LAWS0010 Introduction to Tort Law: Understanding Negligence and Legal Responsibility

Course Code

LAWS0010

Course Title

Introduction to Tort Law: Understanding Negligence and Legal Responsibility

Class Date

14, 15, 16, 17, 20 and 21 July 2026

(22 July 2026 is reserved for class make-up in case there is any cancellation of classes due to bad weather or other unexpected factors.)

 

(23 July 2026 is reserved for class assessment, if any.)

Class Time

2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Teacher

Dr. Geoffrey UPTON

Professional Consultant
Faculty of Law
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Medium of Instruction

English

Course Description

Tort law turns ordinary moments into challenging legal puzzles. Who is responsible if a distracted customer falls on a shop floor is slippery, a drone accidentally crashes in windy conditions, or a social media post causes real harm? This course introduces students to tort law-the part of the law that deals with civil wrongs and everyday injuries through real-life scenarios. This course is ideal for students considering law or simply wanting to understand how legal rules quietly govern daily life. Classes are highly interactive and discussion based. Students will analyze short cases, debate questions of responsibility, take part in mock trial exercises, and see how judges think through real disputes. No prior legal knowledge is required only curiosity and a willingness to think critically.

Course Content

In this course, we will explore how the law decides who is legally responsible when things go wrong, even if no crime has been committed. Students will examine how courts determine whether someone owed a duty of care to others, what it means to breach that duty, and how the law draws the line between unfortunate accidents and legally actionable wrongdoing. We will also consider what the law recognizes as harm from physical injury and property damage to emotional distress and reputational loss—and why not every harm leads to legal liability.

 

Students will learn the core principles of tort law, including negligence, duty of care, standard of care, breach, causation, remoteness, defences, and damages, and see how these concepts fit together as a structured way of legal reasoning. Through engaging case studies drawn from school environments, emerging technologies, social media platforms, and sports injuries, students will analyze real and hypothetical scenarios where responsibility is disputed. They will explore questions such as when risk is voluntarily accepted, when warnings are enough, and what kinds of compensation courts may award. By working through these cases, students will learn not only what the rules are, but how lawyers and judges think-breaking complex situations into clear legal issues and arguing for fair outcomes.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will:

  • Understand the role of tort law in the legal system
  • Understand how tort law shapes everyday behavior and intersects with economic and other policy concerns
  • Learn to spot legal issues in real-world situations
  • Develop analytical, reasoning, and persuasive argument skills
  • Gain a strong foundation for future studies in law or other social sciences

Course Assessment

Assessment Component

Weight (%)

Class participation

In-class open-book exam

10%

90%

 
   

 

The above course information is subject to change and approval.

 

Last updated on 20 February 2026

 

 

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