General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | JDOC1005 & 1006 |
| Course name: | Law of Tort I & II |
| Programme offered under: | JD Programme |
| Semester: | Full year |
| Prerequisites / Co-requisites: | No |
| Credit point value: | 6 credits + 6 credits |
1.2 Course description
Tort is one of the first subjects undertaken in the JD degree. Along with contract and unjust enrichment (also sometimes referred to as restitution), it forms part of the law of obligations, which covers the situations in which one person may be liable to another person in private law. In tort, that liability is, generally, to pay damages as compensation for a wrong. The law of torts covers a vast array of circumstances in which an individual incurs responsibility for conduct that the law classifies as wrongful.
For the most part, the law of torts comprises a set of doctrines and principles that have been developed by the common law courts. It is, accordingly, for the most part a subject that demands familiarity with te rules enshrined in case law. But, as with most other areas of law today, statute law now also plays an important role. As such, students who study this course will need to master both a large number of cases and a limited number of statutes.
While the law of torts has been around in one form or another for centuries, the rules it contains are far from settled. Much of the law—including new developments—remains controversial. Mastery of the subject thus requires familiarity not just with the established principles that are clear and universally accepted, but also some appreciation of those parts that are unsettled and the subject of ongoing debates.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course covenor | John Murphy | murphjr@hku.hk | CCT 906 | By email |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 The ability to identify situations in which liability in tort arises and how that liability differs from other forms of civil liability.
CLO 2 The capacity to explain the rules and principles of some of the most important torts, and the remedies available when they are committed.
CLO 3 The ability to apply the principles of tort law in the solution of legal problems/disputes.
CLO 4 The capacity to evaluate countervailing arguments in connection with those aspects of tort law that remain enmired in controversy.
CLO 5 The skill to be able to deploy carefully and powerfully primary sources of tort law.
2.2 JD Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Please refer to the following link: https://course.law.hku.hk/jd-plo/
2.3 Programme Learning Outcomes to be achieved in this course
| PLO A | PLO B | PLO C | PLO D | PLO E | PLO F | |
| CLO 1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 3 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 4 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Due date | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| Mid-term in-hall exam (1st semester) | 8 Dec 2023 | 50% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | |
| Final in-hall exam (2nd semester) | 6 May 2024 | 50% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| *Feedback method (to be determined by course teacher) | |
| 1 | A general course report to be disseminated through Moodle |
| 2 | Individual feedback to be disseminated by email / through Moodle |
| 3 | Individual review meeting upon appointment |
| 4 | Group review meeting |
| 5 | In-class verbal feedback |
3.2 Assessment Detail
To be advised by course convenor(s).
3.3 Grading Criteria
Please refer to the following link: https://www.law.hku.hk/_files/law_programme_grade_descriptors.pdf
Learning Activities
4.1 Learning Activity Plan
| Lecture: | 3 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
| Private study time: | 9.5 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
Remarks: the normative student study load per credit unit is 25 ± 5 hours (ie. 150 ± 30 hours for a 6-credit course), which includes all learning activities and experiences within and outside of classroom, and any assessment task and examinations and associated preparations.
4.2 Details of Learning Activities
To be advised by course convenor(s).
Learning Resources
5.1 Resources
| Reading materials: | Reading materials are posted on Moodle |
| Core reading list: | One of the major textbooks mention on course handout
PLUS The various primary materials relevant to each topic (and, again, detailed on course handouts) |
| Recommended reading list: | Additional, secondary materials mentioned on tutorial worksheets |
5.2 Links
Please refer to the following link: http://www.law.hku.hk/course/learning-resources/