Index

Master catalog of all wiki pages. Updated on every ingest. Read this first when answering queries.


Overview

PageSummaryUpdated
overviewHigh-level synthesis across all law school subjects2026-04-06

Courses

PageSummaryUpdated
Constitutional LawConLaw — Commerce Clause, Due Process, Equal Protection, First Amendment (Fall 2015)2026-04-06
Contracts IContracts I — formation, consideration, promissory estoppel, breach (Fall 2015)2026-04-06
TortsTorts — negligence, strict liability, intentional torts, products liability (Fall 2015)2026-04-06

Doctrines

PageSummaryUpdated
Anti-Commandeering DoctrineThe federal government cannot compel state legislatures to enact federal re2026-04-08
BatteryIntentional infliction of harmful or offensive contact2026-04-06
Carolene Products Footnote 4Footnote 4 of United States v. Carolene Products Co. (1938), authored by2026-04-08
Commerce ClauseArticle I, § 8, cl. 3 grants Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, amon…2026-04-07
Comparative NegligenceA system that apportions fault between plaintiff and defendant(s) and reduces plaintiff’s damag…2026-04-07
Consequential DamagesSpecial damages for foreseeable losses beyond direct loss — Hadley rule2026-04-06
ConsiderationContract requires bargained-for exchange — promise or act in return for promise2026-04-06
Dormant Commerce ClauseThe Dormant Commerce Clause (DCC) — also called the negative Commerce Claus2026-04-08
Equal ProtectionThe Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause prohibits states from denying any person the…2026-04-07
Expectation DamagesContract remedy puts plaintiff in position as if contract performed2026-04-06
Grand JuryThe Fifth Amendment requires that “[n]o person shall be held to answer for2026-04-08
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED)Extreme and outrageous conduct causing severe emotional distress2026-04-06
Intermediate ScrutinyIntermediate scrutiny (heightened scrutiny) is the standard of judicial review applied to gover…2026-04-07
Lemon Test (Establishment Clause)The Lemon test, derived from Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971), is the traditional2026-04-08
Liquidated DamagesContractual damages clause enforceable if reasonable estimate of loss, not penalty2026-04-06
Mitigation of DamagesInjured party must take reasonable steps to reduce losses after breach2026-04-06
NecessityNecessity (also called “choice of evils”) is a justification defense availa2026-04-08
Negligence Per SeViolation of statute satisfying its purpose establishes breach as matter of law2026-04-06
NegligenceDuty, breach (reasonable person standard), actual cause, proximate cause, damages2026-04-06
NuisanceUnreasonable interference with use and enjoyment of land (private) or public right; balancing test; Boomer damages vs. injunction2026-04-08
Offer and AcceptanceContract formed by definite offer + mirror-image acceptance (or UCC variant)2026-04-06
Preexisting Duty RulePromise to perform existing legal duty lacks consideration2026-04-06
Private NuisanceNon-trespassory invasion of another’s interest in use and enjoyment of land2026-04-06
Products LiabilityManufacturer/seller liability for defective products — design, manufacturing, warning defects2026-04-06
Promissory EstoppelPromise + reasonable reliance + injustice without enforcement → enforceable promise2026-04-06
Proximate CauseLimits liability to foreseeable consequences of negligent act — Palsgraf debate2026-04-06
Res Ipsa LoquiturNegligence inferred from the nature of the accident when defendant had control2026-04-06
Self-DefenseA person is justified in using force against another if they reasonably believe such force is i…2026-04-07
Specific PerformanceEquitable remedy ordering contract performance — for unique goods or land2026-04-06
Statute of FraudsCertain contracts (land, >1 year, suretyship, marriage, UCC >$500) must be in writing2026-04-06
Strict LiabilityLiability without fault — abnormally dangerous activities, wild animals, products2026-04-06
Strict ScrutinyStrict scrutiny is the most demanding standard of judicial review applied to government action…2026-04-07
Substantive Due ProcessThe Due Process Clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments protect certain fundamental libe…2026-04-07
TextualismA theory of statutory interpretation holding that courts should determine a statute’s meaning f…2026-04-07
Unjust EnrichmentQuasi-contractual recovery to prevent unjust enrichment at plaintiff’s expense2026-04-06
Youngstown Jackson Tripartite FrameworkJustice Robert Jackson’s concurrence in *Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Saw2026-04-08

