20 March 2024

Daily practice questions for CLAT - (20 March 2024)



If two or more people inflict harm to another individual, they are considered joint tortfeasors. Joint tortfeasors are individuals who participate actively in the civil wrong commission. Each joint tortfeasor is accountable for repaying a share of the damages awarded to the complainant depending on the percentage of harm inflicted by his wrongful act or omission. Per the concept of contribution, a respondent who contributes more than his fair share of the penalties or pays more than he is responsible for might sue the other respondent for compensation. Tortfeasors are severally liable for the same damage as a result of an independent course of action, which means they will be accountable for the same damage rather than jointly liable for the same tort. When two or more people inflict the same injury to another person as a result of their distinct tortious activities, this is referred to as multiple concurrent tortfeasors. Joint tortfeasor obligation arises in three situations: agency wherein one person is authorized to undertake work on another's behalf, any tort performed by that individual, the agent, and the principal who is approving the activity will all be held jointly and separately accountable. Second, in Vicarious Liability, and third, in Joint Action, when two or more people come together for a shared purpose, they are all jointly and severally liable for the tort committed during the action.

Question1:- Ram was hit by a motor vehicle in January wherein he had broken his right leg. In March when he had recovered from it he was assaulted by Ghanshyam and he again suffered a blow on his right leg which did not fully recover. He now cannot bend his leg for the rest of his life. Determine the liability of the vehicle driver and Ghanshyam?
  • A. Ghanshyam will be liable as he was the one who hit his leg again causing him serious injury.
  • B. Neither of them will be liable as his leg was already broken.
  • C. The Motor Vehicle driver shall be held liable as it was his actions that led to the series of events.
  • D. Both the vehicle driver and Ghanshyam shall be jointly and severally liable as both are concurrent tortfeasors.
Answer is D is correct. When the same injury is caused to a person by two or more people as a result of their separate tortious acts, this results in several concurrent tortfeasors. Here Ram suffered multiple accidents and so several concurrent tortfeasors that also are the individual tortfeasors from each accident shall be held jointly and severally liable.
Question2:- At a red light X stopped his car suddenly. Y from behind crashed his vehicle at X’s car causing the damage and Z crashed his vehicle to Y’s car and the chain of collision happened. Determine who shall be held liable in this situation?
  • A. X shall be held liable as he was the one who stopped his car suddenly at a red signal.
  • B. Y and Z shall be held liable as the collision happened sue to their negligence and caused damage to X’s car.
  • C. Only Y shall be held liable and not Z.
  • D. No one will be held liable as it was a red signal and it is pertinent to follow the same.
Answer is B is correct. When the same injury is caused to a person by two or more person as a result of their separate tortious acts, this results in several concurrent tortfeasors. Here‘s car was damaged by the acts of Y and Z, and so several concurrent tortfeasors that also are the individual tortfeasors from each collision shall be held jointly and severally liable.
Question3:- A, B and C are mechanics at a car station. D comes to get his car repaired and the three mechanics start repairing it. During this process A damages the headlights, B damages the engine and C broke the window of the car. Determine their liability?
  • A. All three of them shall be liable jointly for the damages caused.
  • B. Only B shall be responsible as he damaged the engine without which the car will not operate.
  • C. All three of them shall be severally liable and shall compensate as per their percentage of damage to D.
  • D. None of them will be liable.
Answer is C is correct. Several liability is when multiple tortfeasors are each held liable individually for the damages caused by them. Thus here A, B and C shall be liable for the damages caused by them individually.
Question4:- Rajesh and Pankaj are surgeons in a clinic. Mohan visits there to get his knee surgery performed by them. During the surgery Rajesh causes damage to a bone above the knee of Mohan and Pankaj causes damage to his toes. Determine the liability of both Rajesh and Pankaj?
  • A. Rajesh and Pankaj shall be severally liable and shall compensate as per their percentage of damage to Mohan.
  • B. Both of them shall be liable jointly for the damages caused.
  • C. Only Rajesh shall be responsible as he damaged the bone which is a major damage.
  • D. No one shall be held liable.
Answer is B is correct. Several liabilities is when multiple tortfeasors are each held liable individually for the damages caused by them. Thus here Rajesh and Pankaj shall be liable for the damages caused by them individually to Mohan.
Question5:- Jim and Dwight are coming from opposite ends of the road and hit a pedestrian Pam with their car. She suffered injuries and brought a suit against Jim and Dwight. As the suit was pending, Dwight died. Determine the liability of Jim?
  • A. Jim shall be liable only for a part of the damages caused by him.
  • B. Jim shall share the amount of damages with the legal heirs of Dwight.
  • C. As Dwight has already died and Jim and Dwight were jointly liable thus Jim shall pay the whole amount.
  • D. As Dwight has already died and Jim and Dwight were jointly liable thus Jim shall also be absolved of his liability.
Answer is C is correct. Joint liability means that there is more than one defendant liable for the injury of the plaintiff. In joint liability, each defendant is fully liable for the total amount of damages. If one of the defendants is unable to pay or passes away, the other party is liable to pay the full amount.