The archives of the University of Richmond School of Law includes a collection of exams, primarily torts exams given by Professor (and eventually Dean) William Taylor Muse, that date from the 1920s to 1971. This collection is part of a donation made in May 2004 by Dean Muse's son, William M. Muse. The exams are examples of how law students were tested over the course of fifty years and reflect how much, or even how little, things have changed.
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T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond: Torts I Exam, 16 Dec 1939
University of Richmond
This Torts I exam, given by Professor William T. Muse in December 16, 1939, begins with the following question:
At a rural high school field day A and B are leading by six yards a field of ten contestants in the 100 yard three-legged race. C, seeing A end B just ten feet from the ribbon and desiring to prevent them from winning the $10 cash prize, trips A causing both A and B to fall as a result of which A's arm is broken. Unknown to everyone, the bone in A's arm is diseased and very brittle. A and B come in second. C, in an effort to escape, instinctively whirls to run through the crowd of onlookers and, in doing so, knocks a lighted cigar from F's mouth causing it to set fire to the blanket in which F's sleeping baby was wrapped while being held by its father. The fire was quickly extinguished after it had slightly damaged the blanket. What tort or torts, if any, have been committed by C? Why?
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T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond: Torts I Exam, 25 Jan 1939
University of Richmond
This Torts I exam, given by Professor William T. Muse on January 25, 1939, begins with this question:
Jesse, who was armed with an unloaded pistol, pointed it at James and said, "If you pay me the $5 you owe me, I'll not shoot". James, who did not know whether the pistol was loaded or not, struck at Jesse with a heavy cane, whereupon Jesse, believing that he could not safely escape the blow by retreating, struck James over the head with the butt of the pistol, knocking him unconscious. James in fact owed Jesse $5. Discuss the liability each to the other.
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T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond: Torts II Exam, 24 May 1939
University of Richmond
This Torts II exam, given by Professor William T. Muse on May 24, 1939, begins with the question:
Anthony buys Blackacre on which there are old shade trees close to the road, some of them in such condition that they may be expected to fall at any time. Six months later, one of these is blown down in a very heavy unseasonable storm. The tree falls 100 feet in front of Brutus who is driving his car at a rate of 60 miles per hour in order to get aid for Caesar who has been severely hurt. Brutus is unable to stop in time to avoid running into the tree. He is hurt and Caesar is thereby deprived of aid. Discuss Anthony's liability, if any, to Brutus and Caesar.
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T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond: Torts I Exam, 23 Jul 1938
University of Richmond
This Torts I exam, given by Professor William T. Muse on July 23, 1938, begins with the following question:
Nelson was being sought by local police for the kidnapping and murder of a small girl. Posing as a college boy selling bibles, he was permitted to spend the night in Horatio's house. Just as Nelson was leaving the next morning he saw an armed mob approaching looking for him. Nelson, in fear of his life, re-entered the house, locked the door, and refused to obey Horatio's command to leave at once. The mob threw rocks through the windows, but fired no shots. Hortense, Horatio's wife, for fear it would be thought that they had knowingly harbored a criminal, became frightened and fainted. Finally, Horatio succeeded in forcing Nelson out of the back door. Nelson was seized by the mob but escaped with minor bruises. What are the rights and liabilities of Horatio, Nelson, and Hortense inter se?
