Write a scenario where a defendant would NOT be considered legally responsible for a victim’s injury or death that results from a coincidental intervening act. Be sure to indicate the factual cause and the proximate cause. Now write a scenario where the defendant would be held legally liable for a coincidental intervening act. Why would the defendant be held liable in the second scenario?

What will be an ideal response?


Liability would depend on whether the coincidental intervening act is foreseeable or unforeseeable. Foreseeable coincidental intervening causes such as lightning during a thunderstorm would hold a defendant liable. On the other hand, unforeseeable coincidental intervening causes such as lightning during a clear night would not hold a defendant liable.

Criminal Justice

You might also like to view...

The Family Support Act of 1988 is a federal law that requires every state to adopt numerical child support guidelines based on the income of the parties.

Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)

Criminal Justice

Under New York's congregate system, prisoners worked under a rule of ______, and they were forbidden even to exchange glances while on the job or at meals.

Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).

Criminal Justice

When people are in a hurry, they are more likely to run stop signs and red lights

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Criminal Justice

People who routinely engage in lawbreaking are seldom victims themselves

a. true b. false Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Criminal Justice