Invasion of Privacy--Statutory Actions

The law provides everyone with some basic rights to privacy. Privacy is the general right to be left alone and free from unwanted publicity. Unreasonable invasion of one's privacy can cause harm.

Liability of Partners and Joint Venturers

Generally, each member of a partnership or joint venture is vicariously liable for the wrongful conduct of another member if the wrongful conduct occurs within the scope and course of the affairs of the partnership or joint venture. Therefore, each member of a partnership or joint venture will be liable for personal injuries caused by another member's negligence if the negligence occurs within the scope and course of the affairs of the business.

Attorney Malpractice Liability to Non-Client

In the course of an attorney's representation of a client, he may commit legal malpractice with respect to his prosecution, defense, or appeal of the client's action or his preparation of transactional documents for the client. The attorney's actions may constitute legal malpractice if he fails to use the skill, prudence, and diligence that attorneys of ordinary skill and capacity would use in performing their legal tasks. In addition to being liable to the client, the attorney may also be liable to a non-client in certain circumstances.

The Fellow-Servant Rule

Traditionally, the "fellow-servant rule" barred an employee's personal injury action against his or her employer if the employee's injury was caused by a co-worker.

Federal Tort Claims Act -- Overview

Under the doctrine of sovereign immunity, the federal government cannot be sued without its permission. The Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) is a federal law that waives the federal government's sovereign immunity under certain circumstances.