1.4 Fundamental Elements Constituting a Tort

The plaintiff's four-step ladder (the exam's core): 1. Duty — the law's obligation (the neighbour principle's frame: the reasonable foreseeability of harm to those closely affected — the famous "neighbour" formulation's line). 2. Breach — the standard's failure (the reasonable person's test — the objective standard). 3. Causation — the factual (the "but-for" test) and the legal (the remoteness-and-foreseeability screens) links. 4. Damage — the legally-recognised harm (the interest's protection — the recognised heads). The defences' gate (U2.3): the elements negated or excused — the wrong's justification faces.