Template:Liability ladder

The ladder of liability

• Inadvertence: To be unaware of a risk which one could not reasonably have been expected to be anticipate.
• Negligence: To be unaware of a risk which a reasonable person on one’s position ought to have anticipated.
• Gross negligence: A meaningless concept that excites US attorneys but irritates English ones.
• Reckless: To be aware of a risk, and to take it anyway, even though you don’t necessarily want the risk to come about.
• Intention: To be aware of a risk, and to run it with the intention that it comes about.