SlideShare uma empresa Scribd logo
1 de 3
Baixar para ler offline
Lewis Barbe recently provided expert advice in a California Superior Court case which ultima
resolved a repair and rental vehicle accident. Use in his material which was extrapolated from an
unknown author was the following information.
A garage or service station operator undertaking to repair or service a motor vehicle owes a
duty to exercise due care in doing so. This duty is owed not only to the party at whose request
the operator performs the repairs but also to all persons who would be exposed to a foreseeable
risk of harm during the normal use of the vehicle if the repairs are negligently done. Spolter v.
Four-Wheel Brake Serv. Co. (1950) 99 Cal. App. 2d 690, 222 P.2d 307; See also, Dahms v. General
Elevator Co. (1932) 214 Cal. 733, 741-742, 7 P.2d 1013 (duty of care owed by repairer of chattels
and liability for negligence); Jackson v. Ryder Truck Rental, Inc. (1993) 16 Cal. App. 4th 1830,
1846, 20 Cal. Rptr. 2d 913 (duty of care owed by vehicle maintenance company and liability for
death of driver of negligently-maintained vehicle)
Additionally, Defendants may be liable for negligently undertaking to repair the subject vehicle.
Artiglio v. Corning Inc. (1998) 18 Ca1.4th 604, 613, Paz v. State of California (2000) 22 Ca1.4th 550,
559.the doctrine of liability for negligent performance of a voluntary undertaking set forth in the
Restatement Second of Torts has gained acceptance in California. The Restatement provides that
"one who undertakes, gratuitously or for consideration, to render services to another which he
should recognize as necessary for the protection of a third person or his things, is subject to
liability to the third person for physical harm resulting from his failure to exercise reasonable
care to [perform] his undertaking, if [P] (a) his failure to exercise reasonable care increases the
risk of such harm, or [P] (b) he has undertaken to perform a duty owed by the other to the third
person, or [P] (c) the harm is suffered because of the reliance of the other or the third person
upon the undertaking." (Rest.2d Torts, § 324A.)
The California Supreme Court has explicitly adopted the Restatement principle of tort liability for
the negligent performance of a voluntarily assumed undertaking. ( Artiglio v. Corning Inc., supra,
18 Ca1.4th at p. 613; Paz v. State of California (2000) 22 Ca1.4th 550, 559, 994 P.2d 975.) The
Supreme Court recently held that a negligent undertaking claim requires evidence that "(1) the
actor undertook, gratuitously or for consideration, to render services to another; (2) the services
rendered were of a kind the actor should have recognized as necessary for the protection of
third persons; (3) the actor failed to exercise reasonable care in the performance of the
undertaking; (4) the actor's failure to exercise reasonable care resulted in physical harm to the
third persons; and (5) either (a) the actor's carelessness increased the risk of such harm, or (b)
the actor undertook to perform a duty that the other owed to the third persons, or (c) the harm
was suffered because either the other or the third persons relied on the actor's undertaking." (
Paz v. State of California, supra, 22 Ca1.4th at p. 559.)
We believe that the Paz reasoning applies to instances in which the promisor fails to perform the
undertaking altogether, because there is no logical distinction between the failure to perform a task
properly and the failure to perform it at all--there is the same risk, the same harm, the same reliance,
and at least the same level of moral culpability in nonperformance as in partial or substandard
performance. As one California court stated some time ago, "a person may become liable in tort for
negligently failing to perform a voluntarily assumed undertaking even in the absence of a contract so
to do." ( Valdez v, Taylor Automobile Co. (1954) 129 Cal. App. 2d 810, 817, 278 P.2d 91.)

