Proof Of Causation In Tort Law

A clear, critical analysis of proof of causation in the law of tort in England, France and Germany.

This book takes an original and comparative approach to issues of causation in tort law across many European legal systems.

Innovative and groundbreaking research on how tort and crime interrelate in English law.

This book undertakes an analysis of academic and judicial responses to the problem of evidential uncertainty in causation in negligence. It seeks to bring clarity to what has become a notoriously complex area by adopting a clear approach to the function of the doctrine of causation within a corrective justice-based account of negligence liability. It first explores basic causal models and issues of proof, including the role of statistical and epidemiological evidence, in order to isolate the problem of evidential uncertainty more precisely. Application of Richard Wright's NESS test to a range of English case law shows it to be more comprehensive than the 'but for' test that currently dominates, thereby reducing the need to resort to additional tests, such as the Wardlaw test of material contribution to harm, the scope and meaning of which are uncertain. The book builds on this foundation to explore the solution to a range of problems of evidential uncertainty, focusing on the Fairchild principle and the idea of risk as damage, as well as the notion of loss of a chance in medical negligence which is often seen as analogous with 'increase in risk', in an attempt to bring coherence to this area of the law.

Causation is an issue that is fundamental in both law and medicine, as well as the interface between the two disciplines. It is vital for the resolution of a great many disputes in court concerning personal injuries, medical negligence, criminal law and coronial issues, as well as in the provision of both diagnoses and treatment in medicine. This book offers a vital analysis of issues such as causation in law and medicine, issues of causal responsibility, agency and harm in criminal law, causation in forensic medicine, scientific and statistical approaches to causation, proof of cause, influence and effect, and causal responsibility in tort law. Including contributions from a number of distinguished doctors, lawyers and scientists, it will be of great interest and value to academics and practitioners alike.

Every student of tort law can benefit from a concise analysis of the cases and the issues that are covered in the course. [The author] covers all the major cases and the issues they raise, not only explaining the cases themselves, but also analyzing their implications. This book addresses both rules and policy, giving the student an indispensable advantage. Here you will find the key to understanding all the principal areas of tort law. -Back cover. Although [the author] expects that the book will be used mainly by first-year law students, it may also be of use to upper-class students and practitioners seeking an overview of a particular area of tort law. -Pref.