Responsabilité des sujets atteints de troubles mentaux en Italie et en common law (The Liability of the Mentally Disabled in Common Law and in Italian Law)

Gazette du Palais, numero spécial: Responsabilité civile (F. Chabas ed.), nn. 45/46, 1997, 11-16

6 Pages Posted: 12 Jan 2013 Last revised: 10 Jan 2022

See all articles by Mauro Bussani

Mauro Bussani

University of Trieste School of Law

Date Written: January 10, 1997

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to challenge the traditional principle of Western negligence law according to which, whatever a person’s characteristics are, his/her behavior should be judged against the standard of care expected from the so-called ‘reasonable person’. In particular, the paper focuses on a special category of subjects who are ‘weaker’ than the average because suffering from a psychological disability. Through the comparative analysis of Italian, English, and American tort law rules involving these persons, the paper shows how courts are acutely aware of the need to introduce some degree of flexibility into the median fault parameter.

Note: Downloadable document is in French.

Keywords: Comparative Tort Law, Negligence, Standard of Care, Mental Impairment, Lunatics, Children

JEL Classification: K13

Suggested Citation

Bussani, Mauro, Responsabilité des sujets atteints de troubles mentaux en Italie et en common law (The Liability of the Mentally Disabled in Common Law and in Italian Law) (January 10, 1997). Gazette du Palais, numero spécial: Responsabilité civile (F. Chabas ed.), nn. 45/46, 1997, 11-16, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2199382

Mauro Bussani (Contact Author)

University of Trieste School of Law ( email )

Piazzale Europa 1
Trieste, Trieste 34100
Italy

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