Mais conteúdo relacionado

Destaque

7-2015 Senator Mike McQuire
7-2015 Senator Mike McQuire7-2015 Senator Mike McQuire
7-2015 Senator Mike McQuireDr. Eva Long
 
Lewis barbe expert witness case union pacific railroad
Lewis barbe expert witness case   union pacific railroadLewis barbe expert witness case   union pacific railroad
Lewis barbe expert witness case union pacific railroadLewis Barbe
 
United Technologies' Billions
United Technologies' BillionsUnited Technologies' Billions
United Technologies' BillionsOneMarlandRoad
 
Cddp program product catalog march 2015 - karachi pakistan
Cddp program product catalog   march 2015 - karachi   pakistan Cddp program product catalog   march 2015 - karachi   pakistan
Cddp program product catalog march 2015 - karachi pakistan CustomerDesk1
 
UnitedHealth Group: An Owner's Manual for Investors
UnitedHealth Group: An Owner's Manual for InvestorsUnitedHealth Group: An Owner's Manual for Investors
UnitedHealth Group: An Owner's Manual for InvestorsOneMarlandRoad
 
correos elecronicos
correos elecronicoscorreos elecronicos
correos elecronicosdianapauli
 

Destaque (8)

7-2015 Senator Mike McQuire
7-2015 Senator Mike McQuire7-2015 Senator Mike McQuire
7-2015 Senator Mike McQuire
 
Lewis barbe expert witness case union pacific railroad
Lewis barbe expert witness case   union pacific railroadLewis barbe expert witness case   union pacific railroad
Lewis barbe expert witness case union pacific railroad
 
United Technologies' Billions
United Technologies' BillionsUnited Technologies' Billions
United Technologies' Billions
 
Community Profiles Feb 2013
Community Profiles Feb 2013Community Profiles Feb 2013
Community Profiles Feb 2013
 
Lungu Robert
Lungu RobertLungu Robert
Lungu Robert
 
Cddp program product catalog march 2015 - karachi pakistan
Cddp program product catalog   march 2015 - karachi   pakistan Cddp program product catalog   march 2015 - karachi   pakistan
Cddp program product catalog march 2015 - karachi pakistan
 
UnitedHealth Group: An Owner's Manual for Investors
UnitedHealth Group: An Owner's Manual for InvestorsUnitedHealth Group: An Owner's Manual for Investors
UnitedHealth Group: An Owner's Manual for Investors
 
correos elecronicos
correos elecronicoscorreos elecronicos
correos elecronicos
 

Mais de Lewis Barbe

Lewis barbe is a board certified safety engineer
Lewis barbe is a board certified safety engineerLewis barbe is a board certified safety engineer
Lewis barbe is a board certified safety engineerLewis Barbe
 
Learn details of pike v hough case with lewis barbe
Learn details of pike v hough case with lewis barbeLearn details of pike v hough case with lewis barbe
Learn details of pike v hough case with lewis barbeLewis Barbe
 
Lewis barbe was declared as an expert in safety and accident reconst
Lewis barbe was declared as an expert in safety and accident reconstLewis barbe was declared as an expert in safety and accident reconst
Lewis barbe was declared as an expert in safety and accident reconstLewis Barbe
 
Lancaster Silo v. Northern Propane Gas Co. Case Trail with Lewis Barbe
Lancaster Silo v. Northern Propane Gas Co. Case Trail with Lewis BarbeLancaster Silo v. Northern Propane Gas Co. Case Trail with Lewis Barbe
Lancaster Silo v. Northern Propane Gas Co. Case Trail with Lewis BarbeLewis Barbe
 
Lewis Barbe : Safety Specialist
Lewis Barbe : Safety SpecialistLewis Barbe : Safety Specialist
Lewis Barbe : Safety SpecialistLewis Barbe
 
Lerwis barbe - Aircraft Accident Reconstruction
Lerwis barbe - Aircraft Accident ReconstructionLerwis barbe - Aircraft Accident Reconstruction
Lerwis barbe - Aircraft Accident ReconstructionLewis Barbe
 
Lewis barbe screw conveyor case
Lewis barbe screw conveyor caseLewis barbe screw conveyor case
Lewis barbe screw conveyor caseLewis Barbe
 
