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Weirum v. RKO General, Inc.
Duty Owed
Every person in society owes a general duty of care to avoid harm to the interests of other persons. This means that we all have an obligation not to engage in activities creating an unreasonable risk of injury to innocent parties or their property. If we fail to meet this duty, then we will be liable for the damage we cause. When we are driving our cars or watering the plants on our balconies for instance, we have a duty to do so in a safe manner so that the car does not crash, or the plant does not fall onto a pedestrian walking below. As the following case demonstrates, this duty can be far reaching, including actions that induce others to behave recklessly.
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