duty of care
(redirected from ordinary care)Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Wikipedia.
Related to ordinary care: Standard of care
duty of care
n. a requirement that a person act toward others and the public with watchfulness, attention, caution and prudence that a reasonable person in the circumstances would. If a person's actions do not meet this standard of care, then the acts are considered negligent, and any damages resulting may be claimed in a lawsuit for negligence. (See: negligence, standard of care)
Copyright © 1981-2005 by Gerald N. Hill and Kathleen T. Hill. All Right reserved.
duty of care
1 the mechanism used in the law of tort or delict to determine when a person may be liable. Normally, reasonable foreseeability of physical harm will create a duty, but restrictions exist in cases of economic loss, nervous shock and other more unusual harms. The concept is practically useful in separating out and explaining cases of non-liability where there is a mistake or error or bungle that causes a loss to the plaintiff yet there is no liability. See also CULPA, NEGLIGENCE.
2 in relation to persons who import produce, carry, keep or dump waste and waste-brokers, the obligation to take all such measures as are reasonable, among other things, to prevent the unlawful management of waste, prevent the escape of waste and to ensure waste is transferred to an authorized person. Failure to meet the duty is a criminal offence.
Collins Dictionary of Law © W.J. Stewart, 2006