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 Tort-Duty-Essential Element
(Coldwell Banker )

Tort Legal Duty-Essential Element
(Coldwell Banker)

B

Duty

            "A tort, whether intentional or negligent, involves a violation of a legal duty, imposed by statute, contract or otherwise, owed by the defendant to the person injured."  (5 Witkin, Summary of Cal. Law (9th ed. 1988) Torts, § 6, p. 61; Romero v. Superior Court (2001) 89 Cal.App.4th 1068, 1078.)  Without such a duty, any injury is injury without wrong.  (5 Witkin, supra, § 6, p. 61; Quelimane Co. v. Stewart Title Guaranty Co. (1998) 19 Cal.4th 26, 57-58 [duty is threshold element of cause of action for negligence].)  "The existence and scope of duty are legal questions for the court."  (Merrill v. Navegar, Inc. (2001) 26 Cal.4th 465, 477; Ann M. v. Pacific Plaza Shopping Center (1993) 6 Cal.4th 666, 674.)

            To state a cause of action for any of the tort claims alleged—negligence, nuisance or intentional infliction of emotional distress—Marcos must show Coldwell Banker owed him a duty of care.  "Duty" is simply " 'an expression of the sum total of those considerations of policy which lead the law to say that the particular plaintiff is entitled to protection.' "  (Dillon v. Legg (1968) 68 Cal.2d 728, 734.)  "Courts, however, have invoked the concept of duty to limit generally 'the otherwise potentially infinite liability which would follow from every negligent act . . . .' "  (Thompson v. County of Alameda (1980) 27 Cal.3d 741, 750.)

            The existence of duty here arises in the context of a real estate transaction.  "Real estate brokers are subject to two sets of duties: those imposed by regulatory statutes, and those arising from the general law of agency.  [Citation.]"  (Carleton v. Tortosa (1993) 14 Cal.App.4th 745, 755; Padgett v. Phariss (1997) 54 Cal.App.4th 1270, 1279.)  Marcos does not, nor could he, attempt to enforce any obligation based on agency principles.  Instead, he claims Coldwell Banker breached its statutory duty to him under section 2079.

Coldwell Banker v. Super. Ct. (SALAZAR) Mar 29 2004-CA4/1-D042574
 

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