CARE - Black's Law Dictionary

What is CARE? Definition of CARE in Black's Law Dictionary – Legal dictionary – Glossary of legal terms.

Attention, Seaman v. State, 106 Ohio St. 177, 140 N.E. 108, 111, Lustenberger v. Boston Casualty Co., Mass., 14 N.E.2d 148, 151, 115 A.L.R1055; charge, Emery v. Wheeler, 152 A. 624, 626,129 Me. 428, Lustenberger v. Boston Casualty Co., Mass., 14 N.E.2d 148, 151, 115 A.L.R. 1055; custody, Madison v. State, 163 Tenn. 198, 42 S.W.2d 209, Fox West Coast Theatres v. Union Indemnity Co., 167Wash. 319, 9 P.2d 78, 81; diligence; discretion; heed, caution, concern, Northern Indiana PowerCo. v. West, 218 Ind. 321, 32 N.E.2d 713, 720; inclination, wish or disposition, Stella v. Downy flake Restaurant, 126 Conn. 441, 11 A.2d 848, 849;maintenance, Stafford v. Stovall, 109 Okl. 234, 235238, 239; management, Seaman v. State, 106Ohio St. 177, 140 N.E. 108, 111; opposite of negligence or carelessness, Raymond v. Portland R.Co., 100 Me. 529, 62 A. 602, 605, 3 L.R.A.,N.S., 94;oversight, Emery v. Wheeler, 129 Me. 428, 152 A.624, 626, Madison v. State, 163 Tenn. 198, 42 S.W.2d209; prudence, Quanah, A. & P. Ry. Co. v. Eblen,Tex.Civ.App., 55 S.W.2d 1060, 1063; regard, Lutenberger v. Boston Casualty Co., Mass., 14 N.E.2d148, 151, 115 A.L.R. 1055, Arnold v. United States,  C.C.A.Colo., 94 F.2d 499, 505; safekeeping, preservation,  security, Fox West Coast Theatres v.Union Indemnity Co., 167 Wash. 319, 9 P.2d 78, 81;to cause to have care; to trouble;  to care for;to regard. Arnold v. United States, C.C.A.Colo, 94 F.2d 499, 505; vigilance; watchfulness.

There are three degrees of care which are frequently recognized,  corresponding (inversely) to the three degrees  of negligence, viz.  : slight care, ordinary care, and  great care.

Slight care is such as persons of ordinary prudence usually exercise  about their own affairs of slight importance. 25 Okl.St.Ann. § 4. Or it is that  degree of care  which a person exercises about his own concerns, though he may be a person of less than common prudence or of careless and inattentive disposition. Litchfield v. White, 7 N.Y.  442, 57 Am.Dec. 534; Bank v. Guilmartin, 93 Ga. 503, 21 S.E 55, 44 Arn.St.Rep. 182.

Ordinary care is that degree of care which  persons of ordinary care and prudence are accustomed to use and em- ploy, under  the same or similar  circumstances. Gunn v. Railroad Co., 36 W.Va.  165, 14 S.E. 465, 32 Am.St.Rep.842; Railroad Co. v. Howard, 79 Ga. 443  S.E. 426; Liston v. Reynolds,  69 Mont. 480, 223 P. 507, 509; Pauls Valley Compress & Storage Co. v. Harris, 62 Okl. 103, 162 P. 216,Or it is that degree of care which may reasonably be expected from a person in the party's situation, that is, reasonable care. Neal v. Gillett, 1855, 23 Conn. 443.

Reasonable care is such a degree of care, precaution, or diligence as may  fairly  and properly be expected or required, having regard to the nature of the action, or of the subject-matter, and the circumstances surrounding the transaction.  See Johnson v. Hudson River R. Co., 6 Duer, N.Y., 646; Appel v. Eaton & Price Co., 97 Mo.App. 428, 71 S.W. 741; Illinois Cent. R. Co. v. Noble, 142 Ill. 578, 32 N. 684. It is such care as an ordinarily prudent person would  exercise under  the conditions existing  at the time he is called upon  to act.  Midland Valley R. Co. v. Bell, C.C.A.Okl., 242 F. 803, 808; Loverage  v. Carmichael, 164 Minn. 76, 204 N.W. 921, 922. Substantially synonymous with  ordinary or due  care.  Kucera v. Grigsby, 24 Ohio

App. 457, 156 N.E. 249, 250; Wiley v. Rutland  R. Co., 86 Vt. 504, 86 A. 808, 811.

Great care is such as persons of ordinary prudence usually exercise  about affairs of their own which are of great i mportance; or it is that degree  of care usually  bestowed upon the matter in hand by the most competent, prudent, and careful persons having to do with the particular  subject. Railway Co.  v. Smith, 87 Tex.  348, 28 S.W. 520; Telegraph Co. v. Cook, Cal., 61 F. 628, 9 C.C.A. 680.

A high degree  of care is not the legal equivalent of reasonable care.  Gallatty v. Central R. of New  Jersey, 86 N.J.Law, 416,  92 A. 279,  280.  It is that  degree of care which a very cautious, careful, and prudent person would exercise  under the same or similar  circumstances. Bryning v. Missouri, K. & T. Ry. Co. of Texas, Tex.Civ.App,167 S.W. 826, 827; a degree  of care commensurate with the risk of danger.  New Jersey Fidelity & Plate Glass Ins. Co. v. Lehigh Va:ley R. Co., 92 N.J.Law,  467, 105 A. 206, 207.

Highest  degree  of care and utmost  degree  of care have substantially  the same meaning. Brogan v. Union Traction Co., 76 W.Va.  698, 86 S.E. 753, 756. "Highest degree  of care" only requires the care and skill exacted  of persons engaged in the same or similar business. Birmingham Ry.., Light & Power Co. v. Cockrell, 10 Ala.App. 578, 65 So. 704. It means the highest degree required by law where human safety  is at stake,  and the highest degree known to the usage  and practice of very careful, skillful, and diligent persons engaged in the same business by similar means or agencies. Birmingham Ry., Light & Power Co. v. Barrett, 179 Ala. 274, 60 So. 262, 264.

This division  into three degrees  of care, however, does not command universal assent.  Raymond v. Portland R. Co., 100 Me. 529, 62 A. 602, 605, 3 L.R.A.,N.S.,  94; Pornroy v. Bangor & Aroostook R. Co., 102 Me. 497, 67 A. 561, 562.

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That's the definition of CARE in Black's Law Dictionary – Legal dictionary – Glossary of legal terms. Courtesy of Cekhukum.com.