Connection lost
Server error
Weirum v. RKO General, Inc. Case Brief
Why Top Law Students (And Those Aspiring to Be) Use LSD+ Briefs
Let's be real, law school is a marathon. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full case system is designed by Harvard Law School and MIT grads to match your pace: Quick summaries when you're slammed, detailed analysis when you need to go deep. Only LSD+ offers this kind of flexibility to genuinely fit your study flow.
Adaptive Case Views
Toggle between Flash, Standard, and Expanded. Get what you need, when you need it.
Exam-Ready IRAC Format
We deliver the precise structure professors look for in exam answers.
Complex Cases, Clarified
We break down dense legal reasoning into something digestible, helping you grasp core concepts.
Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: A radio station held a contest encouraging listeners to race to a specific location. When two teenage participants caused a fatal car accident while speeding to the prize, the court held the station liable for creating a foreseeable risk of harm.
Legal Significance: Establishes that an actor can be liable for the foreseeable negligent acts of third parties when the actor’s own affirmative conduct (misfeasance) creates an unreasonable risk of harm, even without a pre-existing special relationship.
Weirum v. RKO General, Inc. Law School Study Guide
Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.
Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
Defendant RKO General, Inc., owner of radio station KHJ, broadcast a contest targeting its large teenage audience. A popular disc jockey, “The Real Don Steele,” drove a conspicuous red car to various locations in Los Angeles. The station periodically broadcast his whereabouts and encouraged listeners to race to find him, with the first person to arrive winning a cash prize. The broadcasts were designed to be “exciting,” urging listeners to “split” to the location. After missing a prize, two teenagers, in separate cars, began pursuing the DJ’s vehicle to his next stop. They drove recklessly, reaching speeds up to 80 mph. In the course of this high-speed pursuit, one of the teenagers negligently forced the car of the decedent, Ronald Weirum, off the highway, causing a fatal accident. The DJ was aware that contestants had previously followed his vehicle from one stop to the next. The decedent’s family sued RKO for wrongful death, and a jury returned a verdict for the plaintiffs.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Does a radio broadcaster owe a duty of care to a member of the motoring public who is killed by the negligent driving of a third party, when that third party’s conduct was a foreseeable response to the broadcaster’s promotional contest?
Yes. The court affirmed the judgment against RKO General, holding that it Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse c
IRAC Legal Analysis
Complete IRAC Analysis for Higher Grades
IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.
Legal Issue
Does a radio broadcaster owe a duty of care to a member of the motoring public who is killed by the negligent driving of a third party, when that third party’s conduct was a foreseeable response to the broadcaster’s promotional contest?
Conclusion
This case is a landmark decision on negligence liability based on misfeasance, Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute
Legal Rule
An actor is liable for injury caused by the foreseeable, negligent conduct Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute ir
Legal Analysis
The court's analysis centered on the concepts of duty and foreseeability. It Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut lab
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- A radio station was held liable for a death caused by