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T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond: Torts I Exam, 27 Jan 1938
University of Richmond
This Torts I exam, given by Professor William T. Muse on January 27, 1938, begins with this question:
At a rural high school field day A and B are leading by six yards a field of ten contestants in the 100 yard three-legged race. C, seeing A end B just ten feet
from the ribbon and desiring to prevent them from winning the $10 cash prize, trips A causing both A and B to fall as a result of which A's arm is broken. Unknown to everyone, the bone in A's arm is diseased and very brittle. A and B come in second. C, in an effort to escape, instinctively whirls to run through the crowd of onlookers and, in doing so, knocks a lighted cigar from F's mouth causing it to set fire to the blanket in which F's sleeping baby was wrapped while being held by its father. The fire was quickly extinguished after it had slightly damaged the blanket. What tort or torts, if any, have been committed by C? Why? -
T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond: Torts II Exam, 24 May 1938
University of Richmond
This Torts II exam, given by Professor William T. Muse, begins with this question:
Wallace was slowly driving his hay wagon, in which he had place a large steel grain bin the top of which was about 12 feet above the level of the highway. Wallace had beside him on the seat a loaded rifle. Jingle Company's telephone wire strung across the highway, which had sagged very low, came in contact with the grain bin and caused the wagon to be upset, throwing Wallace to the ground and dislocating his collar bone. In falling, the bin struck the rifle and it was discharged. The bullet entered Wallace's chest and he was severely wounded. Wallace brings an action against Jingle. At the trial, it appeared that shortly before the accident Wallace had jumped off the wagon to get a shot at a rabbit and that he had planned to shoot some wolves in a field toward which he was going. Wallace admitted, however, that he had no hunting license as required by the law. Discuss Jingle's liability for Wallace's injuries.
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T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond: Torts I Exam, 29 Jan 1937
University of Richmond
This Torts I exam, given by Professor William T. Muse on January 29, 1937, begins with the following question:
Plaintiff and her husband were employed by defendant in household service. At
ten o'clock in the evening, plaintiff's husband had some words with defendant who waved a dagger at him and ordered him to leave. Defendant then proceeded to get out a loaded revolver. Coming down a stairway, defendant met plaintiff, who was coming from the kitchen and, pointing the revolver at her shouted, "Mary get right out of my house or I will shoot you dead." The statement was repeated. Defendant then called a policemen. As a result of all this plaintiff suffers illness. May she recover from defendant? (Ross v. Michael (Mass ., 1923) 140 N.E. 292). -
T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond: Torts II Exam, 25 May 1937
University of Richmond
This Torts II exam, given by Professor William T. Muse on May 25, 1937, begins with this question:
Albert, the driver of a heavy horse-drawn van, left his horses standing un- hitched and unattended in a busy city street. Bert, a boy of ten, who was playing in the street, struck one of the horses with a stick, causing the team to run away. Cabot, a fireman off duty, seeing the horses and van running away, unsuccessfully tried to stop them and was seriously injured. Dora, standing inside of a department store looking through a large plate glass window, sees Cabot injured and the horses continue on their way. This causes excitement and anxiety on the part of Dora which two weeks later results in a miscarriage. What, if any, are the rights of Cabot? What, if any, are the rights of Dora?
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T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond: Torts I Exam, 30 Jan 1936
University of Richmond
This Torts I exam, given by Professor William T. Muse on January 30, 1936, begins with the following question:
1. D, a dentist, gave P, a patient, gas to extract a certain wisdom tooth. D made a mistake and had his pliers on another tooth when P, still under the influence of the gas, leaped from the chair and ran amuck, breaking $5 worth of dental equipment. D, to protect himself from bodily injury, and his dental equipment from further damage, pushed P through an open window, 4 feet above the lawn. P landed on C's flower bed, breaking his own arm and destroying $3 worth of C' s flowers. Discuss the rights of D, P, and C.
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T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond: Torts II Exam, 26 May 1936
University of Richmond
This Torts II exam, given by Professor William T. Muse on May 26, 1936, begins with this question:
A, the attendant at a gasoline filling station, in filling the tank of B's model-T Ford car, in B's absence, splashes gasoline over the cushions. B starts without knowing this, and a few moments later the cushions catch fire from a spark dropped from his pipe. B smothers the fire, as he supposes, and drives his car into C's garage. While in the office there, the fire, which was not in fact out, blazes up, destroys B's car, C's garage, and the neighboring building of D. What, if any, is the liability of A and B?
