ordinary care
Defined in 5 dictionaries — Case Law, Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1891)
Definitions from Case Law
From 163 U.S. 353 - Texas Ry Co v. Gentry · 1896Most cited · 216 citing opinions
such care as a person of ordinary prudence would exercise under like circumstances.
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
Such a degree of care, skill and diligence as men of ordinary prudence, under similar circumstances, usually employ (31 Pa. St. 512; 3 Mass. 132; 2 Wis. 316; 23 Conn. 443; 28 Vt. 150; 9 N. Y. 416), and is to be determined with reference to all the attendant circumstances of the transaction (35 N, Y. 27; 47 Super. Ct. 292, 296).
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
That degree of care which men of ordinary prudence exercise in taking care of their own persons or property. Story, Bailm. 11; Smith v. Whittier, 95 Cal. 279, 30 Pac. 529; Ohio & M. R. Co. v. Thillnmn, 143 111. 127, 32 N. E. 529, 30 Am. St. Rep. 359; Cohn v. Kansas City, 108 Mo. 2S7, 18 S. W. 973; Cronk v. R. Co., 3 S. D. 93, 52 N. W. 420. It can only be determined by the circumstances of each particular case whether ordinary care was used. This degree of care is said to be required of bailees for the mutual benefit of bailor and bailee; Whitney v. Lee, 8 Mete. (Mass.) 91; Bizzell y. Booker, 10 Ark. 308; Neal v. Gillett, 23 Conn. 437, 4 13; Foster v. Goddard, 40 Me. G4; The Farmer v. Me Craw, 26 Ala. 203, 72 Am. Dec. 718; 36 E. L. & E. 506. See Bird v. Everard, 4 Misc. 104, 23 N. Y. Supp. 1008; Zell v. Dunkle, 156 Pa. 353, 27 Atl. 38; Bailee; Negligence; Care.
A Dictionary of Law
Henry Campbell Black · 1891
That degree of care which persons of ordinary care and prudence are accustomed to use and employ, under the same or similar circumstances,in order to conduct the enterprise in which they are engaged to a safe and successful termination, having due regard to the rights of others and the objects to be accomplished. 8 Ohio St, 581. The phrase “ordinary care” is equivalent to reasonable care, and necossarily involves the idea that such care was to be used as a reasonable person, under like circumstances, would adopt to avoid an accident. 8 Allen, 89. See, also, 25 Ind, 185; 6 Duer, 683; 28 Vt. 458; 23 Conn. 443.