This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
Learn more
#6555 - Trespass To Land - Intentional Torts
Notice: PDF Preview
The following is a more accessible plain text extract of the PDF
sample above, taken from our
Intentional Torts Notes. Due to the challenges of extracting text from PDFs, it will have
odd formatting.
TRESPASS
TO LAND
INTENTIONAL TORTS | 43 TRESPASS TO LAND
Involves the direct and intentional or negligent interference with land in the
exclusive possession of another without consent or other lawful authorisation -
Plenty v Dillon
Elements:
1. Was the action of the defendant direct and intentional or negligent?
2. Does the defendant enter into or remain on the land? Did the
defendant cause an object or another person to intrude onto land?
3. Was the land in possession of another?
4. Did the plaintiff consent to the interference with the land?
5. Defences
6. Remedies
Hill v Higgins
* Applicants alleged respondent neighbours committed acts of trespass
in circumstances where deteriorating retaining wall leaned and
encroached on applicant's land * Claimed bricks from retaining wall fell on applicants land * Claimed wall leaned onto applicants land constituting encroachment
Johnson v Buchanan
* Under legislation it was an offence by a dog owner for a dog to bite
another person * HELD: There was a defence: trespass to land * The D's neighbour had his arm over the fence, and the D's dog bit the
neighbour's arm Plenty v Dillon
* 2 police went to Mr Plenty's farm in order to serve a summons/notice.
However, under the law the summons had to be served by the post. * HELD: the police officers were trespassing because they entered the
farm without any consent (either express or implied) or lawful
justification
o Definition of trespass; the importance of consent or lawful
justification
44 | INTENTIONAL TORTS WAS THE ACTION OF THE DEFENDANT DIRECT AND
INTENTIONAL OR NEGLIGENT?
* * *
The contact (interference) with the Pl's property must be a direct (not
consequential) result of the D's actions/conduct
It is the act that must be intended, not the actual interference
This might occur in a number of ways:
o No authority at all
o The erection of a building
o Entry for a purpose, other than that specified/permitted
o Remaining after permission/licence has been revoked
o Propulsion of an object, substance or 3rd person Southport Corporation v Esso Petroleum Co Ltd
* Oil tanker released 400 tonnes of oil, in an estuary, to re--float the
vessel. The oil ended up on the P's shore. * HELD: Denning LJ said this was not a direct act sufficient to constitute a
trespass to land. He said the discharge was not done directly on to the
P's foreshore but outside in an estuary and the tide took it to the P's
land. The fact that the tide took the oil to the P's land was only
consequential, and not direct.
*
*
* For an action in trespass the actions of the D must be voluntary as well as
intentional or negligent
o Public Transport Commissioner of NSW v Perry
SS? no action in trespass where an epileptic fit caused a person
to fall (unconsciously) onto the P's land.
o Smith v Stone
SS? no trespass if carried onto the P's land by the force and
violence of other people.
The D will only be liable in trespass to land if the trespass was intentional
(or reckless) or negligent (or careless).
o an intention to commit the act that constitutes the trespass, not an
intention to cause the harm.
o to be reckless means to be indifferent to the consequences of your
act.
League Against Cruel Sports v Scott
o Only liable for the trespass of the hounds entering the P's land if
the master had intended the hounds to enter or failed to prevent
them from entering through negligence.
INTENTIONAL TORTS | 45 Nickells v Melbourne Corporation
* The defendant's servant drove a wide horse--drawn cart up a narrow
lane which was flanked by glass shop windows. * The size of the cart was such that, in order to turn at the end of the
lane, the cart had to be brought to within 15 inches of one of the
windows. * While turning, the horse became startled and backed the cart through
the window. * HELD: There was sufficient evidence to support a finding that the
driving of the horse and cart in the lane in such circumstances
constituted negligence on the part of the driver.
o The D may be liable in trespass to land if the trespass was
intentional (or reckless) or negligent (or careless). An
involuntary trespass may be actionable if the def is negligent or
reckless
46 | INTENTIONAL TORTS
Since 2010, Oxbridge Notes has been a trusted education marketplace, supplying high-quality materials from top achievers at universities like Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Harvard, and Yale.
We offer free case summaries, sample notes, and award-winning content, all curated and approved by our editorial team. Our reputation for excellence has led to features in The Guardian, Wikipedia, and the National Council for Law Reporting (Kenya Law).
Every year, millions of students utilize our free and premium notes to aid their studies.