CHIRISTIANITY AND AMERICAN LAW
TORT LAW AND THE GOLDEN RULE
"...The generally held ethical imperatives of Western civilization are characterized by the opposition between two forces, egoism and altruism, care for self and care for others. The tension between these forces is resolved by the credo: "Do unto others as you would they would do unto you." Although uttered in a religious context, this credo appeals to religionists and humanists alike. fn. 4 Transported into tort law, it finds expression in a normative concept of duty which addresses simultaneous and equally forceful demands to the parties: (1) that each assume responsibility for his own safety, and (2) that each assume responsibility for the safety of others. (See Rest.2d Torts, § 463, com. b.)"
FN 4. See ethics, altruism, egoism, utilitarianism (Encyclopedia Britannica (1972)).
Kindt v. Kauffman (1976) 57 Cal.App.3d 845, 869
According to this quote, the tort law of negligence (duty of reasonable care to others) and comparative negligence (duty of due care for self) find their origin or genesis in the Golden Rule quoted by Jesus and found in the Bible at Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31.
The infamous McDonald's coffee burn case illustrates this concept.