The Neighbourhood principle is the answer to your first question : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donoghue_v_Stevenson
You basically owe a duty of care to anyone who could forseeably (Did I just make up that word?) harmed by your actions.
Provocation would probably be considered contributory negligence, and in that instance a persons damages is usually reduced accordingly.
The other possibility is that McGee could argue that what occured was "Trespass against a person". In fact that's probably a whole lot more likely since it covers assault and battery. You don't have to show a duty of care or negligence existed.
You basically owe a duty of care to anyone who could forseeably (Did I just make up that word?) harmed by your actions.
Provocation would probably be considered contributory negligence, and in that instance a persons damages is usually reduced accordingly.
The other possibility is that McGee could argue that what occured was "Trespass against a person". In fact that's probably a whole lot more likely since it covers assault and battery. You don't have to show a duty of care or negligence existed.