LLAW1005 & LLAW1006

General Course Information

1.1 Course details

Course code: LLAW1005 and LAW1006
Course name: Law of Tort I & II
Programme offered under: LLB Programme
Semester: Full year
Designated research course: Not applicable
Specialization: Not applicable
Prerequisites / Co-requisites: No
Course offered to non-law students: No
Credit point value: 6 credits + 6 credits

1.2 Course description

This course introduces students to the tort law system and the general and particularized principles of tort liability. The course begins with a critical examination of the social and economic functions of the tort system. It then proceeds to an examination of the leading case law and principles in the main tort actions, beginning with a detailed analysis of the predominant tort, negligence. Important negligence-related concepts such as vicarious liability, joint and several liability, contribution and limitation of action are considered, as well as the principle remedy for negligence, that of damages for personal injury and death. Torts closely related to negligence such as occupiers liability and breach of statutory duty are also studied, as are the tort-related no-fault accident compensation schemes for work-related injury and disease. The course then proceeds to a study of trespassory torts, those torts that cause injury or interference through intentional conduct, and the remedies available. Torts causing damage to or interference with property and their remedies are then considered, including trespass to land, nuisance and Rylands v. Fletcher. The course concludes with an examination of and the remedies for the torts that protect reputation, principally, defamation.

This course aims to provide a solid grounding in the functions and principles of tort law, the ability to think critically about tort law, and the ability to conduct independent legal research and provide meaningful legal analysis of tort law problems. Through carefully designed learning activities, the course aims to nurture in students the ability to identify tort law issues in the unflagged tort-related events of daily life, and to engage in the independent legal analysis of such unflagged tort-related events.

Students interested in finding out more about the course are free to contact Professor Rick Glofcheski (rick.glofcheski@hku.hk) or Dr David Kwok (davkwok@hku.hk).

1.3 Course teachers

Name E-mail address Office Consultation
Course convenor  (first and second semester) / tutor (first semester) Rick Glofcheski rick.glofcheski@hku.hk CCT 305 By email
Course convenor / tutor (second semester) Evan Rosevear evanr@hku.hk CCT 814 By email
Course tutor (first and second semester) Bennett Au Yeung bauyeung@connect.hku.hk N/A By email
Course tutor (first and second semester) Jacky Chan heiching@gmail.com N/A By email
Course tutor (first and second semester) Tessa Chan tessachantc@gmail.com N/A By email
Course tutor (first and second semester) Catherine Hau catherinehau@siroswald.com N/A By email
Course tutor (first and second semester) Adrian Lo adrianyylo@gmail.com N/A By email
Course tutor (first and second semester) Christy Wong christywong@siroswald.com N/A By email
Course tutor (first semester) Thomas Leung yhlt@connect.hku.hk N/A By email
Course tutor (second semester) Abel Lam abel@siroswald.com N/A By email
Course tutor (second semester) Jerry Tam jerrytam@connect.hku.hk N/A By email

Learning Outcomes

2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course

CLO 1 Explain the most important and commonly litigated torts, their constituent elements and the function they perform within the legal system.

CLO 2 Explain basic tort theory and criticism, the functions of tort law, what it is that tort law seeks to achieve in the context of society and its institutions, including the economic system, and be able to assess it against possible alternatives.

CLO 3 Conduct basic legal research, analysis and argument such that, when presented with a legal fact problem, possibly involving a tort you have never studied, you can, independently and without supervision, provide a legal opinion based on appropriate and cogent legal analysis.

CLO 4 See the relevance of tort law in the events of daily life such that, on reading or hearing of current events in the popular media that have tort law relevance, you can identify and explain the tort law implications in simple and clear terms.

CLO 5 Think critically about tort law as it is currently formulated, and about its role and function in Hong Kong society.

2.2 LLB Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

Please refer to the following link: https://course.law.hku.hk/llb-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
Test TBC 20% 1, 3, 5 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Reflective media diary Part A due: 31 Jan 2023

Part B due: 2 Mar 2022

30% 2 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Final in-hall exam 16 May 2023 50% 1, 3 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: 2 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks
Tutorial: 1 hour / 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

  • Assigned Readings
  • Lectures
  • Tutorials: preparation by reading and preparing provisional analysis; discussion and debate in tutorials
  • Keeping a media diary on tort law throughout the course preparation of a photographic tort essay; or a legal analysis of a tort-related media report

LEARNING RESOURCES

5.1 Resources

Reading materials: Reading materials are posted on Moodle
Core reading list: Tort Law in Hong Kong 4th edn
Recommended reading list: TBA

5.2 Links

Please refer to the following link: http://www.law.hku.hk/course/learning-resources/