Cases

PageSummaryUpdated
Adams v. BullockNo. The trolley company was not negligent. The risk that a child would swing a long wire that w…2026-04-07
Allegheny County v. ACLUThe crèche inside the courthouse violates the Establishment Clause because2026-04-10
Ardente v. HoranNo. The letter accompanying the signed agreement was a conditional acceptance — it added terms…2026-04-07
Arlington Heights v. Metropolitan Housing Development CorpA facially neutral law or government action does not violate the Equal Prot2026-04-10
Baehr v. Penn-o-TexThe court found for Penn-o-Tex, reasoning that the “promise” was too indefinite and did not con…2026-04-07
Baker v. CarrReapportionment claims raise justiciable questions under the Equal Prote2026-04-09
Barron v. Mayor & City of BaltimoreThe Bill of Rights applies only to the federal government, not to state or2026-04-10
Benn v. ThomasYes. Under the “eggshell skull” (thin-skull) rule, a defendant who causes injury to a plaintiff…2026-04-07
Bethel v. New York City Transit AuthorityThe New York Court of Appeals abolished the heightened common carrier st2026-04-09
BMW of North America, Inc. v. GoreDue process limits on punitive damages; three-guidepost test for review2026-04-10
Bolling v. SharpeYes. Racial segregation in the District of Columbia’s public schools vio2026-04-09
Bond v. United StatesThe Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act does not cover Bond’s co2026-04-10
Boomer v. Atlantic Cement Co.Permanent damages in lieu of injunction for ongoing nuisance2026-04-06
Boumediene v. BushYes. Detainees at Guantanamo Bay have a constitutional right to habeas corp2026-04-10
Brandenburg v. OhioIncitement test — only speech directed to produce imminent lawless action unprotected2026-04-06
Britton v. TurnerYes. A party who has substantially performed and then breached may recover in quantum meruit fo…2026-04-07
Brown v. Board of EducationRacially segregated public schools violate Equal Protection; “separate but equal” overruled2026-04-06
Buckley v. ValeoContribution limits are constitutional (justified by preventing corruption2026-04-10
Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, IncYes on both questions. The Court held RFRA applies to closely held corpo2026-04-08
Byrne v. BoadleYes. The accident itself speaks to negligence. A barrel of flour falling from a building window…2026-04-07
Carter v. KinneyBible study attendee was licensee, not invitee; no commercial benefit to host2026-04-10
Christensen v. SwensonSecurity guard eating lunch at post was within scope of employment; vicarious liability2026-04-10
Citizens United v. FECFirst Amendment bars restrictions on independent corporate political expenditures2026-04-06
Clark v. MarsigliaNo. A party ordered to cease performance must stop work. Continuing to perform after receiving…2026-04-07
Clinton v. City of New YorkThe Supreme Court struck down the Line Item Veto Act six-to-three. The P2026-04-09
Cooley v. Board of WardensPennsylvania’s pilotage law is constitutional. States may regulate local as2026-04-10
Cooper v. AaronNo. State officials are bound by the Supreme Court’s constitutional inte2026-04-09
Craig v. BorenYes. The Oklahoma statute violated the Equal Protection Clause because t2026-04-09
Davies v. MannNo. The Court of Exchequer held for Davies (the plaintiff), finding that2026-04-09
Davis v. JacobyThe offer was bilateral. The court held that when an offer is ambiguous as to whether acceptanc…2026-04-07
Derdiarian v. Felix ContractingNo. The driver’s negligent act was a foreseeable intervening cause — one of the very risks that…2026-04-07
Dillon v. LeggYes. The California Supreme Court held that zone-of-danger was not the c2026-04-09
District of Columbia v. HellerYes. The Supreme Court held, 5–4, that the Second Amendment protects an2026-04-08
Doe v. ManheimerOvergrown vegetation created opportunity for rapist; criminal act was superseding cause2026-04-10
Dougherty v. SaltNo. The note was a voluntary and unenforceable promise to make a gift. The recitation of “value…2026-04-07
Drennan v. Star Paving Co.Promissory estoppel makes subcontractor’s bid irrevocable upon reasonable reliance2026-04-06
Elmore v. American Motors Corp.Strict products liability extends to bystanders injured by defective vehicle2026-04-10
Employment Division v. SmithFree Exercise Clause does not require religious exemptions from neutral, generally applicable laws2026-04-06
