Without assuming prior legal knowledge, books in the Directions series introduce and guide readers through key points of law and legal debate. Questions, diagrams, and exercises help readers to engage fully with each subject and check their understanding as they progress. This chapter discusses the three special forms of criminal liability: strict liability (including absolute liability), vicarious liability, and corporate liability. A strict liability offence is an offence which does not require proof of at least one mens rea element. An absolute liability offence does not require proof of any mens rea elements. Vicarious liability imposes liability on the defendant for the acts or omissions of another person. Corporate liability relates to the liability of a company for a criminal offence.
Chapter
This chapter discusses a general approach to issues of causation in criminal law. Causation is an important feature in the study of crimes. It is especially so in cases of strict liability where, in the absence of mens rea elements, disputes over causation become the most critical issue in determining liability. The chapter examines some recent Supreme Court judgments in which the court has emphasized the important relationship between causation and fault.
Chapter
This chapter focuses on the complex rules regarding who can act on behalf of the company, and how liability can be imposed on the company for the actions of others. A company can enter into a contract by affixing its common seal to the contract, by complying with the rules in ss 44(2)–(8) of the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006), or by a person acting under the company’s express or implied authority. Section 39 of the CA 2006 provides that a contract cannot be invalidated on the ground that the contract is outside the scope of the company’s capacity. Meanwhile, section 40 of the CA 2006 provides that the power of the directors to bind the company, or authorize others to do so, is free of any limitation under the company’s constitution. The chapter then considers the four methods of liability: personal liability, strict liability, vicarious liability, and liability imposed via attribution.
Chapter
This chapter examines the concept of strict, vicarious and corporate liability in the context of criminal law. It discusses the implications of strict liability for actus reus and mens rea, evaluates arguments for and against strict liability, and considers the treatment of strict liability under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The chapter explains the principle of corporate liability, highlights the problems in prosecuting a corporation for a serious crime and explains/critiques the key provisions of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act (CMCHA) 2007 in Great Britain. It also provides several examples of relevant cases and analyses the bases of court decision in each of them.
Chapter
Lee Roach
This chapter focuses on the complex rules regarding who can act on behalf of the company, and how liability can be imposed on the company for the actions of others. A company can enter into a contract by affixing its common seal to the contract; by complying with the rules in ss 44(2)–(8) of the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006); or by a person acting under the company's express or implied authority. Section 39 of the CA 2006 provides that a contract cannot be invalidated on the ground that the contract is outside the scope of the company's capacity. Meanwhile, section 40 of the CA 2006 provides that the power of the directors to bind the company, or authorize others to do so, is free of any limitation under the company's constitution. The chapter then considers the four methods of liability: personal liability; strict liability; vicarious liability; and liability imposed via attribution.
Chapter
Without assuming prior legal knowledge, books in the Directions series introduce and guide readers through key points of law and legal debate. Questions, diagrams, and exercises help readers to engage fully with each subject and check their understanding as they progress. This chapter discusses a special form of criminal liability: strict liability (including absolute liability). A strict liability offence is an offence which does not require proof of a fault element (i.e., where the prosecution need not prove at least one mens rea element). An absolute liability offence does not require proof of any mens rea elements. This chapter also evaluates the arguments for and against strict liability and discusses regulatory offences.
Chapter
The liability of an employer to an employee has two aspects. There is liability to employees for harm suffered by them, and liability for harm caused by them in the course of their employment (vicarious liability, covered in chapter 19). Both represent forms of stricter liability. This chapter discusses the negligence law liability of employers, liabilities arising from statutory duties, and related aspects of social security law. It analyses the concept of the non-delegable duty in the employment context. It also discusses the implications for employer’s liability of reforms made to the law of breach of statutory duty in the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013.
Chapter
Essential Cases: Criminal Law provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in B v Director of Public Prosecutions [2000] 2 AC 428, House of Lords. The document also included supporting commentary from author Jonathan Herring.
Chapter
Essential Cases: Criminal Law provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in B v Director of Public Prosecutions [2000] 2 AC 428, House of Lords. The document also included supporting commentary from author Jonathan Herring.
Chapter
Essential Cases: Tort Law provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in Transco plc v Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council [2004] 2 AC 1. The document also included supporting commentary from author Craig Purshouse.
