First Principles of Business Law

Liability in tort for wrongful conduct

2. Trespass to land

2.1. Wrongful interference with 'real' property

 

 

 

Read the example below, and then answer the questions.

A leases retail premises from C and starts a business selling CDs and music tapes. A notices that B, the owner of a competing business in the same street, visits A's shop every Friday, takes note of A's special offers and then advertises similar competing specials. A tells B that she does not want him in her shop again. But the very next week she sees B enter her shop, walk around and then leave. A wants to know if she can bring a legal action against B to stop him entering her shop.

1. The tort of trespass to land protects a person's interests in real property against physical intrusion. Does this protection extend to buildings?

2. A, the plaintiff in this case, is not the owner of the shop - she only leases it from C. Is she nevertheless entitled to an action against B for trespass to land?

3. Could B successfully defend an action brought by A by arguing that entry to a shop is necessarily permitted?

4. To obtain relief, must A be able to prove that she has suffered actual damage, such as loss of business?

Page 1
Go to the next topic Go to the previous topic Go to the list of topics Choose another module