Lewis Barbe - Trusted Consultant and Expert Witness
Lewis Barbe - Trusted Consultant and Expert WitnessLewis Barbe - Trusted Consultant and Expert Witness
Lewis Barbe - Trusted Consultant and Expert WitnessLewis Barbe
 
Lewis C Barbe Expert - Wagner Mining Equipment Case
Lewis C Barbe Expert - Wagner Mining Equipment CaseLewis C Barbe Expert - Wagner Mining Equipment Case
Lewis C Barbe Expert - Wagner Mining Equipment CaseLewis Barbe
 
Lewis Barbe vs. US - Freedom of Information Act
Lewis Barbe vs. US - Freedom of Information ActLewis Barbe vs. US - Freedom of Information Act
Lewis Barbe vs. US - Freedom of Information ActLewis Barbe
 
Lewis Barbe US Attorney Fire Case
Lewis Barbe US Attorney Fire CaseLewis Barbe US Attorney Fire Case
Lewis Barbe US Attorney Fire CaseLewis Barbe
 
Lewis Barbe Official Comments - American National Standard - ANSI ASAE S323 -...
Lewis Barbe Official Comments - American National Standard - ANSI ASAE S323 -...Lewis Barbe Official Comments - American National Standard - ANSI ASAE S323 -...
Lewis Barbe Official Comments - American National Standard - ANSI ASAE S323 -...Lewis Barbe
 

Mais de Lewis Barbe (12)

Lewis barbe is a board certified safety engineer
Lewis barbe is a board certified safety engineerLewis barbe is a board certified safety engineer
Lewis barbe is a board certified safety engineer
 
Learn details of pike v hough case with lewis barbe
Learn details of pike v hough case with lewis barbeLearn details of pike v hough case with lewis barbe
Learn details of pike v hough case with lewis barbe
 
Lewis barbe was declared as an expert in safety and accident reconst
Lewis barbe was declared as an expert in safety and accident reconstLewis barbe was declared as an expert in safety and accident reconst
Lewis barbe was declared as an expert in safety and accident reconst
 
Lancaster Silo v. Northern Propane Gas Co. Case Trail with Lewis Barbe
Lancaster Silo v. Northern Propane Gas Co. Case Trail with Lewis BarbeLancaster Silo v. Northern Propane Gas Co. Case Trail with Lewis Barbe
Lancaster Silo v. Northern Propane Gas Co. Case Trail with Lewis Barbe
 
Lewis Barbe : Safety Specialist
Lewis Barbe : Safety SpecialistLewis Barbe : Safety Specialist
Lewis Barbe : Safety Specialist
 
Lerwis barbe - Aircraft Accident Reconstruction
Lerwis barbe - Aircraft Accident ReconstructionLerwis barbe - Aircraft Accident Reconstruction
Lerwis barbe - Aircraft Accident Reconstruction
 
Lewis barbe screw conveyor case
Lewis barbe screw conveyor caseLewis barbe screw conveyor case
Lewis barbe screw conveyor case
 
Lewis Barbe - Trusted Consultant and Expert Witness
Lewis Barbe - Trusted Consultant and Expert WitnessLewis Barbe - Trusted Consultant and Expert Witness
Lewis Barbe - Trusted Consultant and Expert Witness
 
Lewis C Barbe Expert - Wagner Mining Equipment Case
Lewis C Barbe Expert - Wagner Mining Equipment CaseLewis C Barbe Expert - Wagner Mining Equipment Case
Lewis C Barbe Expert - Wagner Mining Equipment Case
 
Lewis Barbe vs. US - Freedom of Information Act
Lewis Barbe vs. US - Freedom of Information ActLewis Barbe vs. US - Freedom of Information Act
Lewis Barbe vs. US - Freedom of Information Act
 
Lewis Barbe US Attorney Fire Case
Lewis Barbe US Attorney Fire CaseLewis Barbe US Attorney Fire Case
Lewis Barbe US Attorney Fire Case
 
Lewis Barbe Official Comments - American National Standard - ANSI ASAE S323 -...
Lewis Barbe Official Comments - American National Standard - ANSI ASAE S323 -...Lewis Barbe Official Comments - American National Standard - ANSI ASAE S323 -...
Lewis Barbe Official Comments - American National Standard - ANSI ASAE S323 -...
 

