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Question: Distinguish between tortious and contractual liability. [BJS 2021]

Find the question and answer of Law of Torts only on Legal Bites. [Distinguish between tortious and contractual liability.]

Answer

Tortious liability and contractual liability are two different forms of legal liability that can arise in different circumstances. Tortious liability refers to a person's legal responsibility for causing harm to another person, regardless of whether there was a contract in place. This type of liability arises from a tort, which is a civil wrong that is not based on a contract. Some common torts include negligence, battery, and defamation.

For example, in the landmark case of Donoghue v. Stevenson, [1932] UKHL 100, the defendant was held liable for tortious liability after he served a ginger beer containing a decomposed snail to the plaintiff, which made her ill. The court held that the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff to take reasonable care to ensure that the product was fit for consumption.

On the other hand, contractual liability refers to a person's legal responsibility for a breach of contract. A contract is a legally binding agreement between two or more parties, and a breach of contract occurs when one of the parties fails to perform their obligations under the agreement.

For example, in the landmark case of Parker v. Taswell, [1858], the defendant failed to deliver the goods that he had agreed to supply to the plaintiff under a contract. The court held that the defendant was liable for contractual liability because he had breached his obligations under the contract.

Tortious liability arises from a civil wrong, while contractual liability arises from a breach of contract. The two forms of liability are distinct and can exist independently of one another.

Mayank Shekhar

Mayank Shekhar

Mayank is an alumnus of the prestigious Faculty of Law, Delhi University. Under his leadership, Legal Bites has been researching and developing resources through blogging, educational resources, competitions, and seminars.

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