of a legal right of the plaintiff.
Where a damage is suffered without the breach of a legal right, it is known in Latin as
damnum sine injuria that is, damage without injury. Examples of damages without legal
injury are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Trade compensation
Defamation on a privileged occasion
Lawful use of property or lawful conduct; and
Perjury
We shall briefly examine these torts.

Trade Competition
Ordinary trade competition among several traders who sell the same or similar goods or
services may cause harm to a trader who cannot compete. This may lead to loss of
customers and livelihood. However, this does not give a right of action. Thus, where a big
supermarket or dealer sets up business next to a small retailer and sells at cheaper prices,
as a result of which the retailer being unable to compete is forced to close down his
business, harm is done to him as his livelihood is lost and he may suffer other
consequential losses. Nonetheless, there is no legal wrong committed by the big
supermarket. Thus, right of action will not lie and no remedy will be offered to the retailer
who has suffered.
Therefore, where right of action is based on the occurrence of a legal wrong or legal
damage; a tort or wrongful act is not actionable per se upon commission, unless a legal
wrong or legal damage is done to the plaintiff. In such instances, liability only attaches
when damage is caused to the plaintiff. Accordingly, the plaintiff will only succeed if he
can prove that the defendant has infringed his legal right or done a legal wrong and that
thereby he has suffered harm or injury.
In Mogul Steamship Co. V. McGregor Gow & Co. and Ors. (1892) AC 25, the plaintiff
appellant company and the defendant respondent companies were rival traders in China
tea. The defendants formed an association to the exclusion of the plaintiff and persuaded
tea merchants in China not to act as the plaintiffs agents; otherwise their agency would
be withdrawn by the association. The plaintiff then brought action against the associated
defendants alleging a civil conspiracy to injure the plaintiffs trade.
The House of Lords held that the defendant companies acted with the lawful object of
protecting, extending their trade and increasing their profits. The House of Lords went on
to say that since the means they used were not unlawful, the plaintiff had no cause of
44
action even though the plaintiff may have suffered injury. Therefore, trade conspiracy per
se without more is not a tort unless it is accompanied by some unlawful act.
Defamation made on a privileged occasion
Another example where there is a damage but there is no right of action is when a
defamatory statement is made on a privileged occasion. Defamation on a privilege
occasion is where a person is defamed but the plaintiff has no right of action because the
defamation was made on a privileged occasion. In this instance, damage is occasioned to
the plaintiff but there is no legal wrong done and consequently there is no right of action
to recover compensation for defamation. See the case of Chatterton V. Secretary of State
fro India (1895) 2 QB 189; and Ayoola V. Olajire (1977) 3 CCHCJ 315.
Lawful use of Property
As a general rule of law, lawful use of property or lawful conduct without more is not a
legal wrong against which right of action and remedy lies. However, when lawful use of
property degenerates or graduates into nuisance or other legal wrong or breach of law,
right of action and remedy then lies.
In Bradford Corporation V. Pickles (1895) AC 587 HL, the parties were adjoining land
owners. The defendant corporation had statutory powers to take water from certain
springs. Water reached these springs by flowing in undefined channels through the
neighbouring land belonging to the defendant. The defendant with a view to inducing
Bradford Corporation to buy his land at a high price, sank a shaft on his land to collect the
passing water and thereby interfered with the flow of water into the corporations
reservoir.
The corporation applied to court for an injunction to restrain him from collecting the
underground water in his borehole. The court held that an injunction would not lie. The
defendant was entitled as an owner to draw from his land the underground water. His
malice if any, in trying to force the purchase of the land was irrelevant. No lawful use
of property can become illegal if done with an improper motive. Therefore as a general
rule, lawful use of ones property is not a legal wrong, unless such use degenerates into
nuisance or other breach of law.
Perjury
Perjury is the offence of knowingly making a false statement or giving false evidence in a
judicial proceeding in which one is a party or was called as a witness to give evidence.
Therefore if a person goes to court and gives any evidence which the person knows to be
false, he commits the offence of perjury and if he is discovered he may be prosecuted and
sanctioned for it in criminal law. See section 117 of the Criminal Code Act. See also the
following cases: Cadell V. Palmer (1831) 6 ER 956; R V. Hall (1982) 4 CAR 153; R V.
Rider (1986) 83 CAR 207; and R V. Peach (1990) 2 All ER 966.
45
However, whether or not the person is discovered and prosecuted for it, the party who is
injured by the perjury has no right of civil action for remedy in respect of the perjury per
se, although he may be able to go on appeal on other points of law in the proceedings in
which the perjury was committed.
In Hargreaves V. Bretherton (1958) 1 QB 45, the plaintiff brought an action for damages
against the defendant on the ground that the defendant had falsely, maliciously and
without just cause committed perjury as a witness by giving false evidence at the trial of
the plaintiff for certain criminal offence and that consequently he the plaintiff had been
convicted and sentenced to eight years imprisonment. The court held that no right of
action lied as the plaintiffs action was based on the purported tort of perjury. There is no
tort of perjury.
In Roy V. Prior (1971) AC 470, the plaintiff sued the defendant for damages alleging inter
alia that the defendant caused his arrest and forcible attendance at court to give evidence
as a witness in a criminal proceeding by falsely saying in court that the plaintiff was
evading a witness summons. It was held that there was no tort of perjury and therefore no
cause of action lay against the defendant. See also Evans V. London Hospital Medical
College (1981) 1 WLR 184.
The reason for this immunity from liability in civil action for perjury, lies in the public
policy that witnesses should feel free to come and give evidence in legal proceedings.
However, the English Criminal Justice Act 1988 gives a prisoner whose conviction is
quashed or pardoned due to perjury and so forth, a right to monetary compensation from
the government to assuage his feelings and alleviate his sufferings for the perjury
committed against him and his resultant conviction.
3.1.2 Legal wrong without damage: Injuria sine damno
Legal wrong without damage means legal wrong without loss. It is the breach of a
persons legal right but without damage to the person. It is a legal wrong without damage.
Whenever there is a breach of a persons legal right, the person has a right of action and
may bring action to recover damages even though it is nominal damage. See Ashby V.
White (1703) 1 ER 417. He may also obtain such other appropriate remedies, although he
never suffered any harm as a result of the tort. This is a contrast to damage without legal
wrong. This is a situation where there is a legal wrong committed or done against a
person but no loss or damage was suffered by the plaintiff or no damage was established
by the plaintiff.
As a general rule, where there is a legal wrong without damage, the law presumes damage
even though damage was not suffered by the plaintiff nor was proved by the plaintiff. For
the simple reason that a legal wrong has been done to the plaintiff and the plaintiff is
thereby entitled to an award of general damages, at least nominal damages, however small
the amount. See Newstead V. London Express Newspapers (1940) 1 KB 377; and Basely
V. Clarkson (1681) 83 ER 565.
46
The principle of legal wrong without damage or injuria sine damno, is an exception to the
general rule that there must be damage or injury before legal action may be brought
against a wrongdoer in tort. The torts in which damage need not be proved for a right of
action to lie, are torts which are actionable per se, that is, they are actionable upon being
committed. In other words, these torts give a right of action to the plaintiff to sue, once
they are committed even though no harm resulted to the plaintiff.
To succeed in a claim for compensation in torts that are actionable per se, the plaintiff
only needs to prove on the basis of probability, that the tort he alleges was committed.
However, the plaintiff need not go on to establish damage, except where he actually
suffered damage, in which case the amount of damages the plaintiff will recover will
accordingly be increased beyond nominal damages. Examples of torts which are
actionable per se, upon commission without the necessity of establishing damage include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Libel and sometimes slander

Trespass to the person
Trespass to land
We shall examine these torts briefly.

Libel and sometimes slander
Defamation consists of libel and slander. Libel is actionable upon mere commission
without the necessity of proving damage. As a general rule, slander is not actionable per
se, except in four instances. These are:
1.
Implying that a person has committed a criminal offence. See Farashi V. Yakubu
(1970) NNLR 17.
2.
Saying that a person has an infectious disease. See Bloodworth V. Gray (1844) 135
ER 140.
3.
Accusing a woman or girl of unchastity. See Kerr V. Kennedy (1942) 1 KB 409.
4.
Implying that a person is incompetent in his or her profession, business or office.

See African Press Ltd. V. Ikejiani (1953) 14 WACA 386.
Like in libel, these four heads of slander give rise to a right of action in themselves. To
succeed, the plaintiff only needs to establish that the slanderous expression was published,
without the necessity of proving damage. He may however prove any specific damage
that he has suffered in addition to the general damages that may be presumed in his
favour.
47
Trespass to Person
For instance, assault and battery, each gives a right of action in itself.
Trespass to Chattel
Trespass to goods is actionable per se.
Trespass to Land
A right to sue arises for every unlawful entry or trespass to land, even though no actual
damage was done to the land. Therefore, trespassing on another persons land such as by
mere entry on the land or removing anything from it, without lawful authority or excuse
constitutes trespass.
The general rule of law is that where there is a wrong, there is a remedy, even though no
specific damage was suffered. Thus, legal wrong and remedy usually go together. This
rule of law is well illustrated in the case of: Ashby V. White (1703) 1 ER 417.
The plaintiff, a voter was prevented from casting his vote at an election by White, the
Mayor of Aylesbury, England and his vote was discountenanced. He sued alleging
wrongful rejection of his vote. The court held in his favour that an elector had a right of
legal action for a form of nuisance or disturbance of rights, when his vote was wrongfully
rejected by the returning officer even though the candidate he had tried to vote for was
elected. In this case, Holt CJ took time to explain that the existence of a legal right and
remedy go together:
If the plaintiff has a right he must of necessity have the
means to vindicate it, and a remedy, if he is injured
in the exercise of it, and indeed, it is a vain thing to
imagine a right without a remedy; for want of right and
remedy are reciprocal.
On appeal, the House of Lords upheld the judgment. Therefore, where there is a right,
there is a remedy ubi jus ibi remedium. And where there is no right, there is no remedy.
See also Bello V. A. G. Oyo State (1986) 5 NWLR pt. 4, p. 828 SC.
However, in a case where there is a legal wrong but damage did not occur or was not
proved by the plaintiff, the amount of damages the court may award would usually be
small as no loss was established. In such instances, nominal damage may be awarded.
Nominal damage is an award of small damages. It is usually awarded where little or no
damage was proved in order to discourage people from running to court at every minor
breach of right to litigate. The reason being that, the law does not concern itself with
trifles. This in part gave rise to the principle of de minimis non curat lex meaning that
48
court does not concern itself with trivialities. This is a principle the court may consider in
appropriate cases in determining liability.

What do you understand by nominal damages?
3.1.3 Causation and liability for damage
The consequences of a wrong conduct done by a defendant may be minimal, limited or
even seemingly endless. In other words, when a tort is committed, the damages caused
may be:
1.
2.
3.
Minimal
Limited; or
Seemingly endless.
Therefore, we need to ask, for what consequences of a tort is the defendant liable? Is a
defendant liable for only immediate damage or for the far flung remote damages? Is he
liable for all damages occasioned by his tort? In other words, what is the liability of a
tortfeasor; is he liable only for the reasonably foreseeable damages, or is he liable for
continuous loss and for the consequences? For what result of his torts is a tortfeasor
liable? What is the relationship between cause and liability?
As a general rule, a tortfeasor is only liable for the reasonably foreseeable damages of the
tort he committed. Accordingly, a plaintiff is only entitled to compensation for damages
which in the estimation of the court flows naturally from the alleged tort, that is to say, a
tortfeasor is only liable for damages that are reasonably foreseeable. Thus, where damage
is too remote to be the result or consequence of the alleged tort, no compensation would
be awarded.
A helpful question which courts sometimes apply to determine cause and liability of a
defendant or whether the damage is the natural or reasonably foreseeable result of an
alleged tort, is the but for test. Meaning that if the damage would not have occurred but
for the defendants tortuous conduct, then the defendant is liable. The following two cases
illustrate the application of the but for test.
Barnett V. Chelsea & Kensingson Hospital Management Committee (1968) 1 All ER
1068.
The plaintiffs husband after drinking some tea persistently vomited for three hours. Two
other men who drank the tea were similarly affected. Later that night, they went to the
defendant hospital where a nurse contacted the duty doctor, an employee of the defendant
hospital who himself feeling unwell could not attend to them and asked them to go home
to sleep and consult their own doctors.
49
The plaintiffs husband died that night of arsenic poisoning according to the report of the
coroners inquest. The issue was whether but for the doctors failure to examine the
deceased would he have died? The court held that if the deceased had been examined and
treated with proper care, he would probably have died anyway. It could not be said
conclusively that the doctors failure to treat the deceased was the cause of his death. The
hospital was accordingly not liable.
McWilliams V. Sir William Arrol & Co. Ltd. (1962) 1 WLR 295
A worker who was erecting steel fell from the building where he was working and died. If
he had been wearing a safety harness he would not have fallen to death. The defendants
who were his employers were under a legal duty under statute to provide all the workers
with safety harness. They were in breach of that duty by failing to provide them on the
day of the accident.
However, it was proved that on previous occasions when the employer provided safety
harness, the deceased worker had not bothered to wear it. The court held that the
defendants were not liable. The inference was that even if a safety harness had been
provided on the day of the accident, the deceased would not have worn it and so would
have died anyway.
Cause and the limit of liability for damage
The tort must have caused the damages claimed. The damage must be the natural or
reasonably foreseeable consequence of the tort, otherwise the defendant would not be
liable. In other words, it must be possible to draw a causal link or connection between the
tort and the damage. The tort must be what caused the damage. Generally, the damage for
which compensation is claimed must be a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the tort
alleged. The damages must not be too remote from the tort for the action to succeed.
Where an injury is the reasonably foreseeable result of a tort, a court will usually award
compensation for it.
On the other hand, where the damage suffered is too remote to be the consequence of the
tort, the claim will usually fail. As a general rule, court will only award damages for the
natural or reasonably foreseeable consequences of a tort. This is so because in law, a
person is taken as intending the natural consequences of his action. It is always assumed
that there must be a limit to a defendants liability. An example of the application of this
principle of putting a limit to the liability of a tortfeasor is the case of:
Liesbosch Dredger V. Edison Steamship: The Edison (1933) All ER 144.
The plaintiff contractors who were doing a dredging work lost their ship due to the
negligence of the defendants ship which ran into it and caused it to sink. Due to
impecuniosity, the plaintiff could not replace its ship and continue its contract job and
consequently, the company suffered financial embarrassment. They sued the defendant
50
claiming for the loss of the ship and for consequential financial embarrassment which
followed the loss of the ship.
The House of Lords held that damages would lie for loss of the ship, which was the
natural and reasonably foreseeable result of the defendants negligent navigation that
caused it to sink. But the defendant were not liable for the alleged financial
embarrassment suffered by the plaintiff which was a consequence of consequences. In
this case, Lord Wright took time to explain the principle of law that there must be a limit
to the extent, amount or scope of damages a defendant should be made to pay in these
words:
The appellants actual loss in so far as it was due to their impecuniosity, arose
from that impecuniosity as a separate and concurrent cause, extraneous to and
distinct in character from the tort. The impecuniosity was not traceable to the
respondents acts and in my opinion was outside the legal purview of the
consequences of these acts. The law cannot take account of everything that follows
a wrongful act; it regards some subsequent matters as outside the scope of its
selection because it were infinite to trace the cause of causes or consequence of
consequences. Thus, the loss of a ship by collision due to the other vessels sole
fault, may force the ship owner into bankruptcy and that again may involve his
family in suffering, loss of education or opportunities in life, but no such loss could
be recovered from the wrongdoer. In the varied web of affairs, the law must
abstract some consequences as relevant, not perhaps on grounds of pure logic but
simply for practical reasons. In the present case, if the appellants financial
embarrassment is to be regarded as a consequence of the respondents tort, I think
it is too remote.
See also Obasuyi V. Business Ventures Ltd. (1995) 7 NWLR pt. 406, p. 184 CA.
Thus for instance, damages will not be awarded for the plaintiffs distressed financial
position, impecuniosity or his failure to mitigate his loss; to do so, would amount to
holding the defendant liable for the consequence of consequences, which is not the aim of
the law of tort. Accordingly, where a plaintiff proves that a defendants wrongful conduct
caused his loss, he may not be able to recover damages if his loss is not the natural or
reasonably foreseeable result of the defendants conduct. Therefore, a defendant is not
liable for the consequence of consequences and a plaintiff has a duty to mitigate his loss
by preventing continuous loss.
The tests for determining the extent of liability for damage
When is a loss the natural outflow of a tort? When is a tort the cause of a damage? When
is an injury too remote to be the result of a tort? How do we determine when a harm is the
reasonably foreseeable result of a tort and therefore deserving compensation. On the other
hand, when is a damage too remotely connected to a tort that it cannot be the consequence
of the tort and therefore not deserving an award of compensation?
51
The modern test used by courts for determining the liability of a defendant is the test of
remoteness of damage, otherwise known as the test of reasonable foreseeability of
damage as laid down by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council of the House of
Lords in the Wagon Mounds case (No. 2). (1967) 1 AC 617 PC. However, for historical
understanding, we shall look at the old test of liability which is the test of directness of
damages, before looking at the new test, known as the test of remoteness of damages or
reasonable foreseeability. In other words, we shall examine:
1.
The old test of directness of damage - which has been abolished and is no longer
being used because the test was hard and unfair to defendants, as the liability of a
defendant for damages was too wide under the test of directness of damages; and
2.
The test of remoteness of damage or reasonable foreseeability of damage This is

the new or current test for determining the extent, amount or scope of damage for
which a defendant should be liable. The test of foreseeability of damage limits or
restricts the liability of a defendant to the damages which are reasonably
foreseeable to a reasonable man in his shoes. Accordingly, under the test of
remoteness of damage, the liability of a defendant is reasonably limited and he is
not liable for the consequences of the consequences of his tort.
The Test of directness of Damage

The test of directness of damage was the old test for determining liability in tort. The test
was laid down by the English Court of Appeal in the case of Re Polemis and Furness
Withy & Co. (1921) All ER 40. This old test is no more in use as it was overruled in the
Wagon Mounds case. However, we shall look at it for historical purposes. The test of
directness of damage or test of direct consequence was a test of the directness of damage,
that is, the nearness connection or relationship of the damage to the tortuous act. This test
was used to determine whether a loss was a direct result or direct consequence of a tort.
Under this test, a defendant was liable for all damages which were the direct result of his
tort, whether or not such damage was foreseeable. In other words, the defendant was
liable for all the damages which were the direct consequences of his tort, whether or not
such damage was foreseeable by a reasonable man. Accordingly, under the old test, a
person was liable in damages for all the direct consequences of his tort, even though such
consequences were not foreseeable by a reasonable man and whether or not the damages
are far flung or whether or not the damages are the consequence of consequences. Thus,
under the old rule, the liability of a tortfeasor could be wide, much and far flung.
In Re Polemis and Furness Withy & Co. (supra), Charterers employed stevedores to
unload the hold of a ship that contained drums of petrol. Due to leakage of the drums, the
hold of the ship contained inflammable vapour. A stevedore negligently knocked a plank
into the hold which caused a spark that ignited the petrol vapour into fire. The fire
destroyed the ship. The ship owners sued the charterers and stevedores for its loss. The
English Court of Appeal held that even though the stevedore could not reasonably have
52
foreseen that his negligent act would destroy the ship, the loss of the ship was a direct
consequence of his negligent act. The charterers who hired the stevedores were
vicariously liable to pay for the loss of the ship.
The test of directness of damage was a wide and a hard rule. Under the test, a tortfeasor
was liable for all the damages that were the direct result of his tort, whether or not the
damages were reasonably foreseeable or not and whether such damage was immediate
and natural or far flung and remote. The test of directness of damage caused a lot of
hardship to defendants; as a defendants liability under it was seemingly endless. It was
not a good law. For this reason, it was abolished and overruled in the Wagon Mounds
case (supra) in which the test of reasonable foreseeability or test of remoteness of
damages was established as the new test for determining the liability of a defendant for
his tort.
Comparatively, the principle of directness provides a wider ambit to find a defendant
liable. The extent of a defendants liability was much wider under the directness rule. As
a result, a defendant could be held liable for every damage directly traceable to the tort in
question, whether or not such alleged consequences were reasonably foreseeable or not.

Why was the test of directness of damage abolished?
The Test of reasonable foreseeability or remoteness of Damage
The test of reasonable foreseeability or reasonable foresight is the later, new and current
test applied to determine the liability of a tortfeasor. The test of reasonable foreseeability
or remoteness of damage has replaced the old test of directness of damage. The test of
reasonable foreseeability looks at the foreseeability of the damage, that is, whether the
damage alleged is reasonably foreseeable by a reasonable man. The tortfeasor is only
liable for the reasonably foreseeable consequence of his conduct.
Under this test, a defendant is liable for all damages which should have been foreseen as
the result of his tort by the exercise of ordinary or reasonable foresight. In determining
foreseeability, the question to be asked is whether the damage alleged is reasonably
foreseeable by a reasonable man. If the damage is reasonably foreseeable by a reasonable
man exercising ordinary prudent care, the tortfeasor is liable. If the damage is not
reasonably foreseeable by a reasonable man, or if the damage is a far flung, or remote
damage, the tortfeasor is not liable.
In other words, under this test, a defendant is liable for all damages which are reasonably
foreseeable by a reasonable man as the consequence of the tort in question. While on the
other hand, a defendant will not be liable for damages that are not reasonably foreseeable
or are too remote or far flung to be a consequence of the tort. The test of reasonable
53
foreseeability of damage as laid down in the Wagon Mounds case applies the foresight of
a reasonable man in determining the:
1.
Culpability, that is, blameability or responsibility of a defendant for damages if

any; and accordingly his liability to compensate the plaintiff; or
2.
Remoteness of damage because the damage is far flung or unrelated and therefore
excuse the defendant from liability.
The definition of a reasonable man

In simple terms, the reasonable man in any given case, is the reasonable man in the shoes
of the tortfeasor, that is, a reasonable man or person in the position or station in life as the
tortfeasor in the case at hand. See Adigun V. A.G. Oyo State (1987) 1 NWLR pt.53, p.678
at 720 per Eso JSC.
The test of reasonable foreseeability of damage or remoteness of damage in detemining
responsibility is an objective test, whereby the law puts a hypothetical reasonable man
into the shoes of the defendant. The question then becomes what consequences of the tort
are reasonably foreseeable to a reasonable man in the shoes of the tortfeasor. Once the
reasonably foreseeable consequence is determined, the line is drawn thereat to exclude the
consequences or damages that are too remote. The court then proceeds to hold the
defendant liable for such damages which a reasonable man in the position of the
defendant should have foreseen as the likely consequences of the tort in question.
Therefore the test of reasonable foreseeability or remoteness of damage is restrictive in
scope and limits the extent of a defendants liability. Thus, damages may be established
by the plaintiff, but a defendant may not be held liable unless such damage is found to be
reasonably foreseeable.
Affirmation of the Reasonable Foreseeability Test
By virtue of the fact that the Privy Council is strictly not part of the English court system,
the decision of the Privy Council in the Wagon Mounds case establishing the test of
reasonable foreseeability, had only persuasive influence on English courts, until it was
subsequently affirmed by the House of Lords in 1963 in the case of Hughes V. Lord
Advocate (1963) AC 837 HL. In that case the House of Lords stated that the test of
remoteness of damage established in the Wagon Mounds case, which makes a tortfeasor
liable only for the reasonably foreseeable consequences of his tort, was the correct
statement of the law.
In Hughes V. Lord Advocate, the House of Lords made an addition to the test of
reasonable foresight by adding that, once the consequence of a conduct is foreseeable, the
precise chain, sequence of events, or circumstances leading to the said foreseeable
consequence need not be foreseeable or envisaged, so long as:
54
1.
The damages or consequences of the tort are within the sphere of reasonable
foreseeability or contemplation; and
2.
The damages or consequence is not entirely of a different kind which no one can
reasonably foresee or contemplate.
In other words, the damages must be reasonably foreseeable for there to be liability, but
the precise sequence of events leading to the damage need not be foreseeable. That is to
say, once the consequence is foreseeable, the circumstances leading to it need not be
foreseeable for the defendant to be liable. A defendant is liable so long as the damages are
not of an entirely different kind which a reasonable man will not contemplate. The
defendant need not foresee all the possible manners in which his conduct can cause
injury. What is required in law is that, some kind of injury is foreseeable and the injury
which resulted is a kind that is reasonably foreseeable.
Let us now consider the facts of some cases.
Overseas Tankship (U.K) Ltd. V. Mordock & Eng. Co. Ltd. (No. 1): The Wagon Mounds
case (1961) All ER 404 PC; (1966) AC 388.
The defendant appellants negligently discharged fuel from their ship into Sydney harbour,
Australia. The fuel was carried by tide into the plaintiff/respondents wharf where the
employees of the plaintiff were welding. A piece of cotton floating in the midst of the fuel
was ignited by sparks from the welding operation. The floating oil burnt and the fire
severely damaged the wharf and the ship which the plaintiff/respondents were repairing.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council held that the defendants appellants neither
knew nor ought to have known that the oil spilt was capable of catching fire when spread
over water. They could not reasonably have foreseen that the oil they discharged would
catch fire, which would damage the plaintiffs wharf, even though the damage was the
direct consequence of their negligent oil spillage. The damage was too remote and not
reasonably foreseeable and they were not liable for it. The test of liability for the damage
done by the fire was the foreseeability of injury by fire and as a reasonable man would not
on the facts have foreseen injury by fire, the defendant appellants were not liable.
However, the appellants were liable for fouling up the respondents slipways since the
fouling was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the discharge of the oil. In this case,
Viscount Simmonds in the Privy Council said that:
It does not seem consonant with current ideas of justice or morality that for an act
of negligence, however slight or menial, which results in some trivial foreseeable
damage, the actor should be liable for all consequences, however unforeseeable
and however grave, as long as they can be said to be direct.
55
The liability of a tortfeasor is thus limited to the damages which are foreseeable by a
reasonable man, as Pollock CB rightly said much earlier in Greenland V. Chaplin (1850)
5 Exch. 243 at 248 thus:
A person is expected to anticipate and guard against all reasonable consequences,
but he is notexpected to anticipate and guard against that which no reasonable
man would expect to occur.
The test of reasonable foreseeability laid down as the basis of liability in the law of tort in
the Wagon Mounds case (Supra), has been followed since then not only by English
courts, but by courts in all common law countries. Reasonable foreseeability or
remoteness of damage as laid down in this case, is almost the same in tort as in the law of
contract.
In Hughes V. Lord Advocate (Supra), two children went to explore a shelter which was
covering a man-hole that was opened for repairs in a street. The shelter was unattended
but marked by lighted paraffin lamps. A lamp was accidentally kicked by one child into
the man-hole and there was an explosion which caused burns to one of the children. It
was held that the defendants were liable. Accident by burns by the lamps was reasonably
foreseeable, even though explosion was not reasonably foreseeable.
But in Doughty V. Turner Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (1964) 1 QB 518, the plaintiff who was
an employee of the defendant company was wearing an asbestos cement covering. A
fellow employee of the plaintiff let the plaintiff slip into a cauldron of molten metal. At
that time, it was not known that asbestos cement coming into contact with molten metal
would cause an explosion. An explosion followed and the plaintiff was injured. In a suit
for damages, the English Court of Appeal held that though the accident was a direct result
of the action of the defendants servant, the damage was not reasonably foreseeable and
therefore the defendants were not liable.
Also in Glasgow Corp. V. Muir (1943) AC 448, two picnickers were carrying a tea urn
through a passage of the defendant corporations tea house. For a reason which was not
explained, one of the picnickers slipped and children buying sweets at a corner in the
passage were scalded by the hot tea, which splashed from the urn. An action by the
children in negligence against the defendant failed because harm by tea was not
reasonably foreseeable.
4.0
CONCLUSION
Trespass is the unauthorized intervention with a persons property or his possession.

Where it is trespass to a person, it could take the form of battery, assault, or false
imprisonment. Where it is his property, it could take the form of trespass to land, detinue
or conversion.
5.0
SUMMARY
This unit has thought the learner;

56
a.
b.
The basic concept of trespass in the Law of torts

The tort of assault, elements of assault and essentially the purpose o the law of
assault.
6.0
1.
2.
Why is there immunity from liability for perjury?

Who is a reasonable man in law?
7.0
REFERENCES
1.
Bodunde Bankole, Tort: Law of Wrongful Conduct: Lipservice Punishment (1998),

Lagos.
Fidelis Nwadialo: the Criminal Procedure of the Southern States of Nigeria, Mij
Publisher, Ltd, Lagos (1996).
John G. Fleming: The Law of Torts (1977), The Law Books Co. Ltd, London. Sweet &
Maxwell.
G. Kodilinye & Oluwole Aluko: Nigeria Law of Torts. Spectrum Law Publishers, 1999.
The Criminal Procedure Code of the Northern States of Nigeria.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
57
UNIT 5
Other Principles of Liability in the Law of Tort
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
Introduction
Objectives
Main content
3.1
De minimis non curat lex
3.2
Intentional damage is never too remote
3.3
A tortfeasor takes his victim as he finds him
3.4
The principle of strict liability
Conclusion
Summary
1.0
INTRODUCTION
Apart from the principle or requirement of damage which involves the application of the
test of reasonable foreseeability to determine the extent, amount and scope of the liability
of a defendant, there are other principles of liability.
In other words, in addition to the test of reasonable foreseeability or remoteness of
damage, there are other principles of liability which help a court to determine the liability
of a tortfeasor for his tort.
These principles which are exceptions to the test of remoteness of damage include:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Intentional damage
A tortfeasor takes his victim as he finds him(thin skull rule)
The principle of strict liability
We shall examine these principles of liability in this unit.
2.0
OBJECTIVES

(i)
explain the principles of liability in the law of tort.
58
3.0
MAIN CONTENT
3.1
De minimis non curat lex is a Latin phrase which means, the law does not concern itself
with trifles. The law does not bother about trifles, indefinite, minor, small, worthless or
trivial and insignificant things. Therefore the court does not concern itself with
speculative, hypothetical, imaginary, academic, abuse of court process, frivolous or
vexatious issues and will usually ignore such. Accordingly, the law or court may overlook
an insignificant fact or thing in deciding an issue or case. Thus, if a litigant brings an
action alleging an irrelevant matter or a small or trivial breach of his right, the court may
strike out or dismiss the claim for being a triviality at the onset. However, where the claim
was not so dealt with at the onset and the plaintiff goes on to prove his claim, the court
applying this principle may go ahead to award nominal damages in disdain of the action.
See the following cases:
Delaroy-Hall V. Tadman (1969) 2 QB 208; Regent V. Francesca (1981) 3 All ER 327;
and Smith V. Scott (1973) Ch. 314.
3.2
Intentional damage
The general rule of law is that a tortfeasor is usually liable for his intentional tort. Thus,
intentional harm or mischief is an actionable tort, whether the act is malicious, innocent or
intended as a joke, etc is irrelevant. Accordingly, intended, intentional or malicious
damage or harm is never too remote and will be compensated so long as the damage is
foreseeable. Furthermore, the extent or magnitude of the damage need not be foreseeable
by the reasonable man for it to be compensated.
Similarly, if A negligently knocks B down and unfortunately great injury is inflicted
because as it is later discovered, B is unhealthy, prone to injury or has a thin skull or
eggshell, A will not be excused by saying that if B had been a normal person, injury
would not have resulted. Similarly, if D gives E a light blow which expectedly should
only bruise E, but because E has a thin resistance thin skull or egg shell and he dies,
the law will regard D as liable for Es death. This rule applies to all persons with unusual
health conditions, including haemophiliacs, that is, persons who tend to bleed severely as
a result of the inability of the blood to clot easily. This principle is called the unusual
plaintiffs rule.
In Scott V. Shepherd (1773) 96 ER 525, at a market fair at Milbourne Port, England, the
defendant Shepherd threw a lighted squib firework on the stall of one Yates. Willis, in
order to protect the goods of Yates threw it away. It landed on the stall of Ryal who in
turn threw it on. It hit Scott, the plaintiff in the face, exploded and blinded one of his eyes.
Scott sued for damages. It was held that Shepherd was liable to Scott for injuries because
he intended mischief or injury by throwing it at a shop. There was no break in the chain of
cause. Shepherd should have expected that Willis and Ryal would react as they did.
59
Intentional harm is never too remote. The chain of events by which the damage occurred
to the plaintiff need not be foreseeable. It is sufficient that the defendant intended
mischief or injury and injury is reasonably foreseeable when he threw a firework at a
trade fair. See also Wilkinson V. Downton (1897) 2 QB 57; and Janvier V. Sweeney
(1919) All ER 1056 CA.
3.3
A Tortfeasor takes his victim as he finds him(thin skull rule)
This principle of liability is also known as the egg shell rule, thin skull rule or the
unusual plaintiffs rule. Under the egg shell principle, a tortfeasor takes his victim as
he finds him. In other words, a tortfeasor is bound to accept his victim as he is. If the
victim is healthy and strong and powerful fist blows do not cause him any harm, all fair
and well. But on the other hand, if a victim is prone to injury, ill or weak hearted and just
one light blow is enough to kill him or inflict permanent incapacity on the victim, it is
unfortunately too bad for the tortfeasor, who nevertheless has to bear the consequences of
his tort.
The general rule of law is that a person is taken as intending the natural consequences of
his action. This principle of liability is an exception to the rule of reasonable
foreseeability. Under the thin skull rule, a defendant cannot plead the medical condition
of his victim as a defence, even though such condition makes the loss unexpected,
unreasonable or not reasonably foreseeable.
In Smith V. Leech Braine & Co. Ltd. (1961) 3 All ER 115, the plaintiffs husband was an
employee of the defendant company. Through the defendants negligence, a piece of
molten zinc flew out of a tank and inflicted a burn on the defendants lips. As a result of
the fact that the tissues of his lips were in a pre-malignant condition, cancer developed on
the site of the burn from which he died three years later. In a suit by the wife for damages
for negligence, the court held that the defendants were liable, although the mans death
was clearly not a foreseeable result of the accident. However, the defendants have to
accept the pre-malignant condition of the deceased body as it was.
In R V. Blaue (1975) 3 All ER 446, the accused stabbed a victim, who as a result required
blood transfusion. The victim was told that the transfusion would enable recovery. She
refused the transfusion on the ground of her religious beliefs and she died. The accused
was held guilty, applying the thin skull rule of liability. He who uses violence on
another person takes the victim as he finds him. The refusal of the victim to take blood
transfusion did not break the connection between the action of the accused and the death
of the victim.
Limit to the unusual plaintiffs rule
However, the egg shell, thin skull or unusual plaintiffs rule seems to apply to
disability or weaknesses existing before the tort in question and not to disabilities arising
after the tort.
60
See the case of Morgan V. Wallis (1974) 1 LL Rep. 165, where the plaintiff suffered
injuries to his back whilst trying to avoid a wire rope thrown by a stevedore onto the
barge where he was working at a port. Liability for the plaintiffs injuries was admitted by
the defendants, who were his employees because they should have designed or have a
better system of working. However, they contested the amount of damage payable
because the plaintiff had unreasonably refused to undergo tests and medical operation out
of fear of both processes. The highest estimate of the chances of success of an operation
was 90%.
In a suit by the employee for damages for injuries, the court held that the defendants were
not liable. The defendants had established that the plaintiffs refusal to undergo tests and
operation was unreasonable, as the estimates by a surgeon have shown that the operation
would have been successful on a balance of probabilities. Where there was no preexisting disability, physical, mental, psychological or otherwise, a defendant did have to
take a victim as he found him.
A person is taken as intending the natural consequences of his action
The general rule of law is that a person is taken as intending the natural consequences of
his action. Therefore, the common law rule is that a tortfeasor takes his victim as he finds
him except there are other extenuating or mitigating factors in his favour.
In Martindale V. Duncan (1973) 2 All ER 355 CA, the plaintiffs car was damaged in a
collision with the defendants car as a result of the negligence of the defendant. The
plaintiff delayed repairs to his car pending approval from the defendants insurers and his
own insurers. The defendants insurers wished to consult independent engineers for
advice and did so. After about nine weeks, the defendants insurers approved the estimate
of repairs. The plaintiffs insurers also did a few days later. Repairs commenced one week
after these approvals. The plaintiff claimed damages for loss of use of his vehicle for ten
weeks and for cost of the hire of a substitute vehicle for the period. The defendant argued
that the plaintiff was in breach of his duty to mitigate his loss by failure to effect
immediate repairs and for waiting to see whether an insurance company would pay.
The English Court of Appeal held that the defendants were liable. The plaintiff was not in
breach of his duty to mitigate his loss and he had acted reasonably in the circumstances.
The losses suffered by the plaintiff were the natural consequences of the defendants
negligent conduct.
3.4
Strict liability in Tort
Strict liability means liability without fault. It is responsibility for a wrong without the
requirement of negligence, fault or intention on the part of a wrongdoer. Strict liability is
liability based on the breach of the law without more. Strict liability is common in respect
of extra-hazardous activities, product liability, etc.
61
As a general rule, in strict liability torts, the test of reasonable foreseeability of damage as
a basis for liability is not applicable. Thus, in some torts, a defendant is held strictly liable
for his torts, that is, the defendant is liable once the tort occurs whether or not the act
happened accidentally, innocently, negligently or intentionally. Thus, strict liability torts
are torts which attract strict liability and for which a tortfeasor is held liable once the act is
done or occurs, irrelevant of why the offender committed it or his state of mind at the time
of its occurrence because the law strictly or absolutely prohibits the commission of the
tort or conduct. Accordingly, the occurrence of the tortuous act in itself renders the
wrongdoer liable without more and without regards to his state of mind at the time.
Examples of strict liability torts include:
1.
2.
3.
Product liability or consumer protection

Liability for animals; and
The rule in Rylands V. Fletcher (1868) LR 3 HL 330; 37 LJ Exch. 161.
We shall briefly examine these strict liability torts.