Último

Online banking management system project.pdf
Online banking management system project.pdfOnline banking management system project.pdf
Online banking management system project.pdfKamal Acharya
 
BSides Seattle 2024 - Stopping Ethan Hunt From Taking Your Data.pptx
BSides Seattle 2024 - Stopping Ethan Hunt From Taking Your Data.pptxBSides Seattle 2024 - Stopping Ethan Hunt From Taking Your Data.pptx
BSides Seattle 2024 - Stopping Ethan Hunt From Taking Your Data.pptxfenichawla
 
Call Girls Service Nashik Vaishnavi 7001305949 Independent Escort Service Nashik
Call Girls Service Nashik Vaishnavi 7001305949 Independent Escort Service NashikCall Girls Service Nashik Vaishnavi 7001305949 Independent Escort Service Nashik
Call Girls Service Nashik Vaishnavi 7001305949 Independent Escort Service NashikCall Girls in Nagpur High Profile
 
Call Girls in Nagpur Suman Call 7001035870 Meet With Nagpur Escorts
Call Girls in Nagpur Suman Call 7001035870 Meet With Nagpur EscortsCall Girls in Nagpur Suman Call 7001035870 Meet With Nagpur Escorts
Call Girls in Nagpur Suman Call 7001035870 Meet With Nagpur EscortsCall Girls in Nagpur High Profile
 
(SHREYA) Chakan Call Girls Just Call 7001035870 [ Cash on Delivery ] Pune Esc...
(SHREYA) Chakan Call Girls Just Call 7001035870 [ Cash on Delivery ] Pune Esc...(SHREYA) Chakan Call Girls Just Call 7001035870 [ Cash on Delivery ] Pune Esc...
(SHREYA) Chakan Call Girls Just Call 7001035870 [ Cash on Delivery ] Pune Esc...ranjana rawat
 
(ANJALI) Dange Chowk Call Girls Just Call 7001035870 [ Cash on Delivery ] Pun...
(ANJALI) Dange Chowk Call Girls Just Call 7001035870 [ Cash on Delivery ] Pun...(ANJALI) Dange Chowk Call Girls Just Call 7001035870 [ Cash on Delivery ] Pun...
(ANJALI) Dange Chowk Call Girls Just Call 7001035870 [ Cash on Delivery ] Pun...ranjana rawat
 
UNIT - IV - Air Compressors and its Performance
UNIT - IV - Air Compressors and its PerformanceUNIT - IV - Air Compressors and its Performance
UNIT - IV - Air Compressors and its Performancesivaprakash250
 
ONLINE FOOD ORDER SYSTEM PROJECT REPORT.pdf
ONLINE FOOD ORDER SYSTEM PROJECT REPORT.pdfONLINE FOOD ORDER SYSTEM PROJECT REPORT.pdf
ONLINE FOOD ORDER SYSTEM PROJECT REPORT.pdfKamal Acharya
 
AKTU Computer Networks notes --- Unit 3.pdf
AKTU Computer Networks notes ---  Unit 3.pdfAKTU Computer Networks notes ---  Unit 3.pdf
AKTU Computer Networks notes --- Unit 3.pdfankushspencer015
 
High Profile Call Girls Nagpur Isha Call 7001035870 Meet With Nagpur Escorts
High Profile Call Girls Nagpur Isha Call 7001035870 Meet With Nagpur EscortsHigh Profile Call Girls Nagpur Isha Call 7001035870 Meet With Nagpur Escorts
High Profile Call Girls Nagpur Isha Call 7001035870 Meet With Nagpur Escortsranjana rawat
 
