2012 “Spot the Tort” Contest with my 1Ls at the University of Memphis law school:

This guy was riding in the back of the truck on I-240 going 70 mph.  Can’t say if he made it to his destination, but I haven’t heard anything to the contrary on the news. — Meelad Hanna

2012 “Spot the Tort” Contest with my 1Ls at the University of Memphis law school:

This tort waiting to happen has been staring me right in the face all along. This is the man-made stream that runs through my apartment complex. Lots of kids, most of them fairly young, play on the grassy area on its banks. The water’s probably not more than a foot deep, but I’ve heard kids aren’t very smart and can drown in an inch of water. — Natalie Worlow

2012 “Spot the Tort” Contest with my 1Ls at the University of Memphis law school:

Traffic lights are out at one of busiest intersections in downtown Memphis, Danny Thomas and A.W. Willis. (The camera made the scene look brighter than it was.)

Memphis PD are sitting in the turn lanes and off to the side outside of the lit areas with all lights off, not even running lights. Instead of directing traffic at the intersection, the police were watching drivers go through the intersection then pulling them over to give them tickets. On multiple occasions I witnessed, thankfully, near misses. — Rob Clapper

2012 “Spot the Tort” Contest with my 1Ls at the University of Memphis law school:

This just seems like a bad situation waiting to happen. I’m not sure if it’s a tort but it seems like someone is going to get hurt. This bench is at bus stop across from the law school. — Rachel Cade

McClurg note: Yes, I would say this is definitely a potential tort, assuming the city had actual or constructive notice of it.  In fact, “a bad situation waiting to happen” is a good way to describe a potential tort.

2012 “Spot the Tort” Contest with my 1Ls at the University of Memphis law school:

This truck was completely stopped and stuck on the curb, which is why I had a chance to take the picture. The quality is not the best, but the brake lights are not only broken they are smashed out. Also, nothing in the bed of the trailer is strapped down!

I was waiting for one of the plastic poles on the side to roll off. Then I noticed that the construction machine was not tied down. Then at this point I was wondering how much damage this would do if it came off the trailer. Gravity does not work miracles! — Jessica Wargo

2012 “Spot the Tort” Contest with my 1Ls at the University of Memphis law school:

This is a photo of a potential tort I spotted at the gym this weekend. The negligence of failing to close this safety pin on a locker key could result in someone losing an eye or receiving an unwanted piercing. — Sheerin Mehdian

McClurg footnote: I would go further and argue this is a defective design for a locker room key ring.

2012 “Spot the Tort” Contest with my 1Ls at the University of Memphis law school:

Forget Palin’s Bridge to Nowhere; here’s my neighbor’s Door to Nowhere. I haven’t been able to find out why it’s there–except to tempt small children to try to fly. — Natalie Worlow

Bathtub in road hidden behind tree limb.

2012 “Spot the Tort” Contest with my 1Ls at the University of Memphis law school:

Here are a couple of (admittedly bad and small) photos of a partially fallen tree in the west bound lane of Stage-Delano Road [in Shelby County]. Hidden from the view of west bound motorist by the fallen tree, a danger in itself, was a fiberglass bathtub. The tub is visible to east bound motorists and is shown in the east bound photo. It was in the road for at least two weeks.

View from other direction.

Over that course of time, I noticed that the tub appeared to have been struck at least twice. I do not know if it was struck by a passing motorist. I can attest that damage to the tub increased at least twice over the course of my observations as I passed to and from the law school over the two weeks.

I am happy to report that it appears that the right of way on the street was mowed today and the tree and tub were removed. — Terry VanEaton

2012 “Spot the Tort” Contest with my 1Ls at the University of Memphis law school:

This is the outside staircase I use each and every day at my apartment. It scares the living daylights out of me. It’s hard to tell from the pic, but the poles holding it up are leaning to the right. I like to think of it as the rusted out Leaning Staircase of Memphis. Sort of like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, only much more terrifying. — Natalie Worlow

2012 “Spot the Tort” Contest with my 1Ls at the University of Memphis law school:

Just before school started the city public works department came to my house to replace a clay sewer pipe under the street.  I took these photos a few minutes ago.  I wonder how many more times I need to call them; I’m sure they could use the orange cone elsewhere! — Rick McCabe