Hypothetical Case Problems

Case 1. The Northern Shipping Company carelessly moors a ship at a dock on theriver, where the ship breaks away from the mooring and drifts downstream,running over a small fishing boat and drowning the sailors on board beforeeventually lodging sideways against a bridge. Not only is the bridge damaged bythe collision, but the ship causes a damming of the river that makes it overflow itsbanks. A nearby town is flooded, causing thousands of dollars of damage to thebusinesses and homes located there.

1. What tort has Northern committed? Analyze the individual elements of thetort.
2. Did Northern actually cause the damage to the sailors? The bridge? Thetown?
3. Is it foreseeable that carelessly tying up a ship would cause residents of atown to suffer harm? What element of the tort is involved here?

Hypothetical Case Problems section, review Case 1 for the Northern Shipping Company, and respond to the following questions:

• Did Northern Shipping Company commit a tort?
  • If so, explain what, and list the elements of said tort.
• Did Northern Shipping Company actually cause the damage to the sailors? The town? The bridge?
• Was the damage foreseeable based on the actions of Northern Shipping Company?
  • What elements of the tort are involved?