Introduction and different types of Ethernet.pptx
Introduction and different types of Ethernet.pptxIntroduction and different types of Ethernet.pptx
Introduction and different types of Ethernet.pptxupamatechverse
 
UNIT-III FMM. DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
UNIT-III FMM.        DIMENSIONAL ANALYSISUNIT-III FMM.        DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
UNIT-III FMM. DIMENSIONAL ANALYSISrknatarajan
 
VIP Call Girls Ankleshwar 7001035870 Whatsapp Number, 24/07 Booking
VIP Call Girls Ankleshwar 7001035870 Whatsapp Number, 24/07 BookingVIP Call Girls Ankleshwar 7001035870 Whatsapp Number, 24/07 Booking
VIP Call Girls Ankleshwar 7001035870 Whatsapp Number, 24/07 Bookingdharasingh5698
 
UNIT-V FMM.HYDRAULIC TURBINE - Construction and working
UNIT-V FMM.HYDRAULIC TURBINE - Construction and workingUNIT-V FMM.HYDRAULIC TURBINE - Construction and working
UNIT-V FMM.HYDRAULIC TURBINE - Construction and workingrknatarajan
 
Booking open Available Pune Call Girls Koregaon Park 6297143586 Call Hot Ind...
Booking open Available Pune Call Girls Koregaon Park  6297143586 Call Hot Ind...Booking open Available Pune Call Girls Koregaon Park  6297143586 Call Hot Ind...
Booking open Available Pune Call Girls Koregaon Park 6297143586 Call Hot Ind...Call Girls in Nagpur High Profile
 
University management System project report..pdf
University management System project report..pdfUniversity management System project report..pdf
University management System project report..pdfKamal Acharya
 
Porous Ceramics seminar and technical writing
Porous Ceramics seminar and technical writingPorous Ceramics seminar and technical writing
Porous Ceramics seminar and technical writingrakeshbaidya232001
 
Call for Papers - African Journal of Biological Sciences, E-ISSN: 2663-2187, ...
Call for Papers - African Journal of Biological Sciences, E-ISSN: 2663-2187, ...Call for Papers - African Journal of Biological Sciences, E-ISSN: 2663-2187, ...
Call for Papers - African Journal of Biological Sciences, E-ISSN: 2663-2187, ...Christo Ananth
 

Último (20)

Online banking management system project.pdf
Online banking management system project.pdfOnline banking management system project.pdf
Online banking management system project.pdf
 
BSides Seattle 2024 - Stopping Ethan Hunt From Taking Your Data.pptx
BSides Seattle 2024 - Stopping Ethan Hunt From Taking Your Data.pptxBSides Seattle 2024 - Stopping Ethan Hunt From Taking Your Data.pptx
BSides Seattle 2024 - Stopping Ethan Hunt From Taking Your Data.pptx
 
Call Girls Service Nashik Vaishnavi 7001305949 Independent Escort Service Nashik
Call Girls Service Nashik Vaishnavi 7001305949 Independent Escort Service NashikCall Girls Service Nashik Vaishnavi 7001305949 Independent Escort Service Nashik
Call Girls Service Nashik Vaishnavi 7001305949 Independent Escort Service Nashik
 
Call Girls in Nagpur Suman Call 7001035870 Meet With Nagpur Escorts
Call Girls in Nagpur Suman Call 7001035870 Meet With Nagpur EscortsCall Girls in Nagpur Suman Call 7001035870 Meet With Nagpur Escorts
Call Girls in Nagpur Suman Call 7001035870 Meet With Nagpur Escorts
 
(SHREYA) Chakan Call Girls Just Call 7001035870 [ Cash on Delivery ] Pune Esc...
(SHREYA) Chakan Call Girls Just Call 7001035870 [ Cash on Delivery ] Pune Esc...(SHREYA) Chakan Call Girls Just Call 7001035870 [ Cash on Delivery ] Pune Esc...
(SHREYA) Chakan Call Girls Just Call 7001035870 [ Cash on Delivery ] Pune Esc...
 