Product Liability: Consumer Protection
Product liability is the liability of a producer, retailer, importer or supplier for any loss or
injury caused by his product whether due to its defect or some other reason. In the area of
product liability, strict liability is common as in most cases, the alleged tortuous acts are
strictly prohibited by statute.
Thus, in Pearks, Gunsten & Tee Ltd. V. Ward (1902) 2 KB 1, the appellant company was
held liable for the acts of its employees who sold its fresh butter mixed with water.
Explaining on the strict liability nature of consumer protection laws in England, Channel
J. in this case said that:
The legislature has thought it so important to prevent the
particular act from being committed that it absolutely forbids
it to be done; and if it is done, the offender is liable to a penalty,
whether he has any mens rea (guilty mind) or not and whether or
not he intended to commit a breach of law.
See also the following cases:
Gammon V. A.G. Hong Kong (1985) AC 1; Pharmaceutical Society V. Storkwain (1986)
1 WLR 903; R V. Bradish (1990) 2 WLR 223; and R. V. British Steel Plc. (1995) 1 WLR
1356.
Liability for Animals
62
The general rule of law is that dangerous animals should not be brought into contact with
persons, exposed or given opportunity to injure persons. Therefore, a keeper is liable for
the act of a dangerous animal, even though the defendant keeper never intended the harm
that was caused nor was reckless in letting it happen. Therefore, a person keeps an animal
at his own peril. A dangerous animal is an animal that is not usually domesticated and is
likely to do mischief, cause serious damage or even death if not restrained. See
Cummings V. Granger (1975) 1 WLR 1330; and Curtis V. Betts (1990) 1 All ER 769.
In the law of tort, liability under the rule in Rylands V. Fletcher (supra) is strict, in the
absence of a lawful excuse.
Strict Liability Torts and Criminal Liability
In Nigeria however, where a strict liability tort is also a crime, it is a moot point whether
the courts will apply strict liability in construing the provisions of such law. This is in
view of section 24 of the Criminal Code Act, which makes mens rea, that is, a guilty mind
or criminal mind or criminal intention, a requirement for criminal liability under the
Criminal Code Act; and section 56 of the Criminal Procedure Act, which makes the
requirement of mens rea applicable to every criminal proceedings in Nigeria, save where
the relevant criminal law specifically ousts the requirement of a guilty mind.
Motive, Intention, Malice and Liability in Tort
Motive is the reason for the conduct of a person. It is why a person did or did not do a
thing. Motive is what caused the doer to act or fail to act. It is what made a tortfeasor to
do what he did. As a general rule, motive is not relevant for determining liability in tort.
Generally, in order to determine liability, the issue is whether a tort has been committed;
and where proof of damage is necessary for a successful claim, whether damage was
done.
Therefore, if the conduct of a tortfeasor is unlawful, the fact that he committed the tort for
good reason will not excuse him from liability. Likewise, if the conduct of a tortfeasors
lawful, the fact that he had a bad motive or reason for doing it will not render him liable.
In other words, a good motive will not excuse a tort and a bad motive will not make an
innocent or lawful act a tort.
Malice means acting from a bad motive. Ordinarily, malice means ill will or wickedness.
It is doing something with ill will, wickedness of heart, spite or recklessness. It is doing
something with a bad motive or bad reason. In legal terms, malice means two things. It
means:
(a)
(b)
Doing a wrong thing intentionally or without lawful excuse. It is wilful and

conscious wrongdoing; or
Doing any act with a bad, improper or illegitimate motive. It is doing a thing with a
bad motive or with any motive the law abhors or that is wrong.
63
Intention is the reason for the conduct of a person. (See Cunliffe V. Goodman (1950) 2
KB 237; R. V. Moloney (1985) 1 All ER 1025; and R V. Hancock & Shankland (1986) 1
All ER 641). Intention is the purpose, goal or aim of a conduct. It is the goal of the
conduct under question. In the law of torts, the general rule is that the motive, malice or
intention for doing an act is irrelevant. Therefore, an innocent or good motive, reason,
malice or intention will not exonerate the commission of a tort. Conversely, bad motive,
malice or bad intention on the part of a defendant will not make a lawful act unlawful.
Therefore, as a general rule, the law of tort is more concerned with looking at the result or
effect of an act or conduct, whether the conduct is a tort and where necessary whether
damages resulted, than with the motive, malice or intention that inspired the wrongdoer.
Thus, as a general rule, the law of tort looks at an act whether it is a tort and should be
compensated and not at the motive, malice or intention, whether it is wrong or excusable.
The following cases illustrate this general principle:
Bradford Corporation V. Pickles (1896) AC 587.
In this case, the defendant, Pickles, with a view to inducing Bradford Corporation to buy
his land at a high price sank a shaft or borehole on his land to collect water and thereby
interfered with the water flowing in undefined channels into the corporations reservoir.
The corporation applied to court for an injunction to restrain him from interfering or
collecting the underground water in his shaft.
The court held that an injunction would not lie. The defendant was entitled as owner to
draw from the underground water on his land. His malice if any, in trying to force the
purchase of the land was irrelevant. No use of property which is legal if done with a
proper motive can become illegal if done with an improper motive.
An innocent intention is not a defence to a tort. It may only serve to reduce the amount of
damages that may be awarded.
In Wilkinson V. Downton (1897) 2 QB 57; (1895-9) All ER 984, the defendant knowing it
to be untrue but meaning it as a joke, told the plaintiff that her husband had been involved
in an accident and had both his legs broken. The plaintiff on hearing this suffered a
nervous shock and was ill as a result. The plaintiff sued the defendant for false and
malicious representation of facts.
It was held that the fact that the defendant told the story of accident to the plaintiff as a
joke was irrelevant, the plaintiff had been harmed and she was entitled to damages.
Intentional physical harm is a tort and whether the act is malicious or a joke is irrelevant.
The English Court of Appeal applied the decision in Wilkinson V. Downton (supra) in the
case of: Janivier V. Sweeney (1919) All ER 1056.
64
The defendants who were private detectives told the plaintiff, a lady, that unless she
procured certain letters of her mistress for them, they would disclose to the authorities
that her fianc who was an internee was a traitor. They knew that they had no such
evidence that the fianc was a traitor. She sued for damages for the physical illness she
suffered as a result of the nervous shock occasioned by the defendants unwarranted
threats.
The court held that the defendants were liable. There was a wilful act or statement by the
defendants calculated to cause physical injury to the plaintiff and causing such harm was
a tort. The fact that they issued the threat without any basis or intention to carry it out was
irrelevant. This was so because the general rule is that intended or intentional harm is a
tort. Whether the act was malicious, innocent or a joke was irrelevant.

What do you understand by malice.
The Relevance of Motive, Malice or Intention in Tort
The general rule of law is that motive, malice and intention are irrelevant for tortuous
liability. However, when is motive, malice or bad intention relevant in tort? As an
exception to the general rule of liability above, motive, malice and intentional or wilful
wrongdoing are relevant in several instances in tort. This is so for:
1.
Successful claim in some torts: for instance malicious prosecution and injurious
falsehood.
2.
Malice when established in a case, usually bars a defendant from successfully

relying on certain defences that otherwise would have been available to him; for
instance, in the law of defamation, malice may bar the defence of qualified
privilege and fair comment. Also, malice may make an otherwise reasonable act a
nuisance. See Hollywood Silver Fox Farm V. Emmett (1936) 2 KB 468.
3.
The presence of malice may lead to an award of aggravated damages in appropriate

circumstances. For instance, in defamation, where a defamatory statement is
proved to have been made out of malice, an award of aggravated damages when
claimed by a plaintiff could be awarded by court.
The torts where improper motive, malice or bad intention are relevant include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Nuisance
Defamation
Conspiracy.
65

Malicious prosecution is intentionally setting the criminal law in motion against a person
without just cause. In other words, it is intentionally causing criminal proceedings to be
brought against another person without legal justification. If it is later discovered that A
caused B to be prosecuted by law enforcement agents without legal excuse, out of malice,
then B after his acquittal may sue A for the tort of malicious prosecution. In a claim for
the tort of malicious prosecution, the fact that the prosecution was brought with a bad
motive, malicious or intentionally to harm or without legal excuse, is an essential
ingredient which a plaintiff needs to establish for a successful claim for compensation.
Nuisance
In the tort of nuisance, the presence of malice, spite or bad intention in the defendants
conduct is a relevant factor the court will consider in determining the reasonableness or
unreasonableness of the conduct that is causing a nuisance an consequently the liability of
a defendant for nuisance.
Thus, in a claim for nuisance, the plaintiff will sometimes succeed if he shows that the
defendants malice turned an otherwise reasonable act into an unreasonable act or
nuisance. Accordingly, in the tort of nuisance, certain conducts which ordinarily would
not be viewed as nuisance may be regarded as a nuisance if they are done unreasonably or
with malice. Thus in some instances, malice is evidence of unreasonableness on the part
of the defendant and vice versa. See the case of Christie V. Davey (1893) 1 Ch. 316.
Defamation
Malice is relevant in the tort of defamation. In a claim for defamation, if the plaintiff
proves malice, it will bar the defences of qualified privilege or fair comment. Thus, the
presence of malice in the defamatory statement or act will bar the defendant from
successfully relying on the defence of qualified privilege. It will also deny the defendant
from relying on the defence of fair comment as the statement can no longer be said to be
fair comment but malicious. Furthermore, the presence of malice may lead to the award of
aggravated damages.
Conspiracy
The tort of conspiracy or civil conspiracy is where two or more persons act together
without lawful justification for the purpose of intentionally causing damage to a plaintiff
whereby actual damage occurs to the plaintiff. Where a plaintiff alleges the tort of
conspiracy, the presence of malice or the improper motive of the alleged act is a necessary
ingredient for a successful claim against the several defendants or joint tortfeasors.
66
However, a civil conspiracy or combination of person is justified if the main purpose of it

is the:
1.
Self interest of the members; or
2.
Protection of the trade of the members rather than a willful desire to cause damage
to the plaintiff. See Mogul Steamship Co. V. McGregor Gow & co. (supra).
To succeed in a claim for the tort of conspiracy, a plaintiff must among other things,
establish that he has suffered damage. Trade conspiracy is a common tort. However, it
should be noted that civil conspiracy is not necessarily coterminous with vicarious
liability.
4.0
CONCLUSION
Torts is a branch of private Law which with its companion Law of Contract spells out the
legal rules, which regulate civil obligations, for example, ear accident, bursting of water
pipelines, noxious films, poor processing, damages by animals and many unpleasant
events spark off litigation in tort. It must be stressed at this stage that there is no set of
clear and static rules which are tailor made. For instance, application to any set of facts
that may occur. The principles and the rules of tort of Law constantly change. This is not
to say that the rules of Law to Torts is good for one case only. Assault and Battery have
existed as torts as far back as 1348 and therefore one can safely predict that rules and
inordinate contact with the person of another without the latter consent will continue to be
redressed in an action for battery. But only few years ago, manufacturers liability for
harm caused by defective products was much more limited that it is now.
5.0 SUMMARY
In this unit, we learnt about the tort of defamation and the ingredients of the torts of
defamation. The tort of conspiracy, nuisance and malicious prosecution treated
under this unit deal mainly with the principle of liability in the law of tort.
6.0
What do you understand by the unusual plaintiffs rule?
7.0
REFERENCES
1.
2.
Bodunde Bankole Tort: Law of Wrongful Conduct: Lipservice Punishment (1998), Lagos.
Ltd, Lagos (1996).
Sweet & Maxwell.
3.
4.
67
5.
6.
1999.
68
MODULE 2
TRESPASS
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Unit 5
Unit 6
Trespass to the Person: Assault

Battery
False imprisonment and intentional harm to the person
Conversion
Detinue
Unit 1
TRESPASS TO THE PERSON: ASSAULT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
Introduction
Objectives
Main content
3.1
Definition of Assault
3.2
Purpose of the law of assault
3.3
Elements of assault
Conclusion
Summary
1.0
INTRODUCTION
Trespass to person is any intentional interference with the body of another person. It is
interference with the body of another person or his liberty. It is an invasion of the body of
another person. Trespass to the person consists of three types of tort.
These are:
1.
Assault: putting a person in fear of bodily harm;
2.
Battery: any contact, touch, force or bodily harm; and
3.
False imprisonment: deprivation of personal liberty or movement, any detention,

kidnap or arrest.
Where a trespass to person is committed negligently or was a result of negligence, action

is usually brought in the tort of negligence.
We shall consider these three types of trespass to the person in the next three units.
69
2.0
OBJECTIVES

(ii)
(iii)
define assault;
understand the purpose of the law of assault; and
describe the elements of assault.
3.0
MAIN CONTENT
3.1
Definition of Assault
(i)
In ordinary everyday use, the word assault means to attack, beat or hit somebody. Thus,
in ordinary parlance, the word assault is used to include both assault and battery.
However, in the law of tort, assault and battery are two different and separate torts. Under
the Criminal Code Act, the word assault is often used to cover both assault and battery.
Accordingly, in criminal proceedings, they are usually charged. In view of this reason,
sections 252-253 and 351-360 of the Criminal Code Act, define various types of assaults.
Assault is a crime and a tort. Since trespass to person is a tort and a crime, a victim may
seek redress in both civil and criminal law. However, civil action is often not brought
unless the tortfeasor or his employee has money and can afford to pay compensation.
Otherwise, criminal action is often brought in the magistrate court by the police on behalf
of the state as part of the public policy of the state to sanction crime and maintain law and
order.
Furthermore, assault and battery often occur together because they are often committed
concurrently or simultaneously. Thus they are often charged together in criminal
proceedings just as civil claim is often brought for both because one seldom occurs
without the other. In western societies, compensation may be awarded in criminal
proceedings. For instance, under the English Criminal Justice Act, 1988 which is
administered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, compensation may be
awarded to crime civtims. This prevents the need for a separate civil suit to recover
compensation. See the following cases:
R v Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, e.p. Lain (1967) 2 QB 864;
Holden v Chief Constable of Lancashire (1986) 3 All ER 836; and
Hill v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire (1988) 2 WLR 1049.
In this unit, we shall examine assault in the context of the law of tort. According to
Padfield in Law made Simple, 5th ed, p. 211, assault:
is an attempt or threat to apply unlawful force to the person of another whereby
that other person is put in fear of violence
Kodilinye (Nigerian Law of Torts, op.cit. p. 12), defines assault as:
70
"any act which puts the plaintiff in fear that battery is about to be committed
against him.
In other words, an assault is threatening to harm or apply force to another person with the
present ability to carry out the threat. An assault is any act which makes another person to
fear the immediate application of unlawful force. It is threatening to do violence to a
person short of actually striking the person. It is any intentional or reckless act which
makes another person to fear the immediate application of physical harm. It is any threat
to apply unlawful force to another person. The act must imply personal violence.
Therefore any act, gesture, or menace by the defendant which puts the plaintiff in fear of
immediate application of force to his person is an assault. Accordingly, any unlawful act
of a person which puts another person in reasonable fear of battery is an assault.
As opposed to criminal law, in the law of tort, an assault is essentially:
1.
2.
3.
4.
An attempt or threat to apply force or violence to another person.

With the apparent ability to carry it out.
Which puts the person in reasonable fear of battery
Contact is unnecessary

What do you understand by assault?
3.2
The Purpose of the Law of Assault
The purpose of the tort of assault is to prohibit a person from putting another in fear of
physical interference. It prohibits all physical interference with another person including
revenge attack. The tort of trespass to person is actionable per se on mere occurrence and
does not require proof of damage for a successful claim.
The offence that is committed or injury that is done and which the law seeks to prevent; is
the putting of a person in fear of impending contact, violence or battery . People should be
free to go about their lives without being threatened or subjected to fear of violence,
except for instance, by the due process of law. Generally, direct and intentional trespass
are dealt with by trespass to person, whilst indirect and unintentional acts are covered by
negligence, for instance, road accident cases, etc.
Assault Is Wider In Criminal Law
Assault is wider under criminal law. In criminal law, the offence of assault includes both
assault and battery. See sections 252-253 and 351-360 of the Criminal Code Act.
Accordingly, under the Criminal Code Act, an accused is usually charged with assault and
battery. You will read more in your Criminal Law course materials.
71
Examples of assaults are many and includes threatening a person with a knife, broken
bottle, menaces, advancing towards a person and shaking your fist and threatening to beat
him up, or striking at a person with a stick but missing the person, etc. All these are
threats of violence and are instances of assaults. It is not necessary that the victim's state
of mind should be one of fear, or alarm. It is enough, if the victim merely expects the
application of unlawful force to his body, because subjection of a person to fear of
immediate application of unlawful force is what the law of tort seeks to prohibit.
3.3
Elements Of Assault: What Needs To Be Proved:
The elements a plaintiff needs to prove to succeed in a claim for assault are:
1.
That there was a threat to apply force
2.
That the act will put a reasonable person in fear of battery. In other words, that it
was reasonable for the plaintiff to expect immediate battery.
That there was a Threat to Apply Force:

There can be assault without battery. In assault it is not necessary to prove that the
plaintiff was actually put in fear or experienced fear. What needs to be proved is that it
was reasonable for the plaintiff to expect immediate battery. As a general principle,
pointing an unloaded gun or even a model, or imitation gun at a person who does not
know it is unloaded or that it is a model gun and therefore harmless, is an assault.
In R v St. George (1840) 173 ER 921, the defendant pointed a gun he knew to be unloaded
at the plaintiff who did not know that it was unloaded, at such a distance that the
complainant could have been hurt if the gun was fired. On a claim for assault the court
held: that there was an assault, even though the gun was unloaded, because the
complainant was put in fear of being shot. See also Logdon v DPP (1976) Crim LR 121.
In Innes v Wylie (1844) 174 ER 800, the defendant policeman who stood motionless in
order to block a door way, was held not to have committed assault on the plaintiff by so
doing. See also DPP v Little (1992) 1 All ER 299.
In Smith v Supt of Woking Police Station (1983) Crim LR 323: 76 CAR 234, the defendant
appellant frightened the complainant by looking through her bedroom window late in the
night. The court held that the accused was guilty of assault as the complainant was put in
fear of personal violence.
Also in R v Barrett (1980) 72 CAR 212 CA, the defendant advanced towards the
complainant, shook his fist angrily and threatened to beat the complainant there and then,
as a result of which the complainant was put in fear of immediate application of force to
his person. The court held: that there was assault.
72
In Stephen v Myers (1838) 172 ER 735, the plaintiff was the chairman at a parish meeting
where he was sitting at the head of the table with about 6 to 7 persons between him and
the defendant. In the course of the meeting, the defendant threatened to eject the plaintiff
from the venue of the meeting. He stood up and started advancing to the plaintiff to carry
out the threat when he was stopped from reaching the chairman by the person sitting next
to the chairman. In a claim for damages for assault the court held that assault was
committed. The defendant was proceeding to throw out the chairman, though he was not
near enough at the time to have struck him. He advanced with on intention which
amounted to an assault in law.
An Order Coupled With A Threat May Be Assault
It is also an assault to threaten to apply force to a person if the person does not
immediately proceed to do some act or refrain from an act unless the defendant has legal
justification. Similarly, an innocent act or conduct may amount to assault when coupled
with threatening words.
Read v Coker (1853) 138 ER 1437.
The defendant had a business disagreement with the plaintiff, his partner. The defendant
thereupon ordered his workmen to throw the plaintiff out of the premises. They then
surrounded the plaintiff rolling up their sleeves and threatening to break his neck if he did
not leave the premises. The court held that there was an assault. There was threat of
violence together with an intent to do battery to the plaintiff. Threatening to break the
plaintiffs neck if he did not leave the premises was an assault.
Ansell v Thomas (1974) Crim. LR 31.
The plaintiff who was the managing director of a company left the factory early due to the
fact that two policemen invited by his co-directors threatened in words to forcibly eject
him from the company's premises, if he did not leave voluntarily. In a claim by the
plaintiff, the court held that the co-directors were liable in assault.
Words Alone
As a general rule, words alone, that is mere words do not amount to assault. To amount to
an assault, the intention to apply force to the plaintiff must be shown by some action or
gesture, however slight or subtle and not just in words or speech. A gesture alone may
amount to assault. Similarly, a gesture coupled with words commonly amount to assault.
On the other hand, words alone may amount to assault. This is so, for often a thing said is
a thing done. Words often put a person in fear of personal violence. Thus, as an exception,
whenever words of threat put a person in reasonable expectation of fear, there is assault.
See for example the following cases:
73
R v Ireland & Burston (1997) 4 All ER 225 HL.

The defendants made repeated silent phone calls to three victims. In some calls all he did
was resort to heavy breathing. The victims were stalked for months and were afraid to be
alone. The victims suffered mental illness or depression. The House of Lords held that
there was assault. The silent phone calls having put the victims in fear of violence
amounted to assault.
Janvier v Sweeney (1919) 2 KB 316 CA.
The plaintiff, a French woman living in England was engaged to a German, who was
detained in the Isle of Man, England during World War I. One of the defendants called at
her home and falsely told her that he was representing the military authorities and that she
was wanted, because she has been corresponding with her fianc, a German who was
suspected of being a spy. As a result of the false threat, the plaintiff suffered nervous
shock and on discovery that the accusation was false she claimed damages. It was held
that she was entitled to damages for personal injuries for trespass to person. See also
Wilkinson v Downton (1897) 2 QB 57.
Words may negate assault
On the other hand, words may explain and thus negate the possibility of battery or
invalidate what would ordinary have been an assault. Thus, words may prevent what
would have ordinarily amounted to an assault from coming into being. This was the
position in:
Tuberville v Savage (1669) 86 ER 684. The defendant put his hand on his sword, which
act amounted to a menace or threat and therefore an assault, and said "if it were not assize
time [court session time] I would not take such language from you." It was held that there
was no assault. The words of the defendant showed that he did not intend to assault the
plaintiff, as the judges were in town for a court session.
In R v Light (1843-60) All ER 934 CA, the accused husband raised a sword over his wife's
head and said "were it not for the bloody policeman outside, I would split your head
open. The court held: that the accused husband was guilty of assault. See also R v
Wilson (1955) 1 All ER 744 CA.
Sometimes, a battery may be committed straight away, without first having committed an
assault, such as giving a person a blow suddenly from behind, or whilst he is asleep or
otherwise unconscious.
74
That the Act will put a Reasonable Man in Fear of Battery:

Finally, for assault to be committed, the act of the defendant complained about must be
such that would put a reasonable man in fear that force is about to be applied to him. The
act must put a reasonable man in fear of violence. This test is an objective test and it is not
subjective to any particular plaintiff alone. Therefore, where the threat would not put a
reasonable person in the shoes of the plaintiff in fear of violence, the tort of assault is not
committed.
However, the mere fact that the plaintiff who was threatened with battery is a brave
person and was not frightened by the threat, will not bar the plaintiff from successfully
claiming damages for assault, as long as the alleged act of assault would make a
reasonable man or reasonable person in his shoes to be afraid of battery.
In Hurst v Picture Theatres Ltd (1915) 1 KB 1 CA, the plaintiff paid for admission to the
defendant's theatre. The defendants believing that the plaintiff had entered without
payment asked the plaintiff to leave. He was not afraid and refused to leave and was
forcibly ejected. He sued for damages. The court held that the defendants were liable for
assault and false imprisonment.
In Brady v Schatzel (1911) St. R QD 206, the defendant pointed a gun at the plaintiff and
threatened to shoot the plaintiff. The plaintiff sued for assault. Giving evidence in court
the plaintiff said that he was not scared at the time. The court held that the defendant was
nevertheless liable for assault. The act in question amounted to an assault. It was
immaterial that the plaintiff was not scared. The purpose of the law is to make people free
from threat of violence or immediate application of battery.
Where a threat is impossible of being carried out there may be no assault. Accordingly,
where a threat is clearly impossible of being carried out, there is no assault. See Thomas v
National Union of Mine Workers (1985) 2 All ER 1.
4.0
CONCLUSION
Trespass is the unauthorized intervention with a person his property or his possession.
Where it is trespass to a person, it could take the form of battery assault or false
imprisonment. Where it is to his property, it could take the form of trespass to land,
detinue or conversion.
5.0
SUMMARY
This unit has taught the learners:

a. The basic concept of trespass in the Law of Torts
b. The tort of Assault Elements of Assault and essentially the purpose of the Law of
Assault.
6.0

75
1.
2.
What is the purpose of the law of assault?

Mere words do not amount to an assault. Discuss.
7.0
REFERENCES
1.
Bodunde Bankole, Tort: Law of Wrongful Conduct: Lipservice Punishment (1998),
Lagos.
2.
Ltd, Lagos (1996).
3.
Sweet & Maxwell.
4.
5.
1999.
6.
Criminal Procedure Code of the Northern States of Nigeria.
76
UNIT 2
BATTERY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
Introduction
Objectives
Main content
3.1
Definition of Battery
3.2
The Purpose of the Law of Battery
3.3
Elements of battery
Conclusion
Summary
1.0
INTRODUCTION
In this unit, we shall consider another form of trespass to the person, that is, battery.
2.0
OBJECTIVES

(i)
define battery;
3.0
MAIN CONTENT
3.1
Definition of Battery
According to C.F. Padfield, battery is:

"applying force however slight to the person of another, hostilely or against his will.
And according to Gilbert Kodilinye:
"battery is the intentional application of force to another person.
In view of the above definitions, it may be explained that battery is the application of
force however slight, on another person. Battery is the application of force on a person
without his consent and without legal justification. It is contact with another person.
Battery is the slighted touch of a person. It is any undesirable contact. Thus the slightest,
merest or the least touching of another person is battery. It is the use of unlawful force on
another person without his consent. Accordingly, it is the unlawful application of force to
another person regardless of its degree. It is any act of the defendant which intentionally
77
causes some physical contact with the person of the plaintiff, without the plaintiffs
consent.
It includes striking, or touching a person in a rude, angry, revengeful or insolent manner.
The touch must be hostile and the plaintiff must not have consented to it. It is battery to
intentionally touch another person or to bring any object into contact with another person.
Such contact is sufficient application of force to give right to a claim in battery. Battery
includes the application of heat, light, force, gas, odour or any substance or thing
whatever, if applied in such a degree as to impact the person, cause any injury or personal
discomfort.
Essentially battery is:
1.
Unlawful application of force or violence on another person without the person's

consent,
2.
However, slight the degree of force.
3.
Some form of contact, direct or indirect is necessary
4.
Bodily injury need not result.
5.
The defendant must have acted intentionally or negligently.
3.2
The Purpose of the Law of Battery
The purpose of the law of battery is to protect the body of a person and its dignity from
unlawful contact and violence by another person. The harm which the law seeks to
prevent is the undesirable contact by another person, irrelevant of whether such contact
was violent or not. Under law, everyone is entitled to be free from any intentional,
negligent and undesirable physical contact. See the following cases:
Dele Giwa v IGP. Unrep Suit No. M/44/83 of 30/7/84; Mogaji v Board of Custom &
Excise (1982) 3 NCLR 552; Fagan v MPC (1969) QB 439; Kenlin v Gardiner (1967) 2
QB 510; and Lane v Holloway (1967) 3 WLR 1003 CA.
Contact Is Necessary
Battery is committed if there is some contact, such as, body to body contact, or if the
defendant brings some object or thing into contact with the victim; however slight the
degree of contact, force or impact on the body of the victim. Thus, it does not matter
whether the battery was inflicted directly on the body of the offender or through the
medium of some weapon, instrument, vehicle or any other thing used, controlled or
manipulated by the tortfeasor.
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As a general rule, medical procedure or medical care is not battery, even when it is carried
out without the consent of the patient. Because, even though there is battery, the intention
is to act in the best interest of the patient and there is no intention to harm the patient.
The least touch or contact is sufficient for battery, though one may only obtain nominal
damages for such contact. Where application of force is unlawful, there is battery.
However, where an application of force is lawfully justifiable a claim for battery will fail.
Contact may be direct body to body contact, such as slapping or giving a person a fist
blow, grabbing hold of a person by the neck, beating up a person with hands, or by
kicking with feet, etc. Also, the contact may be indirect.
Examples of Battery
Battery can be committed in many different ways, for instance:
1.
Beating with a stick, pouring water on a person, or shooting a person with a gun.
2.
Knocking a person down, or running a person down with a motor vehicle.
3.
Spitting on a person's face or throwing stone at a person. See R v Lynsey (1995) 3

All ER 654 CA.
4.
Removing a chair from under a person who thereby falls to the ground.
5.
Pulling a person away from something for his own good.
6.
Setting a dog to attack a person, etc. See Lawal v DSP (1975) 2 WSCA 72.
There is battery where for instance C without lawful justification slaps D on the face, or
pushes D. So also it is battery to cut a plaintiffs hair without his consent, or to wrongfully
take a person's fingerprint. However, where a person has been detained, charged or told
that he will be charged with an offence punishable with imprisonment, the fingerprints
may be taken without consent under criminal law.
3.3
Elements of Battery: What Needs To Be Proved
What a plaintiff needs to prove to succeed in a claim for battery are:

1.
2.
Application of force; and

Intention to apply force
Also, a plaintiff may prove and recover any damage he has suffered.
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That there was Application of Force:

There must be application of force on the plaintiff, no matter how slight. However,
common forms of social touching that are reasonable and are generally acceptable are not
battery, principally, because they are not regarded as tortuous and there is implied consent
to such touching. Examples of reasonable and generally acceptable social touching which
are not regarded as tortuous and to which there is implied consent include tapping a
person on the back as part of a congratulation, or to draw a person's attention, jostling in a
crowd, etc.
That there was Intention to Apply Force:
It is sufficient for the plaintiff to establish that the intention of the defendant was to apply
force. It is not necessary to prove intention to hurt the plaintiff. If there is intention to
injure any person other than the plaintiff, there is battery, such as where a stray bullet hits
a bystander. See the following cases: Wilson v Pringle (1986) 2 All ER 440; Stanley v
Powell (1891) 1 QB 86; and Lane v Holloway, supra
Battery Need Not Be Violent, Inflict Pain, Nor Injury
It is not necessary that the contact be violent or inflict pain and injury need not result.
Therefore, touching a person, or touching a person's cloth or anything attached to a
person, if done unlawfully, wilfully, or angrily is battery. Therefore there may be battery
without violence. Also, a surgical operation when done unlawfully without the patient's
consent may constitute battery. Accordingly, battery includes the slightest contact, touch
or force, so that harm need not result.
Minimum Contact Is Battery: The Minimum Contact Rule
The least touch or contact is sufficient to constitute battery. Though a plaintiff may only
obtain a nominal award of damages for such contact. In light of this, unlawful application
of force to a person, or contact with anything attached to a person may be battery in view
of the minimum contact rule.
Let us consider some cases.
In Scott v. Shepherd (1558.1774) All ER 295; 96 ER 525., the defendant lit a squib "fire
work" at a trade fair and threw it at B's stall. B threw it away to C's stall, and C threw the
squib to the plaintiffs stall, where the squib exploded and injured the plaintiff. In a claim
for damages for battery the court held: that the defendant who lit the squib was
nevertheless liable to the plaintiff. The chain of causation of damage set in motion by the
defendant was not broken by the actions of Band C.
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Fagan v Metropolitian Police Commissioner (1969) 1 QB 439.