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T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond: Torts I Exam, 28 Jan 1935
University of Richmond
This exam, heavily annotated, was given on January 28, 1935. It begins with the following question:
Blackacre was owned by Buck who kept and trained wild animals for the circus on a portion thereof. The remaining portion was occupied by Buck and his paramour and housekeeper, Ida. Dare, an expert parachute jumper, while giving a twilight exhibition, reasonably mistook Blackacre to be the adjoining exhibition field and jumped from his plane. He was headed toward the menagerie when fortunately the wind unexpectedly changed, diverted his course, and caused him to land in Buck's vineyard. In landing Dare was stripped of all his clothing. While exploring in the darkness Dare learned that his only means of escape was through the animal lot. In the meantime Buck discovered the parachute and placed it on his straw hut as a covering. Dare later discovered the hut, aroused Buck, and demanded of him the parachute to use as clothing in order that he might return home. Upon Buck's refusal Dare took from beneath Ida's head a suit of clothes belonging to Buck which was being used by her as a pillow, but before Dare could escape Buck grabbed him. Dare landed a severe blow on Buck's stomach causing him to fall helpless to the floor. The fall awakened Ida who intervened, recovered the suit, and set an apparently dangerous but entirely harmless bull dog on Dare, who took flight and reached home, two miles distant, unnoticed and unharmed by the animals. Discuss the rights and liabilities of the parties.
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T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond: Torts II Exam, 30 May 1935
University of Richmond
This Torts II exam, given on May 30, 1935, begins with the following question:
1. Defendant manufactures and sells its product known in the trade as ''Eskimo
Pie" to dealers to whom it also furnishes a small cake of dry ice, in a paper bag, for refrigeration. In replenishing a dealer's supply one morning, Defendant took the bag containing the dry ice which was left the previous day and threw it into the street. The bag contained a small block of unevaporated dry ice about one-half inch square. Plaintiff, age 6, and other children were playing nearby and saw "smoke" coming from the mouth of the bag. After removing the ice from the bag and playing with it for a time, Plaintiff put it into a citrate of magnesia bottle, partly filled with water, and clamped the lever top down and began to shake it. About then Plaintiff's sister, age 15, saw Plaintiff and, remembering that he had been cautioned against playing with bottles, ordered him to throw it away. He did not obey, and the sister came from the house and forcibly took the bottle which exploded in her hands seriously injuring Plaintiff and herself. Is Defendant liable to Plaintiff and his sister? (N.B. "Dry ice" is CO2 in solid form. At ordinary temperatures, CO2 is in gaseous state, but by applying pressure, it may be liquefied and in turn solidified. At normal temperatures, dry ice changes from solid to gas, and increasingly so when placed in water and agitated. In transition from solid to gas, its volume increases 500 times.) -
T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond: Torts II Exam, 28 Jul 1934
University of Richmond
This Torts II exam, given on July 28, 1934, begins with the question:
1. At a busy intersection two motorists, Austin and Buick, both driving negligently, collided. Austin was thrown senseless into the street. Buick was badly shaken up but not otherwise hurt. Buick's guest, Cherry, was also thrown out and rendered helpless by a broken leg. Dodge, driving a bus, could have seen the collision in time to stop, but his attention was momentarily diverted by some incident on the sidewalk. When he did observe the effect of the collision it was too late to avoid running over the men. In the latter accident Austin received a broken leg, Cherry was killed, and Buick, who at the time was endeavoring to drag Cherry to the sidewalk, also received injuries. Discuss the tort liability of the several parties.
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T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond: Torts I Exam, 21 Jan 1933
University of Richmond
This Torts I exam was given on January 21, 1933. Students were given three hours and asked to give a full explanation for all conclusions. This exam begins with the following question:
I. Ale, canoeing up a river, landed on an island owned by Bottle. Bottle found the empty canoe on the shore and cast it adrift. When Ale discovered this, he went to Bottle and demanded that Bottle lend him a row boat to enable him to get across to the mainland, a quarter mile away. Upon Bottle's refusal, Ale jumped in Bottle's row boat, but before he could cast off Bottle grabbed him and pulled him out of the boat. Ale landed a severe blow on Bottle's jaw, knocking him unconscious. Cork, Bottle's son, intervened at this point with a shot gun and began firing at Ale, who took flight and swam across to the mainland.
