Eggshell skull rule governs damages in a tort case by holding the defendant responsible for what?

• A. Hold the defendant liable for all injuries the plaintiff suffers, including aggravation from preexisting conditions.
• B. Limit damages to only injuries caused by the defendant's act, excluding preexisting conditions.
• C. Exclude emotional distress from damages.
• D. Require the plaintiff to prove damages exceed a minimum threshold.

Answer: (A)

The eggshell skull rule means you take the plaintiff as you find them and hold the defendant responsible for the full extent of harm caused by the tort, even if the plaintiff had a preexisting vulnerability that makes the injury worse. Because of that, the defendant must pay for all injuries the plaintiff suffers, including any aggravation of a preexisting condition that results from the defendant’s act. For example, if a negligent act injures someone who already has a fragile condition, and that act worsens the condition, the damages cover that aggravated injury. The rule does not narrow damages to only what would have happened to a healthy person, nor does it exclude emotional distress or impose a minimum damage threshold; it simply ensures the defendant is liable for all consequences of their conduct, including aggravated preexisting issues.