A policeman asked the defendant appellant to park his car. The defendant drove the car
onto the policeman's foot on which a tyre then rested. When the defendant realised what
he had done, he refused the policeman's request to reverse off his foot. The court held that
the appellant was liable for battery.
Collins v Wilcock (1984) 1 WLR 1172.
A police woman wishing to question the plaintiff appellant on suspicion of prostitution,
took hold of the appellant's arm to detain her for the purpose of questioning her. The
police woman was not exercising a power of arrest at the material time as she was not on
duty. Held: that there was battery of the appellant. The defendant police woman's conduct
had gone beyond acceptable lawful physical contact between persons and accordingly her
act constituted battery on the plaintiff appellant.
F v West Berkshire Health Authority (1989) 2 WLR 1025
The court on application of the health authority allowed sterilization of a woman suffering
from a serious mental disability without her consent. In an action for damages for
unlawful sterilization without consent, the House of Lords held that the court had the
power to make such order under its inherent jurisdiction provided that the operation was
accepted as being in the best interest of the patient, that is, the operation was accepted as
appropriate treatment by a reasonable body of medical opinion, skilled in that particular
form of treatment.
R v Martin (1881) Crim LR 427 CA
The defendant placed an iron bar across an exit door of a hall, put off the lights on the
staircase and shouted "fire". In the struggle to escape, several persons were injured. The
court held that the defendant was liable for battery.
Leon v Met. Police Commr (1986) 1 CL 318
The plaintiff rastafarian was wrongfully suspected of carrying drugs. The police pulled
him off a bus, punched and kicked him. The court held that there was battery of the
plaintiff.
Ballard v MPC (1983) 113 NLJ LR 1133
The plaintiffs who were feminists were attacked by police during a demonstration. One
was felled down and carried away unconsciously. Another was felled down and poked
with a baton in the stomach and hit over an eye. The police hit the head of the third lady
with a baton. The court held: that there was battery. See also Freeman v Home Office
(1984) QB 524.
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Pursell v Horn (1838) 112 ER 966.

The defendant threw water on the plaintiff. The court held that it was battery to .throw
water on a person.
In Cole v Turner (1704) 87 ER 907. Letang v Cooper (1965) 1 QB 232 at 239, Holt CJ
held "that the least touching of another in anger is battery. To touch another person in
anger, though in the slightest degree or under pretence of passing is a battery. If two or
more persons meet in a narrow passage and without violence or design of harm one
touches the other person gently, it is not battery. However, if any of them uses violence
against the other to force his way in an inordinate manner or engages in any struggle
about the passage to a degree as may do hurt, it will be a battery. .
Nash v. Sheen (1953) CL Y 3726
The plaintiff went to the defendant hair dresser and requested for a perm. Instead of a
perm, the defendant gave the plaintiff an unwanted tone rinse or hair dye which caused
rashes on the head of the plaintiff. It was held that the defendant was liable for battery.
R v Day (1845) 1 Cox CC 207
The defendant slit the complainant's clothes with a knife, and as the complainant tried to
stop it by reaching for the knife, his hand was cut. Parke, B held that it was battery to use
a knife to slit the clothes which a person was wearing and although the complainant's
hand was cut in reaching for the knife, it was immaterial as this does not subtract from the
offence. In other words, there were two acts of battery; the slitting of the clothes and the
cut on the complainant's hand.
Involuntary Contact
As a general rule, involuntary contact, or infliction of force over which a person has no
control is not battery and may therefore be excused from liability.
In Gibbons v Pepper (1695) 91 ER 922,
The defendant was riding his horse. The horse, in sudden fright ran away with him on it.
He called to the plaintiff pedestrian to get out of the way and upon his failure to do so, the
horse ran him over against the defendant's will. The plaintiff sued for assault and battery.
The court held: per curiam, that the defendant was liable and judgment was given for the
plaintiff. In the court's opinion; if I ride upon a horse and another person whips the horse
so that he runs away with me and runs over any other person, he who whipped the horse
is guilty and not me. But if I, by spurring the horse, was the cause of the accident, then I
am guilty. In the same manner, if A takes the hand of B and with it strikes C; A is the true
trespasser and not B. See Leame v Bray (1803)" 102 ER 724.
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Battery Need Not Be A Hostile Act

Battery need not be a hostile act. Thus, it may amount to battery to carry out surgery
without consent, emergency, or justification or to kiss a woman against her will.
Battery May Be Committed On An Unconscious Person
Battery may be committed on a person not only when the person is conscious, but also
while a person is unconscious, such as, when a person is asleep, or unconscious during
surgery.
An Omission May Amount To Battery
An omission, especially if it persists may be a battery. For instance, a motorist, who
accidentally drove his car on to a police constable's foot while parking his car commits no
battery, but he commits battery, if he ignores the constable's plea to 'get off my foot'.
See Fagan v Metropolitan Police Commissioner (1968) 3 All ER 442
The defendant appellant was reversing his car whilst the complainant police constable
standing in his front indicated where he should park. He then drove the car onto the
policeman's foot and stopped thereon. The constable told the appellant to get off his foot
and received an abusive reply. The constable repeated his request several times and the
appellant finally said "Okay man, Okay" and slowly reversed off the constable's foot. He
was charged with assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty. The court held
that the appellant was liable and his appeal was dismissed. The appellant's conduct could
not be regarded as mere omission or inactivity. There was an act of battery which at its
inception was not criminal because there was no element of intention, but which became
criminal from the moment, the intention was formed to produce the apprehension which
flowed from the continuous act of being on the complainants foot.
Battery Must Be Intentional, Reckless, or Negligent
An act of battery must be intentional, reckless or negligent. Thus, not all acts of contact or
touch are battery. Contacts conforming with accepted practice or ordinary incidents of
daily life are not battery and are not actionable. Thus, for instance, to jostle or push in a
crowded bus or sports stadium is not battery. Consent is generally presumed. This is so
because, a person is expected to put up with the ordinary hazards of daily life, such as
stepping on another's foot, and elbowing when walking on the street. To succeed in a
claim for battery in such circumstances, a plaintiff is usually required to prove a hostile
intention or negligence. However, it may be battery, if a person uses violence to force his
way through a crowd in a rude or inordinate manner. To touch a person to attract his
attention is not battery.
83
In Coward v Baddeley (1859) 157 ER 927, in the course of a fire incident, the plaintiff
lay his hand on the defendant fire officer to attract his attention. Whereupon the defendant
fireman assaulted and beat the plaintiff and gave him to a policeman and caused him to be
imprisoned in a police station for a day and afterwards taken into custody after leading
him along public streets before a magistrate. The court held that the defendant was liable
for trespass to person. A person cannot justify taking another person into custody for
merely laying a hand on him to draw his attention, if the touching was not done hostilely.
In Holmes v Mather .(1875) LR 10 Exch 261 at 267, the defendant's horses while being
driven by his servant in a public highway were startled by the barking of a dog. The
horses ran away in fright and became so unmanageable that the servant could not stop
them, but he could to some extent, guide them. While trying to turn a corner safely, the
servant guided them so that, without intending it, the horses knocked down and injured
the plaintiff who was on the highway. The plaintiff sued for negligence. No negligence
was disclosed on the part of the driver. It was held that in the absence of intention or
negligence, the defendant was not liable. In this case, Branwell B made his famous
dictum:
"For the convenience of mankind in carrying on the affairs
of life, people as they go along roads must expect, or put up
with, such mischief as reasonable care on the part of others
cannot avoid.
In Stanley v Powell (1891) 1 QB 86, the defendant was a member of a shooting party who
were hunting game. The defendant fired his gun and a pellet hit a tree and bounced off
into the eye of the beater who was employed to drive birds to the shooting party. The
court held: that in the absence of intention or negligence, the defendant was not liable to
the plaintiff for battery.
In Fowler v Lanning (1959) 1 QB 426, the defendant shot the plaintiff with a gun. The
plaintiff sued for personal injuries. The plaintiff did not allege that the shooting was
intentional or negligent but simply averred that the defendant on a certain date and place
shot him. The court held that the action must fail. An action for trespass to person does
not lie if the trespass was neither intentional nor negligent.
Therefore, where trespass is alleged, the onus lies on he plaintiff to prove either:
1.
Intention: or
2.
Negligence.
Where the plaintiff fails to do either, the plaintiffs statement of claim will be regarded as
disclosing no cause of action, and it will be dismissed. See the following cases:
In Benson v Sir Frederic Bart (1766) 97 ER 1130, the plaintiff was ordered to be beaten
by the defendant noble man who was a colonel in the British army. Following the order,
84
the plaintiff was given numerous strokes of the cane by junior soldiers. The plaintiff sued
for battery. The defendant was held liable. See further;
Mogaji v Board of Customs (1982) 31NCLR 552; Amakiri v Iwowari (1974) 1 RSLR 5;
Shugaba v Minister of Internal Affairs (1981) 2 NCLR 459; and Dele Giwa v IGP, Unrep.
Suit No. M/44/83 of 30/7/84.
In Nwankwa v Ajaegbo (1978) 2 LRN 230, a servant of the defendant acting on the
defendant's instructions beat up the plaintiff. The plaintiff brought action. It was held that
the defendant was liable for trespass to person.
In Afisi v Aghakpe (1987) 1 QLRN 216, the defendant policemen beat up the plaintiff. It
was held that there was unlawful trespass to the plaintiff and they were liable for damages
for assault and battery.
In Oyakhire v Obaseki (1986) 1 NWLR Pt. 19, p. 735 CA, the defendant/appellants
policemen, in the course of investigating a crime, shot the plaintiff/respondent who was
not the suspect they were looking for. The plaintiff sued claiming damages. It was held
that the defendants were jointly and severally liable for damages for the accidental
shooting of the plaintiff.
Also in Donnelly v Jackman (1970) 1 All ER 987, the defendant appellant was walking
along a pavement, when the plaintiff respondent police officer in uniform who suspected
him of having committed a certain offence, accosted him to ask him some questions. The
appellant ignored the officer's repeated requests to stop and speak to him. At one stage the
officer tapped the appellant on the shoulder. Shortly after, the appellant in return tapped
the officer on the chest. It became apparent that the appellant had no intention of
stopping. The officer then again touched the appellant on the shoulder with the intention
of stopping him but without the intention to arrest the appellant. Thereupon the appellant
struck the officer with some force. The appellant was charged with assaulting an officer in
the execution of his duty and convicted. On appeal it was held that the touching of the
appellant's shoulder by the police officer was a trivial interference with his liberty, which
did not amount to a conduct outside the officer's duties. Accordingly the appeal was
dismissed and the conviction for assaulting the police officer was affirmed.
4.0
CONCLUSION
Trespass is the unauthorized intervention with a person, his property or his possession.
Where it is trespass to a person, it could take the form of battery assault or false
imprisonment. Where it is to his property, it could take the form of trespass to land,
detinue or conversion.
5.0
SUMMARY
This unit has taught the learners:

a. The basic concept of trespass in the Law of Torts
85
b. The tort of assault, elements of assault and essentially the purpose of the Law of
assault.
6.0

Battery must be intentional, negligent or reckless. Discuss.
7.0
REFERENCES
1.
2.
Ltd, Lagos (1996).
Sweet & Maxwell.
The Criminal Procedure of the Northern States of
3.
4.
5.
6.
UNIT 3
FALSE IMPRISONMENT AND INTENTIONAL HARM TO
THE PERSON
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
Introduction
Objectives
Main content
3.1
Definition of false imprisonment
3.2
The purpose of the law of false imprisonment
3.3
Defences to trespass to the person
3.4
Remedies for trespass to the person
Conclusion
86
5.0
6.0
7.0
Summary
1.0
INTRODUCTION
In this unit we shall consider the third type of trespass to the person which is false
imprisonment.
2.0
OBJECTIVES

(i)
(iii)
define false imprisonment;

explain the purpose of the tort of false imprisonment; and
enumerate the defences and remedies for trespass to the person.
3.0
MAIN CONTENT
3.1
Definition of false imprisonment
(ii)
False imprisonment is denying a person freedom of movement or personal liberty without

lawful justification. False imprisonment is the total restraint of a person without lawful
justification. It is the unlawful bodily restraint, imprisonment or arrest of a person. It is
also the restraint of another person without his consent and without lawful justification.
Any detention, bodily restraint, denial of personal liberty, or freedom of movement of a
person in any place and in any form without lawful justification amounts to false
imprisonment.. Thus, any unlawful bodily restraint, or confinement of a person, however
short the period of time is false imprisonment.
The imprisonment is false because it is not right. It is a wrong done to the person who is
restrained. False imprisonment of a person is a breach of the fundamental right to
personal liberty guaranteed in Chapter IV of the Nigerian Constitution and by the
constitutions of many other countries. It includes detention by government as well as a
detention by a private person or individual.
The act of false imprisonment must be direct, though it is immaterial whether it was done
intentionally or negligently. Thus, any unlawful bodily restraint of a person in any place
or from any place against his will may be false imprisonment. Like assault and battery,
false imprisonment is actionable in itself without the plaintiff having to prove harm or
damage. Imprisonment usually means locking up a person in jail but in this context, the
term imprisonment has a much wider meaning and includes any physical restraint of a
person in a locked or an open place such as in a street.
87
Lord Edward, Coke CJ in Inst. 2, Statutes of Westminster II, C. 48, clearly explained the
law thus:
"Every restraint of the liberty of a free man is imprisonment
although he be not within the walls of any common prison.
Similarly, Sir William Blackstone (1723-1780) the eminent English jurist clearly stated
the law thus:
"Every confinement of the person is an imprisonment, whether
it be in a common prison, or in a private house, or in the stocks,
or even by forcibly detaining one in the public streets. (Blackstone.
III p. 127)
Some of the characteristics of false imprisonment are;
1.
Depriving another person of his right to personal liberty and freedom of movement
without just cause.
2.
Compelling a person to remain where he does not wish to remain or to go to where

he does not wish to go.
3.
Restraint need not be in any cell or prison but may be in the open street.
4.
There need not be battery.
5.
The use of authority, any influence, order, trick, or request is sufficient so long as
the person is available to his captor.
6.
The person need not be aware that he is being detained at the time. See Meering v
Graham White Aviation Co (1919)" 122 LT 44.
The restraint must be total or complete. See Bird v Jones (1845) 7 QB 742; 115 ER
668.
7.
Confinement Is Not Necessary

For there to be false imprisonment there need not be confinement in a prison or in a police
cell. The mere holding of the arm of a person as when a police officer makes an arrest in
the open street is sufficient. Thus, one may be confined or falsely imprisoned in a house,
vehicle, cell, prison, mine, in a street, estate or in a specific locality, such as a district or
province, so long as the restraint is complete and the person is made to remain where he
does not want to remain or to go to where he does not want to go.
The Intention of the Tortfeasor Is Irrelevant
88
The state of mind, that is, the intention or malice of the tortfeasor is irrelevant. Once there
is an act of false imprisonment, the tortfeasor is prima facie liable in the absence of a
lawful excuse. Thus, where a tortfeasor recklessly or negligently locks a door or allows a
door to lock against another person, he would be liable for false imprisonment even
though he did not know that there was a person in the room or house. Thus, any unlawful
restraint of personal liberty, freedom of movement or arrest of a person without legal
authority is a false imprisonment. An arrest without lawful authority is a false arrest or
false imprisonment because it restrains a person's liberty. Any person who takes away
another person's liberty in these manners may be sued for this tort.

Define false imprisonment.
3.2
The Purpose of the Law of False Imprisonment
The purpose of the tort of false imprisonment is to protect the right to personal liberty and
right to freedom of movement. Thus, the purpose of the tort of false imprisonment is to
protect the fundamental right to personal liberty and freedom of movement from being
taken away by government or any person. The presence of ill-will or malice is not a
relevant element of this tort. However, where intention or malice is proved by a plaintiff,
punitive damages may be awarded in addition to compensatory or nominal damages.
John Lewis & Co. Ltd v Timms (1952) AC 676 HL.
The plaintiff, a lady and her daughter were detained for sometime in a supermarket by its
security men on suspicion of shop lifting. It was later discovered that she was innocent of
the suspicion. The House of Lords held that there was false imprisonment and she was
entitled to recover damages.
The following cases may also prove instructive on this topic.
Kuchenmeiser v Home Office (1958) 1 QB 496; Collins v Wilcock (1984) 3 All ER 374;
Weldon v Home Office (1990) 3 All ER 672; Hague v D.G. of Parkhurst Prison (1991) 3
All ER 733 HL; and R v Self (1992) 1 WLR 657 CA.
In Dumbell v Roberts (1944) 1 All ER 326, the plaintiff was returning from work dressed
in his uniform and carrying a bag of soap flakes when he was stopped and questioned by
the defendant police officers. He was taken to the police station and charged with being in
unlawful possession of soap flakes, which charge could not be substantiated and was
dismissed by court. The plaintiff sued for false imprisonment. There was no evidence to
suggest that the plaintiff had stolen the goods or that he had received them knowing them
to be stolen. The court held that the police officers were liable for false imprisonment.
When the two defendants arrested the plaintiff without a warrant and made no attempt to
89
ascertain the plaintiffs name and address, they failed to comply with the condition
precedent to the exercise of their right to arrest him without warrant under the statute.
In Burton v Davies (1953) QSR 26 Queensland, Austrialia, the plaintiff was riding in a
motor vehicle driven by the defendant. He prevented the plaintiff from coming down from
the vehicle at a certain place by driving past in excessive speed. It was held that driving a
motor vehicle past and preventing a passenger from alighting at his destination was false
imprisonment.
In Onitiri v Ojomo (1954) 21 NLR 19, the defendant magistrate was presiding at a court
where the plaintiff was a party in a certain proceedings. For an alleged contempt in the
face of the court, the defendant ordered the plaintiff to be detained pending the plaintiffs
trial for the contempt of the defendant's court. The plaintiff believing the detention to be
wrongful sued the magistrate for damages for false imprisonment. De Commarmond
S.P.J. in the High Court held that the defendant as a magistrate was not liable in damages
for any act done or ordered to be done when acting in his judicial capacity. See also Soji
Omotunde v AG. Fed. The Guardian 17/12/97.; and Liversidge v Anderson (1942) AC
206 HL.
In Union Bank of Nigeria Ltd & Anor v Ajagu (1990) 1 NWLR Pt 126, p. 328 CA, the
plaintiff/respondent customer of the 1st defendant appellant bank, on a certain day went to
the branch where he operated an account. When he was about leaving the premises, the
2nd defendant appellant an employee of the appellant bank locked the gate leading into
and out of the bank premises inspite of the plaintiffs entreaties to be allowed to leave.
The plaintiff spent sometime inside the bank's premises, after the conclusion of his
financial transaction. The plaintiff sued for false imprisonment. The Court of Appeal held:
that there was false imprisonment and the defendant appellant bank was vicariously liable
for the false imprisonment of the plaintiff by its servant.
The Queen v Lambo Sokoto (1961) WNLR 27, the accused allegedly caught hold of a girl
in a street, took her to his room, undressed her, forced her to kneel down naked, and
placed a piece of cloth on her head and by means of a hypnotic trance she was unable to
move or speak. He immobilised her until the girl's father and a policeman who were
looking for her arrived at the scene. On request by the police officer, the accused
promised to release the girl if he was treated gently, which he did by calling the name of
the girl thrice and by speaking to her in a language unknown to the policeman. She was
thereupon able to speak and move. On being charged to court, the evidence as to whether
the accused had locked the door of the room where the girl was found was inconclusive.
Charles J in the High Court held that there was false imprisonment. The court found that
the accused had no lawful excuse for confining the girl against her consent. In this case
His Lordship stated the law thus: "if one person immobilises another in a room by
hypnotism, he confines that other in the room just as much as if he had locked the door of
the room. The accused had no lawful authority or excuse for confining the girl, who did
not consent to the confinement.
90
In a charge for false imprisonment, it is unnecessary to prove that a person had exercised
his powers of volition by deciding to leave a place of confinement but had been prevented
from giving effect to that decision. It is sufficient to prove that he did not consent to the
confinement. The onus of proving reasonable cause for the false imprisonment is on the
defendant.
Restraint of the Person Is Necessary
Restraint of the person is necessary, for instance, preventing a person from leaving a
place, restraint of movement, or confinement of the person, whether in a prison or in an
open street, and so forth. Thus the offence or tort of false imprisonment is committed
once, the free movement of a person is prevented by any act. Thus, false imprisonment is
any act that prevents liberty or free movement without legal justification.
The Restraint Must Be Total
For there to be false imprisonment, the restraint of the plaintiff must be total. See Bird v
Jones (1848) 7 QB 742. Where there is a reasonable route, exit or means of escape, there
is no false imprisonment. See Robinson v Balmain Ferry Co. (1910) AC 295 PC.
However, it is not a tort to prevent a person from leaving a premises when he has not
fulfilled a reasonable condition on which he entered.
In Meering v Graham White Aviation Co. Ltd. (1920) 122 LT 44, the plaintiff was
suspected of stealing some items from the defendant who was his employer. Two
policemen who provided security to the defendant's office, asked him to accompany them
to the company office for interrogation. The plaintiff who did not know what was his
offence and was not aware that he was a suspect and agreed to the request. He remained
in the office while the two policemen remained outside the room without the plaintiff's
knowledge that they were there and with instructions to prevent him from leaving. He
later sued for damages for false imprisonment. The court held that there was false
imprisonment and he could claim. His lack of knowledge of the imprisonment at the
material time was irrelevant.
The restraint of the plaintiff must be total or complete. Therefore, to bar a person from
going in three directions, but leaving him free to go in a fourth direction is not false
imprisonment as he has not been in a situation of total restraint.
In Bird v Jones (1845) 7 QB 742; 115 ER 668,
A bridge construction company lawfully stopped a public footpath on Hammersmith
Bridge, London. A spectator of a boat race insisted on using the footpath but was stopped
by two policemen who barred his entry. The plaintiff was told that he may proceed to
another point around the obstruction but that he could not go forward. He declined to go
91
in the alternative direction and remained there for about half an hour and then sued. It was
held that there was no false imprisonment since the plaintiff was free to go another way.
In Wright v Wilson (1699) 91 ER 1394, there was no false imprisonment where the
plaintiff was able to escape from his confinement, after committing nominal act of
trespass on a third party's property.
The means of escape must however be reasonable. Therefore, a means of escape which
will endanger the life of the plaintiff will not excuse the defendant from a claim for false
imprisonment. However, where a means of escape is available which will not endanger
life, or cause a maim, there will be no false imprisonment.
If a person is on a premises or property and is denied exit or facility to leave, there is false
imprisonment unless the restraint is an insistence on a reasonable conduct. Thus, as a
general rule, it is false imprisonment to deny a person facility to leave a place without
lawful justification.
Thus in Warner v Riddiford (1858) 140 ER 1052, the defendant terminated the
employment of the plaintiff, his resident manager and locked his room upstairs so that the
plaintiff could not collect his belongings and leave the premises. Held: There was false
imprisonment, since locking up his personal effects placed an effective restraint on his
mobility.
In Herd v Weardale Steel, Coal & Coke Co. (1915) AC 67,a miner went into a mine as
usual with the understanding to work for the specific period of his shift before coming to
the surface. A dispute arose between him and his employers in the mine pit and he
demanded to return to the surface but the employer refused to grant him the use of the
hoisting cage for him to come to the surface and he was stranded in the pit for about 20
minutes. It was held that there was no false imprisonment. The miner entered the pit of
his own freewill and the employers were under no duty to bring him to the surface until
the end of his shift.
Restraint for the Shortest Period of Time Is False Imprisonment
The shortest period of restraint or confinement is false imprisonment. See Herd v
Weardale Steel, Coal & Coke Co. (Supra) and Holden v Chief Constable of Lancashire
(1986) 3 All ER 836. Thus no fixed period of time is necessary. However, a false
imprisonment that is for a very brief time may only attract nominal damages.
Contact and Use of Force Are Not Necessary
In committing false imprisonment, it is not necessary that force be used on the plaintiff by
way of battery. There need not be any physical contact. A threat to use force on the
plaintiff whereby the plaintiff is restrained by fear is sufficient. Therefore, an order such
as "stay there or I'll shoot you" may be evidence of false imprisonment. The use of
92
authority, intimidation, threat, influence, order, trick, hypnotism, pronouncement of

arrest, or request to follow the tortfeasor is enough. Therefore, where a police officer
wrongfully orders a person to follow him to the police station, without giving him the
option of refusing to go, and the person obeys, the police officer may be liable for false
imprisonment though he never touched the plaintiff. See Aigoro v Anebunwa (1966)
NNLR 87
In Aigoro v Anebuwa (supra), the plaintiff was at a train station and about to board a train
when the defendant called on a policeman to assist him to prevent the plaintiff from
leaving on the train. The policeman then invited the plaintiff to come with him to the
police station. No physical force was used to restrain the plaintiff. The court held: that
there was false imprisonment. The plaintiff by being asked to come to the police station
was not doing what he wanted to do, nor acting of his own free will.
In Clarke v Davis (1964) Gleaner LR 145, the defendant police officers invited the
plaintiff to accompany them to the police station. However, they assured him that he had
the option not to come with them. The plaintiff went with them. The plaintiff later sued
for false imprisonment. The court held that there was no false imprisonment. The plaintiff
had an option to avoid the restraint. He acted of his own free will and could not turn
around and complain.
Mere Words May Not Amount To False Imprisonment
Generally, mere words without more do not constitute false imprisonment.
In Genner v Sparkes (1704) 91 ER 74, the defendant/court bailiff informed the plaintiff
that he had come to arrest him. The plaintiff who was holding a pitch fork used it to
prevent the bailiff from reaching him, while he ran into his house. In a claim by the
plaintiff, the court held: that there was no false imprisonment, as mere words in the
absence of any other act, such as, attempt to hold, or immobilise the plaintiff, could not
amount to false imprisonment. Mere words without more would not make a false
imprisonment.
In Russen v Lucas (1824) 171 ER 930 and 1141, the defendant/Sheriff of Middlesex,
England shouted to the plaintiff who was behind a door at a bar: I want you. The
plaintiff then replied, "wait for me outside the door, and I will come to you. The plaintiff
quickly escaped by another exit. On a claim for damages for false imprisonment, the issue
was whether he was arrested and escaped from custody. Abbott C.J. held that there was
no false imprisonment.
Mere words may not constitute arrest; and if an officer says "I arrest you" and the person
runs away, it is no escape from custody but if the party acquiesces to the arrests, and goes
with the officer, it will be a good arrest. The declaration of intention to restrain the
plaintiff without actually restraining him was not enough. The defendant cannot be liable
for escape from arrest.
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Knowledge by the Plaintiff of the False Imprisonment at The Material Time Is

Irrelevant
It is not necessary for the person who is restrained to know at the material time that he
was detained, restrained, confined, or being prevented from leaving. It is sufficient if he is
informed of the false imprisonment later. Thus, a person may be falsely imprisoned while
unconscious, asleep, or otherwise unaware and so forth. The person need not be aware so
long as the false imprisonment is a fact or complete. If he learns about it from another
person, he is entitled to sue. See Meering v Graham White Aviation Co (1920) 122 LT 44;
and Murray v Minister of Defence (1988) 2 All ER 521. Constrast with Hering v Boyle
(1834) 149 ER 1126.
In Dele Giwa v I.G.P Unrep Suit No. M/44/83 of 30/7/84, the plaintiff, who was a top
flight journalist and columnist was arrested and detained by the police. He brought action
for enforcement of his fundamental right to personal liberty and for damages. Jinadu J.
held, that the defendants were liable. The plaintiff was entitled to his freedom and the sum
of Nl0,000.00 was awarded for the unlawful arrest and detention of the plaintiff being
compensation for the false imprisonment resultant loss of liberty, and the indignity to
which he was subjected. See also Shugaba v Minister of Internal Affairs (1981) NCLR
459.
In C.O.P. Ondo State v Obolo (1989) 5 NWLR pt 120. p. 130 CA, the plaintiff respondent
was routinely picked up as a suspect whenever there was a case of robbery. He applied
and obtained leave of the High Court to enforce his fundamental rights against the police
to show cause why his right to personal liberty should be breached by being
unconstitutionally and unlawfully arrested and detained on diverse dates without being
informed of the offence he had committed, charged or brought before a court of
competent jurisdiction. On appeal, the Court of Appeal held that the fundamental rights of
the respondent had been infringed without reasonable and probable cause. Damages of
N17,500.00 was awarded for the unlawful arrests and detention of the respondent.
In this case SALAMI JCA as he then delivered the judgment of the Court of Appeal and
stated the law that:
"The test as to what is reasonable belief that the respondent
has committed an offence is objective. It is not what the
appellant considered reasonable, but whether the facts within
their knowledge at the time of arrest disclosed circumstances
from which it could be easily inferred that the respondent
committed the offence. See Oteri v Okorodudu (1970) 1 All NLR
199. The burden of proving the legality or constitutionality of
the arrest and the imprisonment is on the appellants. This cannot
be successfully done without disclosing to the trial court in their
counter affidavit what the respondent did... The wrong assumption
94
is that it was for the respondent to show that the arrest was
unlawful... It is a matter for the courts to determine whether or not
there is a good ground for the arrest and it cannot do so if the party
who knew the reasonable ground for arresting the respondent holds
on to it.
The test of what is a reasonable and probable ground was stated by LEWIS JSC in the
Supreme Court in Oteri v Okorodudu (1970) All NLR 199 at 205 thus:
---------- the test to be applied with onus of proof on a defendant seeking to justify his
conduct, was laid down in 1838 by TINDAL C.J. in Allen v Wright (1838) 173 ER 602
where he said that 'it must be that of a reasonable person acting without passion and
prejudice. The matter must be looked at objectivel, and in the light of facts known to the
defendant at the time, not on subsequent facts that may come to light.
An accused person or suspect is entitled to know the cause of his arrest, except when he is
caught in the course of committing an offence or in the course of escaping therefrom.
Unlawful arrest is a trespass to person which, unless it can be justified usually renders the
tortfeasor liable. The courts will not allow the police to seek cover under the provisions of
the Criminal Procedure Act when they derogate from the procedure laid down by the law
in the arrest and prosecution of offenders. See Ikonne v COP (1986) 4 NWLR Pt 36, p.
473 SC. And Enwere v COP (1993) 8 NWLR pt 299, p.333 CA .
Who Is Liable: The Police Or The Caller Of Police?
A person may be liable for false imprisonment if he himself affected the arrest or in
accordance with the general rule that he who instigates another person to commit a tort is
a joint tortfeasor, for procuring or actively promoting the commission of a tort. When an
arrest is wrongful, both the person who instigated the arrest and the person or the police
officer who effected the arrest are joint-tortfeasors, except the arrest was entirely at the
decision or discretion for the police. In deciding who may be sued for false imprisonment,
the deciding factor is "who was active in promoting and causing the arrest? Therefore, a
person may be liable for false imprisonment by effecting the arrest or confinement
personally, or by instigating another person to commit the tort. In that case, he will be
seen as a joint tortfeasor for procuring or actively promoting the commission of a tort.
When an arrest is wrongful, both the police and the person who instigated the arrest are
joint tortfeasors, except the arrest was entirely at the discretion of the police.
3.3
Defences to Trespass To Person
The defence to an action for trespass to person includes:

1.
Self-defence or Justification. See Turner v MGM Pictures Ltd (1950) 1 All ER 449
and Lane v Holloway (1968) 1 QB 379.
95
Under common law, a person has a right of self-defence. The only requirement for a
successful plea of self defence is that the self-defence should be reasonable or
proportionate. This includes self-defence and or the defence of another person, especially,
where a person is morally or legally obliged to protect another person. However, only
reasonable force may be used in self-defence.
2.
Defence of property; A person may commit commensurate or reasonable trespass

to person, such as assault, battery or false imprisonment in order to protect his
property or the property of another person which he has a moral or legal obligation
to protect. In England the common law right of self-defence has been
supplemented by statute law by section 3(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1967. See
Bird v Holbrock (1828) 130 ER 911; Hemmings v Stoke Poges Golf Club (1920) 1
KB 720 and Hamson v Duke of Rutland (1893) 1 QB 142 CA. Thus, reasonable
measures may be taken or reasonable force may be used to eject or deter a
trespasser from entering a property.
3.
Consent of the plaintiff Express or implied consent is a complete defence. Consent

is a defence when it is obtained freely in the absence of fraud, trick, deceit, force,
duress or undue influence and so forth. Consent is deemed in sports. Accordingly,
consent is often a defence for injuries suffered in sports events. As a general rule
participants in sports are deemed to consent to reasonable contact within the rules
of the game except where the act is unreasonable, involves considerable hostility or
is deliberate. See Condon v Basi (1985) 2 All ER 453.
4.
Medical Treatment: Medical Care and Medical Surgery: In medical care, a patient
is usually deemed as having consented to the normal course of treatment for his
ailment except where such treatment is outside the scope of the patient's express or
implied consent. Thus, consent to medical care is consent to assault, battery and
false imprisonment, but it is not consent to negligent medical treatment. As a
result, treatment or surgical operation carried out in good faith with reasonable
skill, knowledge and care for the benefit of a patient is a lawful excuse in a claim
for trespass, because, these are contacts which are usually for the plaintiffs benefit.
Conscious adults who are about to undergo surgery may be required to sign a consent
form, which are usually drafted in standard form. In a treatment, not involving surgery, a
patient is deemed to give implied consent by consulting a medical doctor.
Adults who require emergency treatment, whether or not they are conscious are deemed
to give implied consent to treatment because of the emergency and the need for the doctor
to quickly intervene and save the patient from grievous harm or loss of life. A defence of
necessity (See F v West Berkshire HA (1989) 2 All ER 545; and Bolam v Friem Hospital
(1957) 2 All ER 118) may also avail a medical doctor in such an instance. For children
under 16 years, the parents are required to give consent and the parents are deemed to
give consent by bringing them to hospital or by signing a consent form. Generally, a
child's capacity to give consent to medical treatment depends on the child's maturity, and
96
understanding of the nature of the treatment and what it involves. See B (A Minor)
Wardship, Re (1987) 2 All ER 206; and Gillick v East Norfolk HA (1985) 3 All ER 402.
Where a patient claims that he did not consent to medical treatment, two possible legal
claims may be brought:
(i)
Where there was treatment against a patient's will or there was treatment of a
different kind or there was assault and battery. A claim may be brought for trespass
to person. See Chatterton v Gerson (1981) 1 All ER 257; and C (Refusal of
Medical Treatment), Re (1994) 1 WLR 290.
(ii)
Where the patient was aware of the nature of treatment, but the doctor failed to
give sufficient details, or explanation of the risks and side effects, a claim may
arise in negligence. A claim for medical negligence is usually more difficult to
prove than a claim for trespass to person. See Stubbings v Webb (1992) QB 197;
Blythe v Bloomsbury HA (1985) AC 871; and Sidaway v Bethlehem Royal Hospital
(1985) AC 871.
A surgery operation carried out by a medical doctor in good faith with reasonable skill,
knowledge and care for the benefit of the plaintiff is a defence. Accordingly, a surgeon
who is operating in an emergency on an unconscious patient does not commit battery for
several possible reasons which include:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
He is not acting hostilely to the patient;

