The book "Torts: Cases, Legislation and Commentary" by Harold Luntz, David Hambly, and their co-authors (including Kylie Burns, Joachim Dietrich, and Neil Foster) is a comprehensive treatise on the law of torts in Australia. Here is a detailed overview:

Key Themes

1. Critical and Analytical Approach: The book adopts a critical and analytical approach to the law of torts, providing extensive commentary and selected materials from cases, legislation, and academic writings.
2. Social Context and Theoretical Perspectives: The introductory chapter places the problem of accident compensation in its social context, incorporating theoretical perspectives from economic analysts, critical legal scholars, and feminists.
3. Law Reform Issues: The book canvasses issues of law reform, ensuring that it remains relevant to contemporary legal debates.
4. Recent Developments: The latest editions cover recent developments such as new legislation on the liability of organizations for child abuse, Aged Care Royal Commission recommendations, race and injury compensation, NSW CTP scheme reforms, and the winding back of vicarious liability expansion in the United Kingdom.

Plot Summary

The book is structured to provide a thorough understanding of the law of torts through:

• Case Extracts: Includes extracts from significant cases to illustrate key principles and concepts.
• Legislative Materials: Provides comprehensive citation of relevant legislation.
• Academic Writings: Incorporates academic writings, particularly from periodical literature, to offer a broader perspective.
• Detailed Notes and Questions: Includes detailed notes that explain the significance of key cases and challenging questions to stimulate critical thinking and learning.

Critical Reception

The book is widely regarded as a valuable resource for both students and practitioners of law. It is praised for its comprehensive coverage of the current Australian law of torts, its critical and analytical approach, and its inclusion of recent developments in the field. The book's ability to integrate over 50 decisions of the High Court of Australia since the last edition has been particularly noted.

Editions

The book has been published in multiple editions, with the latest being the 9th edition. The 9th edition includes significant updates and new discussions on various topics, making it a reliable and up-to-date resource for legal professionals and students.

Publication Details

• Publisher: LexisNexis
• Publication Date: The 9th edition was published in 2023.
• ISBN: 9780409352474
• Pages: 1040 pages
• Place of Publication: Australia

Overall, "Torts: Cases, Legislation and Commentary" by Harold Luntz, David Hambly, and their co-authors is a seminal work in the field of Australian tort law, offering a rich and detailed analysis that is both theoretically and practically relevant.