LAW596
Advanced Torts
(Ogbogu)
Prerequisite courses: LAW430 Torts
Prerequisite for:
Instructor(s): Professor Ubaka Ogbogu
Method of presentation: Interactive lecture (students receive structured input from the instructor and then engage in guided discussion and collaborative activities).
Teamwork: (Yes, No or Optional): Yes
METHOD OF EVALUATION:
Evaluation will be based on a combination of a research paper, written assignments, and class participation.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course builds on foundational tort law principles, engaging with complex and challenging issues that frequently arise in practice and in the development of tort doctrine. It is designed for upper-year law students who have completed a basic Torts course and wish to deepen their understanding of how tort law operates in both theory and practice.
The course will focus on three broad areas: (1) Medical Negligence and Malpractice, examining the unique legal, evidentiary, institutional, and ethical challenges of litigating tort claims involving health care professionals and institutions; (2) Pure Economic Loss, exploring the boundaries of liability where losses are not connected to physical injury or property damage; and (3) Emerging and Novel Areas of Tort Law, such as technology and digital harms, genetic data and biotech liability, pandemic-related liability, social justice and emerging duties of care, and tort claims for AI-generated defamation or copyright harm.
Through a combination of case law analysis, problem-based learning, and class discussions, students will grapple with doctrinal uncertainty, policy debates, and practical litigation strategies.
SPECIAL COMMENTS
This course includes extensive classroom participation activities that contribute to the final grade. It may not be suitable for students who prefer a less interactive learning environment.
Description updated 2026-27. Please contact the instructor for any specific questions you may have related to this particular course section.
REQUIRED TEXTS (IF ANY):