(ANJALI) Dange Chowk Call Girls Just Call 7001035870 [ Cash on Delivery ] Pun...
(ANJALI) Dange Chowk Call Girls Just Call 7001035870 [ Cash on Delivery ] Pun...(ANJALI) Dange Chowk Call Girls Just Call 7001035870 [ Cash on Delivery ] Pun...
(ANJALI) Dange Chowk Call Girls Just Call 7001035870 [ Cash on Delivery ] Pun...
 
UNIT - IV - Air Compressors and its Performance
UNIT - IV - Air Compressors and its PerformanceUNIT - IV - Air Compressors and its Performance
UNIT - IV - Air Compressors and its Performance
 
Roadmap to Membership of RICS - Pathways and Routes
Roadmap to Membership of RICS - Pathways and RoutesRoadmap to Membership of RICS - Pathways and Routes
Roadmap to Membership of RICS - Pathways and Routes
 
ONLINE FOOD ORDER SYSTEM PROJECT REPORT.pdf
ONLINE FOOD ORDER SYSTEM PROJECT REPORT.pdfONLINE FOOD ORDER SYSTEM PROJECT REPORT.pdf
ONLINE FOOD ORDER SYSTEM PROJECT REPORT.pdf
 
AKTU Computer Networks notes --- Unit 3.pdf
AKTU Computer Networks notes ---  Unit 3.pdfAKTU Computer Networks notes ---  Unit 3.pdf
AKTU Computer Networks notes --- Unit 3.pdf
 
High Profile Call Girls Nagpur Isha Call 7001035870 Meet With Nagpur Escorts
High Profile Call Girls Nagpur Isha Call 7001035870 Meet With Nagpur EscortsHigh Profile Call Girls Nagpur Isha Call 7001035870 Meet With Nagpur Escorts
High Profile Call Girls Nagpur Isha Call 7001035870 Meet With Nagpur Escorts
 
Introduction and different types of Ethernet.pptx
Introduction and different types of Ethernet.pptxIntroduction and different types of Ethernet.pptx
Introduction and different types of Ethernet.pptx
 
UNIT-III FMM. DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
UNIT-III FMM.        DIMENSIONAL ANALYSISUNIT-III FMM.        DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
UNIT-III FMM. DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
 
Water Industry Process Automation & Control Monthly - April 2024
Water Industry Process Automation & Control Monthly - April 2024Water Industry Process Automation & Control Monthly - April 2024
Water Industry Process Automation & Control Monthly - April 2024
 
VIP Call Girls Ankleshwar 7001035870 Whatsapp Number, 24/07 Booking
VIP Call Girls Ankleshwar 7001035870 Whatsapp Number, 24/07 BookingVIP Call Girls Ankleshwar 7001035870 Whatsapp Number, 24/07 Booking
VIP Call Girls Ankleshwar 7001035870 Whatsapp Number, 24/07 Booking
 
UNIT-V FMM.HYDRAULIC TURBINE - Construction and working
UNIT-V FMM.HYDRAULIC TURBINE - Construction and workingUNIT-V FMM.HYDRAULIC TURBINE - Construction and working
UNIT-V FMM.HYDRAULIC TURBINE - Construction and working
 
Booking open Available Pune Call Girls Koregaon Park 6297143586 Call Hot Ind...
Booking open Available Pune Call Girls Koregaon Park  6297143586 Call Hot Ind...Booking open Available Pune Call Girls Koregaon Park  6297143586 Call Hot Ind...
Booking open Available Pune Call Girls Koregaon Park 6297143586 Call Hot Ind...
 