Escola v. Coca Cola Bottling Co.Traynor concurrence laying foundation for strict products liability2026-04-06
Estancias Dallas Corp. v. SchultzPrivate nuisance; air conditioner noise; injunction upheld despite abatement cost2026-04-10
Farwell v. KeatonYes. The Michigan Supreme Court held that Siegrist owed a duty of reason2026-04-09
Free Enterprise Fund v. PCAOBDouble-layer for-cause removal protection for executive officers violates Article II2026-04-06
Gala v. HamiltonProfessional negligent misrepresentation; Restatement § 552 limits duty to intended recipients2026-04-10
Garcia v. San Antonio Metropolitan Transit AuthorityYes. National League of Cities v. Usery is overruled. The FLSA applies t2026-04-09
Garratt v. DaileyThe trial court found Brian lacked intent to harm but remanded to determine whether Brian knew…2026-04-07
Geduldig v. AielloNo. California’s exclusion of normal pregnancy from disability coverage doe2026-04-10
Gibbons v. OgdenCongress has broad power to regulate commerce among the states, includin2026-04-09
Gonzales v. RaichCommerce Clause permits regulation of homegrown marijuana as part of broader economic scheme2026-04-06
Green v. County School BoardNo. A freedom-of-choice plan that fails in practice to dismantle the dual s2026-04-10
Greenman v. Yuba Power ProductsYes. A manufacturer is strictly liable in tort when it places on the market a product with a ma…2026-04-07
Groves v. John Wunder Co.Willful breach entitles non-breaching party to cost-of-completion damages2026-04-06
Grutter v. BollingerYes. Justice O’Connor, writing for a 5–4 majority, held that student bod2026-04-08
Hadley v. BaxendaleConsequential damages limited to losses foreseeable at time of contracting2026-04-06
Hamer v. SidwayForbearance from a legal right constitutes valid consideration2026-04-06
Hammer v. DagenhartNo. Congress exceeded its Commerce Clause power. The production of goods —2026-04-10
Hammontree v. JennerNo. The court refused to apply strict liability. Negligence, not strict liability, is the appro…2026-04-07
Hanks v. Powder Ridge Restaurant Corp.Exculpatory clause unenforceable; recreational business cannot exculpate against own negligence2026-04-10
Hoffman v. Red Owl StoresPromissory estoppel applies to pre-contractual negotiations even without final agreement2026-04-06
Hustler Magazine v. FalwellNo. The First Amendment bars public figures from recovering for IIED for parody or satire that…2026-04-07
Hymowitz v. Eli Lilly and CoThe New York Court of Appeals adopted a market share liability theory, a2026-04-09
Indiana Harbor Belt RR v. American CyanamidNo. Judge Posner held that shipping acrylonitrile through Chicago is not abnormally dangerous f…2026-04-07
INS v. ChadhaLegislative veto unconstitutional — bicameralism and presentment required2026-04-06
Jacob & Youngs, Inc. v. KentSubstantial performance doctrine — trivial innocent deviation gives diminution in value, not replacement cost2026-04-06
Kirksey v. KirkseyThe court reversed the trial court’s verdict for plaintiff, holding for defendant. The brother’…2026-04-07
Kitchen v. HerringSpecific performance is available. Land is unique — every parcel is different — so damages are…2026-04-07
Korematsu v. United StatesNo. The Supreme Court upheld the exclusion order, 6–3, holding that raci2026-04-08
Laclede Gas Co. v. Amoco OilYes. Specific performance is available. The court rejected the argument that the contract was i…2026-04-07
Lee v. WeismanYes. Government-directed prayer at a public school graduation ceremony viol2026-04-10
Lefkowitz v. Great Minneapolis Surplus StoreA sufficiently definite advertisement can constitute a binding offer2026-04-06
Lemon v. KurtzmanYes. Both statutes violated the Establishment Clause because they create2026-04-09
Lochner v. New YorkYes. The Supreme Court, 5–4, struck down the New York law as an illegiti2026-04-08
Loving v. VirginiaAnti-miscegenation laws unconstitutional; marriage is a fundamental right2026-04-06
Lujan v. Defenders of WildlifeThree-part Article III standing test; speculative future harm insufficient2026-04-06
MacPherson v. Buick Motor CoYes. When a manufacturer places into commerce a product that is inherently dangerous if neglige…2026-04-07
Marbury v. MadisonEstablishes judicial review — courts’ power to strike down unconstitutional legislation2026-04-06
Marsh v. ChambersNo. Legislative prayer does not violate the Establishment Clause because th2026-04-10
Martin v. HerzogYes to both. Violation of a statutory safety standard is negligence per se — the jury has no di…2026-04-07
