Sometimes the requirement to educate the public has legal implications. - Jonah

 

Torts Imitating Life

 

A Torts professor at Pace University School of Law in White Plains, NY, is being sued by a former student for allegedly injuring her during a re-enactment of a classic torts case. In the first week of law school, the professor was teaching Garratt v. Dailey, 279 P.2d 1091 (Wash. 1955), the famous "intent" case in which a 5-year-old boy was sued by an elderly woman for pulling a chair out from under her as she attempted to sit in it.

The plaintiff alleges the professor caused her severe pain and mental anguish when he called her up to the front of the room, told her to sit in a chair, and then pulled it out from under her. According to plaintiff's lawyer, she fell to the floor with a thud, causing her skirt to fly up in front of her peers and aggravating an existing back injury.

Among other claims, the student is suing for battery, the same claim pressed by the plaintiff in Garratt v. Dailey.

 

Dareh Gregorian, New York Post, June 26, 2001