University management System project report..pdf
University management System project report..pdfUniversity management System project report..pdf
University management System project report..pdf
 
Porous Ceramics seminar and technical writing
Porous Ceramics seminar and technical writingPorous Ceramics seminar and technical writing
Porous Ceramics seminar and technical writing
 
Call for Papers - African Journal of Biological Sciences, E-ISSN: 2663-2187, ...
Call for Papers - African Journal of Biological Sciences, E-ISSN: 2663-2187, ...Call for Papers - African Journal of Biological Sciences, E-ISSN: 2663-2187, ...
Call for Papers - African Journal of Biological Sciences, E-ISSN: 2663-2187, ...
 

Lewis Barbe repair and rental vehical accident case

  • 1.
  • 2. Lewis Barbe recently provided expert advice in a California Superior Court case which ultima resolved a repair and rental vehicle accident. Use in his material which was extrapolated from an unknown author was the following information. A garage or service station operator undertaking to repair or service a motor vehicle owes a duty to exercise due care in doing so. This duty is owed not only to the party at whose request the operator performs the repairs but also to all persons who would be exposed to a foreseeable risk of harm during the normal use of the vehicle if the repairs are negligently done. Spolter v. Four-Wheel Brake Serv. Co. (1950) 99 Cal. App. 2d 690, 222 P.2d 307; See also, Dahms v. General Elevator Co. (1932) 214 Cal. 733, 741-742, 7 P.2d 1013 (duty of care owed by repairer of chattels and liability for negligence); Jackson v. Ryder Truck Rental, Inc. (1993) 16 Cal. App. 4th 1830, 1846, 20 Cal. Rptr. 2d 913 (duty of care owed by vehicle maintenance company and liability for death of driver of negligently-maintained vehicle) Additionally, Defendants may be liable for negligently undertaking to repair the subject vehicle. Artiglio v. Corning Inc. (1998) 18 Ca1.4th 604, 613, Paz v. State of California (2000) 22 Ca1.4th 550, 559.the doctrine of liability for negligent performance of a voluntary undertaking set forth in the Restatement Second of Torts has gained acceptance in California. The Restatement provides that "one who undertakes, gratuitously or for consideration, to render services to another which he should recognize as necessary for the protection of a third person or his things, is subject to liability to the third person for physical harm resulting from his failure to exercise reasonable care to [perform] his undertaking, if [P] (a) his failure to exercise reasonable care increases the risk of such harm, or [P] (b) he has undertaken to perform a duty owed by the other to the third person, or [P] (c) the harm is suffered because of the reliance of the other or the third person upon the undertaking." (Rest.2d Torts, § 324A.) The California Supreme Court has explicitly adopted the Restatement principle of tort liability for the negligent performance of a voluntarily assumed undertaking. ( Artiglio v. Corning Inc., supra, 18 Ca1.4th at p. 613; Paz v. State of California (2000) 22 Ca1.4th 550, 559, 994 P.2d 975.) The Supreme Court recently held that a negligent undertaking claim requires evidence that "(1) the actor undertook, gratuitously or for consideration, to render services to another; (2) the services rendered were of a kind the actor should have recognized as necessary for the protection of third persons; (3) the actor failed to exercise reasonable care in the performance of the undertaking; (4) the actor's failure to exercise reasonable care resulted in physical harm to the third persons; and (5) either (a) the actor's carelessness increased the risk of such harm, or (b) the actor undertook to perform a duty that the other owed to the third persons, or (c) the harm was suffered because either the other or the third persons relied on the actor's undertaking." ( Paz v. State of California, supra, 22 Ca1.4th at p. 559.)
  • 3. We believe that the Paz reasoning applies to instances in which the promisor fails to perform the undertaking altogether, because there is no logical distinction between the failure to perform a task properly and the failure to perform it at all--there is the same risk, the same harm, the same reliance, and at least the same level of moral culpability in nonperformance as in partial or substandard performance. As one California court stated some time ago, "a person may become liable in tort for negligently failing to perform a voluntarily assumed undertaking even in the absence of a contract so to do." ( Valdez v, Taylor Automobile Co. (1954) 129 Cal. App. 2d 810, 817, 278 P.2d 91.)