Exam 4: Intentional Torts and Torts Impacting Business

Ms.Reed attended the zoning offices of the city.She explained to the chief zoning officer,Mr.Shore,that she was interested in a piece of property,but only if it were zoned "multiple family dwelling." Mr.Shore checked the property himself and assured her it was zoned "multiple family dwelling," but he had not checked the new regulations properly.Relying on his statement,Reed invested $300 000 in the purchase and the development of the property.When the apartment building was half finished,she was informed by the city that her building was unacceptable because the property was zoned "duplex." Upon hearing this news,she rushed to the city zoning offices and approached Mr.Shore,started yelling,and threw her briefcase at him.He ducked; she missed.When she persisted in yelling,he threw some cold water in her face.On these facts,which of the following is true?

Regarding the tort of false imprisonment,will anything short of complete restraint amount to imprisonment?

Explain how your right to defend yourself is limited.

Although nothing at all had been stolen,the store detective thought Al and Ed had stolen some records.After they exited from the store,the detective said to both of them,"Hold it! You'll have to wait right here for the police; you'll be charged with theft!" While Ed stopped and protested,Al just hurried off and drove away.Ed felt compelled to submit to the detective.After some time the police finally arrived.It was only then that the detective realized that no crime had been committed.Ed was released.On these facts,which of the following is true?

If Bree lends Gabby a blender,but then Gabby refuses to return it,Bree could bring an action in detinue for compensation.

When is a passing-off action appropriate?

Joe was chased onto Sam's land by a group of ruffians and hid behind Sam's rose bush to escape them,causing some damages.Sam sued for trespass; will he win?

What is the tort that arises when a person attacks the reputation of another's product or business by spreading a false rumour?

Following an account broadcast on the TV station the night before about a particular city councillor having been pulled over for drunk driving,Joe,a political cartoonist,drew a political cartoon of the councillor,obviously drunk and with his clothes in disarray,having difficulty walking down a straight line on the road with a sober police officer looking on.This was published the next day in the paper for which Joe works.The city councillor involved had disagreements with Joe in the past and intensely disliked him.It turned out that the story published on TV was an error,but the city councillor chose not to sue the TV reporter and the station; rather he sued Joe for defamation.What would Joe's best defence be? Indicate the likely outcome.

Some people have implied permission to be on your land.

Discuss the various kinds of remedies that are available in tort actions.In your answer,discuss any limitations on the availability of those remedies.

Interference with economic relations is actionable even where no breach of contract has taken place,but

When a court hears a breach of contract dispute,its job is to

A telephone used to harass people on the other side of the city,interfering with the enjoyment of their property can be seen as evidence of trespass to land.

Invasion of a person's property may take the form of all of the following except

Injurious falsehood is often called trade slander or product defamation.

Malicious prosecution requires a criminal conviction to have taken place.

The Alberta Court of Appeal decision in Walter Stewart Realty Ltd.v.Traber involves a breach of confidentiality.What does this case illustrate?

Joe went to Sam the barber for a haircut.When Sam finished,Joe looked in the mirror and was horrified; he refused to pay and got up to leave.Sam refused to let him go,this being the third customer that day who tried to get out without paying.He insisted that Joe stay while he phoned the police.Joe did so.When the police arrived and Sam explained the situation to them,they told him that they wouldn't arrest Joe,and Sam would have to pursue some other remedies.Joe later sued Sam for false imprisonment.Explain the likely outcome.

Which of the following is false with respect to the law of tort?