Tort Law: Text and Materials

Abstract

In this new edition, we remain committed to the aims set out in the preface to the first: to produce a stimulating resource for use in the teaching of tort law and a work worthy of scholarly attention. The years since the last edition have seen significant developments, necessitating substantial rewriting in several places. An important issue to have emerged is the extent to which the tort system has contributed to the rise of a 'compensation culture', unduly deterring socially useful activities and subverting individual responsibility. In our extracts and commentary, we have drawn upon the rich scholarly literature on the topic that has already appeared in print. Likewise the growing literature on comparative tort law. Although we continue to note the influence on tort law of the Human Rights Act 1998, it has not so far had the revolutionary effect that some thought it might when the first edition of this book was written, and we have modified our commentary to reflect this.