Neighbors: Film Summary

FILM REVIEW: NEIGHBOURS

SUBJECT: LAW OF TORTS

SUBMITTED TO: PROF. ARUNA VENKAT

National Academy of Legal Studies and Research University of Law,

Hyderabad.

SUBMITTED BY: MRUDULA KARUMANCHI,

B.A., LLB. 1ST YEAR,

1ST SEMESTER,

ROLL NO. 2015-22.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

I. Introduction: 3

II. Synopsis of the movie: 4

III. Analysis: 5

1. Nuisance: 6

 Elements of Nuisance: 6

 Scene in the movie: 6

 Case laws: 7

2. Trespass to land: 8

 Elements of Trespass: 8

 Scenes in the movie: 8

 Case: 9

3. Battery: 9

 Elements of Battery: 10

 Scenes in the movie: 10

 Case A: 10

 Case B: 11

IV. American tort law: 12

V. Conclusion: 12 I. Introduction:

‘Neighbors’ is a American comedy film. It is directed by Nicholas Stoller and written by Andrew Cohen

Tort is a civil wrong which is different from a crime. Crime is against the public or society and the person who commits crime is punished in the form of imprisonment or fine or both whereas in tort the action is brought by an individual.

The essential constituents of tort are: 1) Wrongful act; 2) Damage (legal or actual); 3) Legal remedy. II. Synopsis of the movie:

In this movie the main characters Mac and Kelly Radner are a young couple. They have a newborn daughter, Stella. The couple, to their surprise finds out one morning that a fraternity called ‘Delta Psi Beta’ has moved into their adjacent house. Usually a fraternity is the union or association of men in a brotherhood often dedicated to some cause. This fraternity is known for their outrageous parties with loud music and they burned down their previous house.

By entering on the land of plaintiff without justification.

2. By remaining there without justification.

3. By doing an act affecting the sole possession of plaintiff without justification.

 Scenes in the movie:

A. In a scene in the movie, the Delta Psi fraternity dumps their garbage into the garden of their neighbors, the Radners without any lawful justification. They dump their garbage in order to annoy their neighbors intentionally. The act is affecting the sole possession of plaintiff without justification (the third type). This act is trespass to land because:

i. The Radner couple (Mac and Kelly) has the exclusive possession of their house which also includes their garden. Possession of the property is enough in trespass but not the title. ii. There is a constructive entry by dumping garbage. Every interference by deliberate placement of matter (tangible or intangible) with the land of another is constructive entry. For example, throwing stones, releasing fumes.

Wrongful act: Dumping the garbage.

Damage: Invasion of private property.

Remedy: When an action for trespass is brought against the wrong doer he might get