Abnormally Dangerous Activities

Pronunciation: ab-NOR-muh-lee DAYN-jer-us ak-TIV-ih-teez

Torts › Activities & Animals

Definition

Activities that create a foreseeable and highly significant risk of physical harm even when reasonable care is exercised, and are not common in the community. Under strict liability, defendant is liable for harm caused by such activities regardless of level of care exercised. U.S. courts apply the Restatement (Second) of Torts § 520 factors rather than the English Rylands v. Fletcher (1868) doctrine directly. Classic examples include blasting, storing explosives, and keeping wild animals.

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