B. Elements

• Library: Elements of Civil Causes of Action (SCBar) (2021 Ed.)

B. Elements

In order to recover in any negligence action, the plaintiff must show:

(1) a duty of care owed by the defendant to the plaintiff
(2) a breach of that duty by a negligent act or omission
(3) damages proximately resulting from the breach.³

Sometimes the damages element is separated from proximate causation to create four elements.⁴

--------

Notes:

^[3] Crolley v. Hutchins, 300 S.C. 355, 387 S.E.2d 716 (Ct. App. 1989); South Carolina Ins. Co. v. James C. Greene & Co., 290 S.C. 171, 348 S.E.2d 617...