Opinion ID: 1679366
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Legal CauseUnderlying Policy Considerations

Text: What are the underlying policy considerations that have caused both civilian and common law courts to expand or contract the concepts of foreseeability in particular cases and to grope from time to time for some more precise methods of limiting liability? Inspired by both Geny and Cardoza, this court has identified the policy sources informing the conception of the duty in a tort case to be those moral, social and economic considerations that a conscientious, objective policy maker would advert to in formulating a rule to govern the case. See Entrevia v. Hood, 427 So.2d 1146 (La.1983); Bell v. Jet Wheel Blast, 462 So.2d 166 (La.1985). Common law scholars have singled out for special mention various factors affecting tort liability: the need for compensation of losses; the historical development of precedents; the moral aspects of the defendant's conduct; the efficient administration of the law; the deterrance of future harmful conduct; the capacity to bear or distribute losses. Prosser & Keeton, supra, § 4; see G. Calabresi, Cost of Accidents, pp. 24-33 (Yale University (1970)).