Martin v. Hunter’s LesseeSupreme Court has appellate jurisdiction over state court federal law decisions2026-04-06
Martin v. Reynolds Metals CoYes. An invasion of a party’s possessory interest in land by particles — even microscopic ones…2026-04-07
Mathias v. Accor Economy LodgingPunitive damages; hotel knowingly rented room with bedbugs; Posner economic deterrence analysis2026-04-10
McCulloch v. MarylandImplied powers under Necessary and Proper Clause; federal supremacy bars state taxation2026-04-06
McDonald v. City of ChicagoYes. The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for the purpose of2026-04-09
McDougald v. PerryYes. A spare tire does not ordinarily escape from a tractor-trailer without negligence in the m…2026-04-07
Mills v. WymanStub — to be completed.2026-04-11
Missouri v. HollandYes. The treaty power in Article II, Section 2 is not limited by the Ten2026-04-09
Morrison v. OlsonIndependent counsel statute upheld; for-cause removal of inferior officer does not violate Article II2026-04-06
Murphy v. Steeplechase Amusement Co.Judge Benjamin Cardozo held for the defendant. Murphy assumed the risk o2026-04-08
Neri v. Retail Marine CorpRetail Marine was entitled to retain lost profits plus incidental damages. As a volume seller (…2026-04-07
New York Times Co. v. SullivanYes. The First Amendment prohibits a public official from recovering dam2026-04-09
New York v. United StatesNo. The Supreme Court held, 6–3, that the take-title provision was uncon2026-04-08
NFIB v. SebeliusACA individual mandate invalid under Commerce Clause but saved as a tax2026-04-06
Nixon v. United StatesThe Senate’s power to “try” impeachments under Article I is a nonjusticiabl2026-04-10
NLRB v. Noel CanningThe Recess Appointments Clause applies to intrasession recesses and to vaca2026-04-10
O’Brien v. CunardO’Brien consented by holding out her arm. The surgeon was entitled to rely on objective manifes…2026-04-07
Palsgraf v. Long Island RailroadProximate cause / duty owed only to foreseeable plaintiffs (Cardozo vs. Andrews)2026-04-06
Parker v. 20th Century Fox Film Corp.Employee need not accept different or inferior work to mitigate wrongful discharge damages2026-04-06
Perez v. Wyeth LaboratoriesLearned intermediary doctrine inapplicable to direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising2026-04-10
Philadelphia v. New JerseyYes. New Jersey’s waste import ban is facially discriminatory against out-o2026-04-10
Picard v. Barry Pontiac-BuickYes. The employee’s intentional touching of the camera held by Picard constituted battery. Cont…2026-04-07
Posecai v. Wal-Mart StoresBalancing test for duty to protect invitees from third-party crime; foreseeability analysis2026-04-10
Printz v. United StatesNo. The Supreme Court held, 5–4, that the Brady Act’s interim provision2026-04-08
Randi W. v. Muroc Joint Unified School DistrictSchool district’s favorable recommendation of molester owed duty to foreseeable victims2026-04-10
RAV v. City of St. PaulYes. The ordinance is facially unconstitutional because it regulates speech2026-04-10
Reid v. CovertNo. The Constitution’s Bill of Rights prevails over executive agreements wi2026-04-10
Reynolds v. SimsYes. The Equal Protection Clause demands that seats in both chambers of2026-04-09
Romer v. EvansYes. Colorado’s Amendment 2 violated the Equal Protection Clause because2026-04-09
Rowland v. ChristianAbolished licensee/invitee/trespasser categories; general reasonable care for all entrants2026-04-10
Rylands v. FletcherYes. A person who brings onto his land something likely to do mischief if it escapes must keep…2026-04-07
SEC v. W.J. Howey Co.Four-part Howey test defines “investment contract” and what is a security2026-04-06
Seffert v. Los Angeles Transit LinesLarge pain and suffering award affirmed; jury discretion in noneconomic damages2026-04-10
Sherbert v. VernerNo. Denying unemployment benefits to Sherbert for refusing Saturday work su2026-04-10
Simonsen v. ThorinNo affirmative duty to rescue stranger absent special relationship or causation of peril2026-04-10
Sindell v. Abbott LaboratoriesMarket share liability for DES — burden shifted to defendants in fungible-product causation2026-04-06
Snyder v. PhelpsYes. The First Amendment protects Westboro’s speech on public land on matters of public concern…2026-04-07
South Dakota v. DoleYes. The Supreme Court upheld the condition as a valid exercise of the S2026-04-08