There is implied consent by the patient; and
The defence of emergency or necessity is available to the surgeon; etc.
In Cassidy v Ministry of Health (1951) 1 All ER 573, the defendant employers were held
liable where the medical staff made the plaintiffs hand useless due to paralysis, as a
result of negligent post-operation treatment. See also Roe v Minister of Health (1954) QB
66; Akerele v R (1943) 2 All ER 367; and R v Yaro Paki (1955) 21 NLR 63.
Also consent is a defence to false imprisonment, for instance, when a person who visits a
prison impliedly consents to be locked in confinement with the prisoner during the period
of the visit. However, fraud, duress and so forth, usually vitiate consent. Furthermore,
consent by a victim will not excuse a defendant from criminal responsibility, for instance,
if he takes the life of a person who consents to the causing of his own death by killing
him. Also where a medical doctor negligently certified a plaintiff as insane, whereupon
she was detained in a mental hospital, he was held liable for causing her false
imprisonment in an insane asylum. See De Freville v Dill (1927) All ER 205.
5.
Inevitable Accident. See Module 4
6.
Judicial Authority. See Onitiri v Ojomo (1954) 21 NLR 19; Ajao v Alkali Amodu &
Anor (1960) NNLR 8; and Egbe v Adefarasin (1985) 1.
97
Under judicial authority, such as a court order, warrant of arrest, prison sentence and so
forth, lawful arrest may be carried out. Detention may be ordered and punishment may be
imposed according to law.
A judge or a magistrate acting within his judicial authority may grant a warrant of arrest
and persons carrying out such an order of arrest may use reasonable force to detain the
person named in the warrant. All convicts serving various terms of imprisonment are in
jail pursuant to the judicial authority of judges and magistrates.
7.
Lawful Arrest (See statutes such as the Criminal Code Act, Police Act, etc.),
Detention, Stop and Search: All persons owe a duty not to disturb the public peace
by committing crime or causing other breaches of peace and so forth. The police
have powers under the Criminal Code Act, Police Act and other criminal statutes
to arrest, detain, or stop and search a person in public where they reasonably
suspect that a person has committed a crime, or maybe carrying a stolen,
contraband or prohibited item, etc.
The police and other law enforcement agents and private citizens have powers to make
arrest with or without a warrant as the case maybe. A lawful arrest, detention, or stop and
search and so forth are defences to assault, battery and false imprisonment. See Murray v
Minister of Defence (1988) 2 All ER 421. The requirements of a lawful arrest and stop and
search are many and include:
1.
An arrest must be within the powers granted by a relevant statute.
2.
A reasonable suspicion on the part of the arrestor or person making the arrest.
3.
Use of only reasonable or proportionate force (see Farrell v Secretary of State for
Defence (1980) Lloyds Rep. 437) to that put up by the person arrested.
What amounts to reasonable suspicion is objective and it depends on the circumstances or

facts of each case. (See Holgate Mohammed v Duke (1984) 2 WLR 660). In the course of
criminal investigation, the police, especially, can with the consent of a suspect or the
permission of a senior police officer, take body samples of a suspect, such as hair, finger
nails, blood, body fluids, etc, for analysis in the course of criminal investigation.
Thus, the police have wide powers both at common law and statute to arrest persons they
reasonably suspect of crime. Also, a private person or a group may effect arrest as
provided under law in relevant circumstances and hand over the person to the police. A
defendant who is acting under the criminal law is protected. A plea of reasonable and
probable cause may be made. A policeman who mistakenly arrests an innocent person is
not liable for wrongful arrest, so long as he had reasonable grounds for suspicion of the
innocent person at the time of arrest. However, in false imprisonment, the defendant has
98
the burden of proving that there was reasonable cause for the arrest or detention of the
plaintiff.
In Christie v Leachinsky (1943) AC 573, the defendant/appellant police officers without
warrant arrested the plaintiff/respondent for unlawful possession of a number of bales of
cloth. They had reasonable grounds for thinking that the cloths were stolen but they did
not disclose to the appellant the reasons for arresting him as required by law. On appeal,
the House of Lords held that the arrest was unlawful. See also Brogan v UK (1989) II
EHRR 117.
However, a person who is authorised by law to use force may be personally liable for any
excess, he committed in the course of duty depending on the nature and quality of the act.
Also an erroneous belief in a power of arrest will not excuse an unlawful arrest. Damages
for battery, false imprisonment and so forth will lie.
In Holder v Chief Constable of Lacanshire (1986) 3 All ER 836, the court held that there
was false imprisonment of the plaintiff, as the police officer had no reasonable ground for
suspicion of the plaintiff at the time of arrest.
8.
Statutory or Lawful Authority
Trespass to person may be excused where it is committed in preservation of society (see

(1999) Constitution, sections 33(2), 34(2), 35, 41, 44 & 45; Liversdige v Anderson (1942)
AC 206; and Brogan v UK, supra), under any enabling statute for instance, under the
Nigerian Constitution. Under the Nigerian Constitution, a person may be lawfully
deprived of his personal liberty or his fundamental rights otherwise restricted in certain
circumstances. These include;:
(i)
In connection with a criminal case by lawful arrest or in execution of the order or

sentence of a court;
(ii)
In a connection with infectious disease, or unsoundness of mind;
(iii)
In connection with immigration law;
(iv)
In connection with the education and welfare of infants or apprentices who are
minors, etc.
9.
Reasonable Chastisement in Exercise of Parental or Other Authority.
As a matter of tradition and law, parents have right to administer reasonable punishment
or chastisement as a discipline in order to ensure the propel upbringing of a child.
However, the punishment of a naughty or rude child must be reasonable, otherwise the
chastisement may amount to a tort or crime.
99
Nowadays, because of parental objection to smacking or caning of children, the practice

is no longer permitted in schools whether public or private. However, the Parents and
Teachers Association may permit teachers to administer reasonable chastisement of
children and such do not amount to inhuman treatment of children and is not a breach of
the fundamental right to dignity of human person at guaranteed in section 34 of the 1999
Constitution of Nigeria. See also Ekeogu v Aliri (1991) 3 NWLR pt. 179, p. 258 SC.
Thus, a parent or other person in loco parentis of a child, pupil or ward may in exercise of
parental authority or similar authority administer lawful and reasonable chastisement, and
punish or discipline a child in order to correct him. The amount of punishment
administered must however be reasonable in the circumstances and short of the criminal
offence of cruelty to a child and short of breach of his human rights under the Nigerian
Constitution and the Child Rights Act 2003.
A teacher may in exercise of authority, administer lawful and reasonable chastisement to
bring up pupils as disciplined, responsible and law abiding citizens. This authority was
normally implied by the mere sending of a child to school. However, nowadays the
authority of a teacher to discipline a child depends more on the position of government
policy and society.
The captain of a ship or an aircraft is responsible to maintain order for the safety of the
trip. He may, therefore, exercise such authority as is necessary to preserve life and
property in the course of the journey.
In Hook v Cunard Steamship Co. Ltd. (1953) 1 All ER 1021, the plaintiff was a steward in
the defendant company's cruise line. Following a complaint by the parents of a child on
board the ship, the captain of the ship had the plaintiff confined for a night in a cabin and
thereafter restricted his movement on the ship. He was later sacked and fully paid off. The
said complaints made by the parents were inconsistent and uncorroborated. There was
ground for casting the slightest aspersion on the plaintiff's character. The plaintiff sued for
false imprisonment. The court held that the defendant company was liable for false
imprisonment and aggravated damages were awarded to him.
This is so for false imprisonment does not merely affect a person's liberty it also affects
his reputation. The damage to the plaintiff continues until it is caused to cease by a
declaration that the imprisonment was false. Therefore, the general principle of law is that
damage is recoverable up to the date of judgement, and also any evidence which tends to
aggravate the damage to reputation is admissible up to the moment when damages are
assessed by court.
100
9.
Necessity
This is a rare defence. A defendant may show that he committed the trespass to person to
avoid a greater harm, such as forcefully feeding a person to preserve the person's life.
This was the situation in Leigh v Gladstone (1909) 26 TLR 139, where prison warders out
of necessity forcefully fed the defendant who was on hunger strike whilst in custody in
order to save her from dying from hunger.
3.4
The Remedies for Trespass to Person
A plaintiff in a claim for trespass is entitled to a number of remedies. These include:

1.
A declaratory judgement, declaring the rights of the plaintiff to enjoy the

fundamental right to dignity of human person, right to personal liberty, right to
freedom of movement and so forth as guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution.
See the following cases: Shugaba v Minister of Internal Affairs (1981) 2 NCLR
459; COP v Obolo (1989) 5 NWLR pt 120, p. 130 CA,; Iyere v Duro (1986) 5
NWLR pt 44, p. 665 CA..; Amakiri v Iwowari (1974) 1 RSLR 5; Alaboh v Boyes
(1984) 5 NCLR 830; Dele Giwa v IGP, Unrep Suit No. M/44/ 83 of 30/7/84; and
Soji Omotunde v AG. Federation, The Guardian 17/12/97.
2.
Injunction
3.
Binding over to keep the peace for a specified period
4.
Award of damages
5.
Writ of habeas corpus. See Agbaje v COP (1969) 1 NMLR 137 HC; 1 NMLR 176
CA. and Tai Solarin v IGP, Unrep. Suit No. M/55/84.
When action is filed in court for the release of a detained person and a writ of habeas
corpus is claimed, upon establishing a prima facie case that the person has been
unlawfully detained, a writ of habeas corpus may be issued by court, commanding the
captors or custodians to bring the prisoner to court, and then proceed to examine whether
there is any legal ground for the detention of the prisoner and in the absence of any lawful
ground for his detention set him free.
6.
Apology. See Dele Giwa v IGP, supra.
Where an apology is also claimed for unwarranted and unlawful trespass to person,
especially a false imprisonment, a court may order that apology be made by the defendant
to the plaintiff. Such apology is usually tendered to the plaintiff in the mode directed by
the court, such as writing a letter of apology to the plaintiff and also publicising it on
radio, television, newspaper and so forth.
101
7.
Escape from unlawful custody or kidnap
8.
Self-Defence;
4.0
CONCLUSION
There are three main forms of trespass to a person, namely; Battery, Assault and false
Imprisonment. Battery, assault and false imprisonment fall under the tort which were
formerly dealt with by the writ of trespass. These torts are therefore actionable per se.
Salomon J. defines Battery as the application of force to the person of another without
lawful participation. Also in Cote v Turner, Holt C. J said the least touching of another in
anger is a battery.
5.0
SUMMARY
At the end of this unit you should have been able to identify the following :
1.
Definition of false imprisonment.
2.
The purpose of the law of false imprisonment
3.
Trespass to a person
4.
Differences to trespass to the person
5.
Remedies for trespass to the person.
6.0

Write short notes on five defences to trespass to the person.
7.0
REFERENCES
1.
2.
Ltd, Lagos (1996).
Sweet & Maxwell.
1999.
The Criminal Procedure Code f the Northern States of Nigeria.
3.
4.
5.
6.
102
UNIT 4
TRESPASS TO CHATTELS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
Introduction
Objectives
Main content
3.1
Definition of chattel
3.2
Trespass to chattel in Nigeria
3.3
Differences between Trespass to Chattel, Conversion and Detinue
Conclusion
Summary
1.0
INTRODUCTION
In the law of tort, trespass to property is of two kinds. These are:

1.
Trespass to personal property, better known as trespass to chattel, or trespass to

goods; and
2.
Trespass to land.
In this unit, we shall examine trespass to chattel.
2.0
OBJECTIVES
(iv)
(v)
Define chattel;
Outline the differences between trespass to chattel, conversion and detinue;
Explain the elements of trespass to chattel;
List the persons who may sue for trespass to chattel; and
Enumerate the remedies for trespass to chattel.
3.0
MAIN CONTENT
3.1
Definition of A Chattel
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
A chattel is any property other than land and immovable property. A chattel is any
moveable property. The word "chattel" means any article, goods, or personal property,
other than land and immoveable property. Examples of chattel or goods are innumerable.
103
A chattel is any moveable thing which is capable of being owned, possessed, or controlled
other than a human being, land and immoveable property. Examples of chattel include
cars, furniture, animal, vessel, aircraft, sea craft, and anything whatsoever which is
moveable and capable of being owned. Indeed, the list of chattels cannot be exhausted.
The Purpose of the Tort of Trespass to Chattel
The tort of trespass to chattels protects all the chattel, goods, or personal properties of a
person who has title or possession by prohibiting all interference without legal
justification. The tort of trespass to chattel protects the rights of ownership or possession
of a chattel from all wrongful interferences. Thus, the tort of trespass to chattel protects
the chattels, goods, and all personal properties of a person who has title, possession, or
right to immediate possession against meddling, damage, destruction, diminution,
conversion, detinue, or any interference whatsoever, by any other person without lawful
justification.
Trespass to Chattel Is Actionable Per Se
The three forms of trespass to chattel are each actionable per se upon commission or
occurrence without the plaintiff having to prove damage. Explaining the law that trespass
to chattel is actionable per se without prove of damage Adefarasin J., as he then was, in
Davies v Lagos City Council (1973) 10 CCHCJ 151 at 154, held that:
The plaintiff is entitled to succeed... in trespass...
there may be a trespass without the infliction of any
material damage by a mere taking or transportation.
In my view, the seizure of the plaintiffs vehicle without
just cause... is a wrongful act, on account of which all the
defendants taking part in it are jointly and severally liable.
Although, trespass to chattel is actionable per se, however it is not a strict liability tort.
Furthermore, where a specific damages has been done to a chattel, a plaintiff is entitled to
prove it and recover damage for it as the case may be.
3.2
Trespass To Chattel in Nigeria
In Nigeria, the tort of trespass to chattel is made up of three types of torts. These are:
1.
Trespass to chattels per se, without a conversion or a detinue of the chattel in

question;
2.
Conversion; and
3.
Detinue.
We shall examine conversion and detinue in the following units.
104
Trespass to chattel is any direct and unlawful interference with a chattel in the possession
of another person. It is the intentional or negligent interference with the possession of the
chattel of another person. In other words, trespass to chattel is any direct interference with
a personal property in the possession of another person without lawful justification. The
interference must be direct and wrongful. Thus, the mere touching of a chattel without
causing any harm to it may in appropriate circumstances, be actionable and entitle the
plaintiff to get nominal damages.
Trespass to chattel is designed to protect the following interests in personal property;
1.
Right of retaining one's chattel;
2.
Protection of the physical condition of the chattel; and
3.
Protection of the chattel against unlawful interference or meddling.
The tort of trespass to chattel is designed to protect possession, that is, the right of
immediate possession of a chattel, as distinct from ownership. It protects the right of a
person to the control, possession, retention or custody of a chattel against interference by
another person without lawful justification. In other words it prohibits a person from any
unlawful interference with a chattel that is under the control, possession or custody of
another person. The strongest way to regain ownership of goods such as when one's
property is stolen is perhaps through criminal law. To maintain an action for trespass, the
plaintiff must show that he had possession at the time of the trespass or is entitled to
immediate possession of the chattel. Thus, a borrower, hirer, or a bailee of goods,
possesses the goods lent, hired or bailed and therefore he may maintain an action against
any person who wrongfully interferes with the goods. Similarly, a person who has
wrongfully acquired possession may also maintain action against all persons except the
owner or agent of the owner of the chattel.
Essentially, trespass to chattel is:
1.
2.
Any wrong against a chattel, goods or personalty

In the possession or control of another person.
In this tort, injury or wrong is done to the chattel while it is in the possession of the person
claiming damages for the injury. The chattel is usually not taken from his possession as
we have in conversion or detinue.
In Erivo v Obi (1993) 9 NWLR pt 316, p. 60 CA, the defendant respondent closed the door
of the plaintiff appellant's car and the side windscreen got broken. The appellant sued
inter alia for damage to the windscreen and the loss he incurred in hiring another car to
attend to his business. The defendant respondent alternatively pleaded inevitable accident.
On appeal, the Court of Appeal held that the defendant respondent was not liable. He did
not use excessive force but only normal force in closing the door of the car. He did not
break the windscreen intentionally or negligently. It was an inevitable accident which the
exercise of reasonable care and the normal force used by the respondent could not avert.
105
In this case, the Court of Appeal restated the position of the law that, trespass to chattel is
actionable per se, that is, without proof of actual damage. Any unauthorized touching or
moving of a chattel is actionable at the suit of the possessor of a chattel, even though no
harm has been done to the chattel. Therefore, for trespass to chattel to be actionable, it
must have been done by the wrongdoer:
1.
2.
Intentionally; or
Negligently.
Thus, in the wider context, the tort of trespass to chattel is closely related to any tort or
law which has to do with the protection of interest in personal property, such as:
1.
2.
3.
Negligence;
Malicious damage such as arson; and
Other damage to property or interest in property.
Examples of Trespass to Chattel

Trespass to chattel may be committed in many different ways. However, the trespass must
be intentional or negligent. Trespass may be committed by mere removal or any damage
and it can be committed when there is no intention to deprive the owner, possessor or
custodian permanently of the chattel. Examples of trespass to chattel include:
1.
Taking a chattel away
2.
Throwing another person's property away, such as in annoyance
3.
Mere moving of the goods from one place to another, that is, mere asportation. See
Kirk v Gregory (1878) 1 Ex D 55.
4.
Scratching or making marks on the body of the chattel, or writing with finger in the
dust on the body of a motor vehicle
5.
Killing another person's animal, feeding poison to it or beating it. See Shieldrick v
Abery (1793) 170 ER 278; Cresswell v girl (1948) 1 KB 241; and Uwabia v Atu
(1975) 5 ECSLR 139.
6.
7.
Destruction, or any act of harm or damage

Touching, that is, mere touching, for instance, touching a precious work of art
which could be damaged by mere touch
8.
Use, that is, mere using without permission
9.
Driving another person's car without permission

106
10.
Filling another person's bottle with anything. See Penfolds Wines Pty Ltd v Elliott
(1946) 74 CLR 204 at 214-215.
11.
Throwing something at the chattel
12.
Damaging or causing any harm to a chattel, by any bodily or indirect contact, such
as, running one's car into another person's car.
3.3
Differences between Trespass to Chattel, Conversion and Detinue
In the tort of trespass to goods, there is no taking away, stealing, conversion, detention or
detinue of the goods from the owner; or person entitled to possession. This is the main
difference between it and the torts of conversion, and detinue. However, in the tort of
trespass to chattel there must be some act of interference, meddling, harm, injury, damage
or destruction of the goods, against the desire of the owner, possessor, custodian or
caretaker. Thus, the tort of trespass to chattel includes any interference, meddling, harm,
injury, damage or destruction of goods against the desire of the person who has right to it.
The following cases will give clear illustrations of trespass to chattel.
circumstances vary but they are all on chattels.
There
In Davies v Lagos City Council (1973) 10CCHCJ 151, the defendant city council granted
a hackney permit to the plaintiff to operate a taxi cab, which permit was meant for the
exclusive use of the plaintiff. The plaintiff transferred the permit to a third party,
whereupon the defendant council seized and detained the plaintiffs taxi cab. In an action
for trespass to property, Adefarasin J. as he then was in the Lagos High Court held that
although the defendant council was entitled to revoke the permit for non-compliance with
regulations, however, it was not entitled to seize nor take possession of the plaintiffs
vehicle. The defendant was therefore liable for trespass to chattel by seizing the plaintiffs
car.
In Fouldes v Willoughby (1841) 151 ER 1153, the defendant was the manager of a ferry
boat. The plaintiff who was a passenger entered the boat with his horses. The defendant
and the plaintiff had a dispute and in order to induce the plaintiff to leave the boat, the
defendant disembarked the horses of the plaintiff from the ferry. The plaintiff who was
not ruffled remained on the boat and crossed over to the other side of the river. The
plaintiff then sued the defendant for trespass to the horses. The court held: that the
defendant was liable for trespass to the horses, by moving them ashore. It was also held
that there was no conversion as the plaintiff still had title.
In Kirk v Gregory (1878) 1 EX D 55, the movement of a deceased person's rings from one
room in his house to another was held to be a trespass to chattel and nominal damages
was awarded against the defendant.
107
In Haydon v Smith (1610) 123 ER 970, it was held to be a trespass for the defendant to cut
and carry away the plaintiffs trees.
Also in G.W.K v Dunlop Rubber Co. (1926) 42 TLR 376, removing a tyre from a car, and
replacing it with another tyre was held to be a trespass.
In Slater v Swann (1730) 93 ER 906, beating the plaintiffs animal was held to be a
trespass to chattel.
In Leame v Bray (1803) 102 ER 724, this was an accident between two horse drawn
carriages. The defendant negligently drove his carriage and collided with the carriage of
the plaintiff. The court held that the accident was a trespass to chattel and the defendant
was liable in damages to the plaintiff for the damage done to the coach of the plaintiff.
Elements of Trespass to Chattel: What a Plaintiff Must Prove To Succeed
To succeed, a plaintiff must establish that the act of trespass was:
1.
Intentional; or
2.
Negligent. See National Coal Board v Evans & Co. (1951) 2 KB 861 and Gaylor
& Pope v Davies & Sons (1924) 2 KB 75.
As a general rule, proving intention or negligence is very important as trespass to chattel

is not a strict liability tort. However, accident, intentional or negligent trespass do not
automatically give rise to liability per se, as an appropriate defence, may be pleaded to
avoid liability.
The Persons Who May Sue For Trespass to Chattel
Anyone who has possession or caretakership of a chattel may sue any other person who
meddles with the chattel. This is so for the object of the tort of trespass is to protect
possession, or the right to immediate possession. In other words, anyone who has
possession or right to immediate possession can sue. Accordingly, some persons who do
not have legal right are deemed by law to have possession, so that they will be able to
protect chattels left under their care. For instance, an employee to whom an employer has
given custody of goods, a repairer, caretaker, personal representatives of a deceased and
so forth. Therefore, the persons who may sue for trespass to chattel, provided they have
possession at the material time of the interference include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Owners
Bailees
Lenders
Assignees
Trustees
108
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Finders
Custodians
Caretakers
Adverse possessors, because mere possession gives a right to sue to retain
possession
Executors
Administrators of estates; etc.
In National Coal Board v Evans & Co. (supra), the defendant contractors were employed
by a county council to work on land owned by the defendant council. A trench had to be
dug, which the defendants employed a sub-contractor to do. An electric cable passed
under the land, but neither the council, nor Evan & Co. who were head contractors, nor
the sub-contractors knew this, and the cable was not marked on any available map.
During excavation, a mechanical digger damaged the cable and water seeped into it
causing an explosion, and thereby cutting off electricity supply to the plaintiffs coal
mine. The plaintiff sued claiming damages for trespass to the electricity cable. The court
held that in the absence of establishing negligence on the part of the defendant
contractors, there was no fault and there was no trespass by the defendants. The damage
was an inevitable accident.

Who may sue for trespass to chattel?
The Defences for Trespass to Chattel
In an action for trespass to chattel, the defences a defendant may plead include:
1.
Inevitable accident
2.
Jus tertii, that is, the title, or better right of a third party, provided that he has the
authority of such third party. See C.O.P. v Oguntayo (1993) 6 NWLR pt. 299, p.
259 SC.
3.
Subsisting lien.
4.
Subsisting bailment
5.
Limitation of time, as a result of the expiration of time specified for legal action.
6.
Honest conversion, or acting honestly, etc.
The Remedies for Trespass to Chattel
109
The remedies available to a person whose chattel has been meddled with, short of
conversion or detinue are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Payment of damages
Replacement of the chattel
Payment of the market price of the chattel
Repair of the damage.
A frequent demonstration of these remedies is in motor accident cases. Where one vehicle
runs into another, damages may be paid, or the parts of the vehicle that are affected may
be replaced or repaired.
4.0
CONCLUSION
There will be trespass to chattel whenever there is a physical and intentional interference
with goods of which the right of possession lies in a plaintiff. The intervention must be
direct, physical and intentional and the plaintiff must have possession
5.0
SUMMARY
In this unit we discussed

1.
the definition of chattel
2.
outline the differences between trespass to chattel conversion and detinue.
3.
Explain the elements of trespass to chattels
4.
Enumerates the remedies for trespass to chattels.
6.0
With the aid of decided cases, explain the differences between trespass to chattel,
conversion and detinue.
7.0
REFERENCES
1.
2.
Ltd, Lagos (1996).
Sweet & Maxwell.
3.
4.
5.
6.
110
UNIT 5
CONVERSION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
Introduction
Objectives
Main content
3.1
What is conversion?
3.2
Differences between Conversion and Trespass
3.3
Defences for Conversion of a Chattel
3.4
The Remedies for Conversion
Conclusion
Summary
1.0
INTRODUCTION
The tort of detinue which is the wrongful detention of goods is also a part of the tort of
conversion, where it is known as conversion of goods by detention. However, in the
United Kingdom the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 has abolished the tort of
detinue and merged it with the tort of conversion. This, however, is not the position in
Nigeria as conversion and detinue are still separate torts, although a party may claim for
both torts in a single action. In this unit, we shall consider conversion.
2.0
OBJECTIVES

(i)
(iii)
Define conversion;
Differentiate between conversion and trespass; and
Enumerate the defences and remedies for conversion.
3.0
MAIN CONTENT
3.1
What is Conversion?
(ii)
According to Sir John Salmond, in his book the Law of Tort, 21st ed. (1996) p. 97-98:
"A conversion is an act... of wilful interference, without lawful justification, with any
chattel in a manner inconsistent with the right of another, whereby that other is deprived
of the use and possession of it. See also Ihenacho v Uzochukwu (1997) 2 NWLR pt 487.
p. 257 SC.
111
Conversion is any inteference, possession or disposition of the property of another person,

as if it is one's own without legal justification. In other words, conversion is dealing with
another person's property as if it is one's own. Conversion is any dealing which denies a
person of the title, possession, or use of his chattel. It is the assertion of a right that is
inconsistent with the rights of the person who has title, possession or right to use the
chattel.
It is dealing with a chattel which belongs to another person in a manner that is i
inconsistent with the rights of the person. In other words, conversion is any intentional
interference with another person's chattel which unlawfully deprives the person of title,
possession or use of it. Conversion includes wrongful taking, wrongful detention, and or
wrongful disposition of the property of another person. Therefore, conversion includes
denying a person of the title or possession, or use of his chattel. It is not necessary to
prove that the defendant had intention to deal with the goods. It is enough to prove that
the defendant interfered with the goods. It is immaterial that the defendant does not know
that the chattel belongs to another person, for instance, if he innocently bought the goods
from a thief. See Lewis v Avery (1972) 1 QB 198. In criminal law, conversion is known as
stealing or theft.
Essentially, conversion is:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Any inconsistent dealing with a chattel

To which another person is entitled to immediate possession
Whereby the person is denied the use
Possession; or
Title to it.
Thus, an owner can sue for conversion. Likewise, a person who has mere custody,
temporary possession or caretakership can sue any third party who tries to detain, dispose,
steal or otherwise convert such chattel.
In North Central Wagon & Finance Co. Ltd v Graham (1950) 1 All ER 780, the defendant
hire purchaser sold the car in contravention of the terms of the hire purchase agreement.
In the circumstances the court held that the plaintiff finance company was entitled to
terminate the hire purchase agreement and sue the selling hire purchaser in the tort of
conversion, for recovery of the car.
See also the following cases:
Chubb Cash v Crillery (1983) 1 WLR 599; Wilson v Lombank Ltd. (1963) 1 All ER 740;
Greenwood v Bennet (1973) QB 195 CA; and Union Transport Finance v British Car
Auctions (1978) 2 All ER 385 CA.
3.2
Differences between Conversion and Trespass
Conversion is different from trespass to chattels in two main respects. These are:
112
1.
In conversion, the conduct of the defendant must deprive the owners of the
possession of the chattel, or amount to a denial or dispute of the title of the owner.
Conversion is known as stealing or theft in criminal law .Therefore, mere touching
or moving of a chattel and so forth, only amount to trespass. See Fouldes v
Willoughby (1841) 151 ER 1153.
2.
To maintain an action in conversion, the plaintiff need not be in actual possession

of the chattel at the time of the interference. It is enough if the plaintiff has right to
immediate possession of the chattel, that is, the right to demand for immediate
possession of the chattel.
Ashby v Tolhurst (1937) 2 KB 242.

The defendant car park attendant who negligently allowed a car thief to drive away the
plaintiff's car from a car park under his watch was held: not liable in conversion. The
driver had possession of the car which he had parked, for he has right to immediate
possession. The defendant car park attendant is a bailee who only guarantees the safety of
the car that is bailed in the car park as a bailee. The claimant should have sued in the tort
of negligence for the loss of the car.
City Motor Properties Ltd v Southern Aerial Service (1961) CLR 477.
An owner of a chattel was held liable in conversion for dispossessing the plaintiff bailee
of it, during the subsistence of the bailment, which was not unilaterally determinable at
will by the plaintiff owner.
Youl v Harbottle (1791) 170 ER 81.
The defendant carrier of goods by mistake delivered the plaintiffs goods to a wrong
person. He was held liable in conversion, for the loss of the goods. Therefore, it follows
that, if an act of interference with a chattel is intentional or willful, it is not a defence, that
the tort was done by mistake, even if the mistake is honest, that is, in good faith or
innocently. See also Perry v BRB (1980) 1 WLR 1375.
Consolidated Co. Ltd v Curtis & Son (1892) 1 QB 495.
A certain client instructed an auctioneer to sell goods which did not belong to him, and
which he has no right to instruct the auctioneer to sell. Upon sale of the goods the true
owner of the goods sued the auctioneer for conversion, the court held: that the auctioneer
was liable to the owner of the goods for conversion. The court further held that the
auctioneer was entitled to be indemnified by the client who instructed him for the
damages he suffered at the suit of the owner of the goods. See also Jerome v Bentley &.
Co (1952) 2 All ER 114.
113
Adamson v Jarvis (1827) 130 ER 693.

An auctioneer was held entitled to be indemnified by a client who had instructed him to
sell goods, to which as it was later discovered the client had no title.
In Hollins v Fowler (1875) LR 7 HL 757,
A cotton broker acting on behalf of a client, for whom he often made purchases, bought
cotton from a fraudster who had no title to the cotton. The broker then sold it to his client
and received only his commission. At the suit of the true owner for conversion sale, and
loss of the goods, the court held: that the broker was liable in conversion for the full value
of the goods.
Examples of Conversion
Conversion of a chattel, belonging to another person may be committed in many different
ways. Examples of conversion include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Taking
Using
Alteration
Consumption
Damaging, or destroying it
Receiving
Detention
Wrongfully refusing to return a chattel
Wrongful delivery
Wrongful sale or disposition and so forth.
Wrongful sale, etc.
We shall examine these briefly.

1.
Taking
Where a defendant takes a plaintiffs chattel out of the plaintiff s possession without lawful
justification with the intent of exercising dominion over the goods permanently or even
temporarily, there is conversion. Constrast this proposition with the decisions in the cases
of Fouldes v Willoughby (supra) and Davies v Lagos City Council (supra). On the other
hand, a defendant may not be liable; if he merely moves the goods without denying the
plaintiff of title.
2.
Using
Using a plaintiffs chattels as if it is one's own, such as, by wearing the plaintiffs
jewellery, as in the case of Petre v Heneage (1701) 88 ER 149, or using the plaintiffs
114
bottle to store wine as was the case in Penfolds Wine Ltd v Elliot (supra) is a conversion
of such chattel.
3.
Alteration: By changing its form howsoever.
4.
Consumption: By eating or using it up.
5.
Destruction: By damaging or obliterating it.
Mere damage of a chattel is not sufficient to make one liable for conversion. As a general
rule of law, mere damage or destruction of a chattel without more, is a trespass to chattel
in tort and also a malicious damage in criminal law. See Simmons v Lillystone (1853) 155
ER 1417.
6.
Receiving
Involuntary receipt of goods is not conversion. However, the receiver must not willfully
damage or destroy the goods unless the goods constitute a nuisance. Receiving a chattel
from a third party who is not the owner is a conversion. This is wrongful, for it is an act of
assisting the other person in the conversion of the chattel, or the receiving of stolen goods.
7.
By Detention
Armory v Delamirie (1722) 93 ER 664.

A chimney sweep's boy found a jewel and gave it to a jeweler for valuation. The jeweler
knowing the circumstances, took the jewel, detained and refused to return it to the boy.
They boy then sued the jeweler for conversion and for an order for return of the jewellery
to him. The court held: that the jeweler was liable for conversion. A finder of a property
has a good title, and he has a right or interest, to keep it against all persons, except the
rightful owner of the property or his agent. See also Moorgate Mercantile Co v Finch
(1962) 1 QB 701.
However, a temporary reasonable refusal by the finder or custodian of a property to hand
it over to a claimant, in order to verify the authenticity of the title of the claimant. is not
actionable, except where the refusal is adverse to the owner's better title. .
8.
By Wrongful Delivery
Wrongfully delivery of a person's chattel to another person who does not have title or
right to possession without legal justification is a conversion.
115
9.
Purchase:
At common law, conversion is committed by a person who bought and took delivery of
goods from a seller who has no title to the chattel nor right to sell them. Such as when a
thief, steals and sells a chattel. A buyer in such a situation takes possession at his own
risk, in accordance with the rule of law that acts of ownership are exercised at the owners
peril.
10.
By Wrongful Disposition: Such as by sale, transfer of title or other wrongful

disposition.
In Chukwuka v C.F .A.O. Motors Ltd (1967) FNLR 168 at 170,

The plaintiff sent his car to the defendant motor company for repairs. Thereafter, he failed
to claim the car. Nine months later the defendants sold the car to a third party who reregistered it in his own name. The plaintiff sued for conversion. The High Court held: that
the defendant was liable to the plaintiff for conversion of the car. See also The Arpad
(1934) p. 189 at 234 and Hollins v Fowler (1875) LR 7 HL 757.

