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    Question

    What does the principle of novus actus interveniens refer to in tort law?

    A The act of compensating a plaintiff for all damages resulting from the defendant's original wrongful act Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    B A situation where the defendant is automatically held liable for all consequences of their actions, regardless of foreseeability Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    C The occurrence of a new and independent act that breaks the chain of causation between the defendant's original act and the plaintiff's harm Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    D The principle that a defendant can only be held liable if the harm was a direct result of their negligence Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    E The legal requirement for a plaintiff to prove that the defendant’s actions were the sole cause of their harm Correct Answer Incorrect Answer

    Solution

    The principle of novus actus interveniens refers to the occurrence of a new and intervening act that breaks the chain of causation between the defendant's original wrongful act and the plaintiff's harm. For the defendant to be held liable in tort, the harm must be a reasonably foreseeable consequence of their actions. If a new and independent act occurs that was not foreseeable by the defendant, it may be considered a novus actus interveniens, and the defendant may be relieved of liability.

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