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Zittrain Torts Playlist Spring 2013

Barbara A. v. John G.

How should the court evaluate defenses that come from different sources of law? Defendant—an attorney—represented the plaintiff in matters related to a divorce. During his representation of the plaintiff, defendant tricked the plaintiff into engaging in sexual intercourse by suggesting that he was sterile. Plaintiff became pregnant, and eventually underwent surgery to save her life when the pregnancy was discovered to have severe complications. As a result of the surgery, plaintiff’s Fallopian tube was removed and she was thereby rendered sterile.