List the examples of conversion.
Innocent Receipt or Delivery Is Not Conversion
Generally, innocent delivery, or innocent receipt are not torts, nor criminal offences.
Thus, innocent delivery is not conversion. Therefore, where an innocent holder of goods,
such as, a carrier, or warehouseman, receives goods in good faith from a person he
believes to have lawful possession of them, and he delivers them, on the person's
instructions to a third party in good faith, there would be no conversion. Similarly,
innocent receipt of goods is not conversion. However the receiver must not willfully
damage or destroy the goods unless the goods constitute a nuisance.
Unipetrol v Prima Tankers Ltd (1986) 5 NWLR pt 42 p. 532 CA.
The defendant oil tanker owners had a contract to carry Unipetrol's cargo of fuel from
Port Harcourt. The captain of the vessel allegedly went elsewhere with the cargo of fuel.
The plaintiff appellant Unipetrol sued for the conversion and loss of the cargo. The Court
of Appeal held: that the respondents were liable in conversion. The word "loss" is wide
enough to include a claim for conversion against a carrier. It is elementary law that in a
claim for conversion, the claimant is entitled to the return of the article seized, missing, or
in the possession of the other party, or reimbursement for its value. See also FHA v
Sommer (1986) 5 NWLR pt 17, p. 533 CA.
116
In Owena Bank Nig. Ltd v Nigerian Sweets & Confectionery Co. Ltd (1993) 4 NWLR pt.
290, p. 698 CA,
The 1st respondent was granted an import licence by the Federal Ministry of Trade to
import granulated sugar. However, the 2nd respondent opened a letter of credit and
imported the sugar. The 1st respondent sued for damages for the wrongful conversion of
the import licence. On appeal by the bank, the Court of Appeal held: That the defendants
were liable for conversion of the import licence papers.
Thus, an action for conversion will lie in conversion for any corporeal personal property,
including papers and title deeds.
Conversion is any dealing with a chattel in a manner inconsistent with another person's
right whereby the other is deprived of the use and possession of it. To be liable, the
defendant need not intend to question or deny the right of the plaintiff. It is enough that
his conduct is inconsistent with the rights of the person who has title, or right to
possession, or use of it. Conversion is an injury to the plaintiffs possessory rights in the
chattel converted. Whether an act amounts to conversion or not depends on the facts of
each case, and the courts have a degree of discretion in deciding whether certain acts
amount to a sufficient deprivation of possessory or ownership rights as to constitute
conversion.
In conversion, negligence or intention is not relevant, and once the dealing with the
chattel of another person is in such a circumstance that the owner is deprived of its use
and possession, the tort of committed.
Possession Is Title against a Wrongdoer or Stranger
At common law, mere de facto possession is sufficient title to support an action for
conversion against a wrongdoer.
C.O.P v Oguntayo (1993) 6 NWLR pt 299, p. 259 SC.
The plaintiff respondent brought action against the defendant appellant police, for the
wrongful detention and conversion of his Mitsubishi van, which he drove to a police
station on a personal visit to a police officer. The police impounded the vehicle on the
allegation that it was a lost but found vehicle. The respondent asserted that he brought the
van from a third party who was now deceased. The respondent sued the police claiming
for the return of the van. On appeal, the Supreme Court held: that the plaintiff respondent
was entitled to the release of the vehicle to him.
To establish conversion, the law is that what is required is proof of de facto possession
and not proof of ownership. In the instant case, the impounding of the vehicle by the
appellants police was unlawful and their failure to deliver it to the plaintiff respondent
after demands for it constituted a conversion. The plea of jus tertii that is, the plea of the
117
better title of a third party to, was not open to the police as it was not proved. In this case,
the court approved the statement of the law as to possession made by LORD CAMBELL
CJ in Jeffries v Great Western Ry Co. (1856) 119 ER 680 at 681:
"The law is that a person possessed of goods as his property
has a good title against every stranger, and that one, who
take them from him ~ having no title in himself is a wrongdoer,
and cannot defend himself by showing that there was title in
some third party. For against a wrongdoer, possession is title.
In Danjuma v Union Bank Nig. Ltd (1995) 5 NWLR pt 395, p. 318 CA,
The plaintiff appellant sued the defendant respondent bank claiming for an injunction
restraining the defendant from conversion of the plaintiffs share certificates and dividends
or from the wrongful seizure of same. On appeal the Court of Appeal held: that right of
action does not lie as it had not been established that the action of the respondent bank
amounted to the tort of conversion. The respondent bank did not deny the appellant's right
to take his share certificates, or the dividends on the share certificates and the appellant
did not at any time demand the return of the certificate and the respondent refused. There
is no evidence that the respondent without authority took possession of the certificates
with the intention of asserting a right inconsistent with the rights of the plaintiff appellant.
See also Bute v BarcIays Bank (1955) 1 QB 202; and International Factors Ltd v
Rodriguez (1979) 1 QB 351 CA.
The Rules Regarding Finding Lost Property
The rules of law applicable to finding a lost property were authoritatively settled by the
English Court of Appeal in the case of Parker v British Airways (1982) 1 AllER 834 CA.
However, the rules are not often easy to apply. The rules applicable to finding lost
property may be summarized as follows: 1.
A finder of a chattel acquires no rights over it, unless it has been abandoned, or
lost, and he takes it into his care and control. He acquires a right to keep it against
all persons, except the true owner; or a person who can assert a prior right to keep
the chattel, which was subsisting at the time when the finder took the chattel into
his care and control.
2.
Any servant, or agent who finds a lost property in the course his employment, does
so on behalf of his employer, who by law acquires the rights of a finder.
3.
An occupier of land or a building has superior rights to those of a finder, over

property or goods in, or attached to the land, or building. Based on this rule,
rings found in the mud of a pool in the case of South Staffordshire Water Co. v
Sharman (1896) 2 QB 44 and a pre-historic boat discovered six feed below the
118
surface were held as belonging to the land owner in the case of Elwes v Briggs Gas
(1886) 33 Ch D 562.
4.
However, an occupier of premises does not have superior rights to those of a finder
in respect of goods found on or in the premises, except before the finding, the
occupier has manifested an intention to exercise control over the premises, and
things on it.
In Parker v British Airways (supra),

The plaintiff was waiting in the defendant airways lounge at Heathrow Airport, London,
England when he found a bracelet on the floor. He handed it to the employees of the
defendant, together with his name and address, and a request that it should be returned to
him if it was unclaimed. It was not claimed by anybody and the defendants failed to
return it to the finder and sold it. The English Court of Appeal held: that the proceeds of
sale belonged to the plaintiff who found it. See also South Staffordshire Water Co v
Sharman (1896) 2 QB 44 and Waverley Borough Council v Fletcher (1995) 3 WLR 772
CA.
Bridges v Hawkesworth (1851) 21 LJ QB 75.
The plaintiff finder of a packet of bank notes lying on the floor, in the public part of a
shop was held entitled to the money instead of the shop owner, upon the failure of the
rightful owner to come forward to claim the money. See also Hannah v Peel (1945) KB
509 and Moffatt v Kazana (1969) 2 QB 153.
As a general rule of law, anybody who has a finder's right over a lost property, has an
obligation in law to take reasonable steps to trace the true owner of the lost property,
before he may lawfully exercise the rights of an owner over the property he found.
Who May Sue For Conversion?
The tort of conversion, like other trespass to chattel, is mainly an interference with
possession. Those who may sue in the tort of conversion include:
1.
Owners
An owner in possession, or who has right to immediate possession may sue another
person for conversion.
2.
Bailees
A bailee of a chattel may sue another person for conversion of a chattel or goods bailed
with him. However, a bailor at will has title to immediate possession of a chattel he has
deposited with a bailee and can maintain action against a bailee for conversion.
119
See The Winkfield (1902) P. 42 at 60.

The Winkfield, a ship ran into another ship, a mailship which sank. The Post-Master
General though not the owner of the mails in the ship that sank was held entitled to sue
the owners of the Winkfield, as a bailee in possession for the value of the mails that were
lost in the sunk ship. COLLINS MR in the English Court of Appeal held: that the owners
of the Winkfield were liable and that As between a bailee and a stranger, possession
gives title. See also Kahler v Midland Bank Ltd (1950) AC 24 at 59 and Cooper v
Willomatt (1843-60) All ER 556.
Other persons who may have right to immediate possession and therefore, may be able to
sue another person for conversion of a chattel include:
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Holders of lien and pledge

Finders, see Armory v Delamirie (1722) 93 ER 664; London Corp v Appleyard
(1963) 2 All ER 834 and Hannah v Peel (1945) KB 509.
Buyers
Assignees
Licensees
Trustees
3.3
Defences for Conversion of A Chattel
In an action for conversion of a chattel, the defendant may plead:

1.
Jus tertii, that is, the title or better right of a third party
2.
Subsisting bailment
3.
Subsisting lien
4.
Temporary retention; to enable steps to be taken to check the title of the claimant.
A defendant may temporarily, refuse to give up goods, while steps are taken to
verify the title of the plaintiff who is claiming title before the chattel is handed over
to the plaintiff if he is found to be the owner, or has right to immediate possession.
5.
Limitation of time.
Who May Plead Jus Tertii?

Jus tertii is the right of a third party. It is the title or better right of a third party to the
chattel, goods, or property in dispute. As a general rule, a defendant cannot plead that a
plaintiff is not entitled to possession as against him, because a third party is the true
owner of the chattel. A defendant can only plead jus tertii, that is, the better right of the
120
true owner or third party only when he is acting with the authority of the true owner. In
C.O.P v Oguntayo (supra at 271), OGBUEGBU JSC stated the law clearly that:
A person cannot plead jus tertii of a third party, unless the
person is defending on behalf of, or on the authority of the
true owner. In the instant case, the appellant claims title on
behalf of an unknown owner, but as the third party is not
discoverable and the respondent has made out a good prima
facie case of title by possession, the respondent has title
as against all other persons including the appellants.
Therefore, for a defendant to successful plead jus tertii, that is, the better right of a third
party who has right to immediate possession, the identity of such true owner, or third
party must be disclosed, his title or better right to immediate possession must be
established, and the defendant must be claiming for, on behalf, or under the title. of the
alleged true owner, or third party who has a better right to immediate possession.
3.4
The Remedies for Conversion
In a claim for the conversion of a chattel several remedies are available to a plaintiff. The
court in its judgment may order any, or a combination of any of the following reliefs:
1.
Order for delivery, return or specific restitution of the goods; or
2.
Alternative order for payment of the current market value of the chattel.
3.
An order for payment of any consequential damages. However, allowance may be

made for any improvement in the goods, such as, where a person honestly in good
faith buys and improves a stolen car and is sued by the true owner; the damages
may be reduced to reflect the improvements.
4.
Recovery of special and general damages. Special damage is recoverable by a

plaintiff for any specific loss proved.
5.
General Damages: Furthermore, where for instance, a plaintiff whose working

equipment or tools are converted by another person, a plaintiff may sue for the loss
of profit, or existing contract or wages for the period of the conversion of the work
tools or equipments.
4.0
CONCLUSION
Conversion in tort, the central thought of this is the wrongful appropriation of the goods
of another as ones own, or wrongful depriving the other of the use and possession of the
good permanently or for a substantial time by destroying them or changing their quality.
121
Conversion can be by taking by disposing, by detention, by using, by destruction or by

alteration of the quality of a given chattel.
5.0
SUMMARY
In this unit, we discussed:

a.
What is conversion
b.
The difference between conversion and
c.
The differences trespass and remedies for conversion
6.0
Account for the differences between Conversion and Trespass.
7.0
REFERENCES
1.
2.
Ltd, Lagos (1996).
Sweet & Maxwell.
1999.
: The Criminal Procedure of the Northern States of
Nigeria.
3.
4.
5.
122
UNIT 6
DETINUE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
Introduction
Objectives
Main content
3.1
Definition of detinue
3.2
When to sue for detinue
3.3
Differences between conversion and detinue
Conclusion
Summary
1.0
INTRODUCTION
In this unit, we consider the tort of detinue.
2.0
OBJECTIVES

(i)
(ii)
define detinue; and

explain the differences between conversion and detinue.
3.0
MAIN CONTENT
3.1
Definition of Detinue
The tort of detinue is the wrongful detention of the chattel of another person, the
immediate possession of which the person entitled. Detinue is a claim for the specific
return, delivery, or surrender of a chattel to the plaintiff who is entitled to it. Detinue is
the wrongful detention or retention of a chattel whereby the person entitled to it is denied
the possession or use of it. As a general rule, to successfully sue in detinue, a plaintiff
must have possession before the detention, or have right to immediate possession of the
chattel.
Essentially, the tort of detinue is:
1.
2.
The wrongful detention of the chattel of another person

The immediate possession of which the person is entitled.
123
An action in detinue is a claim for the specific return of a chattel wrongfully retained, or
for payment of its current market value and any consequential damages. Anybody who
wrong fully takes, detains, or retains a chattel, and after a proper demand for it, refuses, or
fails to return it to the claimant without lawful excuse may be sued in detinue to recover it
or its value. In the United Kingdom, the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 has
abolished the tort of detinue as a separate tort, and merged it with the tort of conversion
where it is now known as conversion by detinue or detention.
In Nigeria, it still exists as a separate tort. Examples of detinue, that is, detention or
retention of goods are many and include the following:
1.
A lends his chairs and tables to B for a one day party, and B neglects, refuses or
fails to return the furniture at the end of the day as agreed or after the expiration of
a reasonable period of time. .
2.
C gives his radio set to D and pays him to repair it, and D fails or refuses to release
or return it after a demand has been made on him for its return. In each of these
circumstances, there is a right of action to sue for detinue of the chattel.
3.2
When to Sue for Detinue
A plaintiff can only maintain action for the tort of detinue after satisfying two conditions
which are:
1.
The plaintiff must have title that is ownership or right to immediate possession of
the chattel.
2.
The defendant who is in actual possession of the chattel must have failed, and or
refused to deliver the chattel to the plaintiff after the plaintiff has made a proper
demand for the return of the chattel, without lawful excuse. Thus, there must have
been a demand by the plaintiff for the return of the chattel and a refusal or a failure
to return them. This making of a demand by the plaintiff on the defendant is a
condition precedent which the plaintiff must establish to succeed in his claim for
detinue.
In Kosile v Folarin (1989) 3 NWLR pt 107, p. 1 SC,

The defendant motor dealer seized and detained the motor vehicle he had sold to the
plaintiff on credit terms, upon delay by the plaintiff to fully pay up. The plaintiff buyer
sued for detinue claiming damages. The Supreme Court held: inter alia that the seizure
and detention of the vehicle by the defendant was wrong. The plaintiff was entitled to the
return of the vehicle or its value and for loss of the use of the vehicle until the date of
judgment at the rate of N20 per day.
124
In the above case, the Supreme Court emphasised the requirement that in an action for
detinue, there must have been a demand by the plaintiff on the defendant to return the
chattel, and if the defendant persists in keeping the chattel, he is liable for detinue. See
also lhenacho v Uzochukwu (1997) 2 NWLR pt 487, p. 257 SC.
In West Mrica Examinations Council v Koroye (1977) 2 SC 45; 11 NSCC 61,
The plaintiff sat for an examination conducted by the defendant council. The defendant
neglected and or refused to release his certificate. The plaintiff successfully claimed in
detinue for his certificate and was award damages in lieu of the release of the certificate
by the Supreme Court.
In Davies v Lagos City Council (supra at 155),
The defendant city council wrongfully seized and detained the plaintiffs taxi cab. The
plaintiff sued claiming damages. The Lagos High Court held that: The plaintiff was
entitled to a return of the vehicle and loss of earnings on the vehicle as a result of the
unlawful detention. In this case ADEFARASIN J as he then was stated that a plaintiff is
entitled to loss of earnings on his chattel which he uses for work or business, thus:
"This is not a case in which the plaintiff is entitled to the
value of the vehicle. He is, however, entitled to the losses
caused to him as a result of the unlawful detention. He
is entitled to the loss of earning on the vehicle.
In Steyr Nig. Ltd v Gadzama (1995) 7 NWLR pt 407. p. 305 CA,
At the end of their services, the plaintiff appellant company sued the defendant
respondents who were former employees of the appellant for detaining official cars and
household items which were in their use as top management staff of the company. The
Court of Appeal held: that the respondents were to pay reasonable prices for the items in
lieu of returning the chattels.
Stitch v A.G. Federation (1986) 5 NWLR pt 47, p. 1007 SC.
The plaintiff appellant imported a car from overseas. It was detained by the Board of
Customs and Excise at the sea port. The Customs then sold it to the fourth defendant who
started cannibalizing and selling its parts. The plaintiff appellant sued the defendants for
return of the car. On appeal the Supreme Court held: that the appellant was entitled to
possession of the car, but as it was virtually a wreck due to cannibalism, the court will
order that the trial court should take evidence as to what a fairly used car similar to that of
the appellant's car will cost and award the purchase price as damages to the appellant in
lieu of the return of the car. See also Ordia v Piedmont Nig. Ltd (1995) 2 NWLR pt 379. p.
516 SC.
125
Ajikawo v Ansaldo Nig. Ltd (1991) 2 NWLR pt 173. p. 359 CA.

The plaintiff appellant bought a generator from its owner who asked him to collect it from
the defendant respondent company who had custody of it. The respondent indicated
interest to buy it and refused to release it to the appellant buyer. The appellant sued for the
unlawful detention of the generator. The Court of Appeal held: that the appellant buyer
was entitled to the generator, or its value and also to damages for the period of detinue till
it was delivered up, or it value paid, for detinue is a continuing cause of action which
accrues at the date of the wrongful refusal to deliver up the goods, and continues until
delivery up of the goods or judgment in the suit, or payment of its value. See also Kalu v
Mbuko (1988) 3 NLWR Pt BO. p. 86 CA.
Ogiugo & Sons Ltd v C.O.P (1991) 3 NWLRpt177, p.46 CA.
The lorry of the plaintiff appellant transporter was carrying a customer's goods, when the
police intercepted and seized the vehicle on suspicion that the goods were contraband.
Representations for its release failed to yield result. The appellant claimed for detinue of
the vehicle. The Court of Appeal held: that the appellant was entitled to the immediate
release of the vehicle and damages for its unlawful detention. The plaintiff must have title
or right to immediate possession to be able to sue successfully for detinue.
Shuwa v Chad Basin Development Authority (1991) 7 NWLR pt 205, p. 550 CA.
A third party sold a bulldozer which they had no authority to sell to the plaintiff appellant.
The bulldozer was in the custody of the defendant respondent authority who had a lien on
it. The respondent authority refused to release it to the appellant unless the third party
seller paid the money due on it to the respondent authority. The third party who was the
owner of the bulldozer had forfeited it to the authority under the terms of an unfulfilled
contract. The appellant buyer sued for the detention of the bulldozer. The Court of Appeal
held: that the action of the plaintiff appellant must fail. The third party had no authority to
sell to the plaintiff as they no longer had title. The plaintiff in a claim for detinue must
establish that he is the owner or that he has right to immediate possession of the thing the
recovery of which he is seeking. See also Sodimu v NPA (1975) All NLR 151.
As a general rule, where there is a subsisting lien on a property, a claim for detinue will
not succeed as was held in Shuwa v Chad Basin Development Authority (supra).
In Otubu v Omotayo (1995) 6 NWLR pt 400, p. 247 CA,
The plaintiff respondent kept his title deeds with a third party who subsequently deposited
the deeds with the defendant appellant as collateral to secure a loan. The plaintiff
respondent sued the defendant appellant for return of the title deeds. The Court of Appeal
held: that an action cannot succeed where there is a subsisting lien on the chattel. Where
there has been an equitable mortgage by deposit of title deeds as collateral to secure a
loan, by a third party who does not own the deeds, but had custody of the deeds, an action
126
for detinue cannot be maintained for return of the deeds or chattel, prior to payment of the
amount due on it, or redemption of any outstanding obligation. See also Udechukwu v
Okwuka (1956) SCNLR 189 at 191.
3.3
The Differences between Conversion and Detinue
Detinue covers the same ground as the tort of conversion by detention. However, some
differences are to be noted which include the following:
1.
The refusal to surrender or return a chattel on demand is the essence of detinue, or

detention. There must have been a demand for return of the chattel.
2.
Detinue is the proper remedy where the plaintiff wants a return of the specific
goods in question, and not merely an assessed market value. However, where
specific return of the chattel or a replacement will not be possible, an award of the
current market value of the chattel is usually made to the plaintiff.
Before the Common Law Procedure Act 1854, was enacted a defendant had a choice to
either restore the actual chattel or pay the market value. However, since the enactment of
the Act, a court has discretion to order specific restitution, or award the market value of
the chattel to the plaintiff or it may award damages alone if the goods can be replaced
easily.
The Defences for Detinue
In an action for detinue, a defendant may plead that:
1.
He has mere possession of the goods
2.
That the plaintiff has insufficient title as compared to himself
3.
The defendant may plead jus tertii, that is, a third party person has a better title,
provided the defendant is the agent, or has the authority of the third party, or is
claiming under the third party.
Jus tertii, is the better title of a third party. Jus tertii is a defence, that is, based on
ownership by a third party, and it is not pleaded, except the defendant is defending under
the right of such third party who has ownership, or paramount title, that will enable him to
establish a better title, and the right to possession, than the plaintiff. Otherwise, as
CLEASBY BJ said in Fowler v Hollins (1872) LR 7 QB 616 at 639:
"Persons deal with the property in chattels, or exercise acts
of ownership over them at their peril.
4.
Innocent delivery
127
5.
Subsisting bailment
6.
Subsisting lien on the chattel. See Otubu v Omotayo (supra)
7.
Temporary retention of the chattel to enable steps to be taken to check the title of
the plaintiff
8.
Inevitable accident, see National Coal Board v Evans (1951) 2 KB 816.
9.
Reasonable defence of a person or property, such as when one beats or injures a

dog that was attacking him or another person.
10.
Enforcement of a court order or other legal process, such as levying of execution of

property under a writ of fifa, or the police taking away goods they believe to have
been stolen for the purpose of use as exhibit in evidence before court, etc.
The Remedies for Detinue

When a person's chattel is detained by another person, the person who is denied
possession or use of such chattel, has several remedies open to him which include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Claim for return of the specific chattel

Claim for replacement of the chattel
Claim for the current market value of the chattel
Recapture or self help to recover the goods.
Replevin, that is release on bond pending determination of ownership.
Damages
We shall briefly examine these remedies.

1.
Claim for Return of the Chattel:
This is a claim for the return of the specific chattel, especially, if the chattel has not
changed its character, content, and it has not been damaged nor destroyed during its
detention.
2.
Replacement of the Chattel:
Where possible or appropriate, a defendant may be ordered to replacement the chattel by

supplying an identical or similar chattel. This is possible for instance in the case of
manufacturers of products, who can easily replace the goods by supplying an identical or
similar product.
128
3.
Claim for the Market Value of Chattel:
This is a claim for the current market value of the chattel as may be assessed. The
measure of damage in detinue is usually the market value of the goods as proved at the
time of judgment. The onus is on the plaintiff to prove the market value. Therefore, where
there is default of restitution a plaintiff may claim for payment of the value of the chattel.
This option appears to be the best form of action, where the chattel has otherwise been
removed from jurisdiction, or hidden, damaged, destroyed or otherwise not found. In such
circumstances there is no alternative than to claim for the market value of the chattel as
assessed, plus any specific and general damages for its detention.
4.
Recapture or Self help:
A person who is entitled to possession of goods of which he has been wrongfully

deprived may resort to self-help and retake the goods from the custody of the person
detaining it, using only reasonable force after he has made a demand for their return.
However, he may not treapass through the land of an innocent party to retake the goods.
He may only go on such land with permission. However, recapture as a remedy is usually
frowned upon by court for the breach of peace and other offences it may occasion. This is
because self help is an instance of taking the laws into one's hand. See Agbai v Okogbue
(1991) 7 NWLR pt 204, p. 391 SC. Therefore, a person may not resort to the option of
recapture or self help except it is safe, expected, and reasonable or if it will not be resisted
by the defendant and or persons acting for him.
5.
Replevin or Release on Bond:
This is a return of the goods on security, pending the determination of the ownership of
the chattel. When a third party's goods have been wrongfully taken in the course of
levying execution or distress of the movable property of another person or judgment
debtor, such third party claiming ownership may recover them by means of an
interpleader summons determining their ownership. The registrar will then issue a warrant
for the restoration of the goods, to such third party or claimant on bond. Therefore,
Replevin is the re-delivery to an owner of goods which were wrongfully seized, the action
for such re-delivery, and for any specific and general damages suffered by him as the
result of the detention.
6.
Damages:
When a defendant has been found liable in detinue, he cannot deprive the plaintiff of his
right to damages for detention of the chattel, simply because he has not been using it, nor
earning anything .from its use. Also, if the wrongdoer has been making use of the goods
for his own purpose, then he must pay a reasonable hire for chattel to the plaintiff. The
reasonable hire usually includes the wear and tear of the goods. Therefore, as the courts
have often affirmed the remedies available for the tort of detinue are an order for specific
return of the chattel, or in default, an order for payment of the value and also damages that
129
were suffered due to loss of use by the defendant up to the date of judgment or re-delivery
of the chattel to the plaintiff. Also general damages may be awarded as may be assessed
by the court. General damages are usually presumed in this action, especially for the loss
of the use of the chattel. As in claims in other areas of law, general damages may be
awarded at least to cover part of the cost of the legal action.
4.0
CONCLUSION
In this unit we learnt that Detinue is the keeping of another persons goods after there has
been an unqualified and unjustifiable refusal to deliver them following a demand by or
on behalf of the true owner. If there was no demand, there cant be detinue. If there was
demand which was refused with some justification or qualification, then an action in
detinue cannot be maintained. The person who brings an action in detinue must be able to
show in court that he has the right of possession and property in the goods detained.
5.0
SUMMARY
In this unit we discussed

a.
the definition of Detinue
b.
when action for Detinue is ripe
c.
the differences between Detinue and Conversion.
6.0
Discuss the remedies for detinue.
7.0
REFERENCES
1.
2.
Ltd, Lagos (1996).
Sweet & Maxwell.
1999.
Nigeria.
3.
4.
5.
130
MODULE 3
UNIT 1: TORT OF NEGLIGENCE
CONTENT
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
1.0
Introduction
Objective
Main Content
3.1 Tort of Negligence
3.2 Proof of Negligence
3.3 Existence of Duty of Care
3.4 Proof of Breach of duty of Care
3.5 Proof of Damage Resulting from Breach
Conclusion
Summary
Tutor Marked Assignment
References/Further Readings
INTRODUCTION
Negligence in torts means omission to do something which a reasonable man

would do or do something which a reasonable man wouldnt do. Negligence is the
breach of a legal duty to take care which result in damage underserved by the
defendant to the plaintiff. This unlike intentional tort where the defendant desired
the consequences. Here it is undeserved damage to the plaintiff.
2.0
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this unit is to enable the student to know;

a. The definition of Negligence and to establish Negligence if he must proof the
duty of care.
b. The consequences of the breach of duty of care
c. The question of damage resulting form the duty of care.
3.0
MAIN CONTENT
Duty of Care
The development of this tort is categorized into 3 phases. The first phase was
when negligence was merely a component of other torts.
The second phase when Negligence develop into action on the cases and this saw
the beginning of negligence as an independence tort.
131
The third phase was from the decision of Donovhe v Stephenson (1932) Ap 562.
In this case, Negligence was fully recognized as an independent tort capable of
extention into new category.
To establish Negligence the plaintiff must proof three things;
1. He must prove the existence of duty of care
2. He must proof the breach of that duty of care
3. He must proof damage resulting from the breach.
Whether a legal duty exists or not depend on reasonable forceability of the injury.
This test was propounded by Lord Atkin in Donohue v Stephenson: Lord Atkin
said You must take reasonable care to avoid acts or omission which you can
reasonably foresee would be likely to injure your neighbor and as to who is your
neighbor, Lord Atkin said your neighbor in Law include those persons who are
so closely and directly affected by your acts, that you ought reasonably to have
them in contemplation as being so affected when you are directing your mind to
the act of omission that are called to question. So your neighbor does not mean
those closer or nearest to you but those who you foresee likely to be affected by
carelessness on your part.
In Donochue v Stephenson (19832) AP 532 a manufacturer of Ginger Beer sold his
product to a retailer, the retailer resold it to a lady who bought it for a friend of
hers who was the plaintiff in ht case. The plaintiff had consume most of the
ginger beer when she noticed the decomposed remains of a snail in the beer. She
became so sick that she had to be hospitalized and sued the manufacturer for
damages in respect of her injury. The manufacturer claimed that there was no
contractual relationship between it and the consumer and for that reason the
plaintiff is not entitled to an action.
It was held by the Court that it is true that the plaintiff does not have contractual
relationship with the manufacturer but the plaintiff nonetheless is entitled to an
action in tort because his action was not based on contract.
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE
Discuss the Negligence principle as laid down in Donoghue v. Stephenson.
The neighbor principle contained to expand to cover different category, the court is
saying that when there is a reasonable foreseability of injury, the defendant owes
the plaintiff a duty of care to ensure the plaintiff does not suffer such injury.
However, there are exceptions to the rule which the court based on justification,
valid explanation or policy reasons and because of this, the court may negative or
reduce or limit the scope of duty owned by the defendant to the plaintiff.
132
Osemobor V Niger Biscuit (1973) 1 CCHC J At 71. In this case the plaintiff was
eating some biscuit which he bought form a shop when he felt a hard object, he
then found a decay tooth embedded in the biscuit, the plaintiff became ill and sue
the manufacturer. The court applied the principle in Donoghue v Stephenson and
held that the manufacturer owe a duty to ensure that the plaintiff does not suffer
harm as a result of using the defendants goods.
Also in case of Nigeria Bottling Co. v. Constant Ngonadi (1985) 1 NWLR 739 SC.
The plaintiff action appears to be based on negligence and breach of warrantee of
fitness. Under the provision of section 15(a) of the former Bendel State of Nigeria
Sales of Goods Law. In that case Maidol j in the High Court addressed himself to
two issues;
1. Whether the defendant known for what purpose the plaintiff bargain for and
bought the fridge
2. Whether the defendant gave the plaintiff an oral warrantee of fitness of the
fridge for the purpose of which it was bought.
What happened was that the plaintiff bought a refrigerator from the defendant
company and the plaintiff complained that the refrigerator was not working
properly. The defendants men carried the refrigerator and carry out repairs before
returning it back to the plaintiff. Some few weeks after they returned it, the
refrigerator exploded giving the plaintiff extensive burns. The plaintiff then
brought an action alleging negligence on the part of the defendant and breach of
warrantee of fitness for the purpose under the Sales of Goods Law.
The trial judge held that the defendant knows for what purpose the plaintiff
required the refrigerator and was satisfied that the defendant guaranteed that the
refrigerator would serve the plaintiff purpose. The judge therefore said that the
defendant cannot assert that they merely sell the refrigerator and not manufacture
it.
The judge said that the defendant gave the condition that the goods was reasonably
fit for the purpose of for which it was bought and that they owe a duty of care to
the plaintiff. The plaintiff was awarded damages for Negligence. The defendant
appealed to the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court upheld the judgment of the
high court saying that the defendant was negligent in supplying a defective
refrigerator to the plaintiff.
The Supreme Court said interalia, where as in this case, a warrantee was implied
by statute and the plaintiff action was based on the breach of that warrantee in
order words, the warrantee forms the basis of the action in Negligence, the onus
was still on the plaintiff/respondent to proof the special relationship out of which
arose the duty of care and what amounted to a breach of that duty.
133
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE

High Court and Supreme Court in the case of Nigeria Bottling Company v
Ngodagi could be criticized on the strength that it was based on contract and not
tort. Discuss.
3.2
Breach of Duty of Care
For an action in Negligence to succeed, it must be proved that the defendant has
breached his duty of care; in other words that he has not done what he ought to
have done in the way he ought to have done it or has done what he ought to have
done negligently.
In White v Bassey (1966) 1 NWLR 26: a motorist was driving along the street on a
rainy day. It was proved that he did not speed and was not careless. A five year
old boy dashed along the road and was knocked down by the car. It was held that
the motorist had a duty of care all right along a highway particularly on a raining
day not to speed and to be mindful of other road users. But in this particular case,
since he had done what was expected of him under the circumstances he had not
breach the duty. A defendant would breach a duty if he acted below the standard
of a reasonable man.
In deciding what a reasonable man would have done in the circumstance, and in
assessing the standard of care expected of the defendant the court may take into
account the Ruk Factor. This has four elements.
3.3
The Likelihood of Harm
The greater the likelihood that the defendant conducts will cause harm, the greater
the amount of caution required of him. In the Lord Wrights words in Northwestern
Utilities Ltd v London Guarantee and Accident Co. Ltd (1936) A 108 at P. 126.
The degree of care which the duty involves must be proportioned to the degree of
risk involved if the duty of care should not be fulfilled.
3.4
The Seriousness of the Injury that is risked
The gravity of the consequences if an accident were to occur must be taken into
account. The classic example is Paris V. Stepney Borough Council (1951) AC
367: Here the defendant employed the plaintiff as a mechanic in their maintenance
department. Although they knew that he had only one good eye, they did not
provide him with goggles for his work. While he was attempting to re move a pair
from underneath a vehicle, a piece of metal flew into his good eyes and he was
blinded it was held that the defendant had been negligence in not providing this
particular workman with goggles, since they must have been aware of the gravity
of the consequences if he were to suffer an injury to his one good eye.
134
3.5
The importance of Utility of the defendant Activity
The seriousness of the risk created by the defendant activity and where the
defendant could not has great social values; he may be justified in exposing others
to risk which would not otherwise be justifiable. In all cases, one must balance the
risk against the end to be achieved and the commercial and to make a profit is very
differently form the human and to save life or limb.
3.6
The Cost and Practicability of Measures to Avoid the Harm
Another relevant question is how costly and practicable it would have been for the
defendant to have taken precautions to eliminate or minimize risk. It is a matter of
balancing risk against the measures necessary to eliminate and a reasonable man
would only neglect. Risk of small magnitude if he had some valid
considerable expense to eliminate the risk. In Latiner v A.E.C. Ltd. (1952) 2 Q. B.
701 where the court held that: where a factory floor had become slippery after, and
the occupiers did everything possible to make the floor safe but nevertheless a
workman slipped on it and sustained injuries, the court held that the occupier had
not seen negligent. The only other possible stop they could have taken would have
been to close the factory, a position which will be too drastic.
4.0
CONCLUSION
It has been established that a reasonable man is an adult of normal presence who
exhibits average intelligence and common sense in every day matters, or, beyond
this. If the defendant is a medical doctor the standard of an average qualified
medical doctor would be ascribed to him in ordinary Doctor-patient relationship.
It follows from this that if a patient rather than go to a qualified doctor chooses a
quack and suffers injury from the treatment, he cannot expect the standard of a
qualified doctor from the quack; whether there has been a breach or not is a
question of facts to be established from the case in court.
5.0
SUMMARY
In this Unit you learnt about the essential element to establish to succeed in an
action of Negligence:
7. The existence of a duty of care by the defendant.
8. The breach of the duty of care by the defendant.
9. Damages suffered by the plaintiff as a result of the breach by the defendant of
that duty of care.
135
6.0
1. What are the elements of negligence and how are these established
2. Critically examine the standard of care required of the defendant in the care of
Negligence.
7.0
REFERENCES/FURHTHER READINGS
1. Bodunde Bankole: Torts: Law of Wrongful Conducts (1998) Libriservice Press,

