Tort Law Directions

Oxford University Press understands the need for current coverage in law courses and strives to provide lecturers and students with the most up to date information to support teaching and learning.Tort Law Directions, Ninth Edition, is now available as a 2026 digital-only update that incorporates essential new content to reflect the current state of the field. Ahead of the Autumn 2026 term, the digital version of this text has been updated to include coverage of recent landmark cases.This is the most student friendly guide to the subject; empowering students to evaluate the law, understand its practical application, and approach assessments with confidence.Key Features-Understand the law in context: with scene-setting introductions and highlighted case extracts, the practical importance of the law becomes clear-Identify when and how to critically evaluate the law: we'll introduce the key areas of debate and give your students the confidence to question the law-Direct and consolidate their knowledge: visually engaging learning and self-testing features aid understanding and help your students tackle assessments with confidence-Elevate their learning: with the ground-work in place your students can aspire to take their learning to the next level, the authors provide direction on going further-Also available as an e-book with functionality, navigation features, and links that offer extra learning supportNew to the digital-only update· Digital update 2026: English law has been reluctant to impose liability for acts of omission, or failures to act. Tindall v CC of Thames Valley (2024) illustrates the challenge of defining omissions. · Digital update 2026: Two recent cases involving causation are presented in Chapter 4. In Michael Holmes v Poeton Holdings (2023), the Court of Appeal put to rest any doubt that the concept of material contribution to injury applies to both divisible and indivisible injury. And in Armstead v Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Co Ltd (2024), the Supreme Court emphasised that regarding the issue of legal causation, the burden of proving that damage is too remote lies with the defendant. · Digital update 2026: The Alcock test recently came into focus in Young v Downey (2025). Here, the Court of Appeal held that to require proof of a 4-year-olds understanding of traumatic events would wrongly constitute adding an additional element to the Alcock requirements. · Digital update 2026: In DJ v Barnsely MBC (2024), the Court of Appeal held that the relationship between the tortfeasor and the local authority was sufficiently akin to employment to create vicarious liability. · Digital update 2026: Manchester Ship Canal Co Ltd v United Utilities Water Ltd (2024) concerns the key environmental issue of discharge of sewage into waterways. Here, a unanimous Supreme Court overturned the Court of Appeal in holding that the fact that the Water Industry Act 1991 established a statutory scheme for regulating sewerage would not prevent the owner of a canal or other waterway from bringing an action in private nuisance or trespass when pollution has been caused due to the discharge of sewage. · Digital update 2026: In Lewis-Ranwell v G4S Health Services (2026) the Supreme Court held that the ex turpi causa principle could apply in a case where a claimant found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity was subsequently detained in a secure mental facility. · Digital update 2026: Clarke v GNM (2025) provides a recent example of a successful defence of truth. In a six-week trial, 29 witnesses gave evidence that the defendant, the Guardian newspaper, had provided an accurate description of behaviour by the claimant, who was suing the newspaper for defamation. · Digital update 2026: A recent and significant case on lost years was CCC v Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2026), where the Supreme Court held that damages awarded in respect of birth injuries should cover not just the years of the expected life span of the injured claimant but the whole of the life span which would have been lived if uninjured. · Digital update 2026: In 2023 the Supreme Court confirmed a new type of injunction, the Newcomer Injunction, which is discussed in the context of Wolverhampton CC v London Gypsies and Travellers (2023) in a new section of Chapter 17. Digital formats and resourcesThe 9th edition is available for students and institutions to purchase in a variety of formats: the e-book and Law Trove offer a mobile experience and convenient access along with functionality tools, navigation features and features that offer extra learning support including multiple choice questions and podcasts.For more information about e-books, please visit www.oxfordtextbooks.co.uk/ebooks