Opinion ID: 2519215
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Liability based on D.S.W. factors

Text: Parnell alternatively contends that the superior court erred in declining to find liability as a matter of law based on the policy factors listed in D.S.W. v. Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. [25] But this alternative theory is unavailing. The D.S.W. analysis serves to determine whether a common law duty should be recognized where none otherwise exists. For this reason, we have observed in other cases that an analysis under D.S.W. becomes appropriate only [i]n the absence of any other source of a duty of care (imposed, for example, by statute, contract, or doctrine of law). [26] Here, as we have already seen, the superior court properly determined that the issue of duty in this case was governed by the legal rule set out in section 321 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts. Accordingly, this case provides no occasion to undertake an analysis under D.S.W. in search of a new duty.