Lagos
2. G. Kodo;uye: Nigeria Law of Torts (1999) Spectrum Publishers, Ibadan
3. John G. Fleming: The Law of Torts (1977) The Law Book co. Ltd. London.
4. Nikie Tobi: Souces of Nigeria Law (1996) Mij Publishers.
136
UNIT 2: STANDARD OF CARE

CONTENT
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
Introduction
Objectives
Main Content
3.1
The Reasonable Man
3.2
Moral Qualities and Knowledge
3.3
Skills
3.4
Need for Expert
3.5
Age and Lunacy
3.6
Physical, Intellectual, and Emotional Characteristics
Conclusion
Summary
1.0
INTRODUCTION
Negligence is conduct falling below the standard established for the protection of others
against unreasonable risk or harm. This standard of conduct is ordinarily prudence would
do in the circumstances.
The general standard of conduct required by Law is a necessary complement of the legal
concept of duty. There is not only the question did the defendant owe a duty to be
careful? But also what precisely was required of him to discharge it, it is for the court to
determine the existence of a duty relationship and to lay down in general terms the
standard of care by which to measure the defendant conduct.
Thus, if at issue is the supervision of school children during midday break, a court would
ordinarily be content with the fact that the duty of the school is that of a reasonably
careful parent.
2.0
OBJECTIVES
At the end of this unit, you should be able to:

(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
define the term Reasonable Man;

discuss Moral Qualities and Knowledge;
state what Skills
explain Need for Expert
discuss Age and Lunacy
list and discuss Physical, Intellectual, and Emotional Characteristics
137
3.0
MAIN CONTENT
9.1
The Reasonable Man
The reasonable man of ordinary prudence is the central figure in the formula traditionally
employed in passing the negligence issue for adjudication. In order to objectify the Laws
abstractions, like care, reasonableness or foreseability, the man of ordinary prudence was
invented as a model of the standard to which all men are required to confirm. He is the
embodiment of all the qualities which we demand of the good citizen; and if not exactly a
model of perfection. On the whole, the law has chosen external objective standards of
conduct. When men live in society, a certain average of conduct, a sacrifice of individual
peculiarities going beyond a certain point, is necessary for the general welfare. If the
standard were relaxed for defendants, who cannot obtain the normal, the burden of
accidents losses resulting from the extra hazard created by society dangerous group of
accident-prone individual would be thrown on the innocent victims of sub-standard
behavior.
Although the legal standard of foresight of the reasonable man eliminate the personal
equation and is independent of the idiosyncrasies of the particular person whose conduct
is in question. Negligence consists in failure to do what the reasonable man would have
done under the same or similar circumstances and the latitude of that expression in effect
makes some allowance not only for external facts, but also for man of the personal
characteristics of the actor himself.
9.2
Moral Qualities and Knowledge
A man is expected to have that degree of common sense or knowledge of everyday things
which normal adult would posses. For instance, a reasonable person knows that petrol is
highly inflammable, that solid objects sink in water and that gas is poisonous when
inhaled. Furthermore, where the defendant holds a particular position, he will be
expected to show the degree of knowledge normally expected of a person in that position.
Thus, for example, in the Wagon Mound (No.2) (1967) 1 AC 617, the privy council took
the view that shipowners were liable for a fine caused by discharging oil from the ship
into Sydney Harbour, because their chief enquire ought to have known that there was a
real risk of oil catching fire. Again, it is clear that an employer is required to know more
about the dangers of unfenced machinery than his workman.
With regards to facts and circumstances surrounding him, the defendant is expected to
have observed that a reasonable man would notice. The occupier of premises, for
example, will be negligent of the fails to notice that the stair are in dangerous state of
disrepair, or that a septic tank in the garden has become dangerously exposed, so that
lawful visitors to his property are put at risk. Moreover, a reasonable occupier is expected
to employ experts to check those installations which he cannot through his lack of
technical knowledge, check himself such as electrical wiring, or a lift.
138
9.3
Skills
A person who holds himself out as having a certain skill either in relation to the public
generally (e.g. a care driver) or in relation to a person for whom he is performing a service
(e.g. a doctor) will be expected to show the average amount of competence normally
possessed by person doing that kind of work and he will be liable in negligence if he falls
short of such standard. Thus, for example s surgeon performing an operation is expected
to display the amount of care and skill usually expected of a normal competent member of
his profession. See Whiteford V Hunter (1950) W N 553.
9.4
Intelligence
In determining whether the defendant in his action came up to the standard of a

reasonable man, the court will measure those actions against the conduct expected of a
person of normal intelligence and the defendant will not be excused for having noted to
the best of his own judgment if his best is below that to be expected of a man of
ordinary intelligence.
9.5
Age and Lunacy
In the case of children, the Law has made considerable concession to the subjective
standard most of the decision have been with contributing negligence where there is
greater temptation to take an indulgent view and give added with to exculpatory
considerations, but there is no doubt that a child whether as plaintiff or defendant, is only
expected to confirm to the standard appropriate for normal children of similar age and
experience. This governs alike the child capacity to perceive the risk as well as his sense
of judgment and behaviour. Thus it was held not negligent for a boy of 8 years to be
striking matches in a barn and for a 5 years old to be shooting with an arrows.
Moreover, a minor who engages in dangerous adult activities such as driving a car or
handling industrial equipment, must confirm to the standard of the reasonable prudent
adult.
Corresponding allowance has always being made in Law to the aged whose Mental and
Physical faculties have become impaired. The position of lunaties remains controversial.
Some courts hae been prepared to excuse defendants whose lunacy was so extreme as to
preclude them from appreciating their duty to take care on the ground that negligence
presupposes an ability for rational choice. But the weight of authority support the
contrary view that it would be unfairly prejudicial to accident victims if any allowance
were made for a defendant mental abnormality.
3.6
Continuation of Tort of Negligence
Rules of Professional Conduct for Medical and Dental Practitioners Revised Edition 1995
that In an agency for instance, at a scene of a car accident the doctor passing by is under
139
no inherent duty to stop and render first aid to the victims; but if he decides to stop and
render care he is bound by the ethics to exercise a degree of reasonable care. That is to do
everything that a competent doctor would do in the circumstances.
It is worthy of note that the neighbour test was originally narrowed to care where physical
damage was caused to the by the negligence but of society changes so rapidly, this area of
law is never static. Lord Macmillan in Donoghue vs. Stevenson stated that the categories
of negligence are never close because courts are ready to examine new situations and
determine whether they call for a new duty of care.
Examples of duty of care;
1. It is the duty of all road users, at all times to keep a look out so as to avoid colliding
with other road users. It has been stated in Ngilasi V. Motorcap Ltd 2000 12CNJ 105
that it is the duty of those driving when it is dark at such a speed and in a way that
they are able to stop within the range of visibility.
2. In Okonkwo V.medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (1999) 9
NWLR Pt 617 pg 5, it was that as the relation ship of patients and doctors is always a
special one, the patient having put his health and life in the doctors hand, the use of
reasonable care is required of the doctor and as the reasonable care can be presumed
by Law
3. In Owena Bank V. Emok (2001) 41 WRN Pg 119 at 130 Sanusi JCA stated that a
banker is vicariously liable to its customers where he fails or neglects to adhere strictly
to its customers instruction or where it fails to observe banking rules and regulations
and such non compliance to customers instruction or banking rules and regulations
led to the customer incurring any loss, damage or injuries. A legal practitioner shall
not be immured from liability for damage attributed to his negligence when acting in
his capacity, any person purporting to limit or exclude his liability in any contract
shall be void. See S.9 of the LOA 1975 now LFN 1990. In Hedly Bryne and Co. Ltd V
Heller and Partners Ltd 1964 AC 465, the House of Lords allowed in principle a duty
of care not to make statements that would cause economic loss to persons who
reasonably relied on them. The court rejected the neighbour principle arguing that it
gives rise to potentially too wide a liability and stated that there had to be some factors
apart from reasonable foreseability that would be taken into consideration to determine
duty of care. Thus in Hanns V Metchon Lord on Bourough 1978 AC 728 it was stated
that a duty of care and to whom it is given has to be approached in 2 stages:
(a) one has to ask whether in between the wrong doer and the person who has
suffered damage, there is relationship of proximity or neighbourhood or
reasonable foresee ability such that in the reasonable contemplation of the
former, carelessness on the part of may likely cause damage to the latter in
which case a prima facie duty of care arises.
140
(b) if the foregoing question is answered (reason able foresee ability) affirmatively,
it is expedient to consider whether there are other factors or considerations
which ought to negate or to reduce or limit the scope of the duty.
These tests were adopted in the Nigerian case of Tecno Mech Nig.Ltd V. Ogunbayo
2000 14NWLR Pt639 Pg 153. The considerations which may reduce or negate the
scope of the duty are:
Whether it is just and reasonable to impose a duty on public policy. In Mclulghlin V.
Obrien 1983, it was stated that at the margin, the boundaries of a mans
responsibilities for acts of negligence have to be fixed as a matter of policy. In Aston
V. Turner 1980 3 ALL ER 870, two mooned in on an act of burglary while they were
fleeing from the scene of the incident in the getaway car, one of them was seriously
injured by the careless driving of his friend. E. W. Bang .J based his decision on
public policy and concluded that the defendant will not be held liable. In Rondell V.
Wosley 1969 AC 191, it was held that a barrister when acting in the course of judicial
proceedings enjoins complete immunity from action of negligence, in respect of any
act done or spoken in the course of these proceedings. See section 9(2) of the LPA.
Similarly, liability for negligence by legal practitioner under 59(1) of LPA does not
extend to where the services were rendered without reward either by way of fees
imbursement or otherwise.
It seems, however, that the liability of medical practitioners in negligence, without
prejudice to the defences is very strict and absolute. Lord Denning has stated that, if a
man goes to the doctor because he is ill, no one doubts that the doctor must exercise
reasonable care and skill in his treatment and this is so whether the doctor has been
paid for his services or not. See Lord Denning principles of Law pg233. Thus in
Cassidi V. Minister of Health (1951) 2QB243. Cassidi sued the minister of health for
negligence of doctors who performed an operation on him. Before the operation,
Cassidy had two stiff fingers but after the operation he had four stiff fingers. It was
held that the hospital authority was vicariously liable for negligence of its servants and
there was liability whether the doctors did the act for reward or not.
3.7
Breach of a Duty
Having established that a duty of care is by the defendant to the plaintiff in particular
circumstances; the next ingredient to determine is to discover whether the defendant is
in breach of that duty. The standard of care expected of a particular defendant is
usually set by law and it is a standard of the reasonable man i.e. an objective test. In
street on Torts, it is illustrated that, if A owes B a duty of care, A must attain a
standard of a reasonable person i.e. reasonable man. However, in driving at
reasonable standard of a defendant, the court must be guided by the following factors;
(1) Magnitude of the Risk. This deals with the likelihood that the injury would occur
and the serious of the injury that is risked. The greater of risk to the plaintiff, means
141
greater precautions than normal that must be taken by the defendant. In PARIS V.
STEPHY BOUROUGH Council 1951 AC 367, the plaintiff who had one eye was
employed as a mechanic in the defendants garage. Part of his job includes welding.
It was not normal to put on goggle in such a job. In the cause of his work a piece of
metal flew into the plaintiffs eyes, as a result he becomes completely blind. He
then sued the defendant. The defendant was held liable. Although he would not
have been liable to a person with normal sight.
(2) The Skill the Defendant Posses or Holds Himself out as such. Where a person
posses special skill or pose himself as possessing or holding such skills it shall be
his duty to exercise such care as a normal skillful member of his trade or profession,
he is reasonably expected to exercise. Where such a skillful person is alleged to
have committed negligence, in so exercising such care, his performance shall be
judged in the normal standard, reasonably expected of an ordinary person with
requisite skill in a similar profession or bisiness. The maxim is imperatia culpas ad
numeratiu. See section 24 of the tort law of Anambra state, rule 10 for the rules of
medical professional conduct for the Medical and Dental Practitioners revised
edition 1995, see also UBA Ltd V Nkene Dilichukwu 1999 12 NWLR pt 629pg
132.
(3) T he Cost or Practicability of Avoiding the Harm. The risk must be balanced against
the measures necessary to eliminate it and the practical measures which the
defendant would have taken to avoid the harm woul be taken into consideration. In
Latimar v. a.e.c. 1952 2QB pg 700 and 711, a factory floor became slippery as a
result of flood. The occupants of the factory did everything possible to get rid of
effects of the floor. Nevertheless, the plaintiff was injured and then sought to
establish that the occupiers would have closed down the factory. The House of
Lords per Lord Denning held that the risk of injury created by the slippery floor was
not so great as to justify the closure of the factory. The defendants were thus not
held liable.
4.0
CONCLUSION
The standard of care is that of the ordinary man of average intelligence in the position of
the defendant or the actor. Extraordinary intelligence or foresight is not expected except
where the defendant holds himself out to have such. A defendant is expected to be able to
perceive the need of the Neighbour in carrying out his act. Paris v Stepney B. C. T.,
National Coal Board V J. E. Evans & Co. (1957). The greater the risk, the higher the
standard of care which is expected of the defendant.
If no duty was owed, then there would be no breach. Duty of Care would not be owned if
the plaintiff is not a neighbor that is somebody within reasonable contemplation.
5.0
SUMMARY
In this unit, you have learnt
142
1.
2.
3.
4.
6.0
The standard of Care

Skills of a reasonable person
Intelligence of a reasonable person.
The standard of conduct of a reasonable person.
1. Critically examine the standard of a care required of the defendant in a case of

Negligence.
2. Explain the Neighborhood principle enacted in Donoghue v Stephenson
3. The standard of a reasonable man is based on subjective criteria. Discuss.
7.0
1.
2.
3.
4.
REFERENCES/FURTHER READINGS
Bodunde Bankole: Torts: Law of Wrongful Conducts (1998) Libriservice Press, Lagos
G. Kodo;uye: Nigeria Law of Torts (1999) Spectrum Publishers, Ibadan
John G. Fleming: The Law of Torts (1997) The Law Book co. Ltd. London.
Nikie Tobi: Souces of Nigeria Law (1996) Mij Publishers.
143
UNIT 3:
PROOF OF NEGLIGENCE
CONTENT
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
Introduction
Objective
Main content
Conclusion
Summary
Tutor marked assignment
References/further reading
1.0
INTRODUCTION
Negligence must be proved by whoever alleges it, if there is a duty and a breach
of it but no injury or damage can be proved, an action in negligence would fail. If
there is damages, it must be traceable to the breach. It must be a damage
foreseeable to a reasonable man as likely to arise form the breach. The damage
must not be too remote.
2.0
OBJECTIVES
At the end of this unit, you should be able to:
a. Explain the circumstances of negligence act
b. Know the plea Res Ipsa Ioquitor
c. Know the appropriate condition under which Res ipsa loquitor will apply.
3.0
MAIN CONTENT
Proof of Damages
There are causation in fact and Causation Law. That of fact if first consider before
that of Law.
You must prove that the breach of duty of care is the cause of damages. There is
causation fact and Causation in Law. You must decide the issue of causation in
fact before that of Law. Causation is concerned whether the breach of duty was a
matter in fact the cause of the plaintiff damage. The remoteness of damages is
concerned with the fact as a matter of Law; the breach of duty is the cause of the
plaintiffs damage. The plaintiff is unable to prove that the defendant breach in
actual fact causes his damage he will fail. The Court apply the But for test. If
the plaintiff prove that but for the defendant negligence his damage wounding have
occurred. He will succeed eg. Barnet v Chelsea & Kessigton Hospital
Management (1969) 1 OB 428. In this case the deceased came to hospital
complaining of vomiting after taking some tea. The nurse on duty phoned the
doctor. But instead of the doctor coming he told the deceased to see his own
general practitioner. Late in the day he died, it was found that he died of food
poison. In an action by the wife against the hospital for the negligence of the
144
doctor. It was held that the doctor was actually in breach of his duty of care. And
that breach was not the cause of the deceased death.
It was argued however, that even if the doctor treated him effectively he would still
have died. He was not liable. See also Culther v Bedford Motors (1971) 1 OB
418.
Note that sometimes they may be more than one cause. Where the causes caused
different types of damages each person will be liable for the consequences of his
own act. Problem may however arise where the cause are merged. E.g. Parker v
Willoughby (1970) A.C. 467. In this case the plaintiff was injured in his leg by the
defendant negligence that caused him to be disabled and therefore unable to
maintain his former job. He has to take on a lower paid job, a place where robbers
attacked him and shot the already wounded leg and the leg had to be amputated.
This happened before trial. The defendant argued that his negligence action was
not the cause of the amputation and that the second injury had obtained his own
injury. The court had that the defendant was still liable to the plaintiff since the
only result of the robbers action was the amputation of an already damaged leg and
therefore the defendant action was still the cause of the plaintiff loss.
More important than causation in fact is causation in law. It is evidence that a
plaintiff cannot be made answerable for all the consequences of his actions without
end. There must be a line drawn with regards to the consequences in which the
defendant wont be too remote for . The question of causation in law is quite
complex and sometimes the court had resorted to common sense and policy criteria
rather than scientific criteria the case of the Munnity of war transport (1942) AC
127 where Lord Wright said that Causation can only be understand as the man in
the street would understand it. And therefore the choice of the real or effective
from out of a whole complex of factors must be made to apply to common sense of
standard.
A similar view was expressed in another case where the judge said that the court
will apply public policy experience, and a rough sense of justice in deciding the
question of causation in Law.
It should be noted that this does not imply that the judges are to act as arbitrary
because there are certain laid down principles which should guide the judges when
making their decision. In fact what the judges are saying is that there must be a
link between the defendants action and the plaintiffs damage and such a link must
not be disturbed by any other event or by the act of a 3 rd party. Once there is
intervention of a new course thereby making the link, the defendant ceases to be
liable. There are two cases which compete against each other with regards to
remoteness of damages. The first one is the direct consequences Best
established by the case of Re-Polems (1921) 3 KB 560 that case states that the
defendant is liable for all the consequences whether foreseeable or not which can
be directly traced to his act.
145
The second application is to be found in the case of the wagon mand (1961) AC
388 which rest the Reasonable foresight test. That text state that all
consequences which could not reasonably be foreseen are too remote whether or
not the flow directly from the defendant acts.
Re-Polems was decided by the house of Lords in England while wagon Mand by
Privy Council. But Wagon Mand has in fact over rule Re-Polemis.
RE-POLEMIS case (1921). In this case, the charterer of a ship employed
Stevedove to off-load a ship. Among the cargo in the ship were tins of Benzine
some of which had leaked during the voyage and therefore a lot of petrol vapor has
collected in the hold of the ship. The afs servant negligently dropped a plank on
the hold which has leaked. This caused a spark which ignited the Benzines. And
a fire which eschewed damage the ship. The arbitrator before whom the parties
appeared held inter alia that the fire was caused by the spark from falling plank
which came into content with petrol vapour. They also found that the spark itself
could not reasonably have been anticipated by the falling of the plank even though
some damages to the ship was foreseeable. Despite the findings of the arbitration,
the court had the af was liable because of the fact that the ptfs damage was a direct
resort of the afs negligence action. The court said that duty of care was me thing
and that damage was another and that different tests apply to both issues.
Several years later the privy Council had the opportunity to decide on a similar
issue in the case of the Wagon Mlaud. In this case a company O. T. Ltd had
chartered a ship known as the Wagon Mound. The ship was anchored of a wharf
belonging to C. Oil Coy for the purpose taking fule. The servant of O.T. Ltd
Negligently split a large amount of oil on water and this quickly spread to outside
of the Labour and onto the wharlf which belong to M.B. Ltd, where some wielding
work was being carried out on a ship. Upon noticing the present of oil in the water
the manager of M.B. Ltd ordered wedding work to stop the approaching the
manager of C. Oil Coy as to the safety of continuing wedding work in view of /Oil
on water at the wharlf. C. Oil Coy assured him that there was no fear and coupled
with his own knowledge that it is not normal for water and oil to unite. He
order4ed work to continue but with precautions. Some few days later the oil
caught fire and caused extensive damage to M.D. Wharlf. M.S. sued the af for
negligence. It was found as a fact that it was foreseeable for oil on water to catch
fire. It was also found that some damages were caused to M.D. Wharlf. The trial
Court held the af was liable on the decision of re-polmis and held the af liable.
The privy council however held that the af was not liable because it was not
reasonably foreseeable that such a damage will occur. The damage for fire was not
reasonable foreseeable. The privy council mentioned that the RE-Polimis was no
longer good law. And prompted out that it will be illogical to apply different tests
to the issue of duty of care and that of remoteness of damage.
146
When this test is applied it is evidence that the differences will only be liable for
such damages that can be foreseen. The wagon mould case had been applied in
various cases.
Hughes v Lord Advocate (1963) AC 838. A man hole in Edinburg Street was
opened under statutory powers for the purpose of manetiaing underground
telephone equipment. It was covered with a flut and in the evening, left by the
workman unguarded but surrounded by warning paraffin . an 8 years old boy
entered the tent and knocked and towered one the the lamp into the hole. Na
explosion occurred amusing him to fall into the hole and severely burnt.
Held: that the workman were a breach of duty of care to safe-guard the boy against
the type of occurrence which arising from a known source of danger. The lamp
was reasonably foreseeable that source of danger acted man unpredictable way.
Doughty v Turner Manufacturing Coy. (1964) 1 QB 508. The af placed over a
heat treatment bath containing cover sodium cyaride as a were hot molten liquid.
The def employee carelessly dislodged this cover so that it showered his bath. The
molten liquid exploded, emptied from the bath and damaged the pf workman
nearly. Although it was foreseeable that damage by splashing would require soft
from dislodging the cover. It was not foreseeable what an explosion would ensued
Held: the afs were held liable, even though the kind of harm, damage by burning
was foreseeable. They would have been liable for damage by splashing; the risk of
damage by explosion was not foreseeable.
See Tremain v. Pike (1969) 3 A.E. R 1303. Here the damage suffered by the fp
was unforseable. The pf suffered wills disease which was contacted through rat
urine. The pf therefore escaped liability.
There is one area which however was not effected by the Wagon Mound, that area
is the Eggs Shells Skulls Personality i.e. where a person suffered an unusual kind
of peculiar weakness. The E-Polemis case is the only one that can apply. In this
case the court will not apply the reasonable foresight test. This means that you
take your victim as you find it.
See Smith V. Leech Brain & Co. (1962)2 QB 405. The Judge in the case say that it
was obvious that the Privy Council could not have intended their decision in the
wagon mound to apply to the decision in Egg Shell Cases and that this area is still
governed by Re-Polimis decision. Here a Burn was negligently inflicted on the pf
lips. This developed into cancer and killed the man 2 years later. It was found that
the mans lip before the burn was already in a pre-malgnant state, but the burn
merely made the cancer to develop quicker, the pf were nontheless held liable
because according to the law he must take his victim as he found him Malcom v
Broad (1970) 3 A. E. R 508
147
Robbinson v Post Office(1974) 1 WLR 1176. The pf was injured by the

negligence of the df. The pf was taken to a hospital were anti-tatanus syrup was
administered to him by a Doctor. Unfortunately, the pf was allegic to that injection
and suffered brain damage. He still sued the df for that damage and the question
was that whether the af was liable offered other people takes it without any
problem. It was held that the af was liable. He must take his victim as he find him,
since it was his action that brought the pf into that state and he will be liable for
any reaction by the pf. In Smith and Each Brain Co. it was held that the privy
Council did not mean that the wagon mound case affects egg shell skull
personality, when they said Re-Polemis is no longer a good law.
Novus Causa
The inter: The principle states that the df were not be liable for damages resulting
from intervening factor. The handling of Nova Causa under the direct
consequences test lead to the definition being liable for all the direct consequences
of the df action until a new intervening event breads the chair of causation. The
handling of the nova causa include the wagon mound posses the question whether
it intervening event was foreseeable, if it was, it follows that the chair of causation
is not broken and the df were still be liable for the damage. The effect of a
successful plea of nova causa is to render the df not liable for the alleged damage.
Where however the pleas fail, the df will continue to be liable for the injury.
Stansaby v Trowunmi (1948) 2 KB 48.
Wieland v Cereals Lord Carpet (1969) 3 All ER 1006. The pf was injured by the
negligence of the df as a result of the injury the pf had to wear a collar all the time
and this made it difficult for her to adjust his spectacle, she had a fail and
substained further injuries and sued the df for this first injury. The df argued that
the fall was an intervening force for which he should not be held responsible but
the Co not had that the fall and injury was attribute to the original negligence of the
df and the this was a foreseeable consequence of the former injury and therefore
there has not been an intervening event breaking the chain of causation contrast.
See Melon v Holland (1969) 3 AER 62
The pf was injured by the df negligence as a result of the injury his left leg
sometimes gave way. He went to view a home with his wife, brother-in-law and
like daughter. He tried to descend stairs without hand rails and holding his little
daughter and jumped to avoid a fall and thereby badly fracturing his ankle. He
claimed damages from the df for this further injury but the Court held that the pfs
action was unreasonable in that knowing his condition his condition he failed to
seek the assistance of his wife and brother-in-law while desending. Consequently,
there has been a new intervention breaking the chain of causation and the df will
not be liable. See Crossley v Rawlingson (1981) 3 AER 674
148
The df was driving a lorry when the tarpaulin in his lorry caught fire. He stopped
about a two yards from a petrol house. A petrol man picked a fire-extinguisher and
ran towards the lorry and was injured before he got there. His action against the df
failed because although the df foresaw that people will come and rescue, he did not
foresee injury on the way and consequently the claiming of causation is broken and
the df will not be liable for injury. See Knightly v. John (1982) 1 AER 351
Accident happened near the exit of a tunnel carrying one way traffic. The
Policeman on duty realizing that he had forgotten to close the turnel to incoming
traffic ordered two inspector to go and close the turnel. The two officers that rode
back against the outcoming traffic. Both the inspectore and the pf acted contrary to
laid down police standing order in ordering and carrying out the order. The pf
claimed demages from the df. It was held inter alia the not df the imspectore and
the chief constable. The accepted negligence but claimed that also John Manga v
Drew . (1970) NNLR 62
Held: the amputation of the pf leg was necessitated by the infection picked up
during the interval into the pf self discharge from hospital against expert medical
advice and his readmission into another hospital and therefore the df will not be
liable for eht injury which be come not reasonably have foreseen, there was a break
in the chain of causation
Ekwo v Enechuchkwu 14 WACA 512
Held:- The Chair of Causation was not broken when the pf refused to be taken to a
regular doctor where but demanded to be taken to a native doctor where he picked
up an infection resulting into amputation of his finger, this was because of the
wide spread belief in native doctors in Nigeria especially in mending broken bones
and where the person is an illiterate.
PROOF OF NEGLIGENCE: RES IPSA LOQUITOR
Scott v London and st Katherine Cockes (1855) 3 H of L 596. The pf a custom
officer was passing through the door of the df warehouse when 6 bags of sugar fell
on him. The judge of first instance directed a discharge verdict for the df on the
ground of lack of negligence, the court of Appeal ordered a retrial and if was in
that case that the rule res ipsa loquitor was formulated.
Earl C. J state as follows:
The Appeal Court ordered a retrial and it was that case that the maxim or rule Res
Ipasa loquitor was formulated. Earl C. J, Stated as follows:
There must be reasonable evidence of negligence but where the thing is shown to
be under the management of the servant and the accident in such as in the ordinary
course of thing does not happen if those who have the mearging use proper care, it
afford reasonable evidence in the absence of explanation by the df that the accident
arose from the wants of care. The statement above two problem;
(1) When does the doctrine applies
149
(2) What is the effect when it is applied

Regarding the first one it appears that 3 condition must be fortified for res ipsa
loquitor to apply. The facts relating to the accident must not be known, there must
be amasement of explanation of the accident. Once the of the accident are known
then res ipsa loquitor fail or thing the pf have to prove his care as in the ordinary
care of negligence. See Barkway v SmithWales Transport Co. Ltd (1950) 1 All
ER 392.
In that care the pf was in a vehicle managed by the df when the namely would to
the wrong side and fail over and the pf was injured. It was found that there was a
defect in one of the tyres and they if the df had co-operated a proper system of
checking vehicle that defect might whether res ipsa loquitor apply. The Court held
it does not be the facts are known. See Anichebe v Oyekwe (1985) NWLR 100.
There a lorry being driven by the df crushed the brother of the pf. The df claimed
that the accident happen the ilbrat in lorry was loose and therefore broken and that
he was unable to help the accident from occurring to avoid the accident that
happened. Although the Court held that there was an explanation. By the df it was
not sufficient to or ra the inference of negligence raised by the happen of the
accident therefore res ipasa loquitor apply and the df was held liable. See Okeke v.
Obidife (1985) 1 All NLR 50.
Oliya v. Osasami (1969-71) WNLR 264
The pf was there injured when a Grand being operated by the several of the df fail
on him. The df offered no explanation as to why the train fail without negligence
on their path and it was held that res ipsa loquitor apply. They were held liable.
Jacob Akintola (1974) 6 CACJ 601. It was held that res ipsa loquitore apply. The
pf wife was killed in a motor accident. The pf was not at the scene of accident to
narrate what happen and no witness were called to say what happen. The Court
held tht the doctrine apply only where there is some evidence from which
negligence may be inferred. Consequently where there is no evidence from which
negligence may be presume. Res ipsa loquitor will not apply. The pf was driving
his care on one side of a dual carriage road at Agodi Ibadan. The tyre of a bus
driven on the other side of the road brushed and he collided with the care of the pf
on the other side of the road. The driver of the bus plead inevitability of accident
but this could not obviate the doctrine of res ipsa loquitor as he was held liable.
Kuti V Gbodo (1962) N MLR 419. The pf was injured when the lorry in which he
was travelling from Oloto to Ijebu-ode skidded on a wet road, crushed into a pillar
of a bridge and overturned. The judge held that rtes ipsa loquitor applies this was
affirmed by the Supreme Court.
Esan v. London & North Eastern Railway ((1944) 2 KB 421. A child, aged 4 years
fell down in the carrier of the train belonging to the df while the train was in
150
motion and injured and was injured. There being no evidence how the door was
opened. Held, the mere fact that the door was opened was not of itself prima facie
evidence of negligence against the Railway Co. The trial Justice said it is
impossible to say the door of the train are continuous.
4.0
CONCLUSION
Negligence must be proof by whoever the three elements i.e. Duty of Care, Breach
of Duty of Care and Damages (Injury) must be established. In the course of trial,
however the burden of proof may shift to the defendant either to prove that the was
not negligent or that the bore no duty.
Sometimes, the facts are over-whelming against the defendant he alone can explain
the circumstances of the negligent act. In such a situation the plea of Res Ipsa
Ioquitor the thing speaks for itself will be made.
5.0
SUMMARY
In this unit, we learnt about
d. Duty of care
e. Breach of the duty of care
f. Standard of Care
g. Damage (injury) resulting from the breach of duty of care and the consequences
that flows from the breach of the duty of care.
6.0
What are the elements of negligence how are they established
7.0.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Ltd, Lagos (1996).
Sweet & Maxwell.
1999.
Nigeria.
151
UNIT 4:
DEFENCES TO THE TORT OF NEGLIGENCE

CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE AND VOLENTI
NON FIT INJURIA
CONTENT
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
11.0
INTRODUCTION
OBJECTIVES
MAIN CONTENT
CONCLUSION
SUMMARY
RERERENCES/FURTHER READINGS
1.0
INTRODUCTION
In the last unit you learnt about Negligence and Consequences of Negligence action.
There are two principal defences to negligence action.
Defences to the Tort of Negligence
1. Contributory Negligence
2. Volenti non fit injuria defence of consent.
Civil liability of mescelaneous law provision. The Lagos State Edict for the Northern
State S.5 Civil liability miscellaneous provision law No 20 1957 West/Midwest S.8 tort
law at 122 19.
Esteem tort Law S. 7 (1962)
The effect of these laws which are similar in content is that the court now have power to
apportion liability between pf and df. A df who is sued for negligence may raise the
effect of contributory negligence on the part of the pf. Even though the pf may be guilty
of contributory negligence the court can still go ahead to award part of the damages to be
shared by the df. But the pf still share in the brunt. See Appah v E. A. Constain (1994) 1
All NWLR 235.
See Evans V S. B. Bakare (1974) NWLR 78. Collision between motorist and cyclist at
road junction. The df was accused of not keeping proper lookout and of driving at fast
speed. Demand of negligence by df alledging that the pf made sudden emerge into the
road. Trial judge accepting df version of how accident happened and exonerating him
from blame for the accident subsequent find of negligence against of one pf however,
held mor to blame. The pf sued the df for the negligence driving of his motor car at
Apapa wharf on 20/3/67 and the running into his motor car. The df denied negligence of
any kind and alleged that it was the fault of the pf.. he judge reasoned with him but found
him liable as far the collision between his care and pf the df appealed. The onus of
proving his chain resorted on the pf as it is obvious that trial judge found the pf
responsible for the accident for which he was claim damages.
152
Abraham Adegoke v CFAO. The deceased was injured by the df negligence during the
cause of treatment he developed neumonia and subsequently die. The df pleaded that the
death of the pf was not caused by the accident since there was a nova causa, the nemonia.
The pf rejected this arguing because therwe was an appropriate causa connction between
the df negligence and the Nemonia. Set in and there was no break in the chain of
causation, the df was therefore liable for her diseased death.
Read the defence of Consent
Contributory Negligence
We mean the conduct of the pf which falls below what a reasonable man could observe
for his non safety. When a pf sues a df for negligence, the df will accept negligence at
will also blame the pf for his own fault and content that the pf should share in the loss. At
common Law, the rule was very harsh because if there was any indication that the pf was
partly responsible for the damage, he will loss all his claim. In other to mitigate this
hardship the court introduced the lat opportunity rule i.e. that the df should be responsible
because he had the last opportunity to avoid the damage and vice versa before the
introduction of the civil liability Miscellaneous Act(1961) and Lagos State applicable
laws Edict (1989) S. 11 for the Northern State S. 5 Civil liability miscellaneous provision
law N0 2 (1957) for former west and mid-west N08 Torts Law Cap 122 (1959) Edition.
East Torts Law Cap 122 1959 Edition. East Tort Law No 7 1962 S.3.
The present position under this law is that the Court now avoid fixed rules and there are
provision for apportioning blames on the parties as a result of this law the pf will no
longer fail because he was partly responsible but they will both pay for their part of the
blame. The last apportunity rule was also abolished.
In any case you cannot hold a df liable for contributory negligence if the blame is entering
on the pf.
Evans V S.B. Bakare (1974) NWLR 78.
The evidence as found and accepted by the trial judge was that the pf was negligently
riding his motorcycle, emerged into the road and collided with the dfs vechicle. The pf
was entirely to blame for the accident but the trial judge erroneously applied the principle
of contributory negligence. This was however offset by the court of appeal. See also
Okuwodu V Alli (1957) WRNLR 195.
Held:- the pf who rested his arm on the window of his vehicle while it ws in motion was
not contributory negligence while the df driving negligently brushed to arm. The af tried
to plea that the pf was contributory negligence but the court rejected this contention and
held the df wholly responsible. If appears that failure on the part of a motor-cyclist or his
passenger to, wear crash-helmet is contributory negligence or their part for head injuries.
See O Connel v Jackson (1972) 1 QB 270.
153
Contributory negligence was applied here were a motorcyclist failed to wear his crash
helmet and was severely wounded because the injury would have been less severe if he
had his crash helmet on.
Pasternack v Poulton (1973) 1 WLR 476.
The pf was being given a lift in the df car, when failed to strap on the seat belt: she did not
care about it and the dfs himself did not ask her to put it on. The dfs car crashed and the
pf was injured. She shed the df and the accepted negligence driving but contended that
the pf was partly negligence for failing to use her seat-belt. An expert gave evidence that
if she had warn her eat-belt, the injury wouldnt have been that severe. The court held her
contributory negligence but for only 5%. See also Froom v Butcher (1974) 3 AER 520.
The pf did not wear the set belt while he was driving the df negligence crashed into the
pfs car. In an action against the df the pf pleaded contributory negligence because the pf
did not wear his seat belt because according to him people get trapped in a wreckage of an
accident if he was seat belt but the court rejected his contention. It is for the df who
alleges contributory negligence to prove it. With regard to adult it is easier but it may be
more difficult in relation to children.
With respect to drunken drivers and passengers, it is held that a person is liable for
contributory negligence if he travels in a car with a drivers who he knew has consumed
enough alcohol as to impair his ability to drive safely.
Daun v Hamilton (1939) 1 KB 509.
The plea of volenti non fit injuria failed because he knew that the person giving him a lift
was drunk but held that the pf was only contributory negligent.
Defence of Consent
Implies that the pf by his own free will and with the full appreciation of the danger has
absolved the df from liability. The effect of this defance where it succeed means that the
pf will not recover anything at all. The consent under this defence must be gentle. There
must be no pressure or collusion of any sort e.g. Economic pressue may lead the pf to do
what he would normally not do. There are some risky jobs undertaken by people because
of economic pressure. Such a person who sues for injury as a result of such job will not
be faced by the defance of volenti non fit injuria. See Smith v Baker (1891) A.C. 325.
The workman were working in a quarry. A crane was carrying heavy stones moving to
and fro above them and they knew. The stone fell and injured the df. In an action against
the df, they pleaded volenti not fit injuria but it failed.
Similarly, there must be no legal or moral kinds of pressure eg. In rescue cases A person
who goes but to rescue another person by reason of the negligence by another person will
not have this defence against him as there is moral pressure.
Note: However, that the pfs action must be reasonable in the circumstances where it is a
hopeless venture and where it will be clear to a reasonable man that it is risky then the
defence will succeed but it will be difficult for the court to come to such a conclusion.
154
Note: that the injury in question must be within the risk assumed eg. Certain games
involve certain injuries that the player should expect eg. A football game-player and
spectator, but there is difference where a footballer deliberately kicks a football to hit a
spectator or a player giving another player a punch. See Simms v Leigh Football Club
(1969) 2 QER 923.
Woolridge v Summer (1962) 2 AER 978
In relation to drunken driver, it now appears that contributory negligence may succeed
against a pf who discovers that the driver is drunk then decide to follow the driver.
Miller V Dacker
A plan of Volenti non fit injuria was allowed for a pf who followed a drunken driver but it
was decided on its own merit.
155
UNIT 5: OCCUPIERS LIABILITY

CONTENT
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
INTRODUCTION
OBJECTIVES
MAIN CONTENT
CONCLUSION
SUMMARY
1.0
INTRODUCTION
2.0
OBJECTIVES
3.0
MAIN CONTENT
LAW REFORM TORTS LAW OF 1965
Section 7, 8, and 9 of the Law Reform (Torts) applies only to Lagos. With regard to the
rest to the country there is no law. In Rivers State, a law similar to this is in the process
of being enacted. In other states of the Federation, it is till the common law that governs
the liability of the occupier.
Section 7(1) of that Law, provides that as far as Lagos is concerned, the provision of the
law has replaced the common law with regard to the occupiers liability to visitors. The
statutory provision does not apply to trespassers and also with regards to the state and
condition of the land and the activities carried out on the land as well as things omitted to
be done on the land. It is possible for the occupier to restrict, extend or modify his duty
towards visitors that come upon his land. It is also possible for him to place volenti non fit
injuria against the visitor where the visitor himself has accented to the injury or consent.
Section 8 contains the nature of the duty owned by the occupier to the visitor. It is
regarded or refers to as the common duty of care and this common duty is the duty to
ensure a visitor who comes upon the land is reasonably save.
Section 8 (3) (b) also requires an addition to the common duty of care owed to all visitors.
An occupier must be prepared for children to be less careful than adult.
Section 8(3)(b) relates to independent contractors. An independent contractor who is
employed by the occupier to work on his land is expected to appreciate such danger that
arises from his calling. An occupier is not supposed to warn an independent contractor of
such dangers. However, if there is a hidden danger like an exposed wire, known to the
occupier he is expected to warn the contractors.
In Roles v Nathern (2963) 2 All ER 908, two chimmy sweepers were employed by the
occupier to sweep out his chimmy. They went into the boiler to clean it while it was
156
being fired by coal. The two of them were choked to death form the carbon-monoxide
which was emitted into the boiler. The occupier was sued in respect of damages for their
death. It was held that the occupier was not liable because the normal danger arising form
the calling of those sweepers and it was not the occupiers that should warn them but they
should know and guard against it.
It should be noted that there can be two occupiers at the same time. For example, a
landlord lends out his premises to a tenant but reserves sufficient right as to be regarded
as having control over the premises. If a visitor is injured both the landlord and the tenant
may be sued jointly and severely.
An occupier is a person in control of premises or in control of something on land. A
binding machinery may be on land and the person who operates the machinery is said to
be in control of such machinery.
As Lord Denny said in Wheat v Leoen (1966) A.C. 552, if a person has any degree of
control of premises he is an occupier. See also Fisher v Chit (1965) 1 WLR 393 or 2 All
ER 601.
As far as the dangers protected by the action are concerned, the dangers arising from the
state and condition of the land are covered by the Act and also danger arising form
activities going on in the land. This includes Machinery and other potential dangers
contemplated by the Act against which the visitors enjoy protection.
Duty Owed to Visitors
The warning must be sufficient to inform the visitors. As far as Children are concerned
the occupier must ensure a high standard of care enough to protect the children from
injury. In Glasgow Corporation v Taylor (1922) 1 AC 44, there was a botanical garden
which was open to visitor to view. In this garden was a tree that had fruits that looked
like cherry; a boy of 7 years who was a visitor in the botanical garden plucked the fruit,
ate it and died. His next of kin sued the corporation. The Corporation was held liable.
They argued that the boy was a trespasser who was allowed to admire the garden but not
to pick fruit. The fruit was in fact poisonous and nothing was done to prevent children
from moving near that tree.
It is stated that where a visitor gets injured despute the warning and with full knowledge
of the danger, the occupier is not automatically exonerated. In this situation, court will
still question whether, despite the warning and with full appreciation of the danger, the
visitor reasonably incurred the injury. The duty of the occupier towards a visitor extends
to the property of visitors.
OCCUPIERS LIABILITY
The relationship between the occupier and trespasser is still governed by common Law.
Tresspassers are persons who force themselves into a relationship with the occupier. A
trespasser is a person whose presence is unknown to the occupier and if it is known, it
157
will be objected to. A trespasser hardly enjoys any protection at Common Law. The only
duty the occupier owes then is not to inflict injury on them or to act in reckless disregard
of the safety of the trespasser.
In Addy v Dumbreche (1929) AC 358, a 4 year old was crushed by a trashing machine.
manipulated by the defendant agent. The question was whether the injury was inflicted
intentionally or otherwise. It was held that the injury was not inflicted intentionally and
there was no liability.
While the occupier has the right to protect his property from a trespasser, he is not
allowed to create restributory danger for that purpose like setting traps for the purpose of
injuring trespasser.
In Bird v Halbrook, an occupier planted spring guns in order to protect his flower in his
garden. A child who pursued a fowl into the garden was injured and he was held liable.
It is difficult when a trespasser is aware of the danger and gets injured, an occupier will
not be liable. Several attempts to bring about improvement in the position of the
trespasser to that of the occupier failed. They tried to use the principle in Donoghue v
Stephenson. The House of Lords rejected Lord Dennings position. It was not until the
case in Brighton v British Rly Coy (1972) AC.
The occupier is not supposed to check his compound to make sure there is no trespasser.
The case is different when dangerous activities are carried out in the premises. In that
case, there is a higher duty of care.
The occupier is to give notice only of dangers he knows about or which a reasonable man
ought to know to his trespasser.
The trespasser is to take the occupier as he finds him. An occupier who is not well to do
is not under a duty to put high fence warning will be enough. But there are exceptions
as was laid down in Herringtons care covering children. There is still the distinction
between children which is governed by the Law Reform (Torts) and the trespassing
children which is governed by the common law. This rule is mainly for people who use
their premises for extra ordinary purpose.
Palnmebt V MC Guines (1972) 2 QB 559. The def were demolishing a warehouse
positioned near a public park for children and adult they set the building on fire and set 3
men to guard the premises. A child of 5 years approached the fire when the 3 men were
absent from their post and while playing he fell into the fine and was badly burnt. The
child had been wonderer of the premises before. In an action against the Co (df) they
were held liable for the negligence of the 3 men who absconded their post. The court
took according of the proximity of the park, the time at which the child was injured and
also that the def should have known if about the attractiveness of fire by children. They
were held liable for the injury sustained by the child.
Occupiers liability to children.
158
The law maintained a distinction between children visitors and trespassers. Child
trespassers are owned the duty of common humanity. A child visitor is one who is in the
premises by invitation, license or permission such a child is owned a common duty of
care which recognizes that the characteristics of children should be taken into account
when deciding the liability of occupier, reason being that children have a strong
disposition onstery according to Lord Haminton in Lathern v R Johnson (1913) 1 KB 398
at 415 he said The occupier must appreciate that in the case of infants there are moral as
well a physical traps and accordingly there is a duty towards infants not to dig pit falls for
their or land them into templation this means that the occupier should not leave
unattended situations or objects which may constitute an ailment to the child.
Glasgon Coprp v Taylor (Supra)
In the case of Goldman v Harrlyn (1943) KB 664. A boy who was on a threshing
machine and was crushed when the workers started the machine. The court held that the
df had left a dangerous machine in the land without taken precaution against children.
Occupier were not be liable where there is no allurement or dangerous objects on the land.
Latern v R. Johnson. There was a heap of stone on the occupiers premises. The kind
was playing on the heaps when he was injured. In an action against the occupier held:
The stones were not allurement neither were they dangerous, so the occupier will not be
liable for children playing in his premises.
It is the court that decide whether a given object is an allurement. An allurement may
seems to be not where it is reasonably guarded in order to prevent access of children.
Similarly where there is adequate warning that is even obvious to a child. It was however
said obiter that unguarded water will artificial or nature can never constitute an
allurement. (No conclusive decision on this matter) Little v Torks Country Council
(1934) 2 KB 101. An occupier was carrying out construction in his premises and left a
heap of sand in his premises. A 7 year old boy was able to gain access through the sand
to the well as he tried to balance on the well to demonstrate to his friends how he fly, he
fell and got injured. In an action the court held that the heap of sand were not constitute
an allurement.
With regard to very young children it appears from the Act tht in deciding the liability of
the occupier all the circumstances of thee case must be taken into consideration or
account. This evidently includes what is expected from the parent of such very young
children as they ought to monitor where the children goes to or do. See Plubbs v
Rochuster Corp (1955) 1 QB 450 it was indicated that with respect to very young children
the occupier is not expected to make his premises as safe as nursery and that parent has a
responsibility to ensure that places where they allow children to go are reasonable
foreseeable.
4.0
CONCLUSION
There are three main difences are available in an action for negligence
1. Contributory Negligence
2. Invitable Accident and
159
3. Violenti non fit injuria

5.0
SUMMARY
In this unit we discussed the three main defences to the action of negligence namely
volenti non fit injuria, inevitable accident and contributory negligence.
6.0

1. What are the defences available in an action for negligence
2. What are the conditions for establishing the plea of Res Ipsa Ioquitor.
7.0
REFERENCES/FURTREHT READING
1.
2.
Ltd, Lagos (1996).
3.
Sweet & Maxwell.
4.
5.
1999.
160
MODULE FOUR
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Unit 5
Defences to the Tort of Negligence

Mistake
Occupiers Liability
Damages
Assessment of Damages
UNIT 1
DEFENCES TO THE TORT OF NEGLIGENCE
Table of Contents
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
Introduction
Objectives
Main Content
3.1
Express terms
3.2
Implied assumption of Risk
3.3
Restricted Risk
3.4
Volenti Non Fit Injuria
3.5
Conclusion
Summary
References and Further Readings
1.0
INTRODUCTION
Voluntary assumption of risk as a defence to negligence corresponds to the plea of consent in

action for intended harm. No wrong is done to one who consents: Volenti non fit injuria. The
basic idea is that the plaintiff by agreeing to assume the risk himself absolves the defendant from
all responsibility for it.
2.0
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this unit is to enable you to:

(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
understand the concept of voluntary assumption of risk;

define and discuss the meaning of volenti non fit injuria;
comprehend the implication of volenti non fit injuria on a plaintiff and the defendant;
understand the different ways under which a plaintiff can voluntarily assume risk.
3.0
MAIN CONTENT
There are two basic defences to negligence action i.e. Volenti non fit injuria and contributory
negligence.
3.1
3.2
3.3
Express terms
Implied assumption of Risk
Restricted Risk
161
3.4
Volenti Non Fit Injuria
The phrase Volenti non fit injuria means no injury is done to one who consents. No person can
enforce the right when he has voluntarily advised or abandoned that right. The maxi applies
when the plaintiff voluntarily agree to undertake the legal risk of harm at his own expense. See
the case of Ndubusi v. Olowoke (1997) 1 NWLR Pt. 429 CA 62. The defence of volenti is a very
strong and complete defence and therefore where it is upheld it exonerates the defendant from
liability completely. However, in order to succeed in the pleading of volenti non fit injuria, the
following ingredients must be established:
(a)
Voluntary: The plaintiff must have the new of choice before the defence can be
successfully raised against him. A man cannot be said to be truly willing unless he is in
the position to choose freely; this includes the absence from .. mind .. so that
nothing shall interfere with the freedom of his will.
(b)
Agreement: The maxim applies, where the parties have reached an express agreement that
the plaintiff will voluntarily assume the risk of harm. The agreement must be made
before the negligence act. See the case of Ndubusi supra.
In limited cases, the court will be prepared to imply the agreement to run with the risk. Example,
where the plaintiff accepts a lift from a driver whom he knows to be so intoxicated as to be
incapable of driving safely. He would be deemed to have consented to any negligence to the
drivers part. In Morris v. Murray (1990) 3 All ER 801, the plaintiff went for a ride in a private
plane piloted by the defendant despite the fact that he knew that the defendant was drunk. The
plane crashed and the plaintiff was injured. It was held that the pilots drunkenness was so
extreme and obvious that participating in the flight was like engaging in an intrically and
dangerous occupation. Defence of volenti succeeded.
3.5
Contributory negligence applies where the damage the plaintiff has suffered was partly by his
own fault and partly by the fault of the defendant. Open JCA in Sheun v. Afere (1998) NWLR
Pt. 546 CA 119 said:
.contributory negligence means that the party charged is
primarily liable but that the party charging him contributed
by his own negligence to what eventually happened. A party
having admitted primarily liability of negligence has a duty
to establish that the other party contributed to what happened.
From the foregoing judicial authority, in order to succeed in the defence of contributory
negligence, the defendant must prove that the plaintiff has failed to take reasonable care of his
own safety and this failure was a cause of his damage.
The old common law rule was that if the harm done to the plaintiff was due partly to his own
fault, he would recover nothing from the defendant. The rule imported hardship to the plaintiff
and therefore it was replaced by Section 1 (1) of the Law Reform (Contributory) Negligence Act
162
1945. The Act makes the defence of contributory negligence the mitigating factor and not a
complete defence.
Various torts law in Nigeria have incorporated the provision of the Section 1 (1) of the Law
Reform (Contributory) Negligence Act 1945 above. Then in National Bank of Nigeria v.
T.A.F.A. (1996) 8 NWLR Pt. 468, it was clearly stated that:
where any person suffers damage as a result of partly his own
fault and partly as a result of the fault of any other person, the
claim in respect of that damage shall not be defeated by reason
of the fault of the person suffering damage. But a damage
recoverable in respect thereof shall be deduced from such extent
as the court deems fit.
Contributory negligence is based on the failure of the plaintiff to take reasonable care of himself
in his own safety. See the case of D. Connell v. Samsung.
Under the defence of volenti non fit injuria, contributory negligence if .. succeed the plaintiff
will have his damages reduced by the court in proportion to his fault. It is therefore a mitigating
factor and not a complete defence.
4.0
CONCLUSION
A volunteer cannot complain of injury. If a man consents to an act either expressly or

impliedly, he cannot be heard to complain of any injury he suffers as a result of the act. Thus, a
footballer may be taken to have consented to any injury he suffers during a football match.
5.0
SUMMARY
In this unit, you learnt about the principles of:
(i)
(j)
(k)
(l)
volenti non fit injuria;

the implication of voluntary assuming a risk;
the distinction between volenti non fit injuria and the duty of care; and
the ways risk could be assumed by a plaintiff.
6.0
1.
2.
Discuss the term volenti non fit injuria.

Discuss the implication of voluntary assumption of risk on a plaintiff and a defendant.
7.0
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READINGS
Bodunde, Bankole (1998). Torts, Law of Wrongful Conduct. Lagos: Libriservices Press.
Kohdiye, G. and Aluko, O. (1999). Nigeria Law of Torts. Ibadan: Spectrum Publishers.
Fleming, John G. (1997). The Law of Torts. London. The Lawbook Copublishers.
Tobi, Niki (1999). Sources of Nigerian Laws. Lagos. My Publishers.
163
UNIT 2: MISTAKE
4.
5.
6.
7.
1. Introduction
2. Objective
3. Main Content
3.1 Mistake
3.2 Defences to the tort of Mistake
Conclusion
Summary
1.0
INTRODUCTION
Aperson who has intentionally invaded another interest so that

ordinarily liability will ensure may yet be excused because his
conduct is priviledge in the particular circumstance. As the early
common Law attached liability to trespass on mere proof of direct
causation it became necessary after the later admission if
exculpatory consideration for the defendant to justify or excuse
his conduct by specially pleading and proving the circumstances
which destroyed its actionable quality. This justification became an
affirmative defence.
2.0 OBJECTIVES
At the end of this unit, you should be able to;
a. Define the Concept Mistake
b. Explain the term Mistake
c. Explain under the circumstances where the defence of Mistake
can avail a defendant.
d. Explain when a defendant can held for Responsible for
avoidable mistake.
3.0 MAIN CONTENT
Mistake, the consequences of an act is often intended but the error
consist in that such result does not constitute an invasion of
anothers legally protected interest Beals V Hayward(1960) N.ZLI.
131 where a gun was fired arronously his direction, erroneously
believing that it contained only a blank catridge. To illustrate this
164
further one who cuts down a tree in the vicinity of his boundary in
such a manner that it will in all probability fall on his own land
commits but an accidental
trespass if it crashes unto his
neighbors. the unauthorized entry, which is the injurious effect of
his activity, was neither intended nor reasonably to be anticipated
and he is consequently absolved now that such an accidental
trespass is no longer actionable. On the other hand, if he had
thought that he owned all the lands on which the tree would
possibly fall and intentionally cut it so that it would come down on
land which turns out to be his neighbors, he has committed an
intentional trespass under mistake. Such a mistake, even if one
which a reasonable man might have made, is not as a general rule
admitted as an excuse to civil liability.
3.1 Mistake
A person who does or omit to do an act under an honest and
reasonable but mistaken belief in the existence of any state of thing
is not criminally responsible for the act or omission to any greater
extent than if real state of things has been such as he believe to
exist. The operation of this rule may be excluded by the express or
implied provision of the law relating to the subject.
Although the strictly liability of the early law of trespass has today
been replaced by necessity of proving fault, defendants continues as
a general rule, to be held responsible for unavoidance mistakes.
The distinction between accident and mistakes calls for explanation.
Intention, negligence and accident have reference to the
consequences produced by conduct and not to the conduct itself
because otherwise almost all torts would be intentional in the sense
that the actions bodily activities was intended. An intentional tort,
property so called, is one in which the wrong doer either desires to
bring about a result which is an injury to another or believes that
the result is substantially certain to follow from what he does. A
negligent tort is one where the defendant as a reasonable person,
should have foreseen that his conduct involves a foreseeable risk
though falling short of substantial certainty that such a result
would ensue. Inevitable accident finally, refers to cases where the
particular consequences was neither intended nor so probable as to
make it negligent.
By contrast, in cases of mistake the
consequences was neither intended nor probable as to make it
negligent. By contrast, in case of mistake the consequences is often
165
intended and the error consists in thinking that such a result does
not constitute an invasion of anothers legally protected interests.
An example is one who cuts down a tree in the vicinity of his
boundary in such a manner that it will in all probability fall on his
own land commits but an accidental trespass, if it crashes unto his
neighbours. The unauthorized entry, which is the injurious effect of
his action was neither intended nor reasonably to be anticipated
and he is consequently absolved now that such an accidental
trespass is no longer actionable. On the other hand, if he had
thought that he owned all the land on which the tree would possibly
fall and intentionally cut it so that it would come down on land
which turns out to be his neighbor, he has committed an intentional
trespass under mistake, the actual result which has come to pass
was intended under the erroneous notion that it would not violate
anothers rights. Such a mistake, even if one which a reasonabl3e
man might have made, is not as a general rule admitted as an
excuse to civil liability.
Self Assessment Exercise
Discuss the Raito in Ogwu v R. (1969) NRLR
3.2 Defence of Mistake
A person who does or omit to do an act under an honest and
reasonable but mistaken belief in the existence of any state of thing
is not criminally responsible for the act or omission to any greater
extent than if real state of things has been such as he believe to
exist. The operation of this rule may be excluded by the express or
implied provision of the Law relating to the subject. Note. Before
the defence of mistake can avail it must be a mistake of fact and not
of Law.
In Ogwu v R. (1960) NRLSLR. 60 one of the accused said that he did
not know that it was contrary to Law to pay a bribe in order to
induce to appoint as village headman and tax collector. The Federal
Supreme Court in reversing the judgment of the trial court rejected
the defence of mistake as treated here for the court believe
ignorance of the law is no excuse for criminal liability.
Note: it has been argued by Okonkwo Naish in their book Criminal
Law that it there is evidence of the Law it may be strong evidence
166
that the accused could not have intended or had a guilty mind
which the prosecution must proof.
In the case of IGPNEmeoso (1957) NRNLR 213.
The accuse had demanded money from another man alledging that
he had committed adultery with the accused wife and that if he did
not pay he would sue for compensation under native law and
custom, as he would entitled against an adulterer. The magistrate
not believing that adultery had in fact being committed convicted
him under section 406 of the criminal code: Thomas j allowed the
appeal even though in actual adultery had been committed with
respect than this decision is erroneous there is no property
involved in this case, there demand made is as relating to adultery
and not relating to property.
Self Assessment Exercise
Discuss how the level of literacy in a society can affect capability in
the Law of Tort (RV Guardian).
It is also suggested that in a predominantly illiterate society wher
access to the law is near nil and there is inadequate public
awareness of position of the Law, ignorance of the Law ought to be
considered in the accessment of criminal responsibility.
This
approach is similar to the position adopted in some scandernavian
countries.
Furthermore, the mistake belief under S.25 must relate to the
existence of a state of thing and not as to the result. If the accused
is fully aware of all the circumstances i.e. where a man intending to
steal form a house may be mistaken as to the fact that he was
entering into a house by day where as the entry was by might.
R v Gouid (1960) QLR 293
The accused introduced glycerine, detol and surf into a female
virginal in an attempt to abort her pregnancy the defence of mistake
was rejected on the ground that the mistake was not the mistake as
to the existence of the state of things but rather as a mistake as to
what consequence which flows form an act.
Moreover, the mistake to be relied upon must not only be honest
but reasonable, this is where the Nigeria code differ form the
defence of mistake in England where as established in Morgan V
167
DPP (Supra) that it is sufficient it the mistake is honest but need

not be reasonable.
Note: Why the requirement of honesty is essential a subjective test
which will depend on the circumstances of the case and the
situation in which the accuse find himself. The unsettled question
is as to the scope of the requirement of reasonableness.
Gadam V R 14 WACA 442.
The WACA rejected the defence of mistake of fact by reason of which
the accused believed that the miscarriage and mental illness of his
wife was caused by a woman by reason of which he killed the
woman. The Court said it could be a dangerous precedent to
recognize that because of a superstition which may lead to such a
terrible result as is disclosed by the fact of this case is generally
prevalent among the community is therefore reasonable. The courts
must think in this regard before holding of such belief
unreasonable.
Note: Okonkwo and Naish critised this judgement in their own
opinion the test of reasonableness should not be according to the
perception of a literate person rather the prevalent view in a
community, the degree of the accused litracy should be the
circumstances from which the court will come to a conclusion on
such matter.
4.0
CONCLUSION
A trespasser who honestly believes that he is the owner or has his

authority or merely mistakes the boundary is nonetheless
responsible under the entery rule. For example some mistakes
negative intent as when, digging a trench, it pierces the plaintiffs
pipeline not knowing it was there. N.C.B. V Evans (1951) 2 KB 861.
One who misappropriate another property does not escape
responsibility own. An auctioner who sells and deliver goods on
behalf that he has title, is nevertheless liable to the true owner for
conversion.
5.0 SUMMARY
This unit has revealed the fact that:
168
a. Mistake of fact rather that mistake of Law is actionable per se.

b. Ignorance of the Law is no excuse
c. The defences to the concept of mistake.
6.0 TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT
Gadan V. R Case was decided on the principle of a highly litrate
society. But in view of the predominantly illiterate society we have in
Nigeria can Gadan V R still be a good Law to be followed by other
courts? Discuss.
7.0
1.
2.
Bodunde Bankole Tort: Law of Wrongful Conduct: Lipservice Punishmnt (1998), Lagos.
Ltd, Lagos (1996).
Sweet & Maxwell.
A. Street: The Law of Torts Swet & Maxwell (1977), London
1999.
Nigeria.
3.
4.
5.
169
UNIT 3
OCCUPIERS LIABILITY
Table of Contents
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
Introduction
Objectives
Main Content
Conclusion
Summary
1.0
INTRODUCTION
Occupiers liability is the liability of the owners of premises or occupiers of premises. That
liability is a compound of negligence, nuisance and the rule in Rylands v. Fletcher. The liability
is also governed by statute particularly under the Law Reform (Tort) Law of Lagos State.
An occupier under the common law indicates a person who has some degree of control associated
with and arising from his presence in and use of or activities in the premises. The liability of
occupiers under the common law which applies in all parts of Nigeria apart from Lagos depends
on the reason for the plaintiffs coming to the premises. He may come as a contracting party, as
an invitee or hearse or as a trespasser.
2.0
OBJECTIVES

(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
define the concept occupiers liability;

understand the meaning of the term occupiers liability;
identify the law (tort) or statute that governed occupiers liability in Lagos and in other
parts of Nigeria;
understand the liability of a plaintiff to:
(a) a trespasser;
(b) a contracting party;
(c) an invitee; and
(d) a licensee.
3.0
MAIN CONTENT
4.0
CONCLUSION
Liability is strict in those cases where the defendant is liable for damage caused by his act,
irrespective of any fault on his part. Where a man acts at his peril and is responsible for
accidental harm independently of the existence of either wrongful intent or negligence. An
occupier under the common law indicates a person who has some degree of control associated
with and arising from his presence in and use of or activities in the premises.
5.0
SUMMARY
170
Generally, in this unit, you learnt about:

(a)
(b)
(c)
whether the common law is applicable to occupiers liability in all States of the
Federation;
the position of law as it relates to Lagos State of Nigeria;
the statutory provision under Law Reform (Tort) Laws of Lagos State of 2004 and we
learnt about liability also is dependent on the reasons for the plaintiffs coming to the
premises.
6.0
1.
What is the extent of an occupiers duty to:

(i)
invitee;
(ii)
a licensee;
(iii)
a trespasser.
2.
Examine the nature of a duty which an occupier owes a child.
3.
What is the import of the rule in Rylands v. Fletcher? Give instances when the rule may
become applicable.
7.0
1.
2.
Ltd, Lagos (1996).
Sweet & Maxwell.
1999.
: The Criminal Procedure of the Northern States of Nigeria
3.
4.
5.
171
UNIT 4
DAMAGES
Table of Contents
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
Introduction
Objectives
Main Content
6.1
Causation of Fact
6.2
Remoteness of Damage
6.3
Damages
Conclusion
Summary
1.0
INTRODUCTION
This is the third leg of proof required to establish negligence. If there is a duty and a breach of it
but no injury or damage can be proved, an action in negligence will fail. If there is damage, it
must be traceable to the breach. The connection between the defendants conduct and the
plaintiffs injury raises a congeries of problems which are conventionally canvassed in terms of
remoteness of damage or proximate cause.
The other issue is to what extent, the defendant should have to answer for the consequences
which his conduct has actually helped to produce. There must be a reasonable connection
between the harm threatened and the harm done.
2.0
OBJECTIVES

