Torts, Criminal Law & Civil Actions Course Curriculum

Unit 1: Blackstone’s Skills for Success

• Discover How You Learn
• Find a Place to Study
• Learn How to Study

Unit 2: Torts

• Fundamental Notions
• Trespass to the Person
• Battery
• Assault
• False Imprisonment
• Trespass to the Property
• Excusable Trespasses
• Conversion
• Nature of Conversion
• Particular Instances of Conversion
• Legal Cause
• Negligence
• Deceit
• The Defendant’s Wrongful Conduct
• The Effect Upon the Plaintiff
• Defamation
• Two Species of Defamation
• The Plaintiff’s Case in Defamation
• The Defendant’s Response
• The Response
• Prima Facie Defense
• Judgement & Damages
• Malicious Prosecution
• Interference with Domestic Relations
• Interference with Contractual Relations
• Interference with Business or Employment
• Right of Privacy
• Acting at Peril – General Principles
• Liability for Inanimate Forces
• Liability for Injuries from Lawful Use of One’s Land
• Joint Tort-Feasors

Unit 3: Criminal Law

• The Subject Defined
• The Act
• The Intent
• Incapacity or Limitations to Criminal Capacity
• Circumstances Affecting Criminal Responsibility
• Justification
• Parties to Crime
• Incomplete Offenses
• Homicide
• Assault, Battery, Mayhem
• Rape
• False Imprisonment
• Kidnapping & Abduction
• Burglary & Arson
• Larceny
• Robbery
• Embezzlement
• False Pretenses
• Receiving Stolen Goods
• Malicious Mischief
• Forgery
• Counterfeiting
• Extortion
• Offenses Against Religion, Morals & Decency
• Offenses Against the Public Peace
• Offenses Against Public Authority

Unit 4: Pleadings in Civil Actions, Practice in Civil Actions, Criminal Procedures

• Necessity of Pleading & Importance of Subject
• History of Courts & Pleading
• Course of Action
• Common Law
• Causes of Action
• Proceedings in Other Courts & Effect of the Code on Forms of Action
• Parties to Actions and Joinder of Actions
• The Plaintiff’s First Pleading
• General Rules of Pleading
• The Defenses to an Action
• Defendant’s Pleading & Rules Governing Them
• The Plaintiff’s Second Pleading
• Closing of Issues & Judgment
• Beginning Suit
• Preliminary Motions
• Non-Jury Cases
• Jury Trials
• Opening Statements – Excluding Witnesses
• Depositions
• Examinations of Witnesses
• Charging the Jury
• Verdicts
• Entering Judgment
• Appeals
• Introduction to Criminal Procedure
• Jurisdiction & Venue
• Preliminary Proceedings
• Indictments
• Procedure Between Indictment & Trial
• The Trial
• Steps After the Trial

Unit 5: Critical Thinking Skills

• Introduction to Critical Thinking and the PANIC Method
• Inference and Judgment
• Metacognition
• Forming Strong Critical Conclusions through Predicting
• Rhetorical Strategies
• Critical Theories
• Deductive Reasoning
• Emotional Intelligence and Critical Thinking