1. Carr borrowed John’s brand-new car for the purpose of going
ASSIGNMENT 1. In 1963 the Saturday Evening Post featured an article entitled “The Story of
a College Football Fix,” characterized in the subtitle as “A Shocking Report of How Wally
Butts and Bear Bryant Rigged a Game Last Fall.” Butts was athletic director of the University
of Georgia, and Bryant was head coach of the University of Alabama. The article was based
on a claim by one George Burnett that he had accidentally overheard a long-distance
telephone conversation between Butts and Bryant in the course of which Butts divulged
information on plays Georgia would use in the upcoming game against Alabama. The writer
assigned to the story by was not a football expert, did not interview either Butts or Bryant,
and did not personally see the notes Burnett had made of the telephone conversation. Butts
admitted that he had a long-distance telephone conversation with Bryant but denied that
any advance information on prospective football plays was given. Has Butts been defamed
by ? 2. Joan, a patient confined in a hospital, has a rare disease that is of great interest to the
public. Carol, a television reporter, requests Joan to consent to an interview. Joan refuses,
but Carol, nonetheless, enters Joan’s room over her objection and photographs her. Joan
brings a suit against Carol. Is Carol liable? If so, for what tort? 3. Owner has a place on his
land where he piles trash. The pile has been there for three months. John, a neighbor of
Owner and without Owner’s consent or knowledge, throws trash onto the trash pile. Owner
learns that John has done this and sues him. What tort, if any, has John committed? 4. Chris
leaves her car parked in front of a store. There are no signs that say Chris cannot park there.
The store owner, however, needs the car moved to enable a delivery truck to unload. He
releases the brake and pushes Chris’s car three or four feet, doing no harm to the car. Chris
returns and sees that her car has been moved and is very angry. She threatens to sue the
store owner for trespass to her personal property. Can she recover? 5. Carr borrowed John’s
brand-new car for the purpose of going to the store. He told John he would be right back.
Carr then decided, however, to go to the beach while he had the car. Can John recover from
Carr the value of the automobile? If so, for what tort?