Spano v. PeriniYes. New York adopted strict liability for blasting operations — any harm caused by a blasting…2026-04-07
Sparks v. GustafsonYes. Sparks was entitled to compensation for the reasonable value of his services under unjust…2026-04-07
Spur Industries, Inc. v. Del E. Webb Development Co.The court held the feedlot was a public nuisance and granted the injunct2026-04-08
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Campbell145:1 punitive ratio excessive; single-digit ratio presumptively valid under due process2026-04-10
State Rubbish Collectors Ass’n v. SiliznoffYes. Recovery for intentional infliction of severe emotional distress is available even without…2026-04-07
Summers v. TiceAlternative liability — burden of causation shifts to two negligent defendants2026-04-06
Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of CaliforniaTherapist has duty to warn identifiable third parties of patient’s violent threats2026-04-06
Tedla v. EllmanNo, not in these circumstances. When a safety statute’s violation occurred because compliance w…2026-04-07
Texas v. JohnsonYes. Flag burning is expressive conduct protected by the First Amendment2026-04-09
Thing v. La ChusaNo. The California Supreme Court restricted the Dillon v. Legg framework2026-04-09
Trimarco v. KleinCustom as evidence of standard of care; failure to use safety glass; custom not conclusive2026-04-10
Truck Rent-a-Center v. Puritan FarmsThe liquidated damages clause was enforceable. At the time of contracting, the parties could no…2026-04-07
United States v. Carroll Towing Co.Hand formula (B < PL) for determining negligence / breach of duty of care2026-04-06
United States v. LopezFirst Commerce Clause limit in 60 years — gun possession near schools not economic activity2026-04-06
United States v. MorrisonNo. Gender-motivated violence is not economic activity and does not subs2026-04-09
United States v. O’BrienNo. The anti-draft-card-burning statute is constitutional. The government h2026-04-10
United States v. VirginiaYes. VMI’s male-only admissions policy violated the Equal Protection Cla2026-04-09
United States v. WindsorYes. DOMA § 3 is unconstitutional as a deprivation of the liberty of the pe2026-04-10
Vincent v. Lake Erie Transportation Co.Private necessity is qualified privilege — actor liable for damage caused despite justification2026-04-06
Wagon Mound IA defendant is liable only for damage of the type that was reasonably foreseeable as a conseque…2026-04-07
Warner v. McLayThe owner is entitled to the cost of completion (what it costs to finish the work with a substi…2026-04-07
Washington v. DavisNo. The Supreme Court held that discriminatory impact alone does not tri2026-04-08
Watts v. WattsYes. The unmarried cohabitant may pursue claims based on express or implied contract, as well a…2026-04-07
Webb v. McGowinYes. The Alabama Court of Appeals held the promise enforceable. Where a promisee has previously…2026-04-07
West Lynn Creamery v. HealyYes. The combined effect of the assessment and subsidy scheme is protection2026-04-10
Wheeler v. WhitePromissory estoppel is available even when the underlying promise is too indefinite to constitu…2026-04-07
White v. BenkowskiContract damages limited to economic loss — no punitive damages or mental distress2026-04-06
Wickard v. FilburnYes. Congress may regulate Filburn’s home-grown wheat because, when view2026-04-09
Williamson v. Lee OpticalNo. The Oklahoma law survives rational basis review because a legislature c2026-04-10
Wishnatsky v. HueyDoor closing on arm; de minimis contact not battery; objective offensiveness standard2026-04-10
Womack v. EldridgeYes. The Virginia Supreme Court adopted the tort of intentional infliction of emotional distres…2026-04-07
Wood v. Lucy, Lady Duff-GordonImplied reasonable-efforts obligation prevents contract from being illusory2026-04-06
Ybarra v. SpangardYes. When a plaintiff suffers injury during an operation while under anesthesia, and the injury…2026-04-07
Yick Wo v. HopkinsYes. Even though the San Francisco ordinance was neutral on its face, it2026-04-09
Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. SawyerNo. The Supreme Court held, 6–3, that the steel seizure was unconstituti2026-04-08
Zivotofsky v. KerryYes. The recognition of foreign states and governments is an exclusively ex2026-04-10

Statutes

PageSummaryUpdated
UCC Article 2Sales of goods — firm offers, battle of forms, perfect tender, warranties, buyer/seller remedies2026-04-06