Chapter
Essential Cases: Tort Law provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in Rylands v Fletcher (1868) LR 3 HL 330. The document also included supporting commentary from author Craig Purshouse.
Chapter
Essential Cases: Tort Law provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in Rylands v Fletcher (1868) LR 3 HL 330. The document also included supporting commentary from author Craig Purshouse.
Chapter
Essential Cases: Tort Law provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in Transco plc v Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council [2004] 2 AC 1. The document also included supporting commentary from author Craig Purshouse.
Chapter
Each Concentrate revision guide is packed with essential information, key cases, revision tips, exam Q&As, and more. Concentrates show you what to expect in a law exam, what examiners are looking for, and how to achieve extra marks. The chapter discusses the law on product liability. It covers key debates, sample questions, diagram answer plan, tips for getting extra marks, and online resources. To answer questions on this topic, students need to understand the following: the general principles of negligence; the meaning of strict liability; and the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and its relationship with the common law regarding consumer protection.
Chapter
This chapter focuses on identifying the circumstances in which an offence will be construed as one of strict liability—that is, where the Crown will not have to establish mens rea in relation to every element of the actus reus. The following controversies are examined: the presumption of mens rea, that is, unless Parliament has indicated otherwise, the appropriate mental element is an unexpressed ingredient of every statutory offence; how to ascertain whether an offence is in fact one of strict liability; whether strict liability infringes Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR); and the merits of strict liability offences.
Chapter
All books in this flagship series contain carefully selected substantial extracts from key cases, legislation, and academic debate, providing able students with a stand-alone resource. This chapter examines the statutory strict liability for damage arising from defective products as set out in the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and the EEC Directive on Product Liability. It begins by considering the apportionment of risks associated with products and the development risks defence before turning to similarities between statutory liability and common law liabilities based on negligence and on strict liability. It then looks at the reasons why it is misleading to consider ‘product liability’ in isolation and the concept of defectiveness.
Chapter
Michael J. Allen and Ian Edwards
Course-focused and contextual, Criminal Law provides a succinct overview of the key areas on the law curriculum balanced with thought-provoking contextual discussion. This chapter discusses the meaning of negligence, arguments for and against negligence as a basis for criminal liability, the meaning of strict liability, the origins of and justifications for strict liability, the presumption of mens rea in offences of strict liability, defences to strict liability, and strict liability and the European Convention on Human Rights. The feaeture ‘The law in context’ examines critically the use of strict liability as the basis for liability in the offence of paying for the sexual services of a person who has been subject to exploitation.
Chapter
Vicarious liability is liability imposed on an employer to a third party for the tort of his employee committed in the course of employment. Vicarious liability is another instance of stricter liability in the sense that the employer who is not at fault is made responsible for the employee’s default. It thereby gives the injured party compensation from the person who is better able to pay and spread the cost of the injury, namely the employer. Anyone who wishes to hold an employer vicariously liable must prove: that the wrongdoer was his employee, or that the relationship between them was ‘akin’ to employment; that he committed a tort; and that he committed it in the course of his employment. This chapter discusses each of this in turn. It also considers contribution between employer and employee; liability for the torts of independent contractors; the expanding categories of non-delegable duties; and the changing contours of employer’s liability.
Chapter
Dr Karen Dyer and Dr Anil Balan
Each Concentrate revision guide is packed with essential information, key cases, revision tips, exam Q&As, and more. Concentrates show you what to expect in a law exam, what examiners are looking for, and how to achieve extra marks. The chapter discusses the law on product liability. It covers key debates, sample questions, diagram answer plan, tips for getting extra marks, and online resources. To answer questions on this topic, students need to understand the following: the general principles of negligence; the meaning of strict liability; and the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and its relationship with the common law regarding consumer protection.
Chapter
All books in this flagship series contain carefully selected substantial extracts from key cases, legislation, and academic debate, providing able students with a stand-alone resource. This chapter examines the statutory strict liability for damage arising from defective products as set out in the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and the EEC Directive on Product Liability. It begins by considering the apportionment of risks associated with products and the development risks defence before turning to similarities between statutory liability and common law liabilities based on negligence and on strict liability. It then looks at the reasons why it is misleading to consider ‘product liability’ in isolation and the concept of defectiveness.
