Torts Case Briefs

Torts is one of the core 1L subjects and a major component of the bar exam. The course examines civil wrongs that cause harm to others, covering three broad categories: intentional torts (battery, assault, false imprisonment, trespass), negligence, and strict liability. Students learn to analyze duty, breach, causation, and damages — the four elements that form the backbone of nearly every torts question.

The cases below include some of the most widely taught decisions in American law. Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad defines the limits of proximate cause and foreseeability. United States v. Carroll Towing Co. introduces the Hand Formula for determining breach. Greenman v. Yuba Power Products and Escola v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. trace the development of strict products liability. You will also find essential duty-of-care cases like Tarasoff v. Regents and Rowland v. Christian.

Every brief is structured in standard law-school format — procedural posture, facts, issue, holding, and reasoning — making them ideal for cold-call preparation, course outlining, and exam review. Pair these briefs with our AI study tools to master the doctrines of negligence, vicarious liability, nuisance, and defamation.