(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
understand the term cause-in-fact i.e. whether the defendants culpable conduct was a
causally relevant factor;
the But for Test;
multiple causes;
successive injuries;
proximate cause;
direct consequences test.
3.0
MAIN CONTENT
After establishing that a duty of care is owed to him and there was a breach of same, the plaintiff
must further establish and prove that he suffered damage which was not too remote as a result of
the breach.
Damage constitutes consensus in fact and causation in law (i.e. remoteness).
3.1
Causation of Fact
172
This deal with the question whether it is a matter of fact that the damage was caused by the
breach of duty. The approach mostly accepted by the court for assessing whether the defendant
breach of duty is a factual cause of the plaintiffs damage is (BUT FOR) test i.e. whether the
damage suffered by the plaintiff would not have happened or occurred but for the breach of
duty.
In Benett v. Chelsa and Kersington Hospital Management Committee (1969) 1QB 429, the
plaintiffs husband after taking tea complained of vomiting for 3 hours, he later in the night went
to the defendants hospital where the nurse on duty consulted the doctor on telephone. The latter
informed the plaintiff to go and consult his own doctor the next morning. The plaintiffs husband
later on the same day died of arsenical poisoning.
In an action for negligence brought against the hospital for the act of its servant, it was held that
in failing to examine the deceased, the doctor was guilty of breach of duty of care, but this duty
was, however, held not to be the cause of the death. This breach was not held to be the cause of
the death because even if the deceased was examined, it could have been impossible to save his
life. Thus, it could not be said that:
.. but for the doctors negligence, the deceased
would have lived
3.2
Remoteness of Damage
This is known as concession in law. The question of remoteness arises only after concluding the
question in fact. The essence of concession in law is to avoid the situation where the defendant
liable ad infinitum (indefinitely); for all the consequences of the wrongful conduct. In certain
cases, consequences of the defendants tortuous conduct would be considered too remote if his
wrongdoing to impose on him responsibilities for those consequences. The court, therefore,
imposes the cut-off point beyond which the damage is said to be too remote.
An independent event which occurred after breach of duty and which contributed to the
plaintiffs damage may break the chain of causation, so as to make the defendant not liable to any
damage that occurs beyond this point. Where this occurs, the event is void to be novus actus
intervenes.
In Monye v. Diurie (1970) NMOR 62, the plaintiff was knocked down as a result of careless
driving of a lorry by the defendant. He suffered injury to his leg and was rushed to the hospital
almost immediately. However, before completion of his treatment and against the doctors
medical advice, he discharged himself only to return after two days. The leg was infected and
consequently it was amputated.
A claim for the loss of the leg brought against the defendant by the plaintiff failed because,
though, it was forceable that the plaintiff would as a result of the accident sustained injury. It
was not foreseeable that the defendant would against medical advice leave the hospital for two
days leading to infection that necessitated the amputation of his leg. This was held to be too
remote and the defendant was not held liable.
3.3
Damages
173
As we have seen, the primary remedy for a tort is damages, the purpose of which is normally to
compensate the plaintiff for the harm he has suffered as a result of the defendants tortuous
conduct. This unit is concerned principally with the measure (or assessment) of damages, i.e.
with the methods by which the court calculates the amount (the quantum) of compensation to
which the plaintiff is entitled in a given case (Okafor v. Okitiakpe (1973) 2 S.C. 49, at p. 56;
(1973) 3 E.C.S.L.R. 379, at pp. 382, 383, Dumez (Nig.) Ltd. V. Ogboli (1972) 3 S.C. 196 at pp.
204, 205: (1973) 3 U.I.L.R. 306 at p. 366).
Since the mode of assessment of damages differs from one tort to another, and according to
whether the action is for personal injuries or damage to property, it will be necessary to consider
the applicable principles of law with respect to each tort separately. First, however, the different
kinds of damages must be stated briefly.
1. Compensatory Damages
This is the normal kind of damages awarded. Its purpose is to compensate the victim of a tort for
the injury he has suffered, and it seeks to put him as far as possible in the position he would have
been in had the tort not been committed. (Anumba v. Shohet (1965) 2 All N.L.R. 183, at p. 186).
2. Nominal Damages
Nominal damage are awarded in those cases where the plaintiff establishes a violation of his
rights by the defendant, but he is unable to show that he suffered any actual damage as a result of
the defendants tort. Nominal damages are, therefore, most often awarded for those torts which
are actionable per se, such as trespass and libel, and where the plaintiff can show no actual
damage. (McGregor, Damages para. 308).
Nominal damages may also be awarded where the fact of damage is proved, but no evidence is
given as to its extent, so that the assessment of compensatory damages is virtually impossible.
(Akano v. National Electric Power Authority (1977) 3 CCHCJ 479).
1. Exemplary (or punitive) Damages
This class of damages is intended not to compensate the plaintiff but rather to punish the
defendant and to deter him from similar behaviour in the future. Exemplary damages is punitive
damages and it is awarded where a party to the suit can show or establish by evidence that the
injury or loss he has suffered is due to the malicious act of the party against whom he is claiming
the exemplary damages.
In order to justify the award of exemplary damages, it is not sufficient to show merely that the
defendant has committed a wrongful act. The conduct of the defendant must be high-handed,
insolent, vindictive or malicious showing a contempt of the plaintiffs right or disregard of every
principle which actuates the conduct of a gentleman. See J.M. Johnson vs. Mobil (1959) WNLR
page 128 at 134 and William vs. Daily Times (1990) 1 NWLR part 124 page 31. Winfield and
Jolowicz , op. cit. p. 593.
It is now established that exemplary damages may be awarded only in the following three
circumstances:
174
(a) where the plaintiff has suffered from oppressive, arbitrary or unconstitutional action by a
servant of the government (Rookes v. Barnard (1964) A.C. 1129, at p. 1226, per Lord
Devlin; Garba v. Lagos City Council (1974) 3 CCHCJ 297, at p. 309; Oguche v. Iliyasu
(1971) N.N.L.R. 157, at p. 167;
(b) where the defendants conduct has been calculated by him to make a profit for himself
which may well exceed the compensation payable to the plaintiff; and
(c) where statute so provides. (Ibid. at pp. 1226, 1227, See e.g. Drane v. Evangelou (1978) 1
W.L.R. 455 Cassell & Co. Ltd. V. Broome (1972) A.C. 1027.
2. Aggravated Damages
These may be awarded where the defendants motives and conduct were such as to aggravate the
injury to the plaintiff. They are a species of compensatory damages in that their purpose is to
compensate the plaintiff for the injury to his feelings of dignity and pride, e.g. in cases of insolent
and high-handed trespass to land (Dosunmu v. Lagos City Council (1966) L.L.R. 63) or to the
person. (Nwankwa v. Ajaegbu (1978) 2 L.R.N. 230).
3. Contemptuous Damages
This type of damages may be awarded where the plaintiff establishes his right, but in the courts
opinion the action should never have been brought, e.g., because of the triviality of the claim.
Contemptuous damages are derisory e.g. 1k. Where contemptuous damages are awarded, the
plaintiff may be deprived of his costs. (Winfield and Jolowicz, op. cit. p. 592).
4. General and Special Damages
Both of these are species of compensatory damages. General damage is such damage as the
law will presume to have resulted from the defendants tortuous conduct (e.g. the damage to
reputation which is presumed in all cases of libel), and which does not have to be expressly
pleaded by the plaintiff. Special damages is damage which the law does not presume, and
which must therefore be specifically pleaded and proved (e.g. the loss of employment caused by a
libel). In Bowen L.Js words: (Ratcliffe v. Evans (1892) 2 Q.B. 524 at p. 528).
Special damage is the particular damage (beyond the general
damage) which results from the particular circumstances of
the case, and of the plaintiffs claim to be compensated, for
which he ought to give warning in his pleadings in order that
there may be no surprise at the trial.
In Dumez (Nig.) Ltd. V. Ogboli, the Supreme Court emphasised that:
it is axiomatic that special damages must be strictly proved and
(unlike general damages, where, if the plaintiff establishes in
principle his legal entitlement to them, a trial judge must make
his own assessment of the quantum of such general damages)
so far as special damages are concerned, a trial judge cannot
make his own individual assessment but must act strictly on the
175
evidence before him which he accepts as establishing the amount

to be awarded. 12a (1973) 3 U.I.L.R. 306, at p. 311, (1973) 3 S.C.
196, at pp. 204, 205.
Somewhat confusingly, in actions for personal injuries the terms general and special
damages are used in a secondary sense. There, general damages are awarded for those items of
damage which cannot be precisely calculated in money terms, such as pain and suffering, loss of
amenities, loss of future earnings and loss of expectation of life; whilst special damages refer to
those items of loss which are capable of precise calculation, such as damage to clothing, medical
expenses already incurred and loss of earnings up to the date of judgement. (see p. 256, post).
4.0
CONCLUSION
As we have seen, the primary remedy for a tort is damages, the purpose of which is normally to
compensate the plaintiff for the harm he suffered as a result of the defendants tortuous conduct.
This unit is concerned with the proximate cause of a tortuous act which can lead to damages.
5.0
SUMMARY
In this unit, you learnt:

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
about the causally relevant factors i.e. cause in fact of a tortuous act;
the But for test;
multiple cause;
proximate cause etc.
6.0
1.
What are the three elements of negligence and how are these established?
2.
Explain the But for test with decided cases.
3.
Explain the term cause-in-fact as it relates to tortuous act.
7.0
1.
2.
Ltd, Lagos (1996).
Sweet & Maxwell.
1999.
3.
4.
5.
176
UNIT 5
ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGES
Table of Contents
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
Introduction
Objectives
Main Content
3.1
Compensating Damage
3.2
Nominal Damage
3.3
Exemplary (or Punitive) Damages
3.4
Aggravated Damages
3.5
Contemptuous Damages
3.6
General and Special Damages
3.7
Assessment of Damages in Particular Tort (a) Negligence, (b) Personal Injuries,
and (c) Special Damages
Conclusion
Summary
1.0
INTRODUCTION
The primary remedy for a tort is damages, the purpose of which is normally to compensate the
plaintiff for the harm he has suffered as a result of the defendants tortuous conduct. This unit is
concerned principally with the measure (assessment) of damages i.e. with the methods by which
the court calculates the amount (quantum) of compensation to which the plaintiff is entitled in a
given case.
2.0
OBJECTIVES

(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
understand the term quantum of damages in which a plaintiff is entitled to in a given

case;
understand that the mode of assessment of damages differs from one tort to another;
identify whether an action is for personal injuries or damage to property;
learn about the applicable principle of law with respect to each tort separately.
3.0
MAIN CONTENT
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
Compensating Damage
Nominal Damage
Exemplary (or Punitive) Damages
Aggravated Damages
Contemptuous Damages
General and Special Damages
Assessment of Damages in Particular Tort (a) Negligence, (b) Personal Injuries, and
(c) Special Damages
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3.7.1
Negligence
Damages in this tort fall under three main headings, namely:

(a) personal injuries
(b) fatal accidents, and
(c) damage to property.
Each of these must be considered in turn.
(a)
Personal Injuries
(i)
Special damage
As we have seen, special damage in actions for personal injuries includes loss and
expenses incurred between the date of the accident and the date of judgement.
Each item must be specifically pleaded and proved. Examples of special damage
are: damage to clothing, damage to a vehicle, medical expenses, nursing fees, taxi
fares to and from hospital, and loss of earnings during the period. (See p. 256,
post). Under medical and nursing expenses, the plaintiff is entitled to claim the
cost of treatment and care which he reasonably incurs as a result of his injuries.
(See, e.g. Okolo v. Umoro (1973) W.S.C.A. 145, at pp. 147 152). Where the
victim is nursed by a member of his family or a friend, he is entitled to the
reasonable cost of such nursing services, even though he is not under any legal or
moral obligation to pay the person who gives the services. (Cunningham v.
Harrison (1975) Q. B. 942). In addition, a husband or father who incurs medical
expenses on behalf of his injured wife or child, as the case may be, can himself
recover those expenses from the tortfeasor. (Donnelly v. Joyce (1974) Q.B. 454).
(ii)
General damage
This represents the loss to the plaintiff which cannot be precisely quantified. It
includes all non-financial loss (past and future) and future financial loss. Items of
general damage need not and should not be specifically pleaded, but some
evidence of such damage is required. Heads of general damage are:
(a)
pain and suffering
(b)
loss of amenities
(c)
loss of expectation of life
(d)
future loss of earnings or earnings capacity
(e)
future expenses.
In assessing general damages, a judge is not bound to refer to the established head
of damage, and he may simply make a global award which takes into account the
various items of loss or injury but which does not specify how much is being
awarded under each head. Moreover, as Akibo Savage J. pointed out in Okuneye
v. Lagos City Council (1973) 2 CCHCJ 39, at p. 43:
178
Turning now to general damages, the settled principle to be

applied is that where injury is to be compensated by damages,
the court should, as nearly as possible, get at that sum of
money which will put the party who has been injured (or who
has suffered) in the same position as he would have been in if
he had not sustained or suffered the injury for which he is now
to get compensation. In the case in hand, I ought to take into
account the pain that the plaintiff suffered, the injury to his
leg, and the handicap which he now suffers, in calculating the
damages which, as far as money can do it, he should be paid
for the loss he has suffered as the natural result of the wrong
which has been done to him. In this respect, I have considered
the fact that the plaintiff suffered a fracture of the left femur,
as a result of which he was hospitalized for nearly three months,
during which period he suffered pain. I have also taken into
consideration the fact that the plaintiff still suffers pain and
that it is not advisable for him to drive his own car. The burden
now rests on the plaintiff to procure the services of a professional
driver. The plaintiff told me that he used to swim, play tennis
and football. He said he could no longer do these things for
reason of the injury to and shortening of his left leg.
Counsel on either side had referred me to several decided cases
in which varying sums of money have been awarded in cases of
injury of different classes of claimants. These cases can only
serve as a guide. (Ejisun v. Ajao (1975) N.M.L.R. 4, at p. 7). I
think the plaintiff here must be given a compensation which, so
far as money can do it, will make up for his loss, proportionate
to his injury, and such as will be a fair assessment in the opinion
of the reasonable man.
3.7.2
Methods of Assessment of Damages
A convenient starting point in the consideration of the quantum of damages (Osholake v. Lagos
City Council (1972) 12 CCHCJ 56, at p. 63, per Kazeem J.) in Fatal Accident claims which has
frequently been taken by the Nigerian courts (Nwafor v. Nduka (1972) 4 S.C. 2, at p. 6; Owolo v.
Olise (1967) F.N.L.R. 179, at p. 187, Osholake v. Lagos City Council, supra) is the following
passage from the judgement of Lord Wright in Davies v. Powell Duffryn Associated Colleries
Ltd. (1942) A.C. 601, at p. 617:
There is no question here of what may be called sentimental damage,
bereavement or pain and suffering. It is a hard matter of pounds,
shillings and pence, subject to the element of reasonable future
probabilities. The starting point is the amount of wages which the
deceased was earning, the ascertainment of which to some extent may
depend on the regularity of his employment. Then there is an estimate
of how much was required or expended for his own personal and living
expenses. The balance will give a datum or a basic figure which will
generally be turned into a lump sum by taking a certain number of years
purchase. That sum, however has to be taxed down by having due regard
179
to uncertainties, for instance, that the widow might have again married
and thus ceased to be dependent, and other like matters of speculation
and doubt.
The principles of assessment were further explained and illustrated by Begho J. in Owolo v. Olise
(Supra) case in which a 50-year-old man was knocked off his bicycle and killed by a negligent
motorist, leaving a widow and eight children (Ibid, at p. 188):
The number of years purchase is the multiplier. To get the lump sum,
the number of years purchase is used in multiplying the annual value
of the dependency. The annual value of dependency is arrived at by
subtracting from the annual income and the annual amount required
for the deceaseds personal upkeep, such as feeding and clothing
expenses and money spent on things like drinks and cigarettes, etc.
Tax on the income or wages should also be subtracted.
The number of years purchase, or multiplier, is affected by many
factors. Usually, most important factor is the age and expectation of
life or working life of the deceased himself. He is the source of the
dependency, which could not in any event have continued beyond the
span of his life or working life. Another important factor is the
possibility of remarriage in the case of a dependant widow. If she is
young and attractive, the court may consider her marriage to be a
strong possibility. If the widow is elderly as in this case (now 52 years
old), or is of unattractive appearance of disposition, or suffers from
some disability, or is encumbered with a large number of young
children, the court may consider her chances by increasing the
multiplier. So too the fact that there is no retiring age in the deceaseds
job and that the job is not hazardous may increase the multiplier. (The
job of a solicitors clerk is not hazardous and is one which a man may
do till his death.) The future prospects of the deceased, if he had not
been killed, will also affect the multiplier. If the deceased had good
prospects of attaining a much greater wage or salary, or of achieving
promotion to a much better position, the court will apply a higher
multiplier. However, in the present case before me, there is no evidence
that the deceased had good prospects of promotion or attaining a much
greater wage or salary.
Thus, as in actions for personal injuries, the multiplier approach is employed. However, one
difference is that in personal injuries cases, the muplticand is an estimation of the plaintiffs
annual loss or earnings, (see pp. 260, 261, ante) whereas in fatal accident claims it is an
estimation of the annual value of the dependency, (Osholake v. Lagos City Council (1972) 12
CCHCJ 56, at p. 64, per Kazeem J.) i.e. of the amount which the deceased would have spent on
his family. (See Ibolukwu v. Onoharigho (1964) 1 All N.L.R. 215, at p. 217 where the Supreme
Court reduced the multiplicand because the trial judge had erroneously calculated it by reference
to the total income of the deceased, whereas the evidence did not support the view that she spent
her whole income on maintaining her husband and children, and nothing on herself). Thus, the
multiplicand in a fatal accident claim is likely to be lower than in a personal injury claim.
Furthermore, in choosing the appropriate multiplier in fatal accident claims, the age and health of
the dependants and the uncertainties as to their future should be taken into account in addition to
180
the age, health and future prospects of the deceased. (Ibid, Owolo v. Olise, supra, at p. 268). The
multiplier also is therefore likely to be lower than in personal injury cases.
In Owolos case (1967) F.N.L.R. 179, the deceased was a law clerk of about 60 years of age. His
widow was 52 and his surviving children were of between 10 and 32 years of age. Begho J. said
(at p. 192):
The job of a law clerk is not a strenuous one, at least the job
cannot be regarded as a hazardous one, even bearing in mind
the uncertainties of life. I therefore put the expectation of
life at 14. Taking into consideration the expectation of life of
the wife and the children, and also the fact that the wifes
chances on the marriage mart are very slim, if not nil, and
also the fact that there is no retiring age for a law clerk, I think
the number of years purchase (or multiplier) should remain at
14.
In Osholake v. Lagos City Council (1972) 12 CCHCJ 56), the deceased was a 33-year-old
assistant sales manager in a stationery supply company. His annual salary at the time of his death
was 720. Kazeem J. accepted the plaintiffs evidence that the deceased had been the sole
breadwinner of his family, and that out of the 720 earnings he was spending 500 for the
maintenance of his wife and two children. The learned judge continued (at p. 64):
The calculation of the multiplier is based on a number of factors,
such as the life of the deceased himself, as he is the source of the
dependency. But one must also consider the expectation of life
of the dependants and in particular, where a husband is killed, of
his widow. Another factor is the possibility of remarriage in the
case of a dependant widow. If she is young and attractive, the
court may consider her remarriage to be a strong probability. The
future prospects of the deceased, if he had not been killed, will
also affect the multiplier, but the court must also take into account
the uncertainties of life in cases where the deceased was engaged
in some specially hazardous employment.
In the present case, very scanty evidence was adduced by the
plaintiffs as to the expectation of the deceaseds working life.
Apart from the age of the deceased, which was given at 33 years at
the time of his death, and that he earned 720 per annum as
assistant sales manager within the three years of his appointment,
the court was not told what further prospects the deceased has in the
employment or how long he was expected to remain in such
employment. I have therefore had very little assistance, if any, to
enable me to decide the probable expectation of the deceaseds
working life.
In the case of the widows possibility of remarriage, there is no
doubt that she is young and very attractive, but she was not asked
any questions as to her possibility of remarrying and I was urged
by learned counsel for the plaintiffs to exclude this possibility from
181
my consideration. In Buckley v. Ford (1967) 1 All E.R. 539),

Philimore J. excluded that possibility from his consideration of
quantum damages when no question of remarriage was asked from
the widow; and the Supreme Court of Nigeria seemed to have
approved the stand in Nwafor v. Nduka (1972) 4 S.C. 4. Hence,
I cannot consider the possibility of the widow remarrying in the
present case.
After considering a number of English cases in which multipliers of between 11 and 14 were
applied when the deceased were in their thirties and were survived in each case by a wife and
between on and three children, the learned judge continued:
In Nwafor v. Nduka (Ibolukwu v. Omoharigho (1964) 1 All N.L.R.
215, at 217, and in Oni v. Lagos City Council (1972) 10 CCHCJ 57,
at p. 63), the Supreme Court of Nigeria approved the application of
a multiplier of 12 years purchase applied by the lower court in the
case of a deceased aged 28 years who left a young widow and two
children.
After giving full consideration to the circumstances of the case, I
have arrived at the conclusion that it would be reasonable to apply
a multiplier of 12 years purchase in this case.
In the circumstances, on the basis of an annual value of dependency
of 500, and a multiplier of 12 years purchase, the total damages
that would have accrued to the dependants would be 6,000
(Ibolukwu v. Onoharigho, supra, at p. 217). But I have already found
That the deceased was 25 percent liable in causing the accident, hence
This amount will be reduced to 4,500.
In Alliu Bello v. Attorney General of Oyo State (1986) 12 S.C. page 1, the deceased was
executed by the squad of the Oyo State government and the Oyo State government was held
vicariously liable for the action of the squad that executed the deceased. One of the issues that
called for consideration at the Supreme Court is the formula to be adopted in the assessment of
damages. The Supreme Court held that the formula for awarding damages is based on the
expectation of the working life of a deceased scaled down to a number of years purchase and
then multiplied by the amount in cash the deceased spent annually on his dependants during his
life time.
(b)
Fatal Accidents
Where the victim of an accident caused wholly or partly by the defendants negligence dies as a
result of his injuries, the dependants of the deceased may recover compensation for his death
from the defendant under the following statutes:
Fatal Accidents Law 1961, Cap. 40 (Lagos State)
Torts Law, Cap. 122 (Western States)
Fatal Accidents Law, Cap. 52 (Eastern States)
Fatal Accidents Law, Cap. 43 (Northern States)
182
A preliminary question may arise in a fatal accident claim in Nigeria where the action is in
respect of an accident which occurred in a state other than that of the forum, and where different
statutes apply in two states. In Amanambu v. Okafor (1966) 1 All N.L.R. 205; (1967) N.M.L.R.
118), the widow of a man who was killed in a road accident which took place near Lokoja in the
then Northern Region brought an action against the driver of the offending vehicle in the High
Court of the Eastern Region on behalf of herself and certain other dependants of the deceased,
claiming damages under the Fatal Accidents Law of Eastern Nigeria (Cap. 52). The Supreme
Court held that the action must fail since in our view, the Fatal Accidents Law of Eastern
Nigeria confers a right to sue for compensation in respect of a fatal accident which occurred in
Eastern Nigeria and not outside it: for the legislature of Eastern Nigeria could only legislate for
compensation in regard to such an accident. (at p. 207) However, the Court expressly left open
the question as to whether the claim might have succeeded had it been based on the Fatal
Accidents Law of Northern Nigeria (Cap. 43) instead of on the Eastern Nigeria statute. One year
later, in Benson v. Ashiru (1967) 1 All N.L.R. 184), a differently constituted Supreme Court
adopted a different approach. In this case, an action was brought to the Lagos High Court under
the Fatal Accident Act 1846 (an English statute of general application then in force in the Federal
Territory of Lagos) in respect of an accident which had occurred at Iperu, a town in the then
Western Nigeria, where the Torts Law (Cap. 122) and not the Fatal Accident Act was in force.
Without expressly disapproving Amanambu v. Okafor (Supra) the Supreme Court side-stepped
that decision in the Lagos High Court, on the following grounds (1967) 1 All N.L.R. 184, at p.
188):
(i)
Under the relevant English common law rules of private international law (Phillips v.
Eyre (1870) 40 L.J.Q.B. 28), which applied in the High Court of Lagos, the latter court
had jurisdiction over the action;
(ii)
It was necessary for the plaintiff to refer in his pleadings to the statute on which he relied
(in this case the Torts Law Cap. 122). The plaintiff would not be debarred from relying
on the Law on the ground that he had not pleaded it, since under section 73 (1) (a) of the
Evidence Act (Cap. 62) the High Court must take judicial notice of the laws in force in
any part of Nigeria, and it was unnecessary to plead matters of which the High Court
takes judicial notice;
(iii)
No defence would have been available under the Torts Law which was not equally
available on the action as framed;
In any case, section 22 of the Supreme Court Act 1960 (No. 12) empowered the Supreme
Court to amend any error or defect in the record over the proceedings as that of the trial
court, which would include the power to permit the plaintiff to amend his writ by striking
out references to the Fatal Accident Act 1846 and substituting references to the Torts Law
Cap. 122.
(iv)
In Uko v. West African Portland Cement Co. Ltd. (1973) 9 CCHCJ 11 Odesanja J. decided that,
in so far as Benson v. Ashiru (1967) 1 All N.L.R. 184 was difficult to reconcile with Amanambu
v. Okafor (1966) 1 All N.L.R. 205; (1967) N.M.L.R. 118) he preferred to rely entirely on the
former case, and it is submitted with respect that he was correct in so deciding, for, as the
Supreme Court pointed out in Bensons case, the rules of private international law permit a court
in one State to exercise jurisdiction over claims arising from torts committed in other States in
183
defined circumstances. Furthermore, as Odesanya J. emphasised, there is ample authority for

allowing such actions under the applicable Rules of Court.
The learned judge said (1973) 9 CCHCJ at p. 13):
The accident occurred in the Western State and there the cause of
action arose. Nevertheless the action has been instituted here in
Lagos State. Under Order VII, rule 4 of this Courts Civil
Procedure Rules, this suit, founded as it is on a tort, or rather
statutory liability for fatal accidents, may be commenced and
determined in the judicial division in which the defendants reside.
In fact, under rule 5, even if the suit has been wrongly commenced
here, I have a discretion whether to allow it to be determined here
or not.
Persons entitled to benefit
The classes of dependant who are entitled to be compensated under the Fatal Accidents
legislation are members of the deceaseds immediate family, which is defined in the statutes as
including the deceaseds husband, wife or wives, parents and children (see Appendix post). The
Fatal Accidents Law of the eastern states gives a wider definition which includes, in addition, the
deceaseds brothers and sisters and the nephews and nieces of the deceased who were under the
age of 16 at the time of the death and were being maintained by the deceased.
A case in which a claimant was held not to come within the definition of child in the Torts Law
of the western states is Dogbo v. Akinwande (1974) 8 Nig. L.J. 134. Here the plaintiffs claimed
damages as dependants of their deceased aunt, who had been in loco parentis to them. The lower
court found that there was a gap in the Law since it failed to provide for persons in the position of
the plaintiffs and went on to hold that since under the local customary law, the plaintiffs could
be regarded as children of the deceased, they were entitled to claim under the law. The
Western State Court of Appeal, however, overruled this decision on the grounds:
(a) that, as a general rule, a court is bound to apply a statute as it
stands and is not entitled to fill in what it regards as omissions
or gaps;
(b) that the word child is defined in section 5 of the Torts Law,
and it is within the confines of that definition that the court
must determine whether the plaintiff is entitled to claim or not;
and
(c) under the Torts Law the proper test for determining whether or
not the plaintiff qualifies as a claimant is whether he or she is
the husband, wife, parents or child of the deceased, and not
whether he or she was in fact dependent upon the deceased
(See also e.g. Oni v. Lagos City Council (1972) 10 CCHCJ 57
(niece unable to claim) and Okoroafor v. Adebayo (1977) 2
CCHCJ 243 (uncle unable to claim). Proof of dependency is,
However, an additional requirement (see p. 271, post).
184
The statutes provide (See p. 310, post) that the action on behalf of the dependants must be
brought within three years after the death, by and in the name of the executor or administrator of
the deceased, but that (a) if there is no executor or administrator, or (b) if the executor or
administrator does not commence an action within 6 months of the death, then any dependant
who qualifies as a claimant under the Acts may sue in his own name on behalf of himself and the
others.
(c)
Damage to Property
Where the plaintiffs property is not lost, destroyed, or damaged in consequence of the
defendants tort, the aim of the law is restitutio in integrum i.e. to restore the plaintiff as far as
possible to the position he would have been in had the loss not been inflicted. (Armels Transport
Ltd. V. Martins (1970) 1 All N.L.R. 27, at p. 32; Lagos City Council v. Unachukwu (1978) 1
LRN 142, at pp. 143, 144). The method of computation differs, however, according to whether it
plaintiffs property is (1) totally lost or destroyed, or (2) merely damaged and repairable (1978) 1
L.R.N., at p. 144).
3.7.3
Loss or destruction
The measure of damages in cases where the plaintiffs vehicle is totally lost or destroyed by the
defendants negligence was laid down in the leading case of Kerewi v. Odegbeson (1965) 1 All
N.L.R. 95, at p. 99) to be the value of the car at the time of the accident plus such further sum as
would compensate the owner for loss of earnings and the inconvenience of being without a car
during the period reasonably required for procuring another car; and the same formula was
applied to other classes of goods by the Supreme Court in Lagos City Council v. Unachukwu
(1978) 1 L.R.N. 142, at p. 144.
Where the goods destroyed were not new at the time of the accident, e.g. where a used vehicle is
written-off in a collision, there may be some difficulty in assessing its immediate pre-accident
value. In Alabilogbo v. Sofowora (1972) 8 CCHCJ 21, the plaintiffs Bedford lorry was
destroyed in a collision with the defendants vehicle. Evidence was given as to the original cost
of the vehicle, but none as to its value at the time of accident. Kazeem J. approached the matter
thus (at p. 26):
It was held in Ubani-Ukoma v. Nicol (1962) 1 All N.L.R. 105
that the market value of a used chattel is the sum it would
fetch under the state of things for the time being existing, and
that it was a matter for estimation. In arriving at such estimation, its age, the mileage covered and the fact that such model
as no longer available on the Nigerian market should be taken
into consideration.
In the present case there was no evidence as to the vehicles mileage, but it was proved that the
vehicle was about one-year old and net profits of 12 per day were claimed. The learned judge
therefore concluded that having regard to the extensive use that was made of the vehicle in
185
realizing a sum of 4,500 within a year, I think it would be a fair estimate that the useful life of
the vehicle could not be more than three years. On that basis I would estimate the market value of
the plaintiffs vehicle at the time of the collision as two thirds of the original value of the vehicle
plus the cost of accessories.
In addition to the pre-accident value of the chattel, the plaintiff is also entitled to be compensated
for any loss of earnings (e.g. where a commercial vehicle or taxi-cab is destroyed) and the
inconvenience arising from his being deprived of the use of the chattel during the period
reasonably required for procuring a replacement (Kerewi v. Odegbeson, supra). What is a
reasonable period for acquiring a replacement will vary according to circumstances, but in all
cases the plaintiff is under a duty to mitigate his loss (see Chukwu v. Uhegbu (1963) 2 All N.L.R.
209). In Maiwake v. Gassau (1972) 8 CCHCJ 21), Wheeler J. said:
It is a cardinal principle of law that a plaintiff must act reasonably
in relation to the defendant so as to mitigate his loss, and it follows
that the plaintiff in the present case was not entitledto sit back
and do nothing about replacing his lorry which had been written
off.
In Alabilogbo v. Sofowora (1972) N.N.L.R. 125) the plaintiff claimed loss of earnings in respect
of his lorry for a period of eight months. Kazeem J. refused to uphold the claim, saying (at p. 27):
I am not convinced that it could have taken about six to eight
months to get another vehicle in replacement for the defendants
vehicle. The fact that the defendant had no money for the
replacement seems to me immaterial, and if he had taken out
comprehensive instead of third party cover on his vehicle, the
insurance company could have borne the cost of the replacement
.. In the circumstances I would only award as loss of earnings
a sum of 360 on the basis of 12 per day for 30 days.
Where the plaintiff claims special damages for the loss of a chattel, including loss of earnings, he
must plead and prove strictly each item of loss, and if he fails to do so, his claim for special
damages will fail. Thus, for example, in Maiwake v. Gassau, where the plaintiff claimed loss of
earnings in respect of his destroyed lorry, Wheeler J. said (1971) N.N.L.R. 125, at p. 127:
The plaintiffs evidence regarding the manner in which the daily
profit/loss of 45 was arrived at was very much evidence of a
general character indicating in general terms the work the
plaintiff had been able to arrange for the lorry and the kind of
profit he had been making with it. In particular, he gave or
called no evidence showing that by reason of the accident he
had been unable to undertake specific assignments for which
the lorry had been engaged. Special damages, however, must
be certain and strictly proved and, having regard to these
matters, I am unable to find that there is satisfactory proof of
the plaintiffs claim for special damages for loss of profits totaling
10,485, and that claim accordingly fails.
This, however, is not the end to the matter, for even if the plaintiffs claim for special damages
fails, he may still recover general damages, provided he has pleaded them. (General Metalware
186
Co. Ltd. V. Lagos City Council (1973) 2 CCHCJ 68, at p. 79). In Maiwakes case (Supra), for
instance, having rejected the claim for special damages, Wheeler J. went on to award general
damages assessed on the principle that the plaintiff is entitled to be awarded such sum as will
fairly compensate him for the loss he has actually sustained (The Hebridean Coast (1961) A.C.
545, at p. 562, per Devlin L.J). He therefore held as follows (1971) N.N.L.R. 125, at p. 128):
There was a reasonably certainty that the lorry would have been
engaged to carry out four trips a month (but not five) from Kano
to Lagos and back carrying produce, which would have earned
for the plaintiff 305-5-0 for each return trip or 1,217 per month.
The costs of earning that sum have, of course, to be deducted. And
the plaintiffs evidence, which I accept (he was not cross-examined
on these matters), is that he paid the driver wages and expenses of
23 per month, that he spent 43-15-0 per trip on fuel (or 175 per
month) and 10 per month on engine oil, giving a grand total of
208 per month. Consequently the net profit per month could not
have been more than about 1,010, and as that figure does not take
account of such overheads and insurance vehicle licence and the
cost of servicing, in my opinion a fair assessment of the net profit
made by the lorry was 950 per month.
However, it has frequently been emphasised in the Nigerian courts that the plaintiff must not be
doubly compensated, and if he has been awarded special damages for his loss, he is not entitled to
an additional award of general damages (Chukwu v. Uhegbu (1963) 2 All N.L.R. 209 at p. 211
etc.). In Lagos City Council v. Unachukwu, Bello J.S.C., delivering the Supreme Courts
judgement said (Supra):
It has been stated by this Court in numerous cases that where a
victim of a tort has been fully compensated under one head of
damages for a particular injury, it is improper to award him
damages in respect of the same injury under a different head
In Ezeani v. Njidike (Supra) Brett J.S.C. stated: Although the
measure of damages in an action in tort is not the same as in an
action in contract, the rule against double compensation remains
the same, and applies to both. In the afore-mentioned case, the
plaintiff claimed in an action for conversion the value of the
goods converted and general damages. The trial judge awarded
him both. This Court sets aside the award of general damages as
being double compensation. Now, reverting to the case in hand,
we are satisfied that the respondents have been fully goods
stolen and their loss of profits. We hold that the additional award
as general damages is unjustified double compensation and it must
be set aside.
4.0
CONCLUSION
In an action for damages for personal injuries there shall (a) in assessing those damages be taken
into account against loss of earnings or profit which have accrued or probably will accrue to the
injured person from the injuries, such proportion as the court may in all circumstances of the case
187
consider just, of the value of any compensation which has been recovered or will be recovered by
him.
5.0
SUMMARY
In this unit, we learnt about:

(f)
(g)
(h)
the quantum of damages in which a plaintiff is entitled to in a given case;

the mode of assessment of damages;
several examples of the types of damages that we have e.g. nominal damages, general and
special damages etc.
6.0
1.
2.
Discuss the term quantum of damages in relation to tortuous act.

State the rule in Repolems and Furnas Witty & Co. (1921) case.
7.0
1.
2.

Ltd, Lagos (1996).
Sweet & Maxwell.
1999.
3.
4.
5.
188
189

LAW 323 Law of Torts I

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LAW 323 Law of Torts I

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NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

COURSE CODE :LAW 323

COURSE TITLE:LAW OF TORT I

Mrs. Omotayo Tekaron Abisoye,

Mr. Ayodeji E. O. Ige,

Professor Justus A. Sokefun

Ifidion Oyakhiromen Ph.D, BL

NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

National Open University of Nigeria

What you will learn in this Course

Introduce you to the basic sources of law of Torts

Explain the term Law of Torts

Working Through this Course

Major components of the course are:

Historical background and general principles of tortuous liability

Final examination and grading

Course marking schedule

An overview of the Law of Week 2

The Reception of the Law Week 3

Other principles of liability Week 5

Trespass to the person:

Table 2 course organizer

How to get the Most From this Course

Read this course guide thoroughly

Tutors and Tutorials

Mrs. Omotayo Tekaron Abisoye,

Mr. Ayodeji E. O. Ige,

Professor Justus A. Sokefun,

Unit 1 General Introduction

Defences in relation to torts

Volenti non fit injuria (Consent)

Trespass to the person: Assault

Historical background and general principles of tortuous

Historical background and general principles of tortuous

By the end of this unit you should be able to:

Define law of torts;

To ask concerning any occurrence, is this a crime or is it a tort? is to borrow SIR

The purpose of the law of torts

Trespass to person, that is, assault, battery and false imprisonment.

Award of damages that is monetary compensation. See the case of Shugaba v.

A summary of the objectives of tort

The objectives of the law of tort can be summarized as follows:

Compensation: The most obvious objective of tort is to provide a channel for

Loss distribution: Tort is frequently recognized, rather simplistically, as a

Punishment of wrongful conduct: Although this is one of the main functions of

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 1

The Rule in Smith v. Selwyn (1914) 3 KB 98

Criminal Code Act;

The objectives of the law of tort can be summarized as follows:

Loss distribution: Tort is frequently recognized, rather simplistically, as a

Punishment of wrongful conduct:

TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT

An Overview of the Law of Torts

By the end of this unit you should be able to:

compare torts with other laws;

Tort compared with some other laws

Tort and crime

In order to understand the categories, boundaries and definitions of modern torts, it is

Let us briefly examine the classes of torts.

Torts Protecting Property Interests