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T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond: Torts I Exam, 22 May 1933
University of Richmond
This exam was given on May 20, 1933. Students were allowed three hours and were instructed to give full explanations for their answers. The exam begins with the following question:
1. D shoots at P intending to kill him. The bullet misses P and strikes and destroys a costly vase belonging to M which is being carried by S. P was not aware of the incident until some hours later. S was greatly startled but not in fear of harm to his person, and he was in no wise physically injured. What are the rights of P, M, and S respectively against D? Why?
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T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond: Torts II Exam, 27 May 1933
University of Richmond
This Torts II exam, given on May 27, 1993, begins with the following question:
1. The Ace Wheel Co., a manufacturer of automobile wheels, has extensively advertised the fact that the King Motor Co. uses its wheels. The Ace Co. sold some wheels to King Co. which it installed in its cars. A particular wheel, installed
in one of the King cars, was defective, the defect being due to the careless work
of the employees of the Ace Co. who assembled the wheel. The defect could have been discovered by the King Motor Co. had it used reasonable care in inspecting the wheel before it was placed on the car. The car was sold by the King Co. to the Queen Distributing Co., whose business it was to buy and sell new cars, including the King cars, to supply the local demand. The car was purchased by the Dimono Cigarette Co. and, according to the annual custom was presented to Jack, the home run king of the local baseball club. Jack says to Vulnerable, a friend who is present, "If you'll go with me, we'll try it out." Vulnerable assents. They drive out, Vulnerable soon falls asleep. While driving carefully, Jack's car collides with a car which is being carelessly driven by Honors, the impact causing the defective wheel to collapse, which it would not have done had it not been defective. The collision injures the occupants of the King car and also a bystander, Rubber. What are the rights and liabilities of all the parties? Why? Trace the history and development of the doctrine suggested by the possible liability of the King Co. to Jack. -
T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond: Torts I Exam, 26 Jan 1932
University of Richmond
This Torts I exam, given on January 26, 1932, begins with the following question:
1. A, mistakenly believing B to be his friend C, suddenly approaches B with his right hand in his coat pocket clutching a banana which is pointed toward B. B, under the impression that he is being attacked, instinctively swings a heavy cane at A, knocking him down and also knocking the hat from the head of D, who unexpectedly comes around the corner. E, seeing the fracas, tries to preserve peace, but is injured in the ensuing fight between A and B. F, a passerby, faints on account of fear. Discuss the liability of A, B and E.
(b) Discuss fully when and to what extent one is privileged to defend a third person.
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T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond: Torts I Exam, 8 Sept 1932
University of Richmond
This Torts I exam, given on September 8, 1932, begins with the following question:
l. A and B are playing golf. C, A's caddy, is inattentive, making A angry. A, intending to frighten C, aims a blow at him with a new golf club which he stops about six inches from C's head. C instinctively places D, B's caddy, in front of him to protect himself from the blow and in doing so knocks a club from B's hand. The head of A's golf club flies off striking a nearby tree and rebounding against C, putting his eye out. C's mother who is looking on becomes hysterical because her son's eye has been put out. Which torts, if any, against whom, and in whose favor, have been committed?
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T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond: Torts II Exam, 23 May 1932
University of Richmond
This Torts II exam, given on May 23, 1932, begins with the following question:
l. A leases a building to B. The lease contains a covenant binding
the landlord to make both external and internal repairs. During the possession of the tenant, B, a slight fire injures the wall which abuts upon a public highway. The tenant, B, notifies A to repair. A fails to do so. In consequence the wall collapses injuring B, who is a traveler upon the adjacent highway, and Y who is a social guest of B sitting in the front room. What are the rights of the parties? Discuss fully. -
T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond: Partnership Exam, 4 May 1921
University of Richmond
This exam was given in May 1921, most likely by Professor C. M. Chichester, who was then the Professor of Domestic Relations, Master and Servant, Agency, Insurance, Partnership, Evidence, Conflict of Laws, Code Changes, Statute Law, and Legal History, according to the law school's 1920-1921 catalogue. The exam begins with this question:
I. (a). What is meant by the "Uniform Partnership Act?" (b) About when was this Act adopted in Virginia? (c). How many times, if any, have you read the said Act through?