Which of the following is NOT an exception to the general rule that there is no duty to act?

The correct answer is that a duty arising purely from a social obligation is not an exception to the general rule that there is no duty to act. In tort law, individuals are generally not required to take action to assist others unless they have a special relationship or some other legal duty.

In the context of tort law, an assumption of duty implies that when a person voluntarily assumes a duty to act, they may be held responsible for failing to perform that duty adequately. This concept is founded on the idea that when one person takes steps to assist another, they may create a reliance on that help.

The notion of duty by authority refers to situations where someone may be compelled to act due to their legal or professional role, such as a police officer or a lifeguard who has a responsibility to provide assistance in emergencies.

Duty by relationship typically involves specific personal connections, such as parent-child or caregiver relationships, where a legal obligation to assist exists.

These exceptions highlight situations where the law acknowledges that the general rule can be overridden due to certain circumstances or relationships, establishing a legal duty to act. In contrast, a merely social obligation does not create a legal duty to act, hence it remains outside these recognized exceptions.