Torts
Intentional torts
Battery requires intent to cause harmful or offensive contact plus the contact; assault requires apprehension of imminent contact; false imprisonment requires confinement. Trespass to land and chattels, conversion, and intentional infliction of emotional distress (extreme and outrageous conduct producing severe distress) complete the family. Transferred intent carries the mental state across victims and torts.
Negligence
Duty runs to foreseeable plaintiffs (Cardozo) or generally (Andrews). Standards: reasonable person, professional custom, children of like age and intelligence, and landowners (trespasser, licensee, invitee). Breach is proven by custom, statute (negligence per se), or res ipsa loquitur. Actual cause is but-for; proximate cause asks foreseeability and whether the harm falls within the risk. Damages include medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering; the eggshell plaintiff rule applies.
Strict liability and products
Abnormally dangerous activities, wild animals, and defective products. Products theories are manufacturing defect, design defect (consumer expectation or risk-utility), and failure to warn; the economic loss rule limits recovery for pure economic loss.
Defenses
Contributory negligence is a complete bar in a minority of jurisdictions; comparative fault reduces recovery. Assumption of risk requires knowledge and voluntariness. Immunities and limitations periods also apply.
Worked example
A driver runs a red light and strikes a jaywalking pedestrian. Comparative fault reduces the pedestrian's recovery; in a contributory negligence jurisdiction, the pedestrian recovers nothing.
Rule of thumb: identify the duty source before arguing breach, and keep actual cause separate from proximate cause.