Tort Law - Paper 2 Section B Flashcards
negligence
negligence
- can be personal injury and damadges
- only liable if;
- .1. the defendant owes the claimant a duty of care
- .2. the defendant breached the duty of care
- .3. does the breach cause reasonable forseeable damadge
Duty of care
negligence - duty of care
- according to the case robinson - you look at the situation and if there is a duty established (doctor-patient) in past cases which are similar you dont need to do duty of care
- neighbour principle - anyone in your contemplation who might be directly affected by your actions
- important case for duty of care
- donoghue v stevenson - shows the neighbour principle
- drinks sealed ginger beer that was bought by friend who got from cafe who got from factory
- had snail in it
- who to sue
Caparo V Dickman
negligence - duty of care
- three part test;
- .1. was the damadge or harm forseeable
- .2. is there a sufficently proxminate relationship between the calimant and the defendant
- .3. is it fair just and reasonable to impose a duty
.1. is the harm or damdage forseeable
negligence - duty of care
- the harm to the victum must be reasonably forseeable
- kent v griffiths - ashtma attack, ambulance wasnt there in time, liable, call centre promised
- jolley v sutton london borough council - kids playing on rotton boat, boat landed on them, liable
.2. the claimant and defendant have a aproximate relationship
negligence - duty of care
- bourhill v griffiths
- preganat lady saw motor bike accident
- lost her baby as so much shock
- tried to sue parents but couldnt as motorcyclisst didnt owe a duty of care
- hill v cheif constable of west yorkshire
- serial killer been murdering people
- police had enough infomation but was to late
- next victums parents tried to sue police
- relationship between police and victum were not proxitmate
- mcloughlin v o’brien
- claimants family in tragic lorry accident
- c suffered shock after seeing family in court
- sued successfully
.3 fair just and reasonable
negligence - duty of care
- relucant to find that it is ‘fair just and reasonable’ to impose a duty on public officers
- hill v chief constable of west yorkshire - if police always had a duty then they would start defensive policing
- capital and counties v hampshire county council - fire broke out and fire brigade turned off the sprinklers so destoryed building,
- duty held as turning off the sprinklers increased damadge
breach of duty
negligence - breach of duty
- two part test
- .1. objective standard of care
- .2. the degree of risk
.1. the objective standard of care
negligence - break of duty - the objective standard of care
- the standard of care is measured objectivly by the reasonable man test
- created by the case blyth v birmingham waterworks
- if a defendant falls below the standard of care , then there will be a breach of duty
- there are characterics that the court can consider
- experts
- inexperienced people (learners)
- children
experts
negligence - break of duty - the objective standard of care
- where the defendant has some expertise
- doctors
- bolam v friern hospital managment
- c was getting shock treatment for mental health , signed consent but has no info about broken bones
- no breach
- montgomery v lanarkshire health board
- gave birth to a baby with cerebal palsy due to complications
- doctor didnt say all the risks
- doctor was liable
learners
negligence - break of duty - the objective standard of care
- nettleship v weston
- driving lesson
- got in crash and hurt dirivng instructor
- liable
- learners are still held to the same standard as a reasonable man
children
negligence - break of duty - the objective standard of care
- mchale v watson
- threw a dart and it hit a girl in the eye
- not liable
- expect kids to be more reckless
- mullin v richards
- two girls player with plastic rulers
- snapped and went in eye
- not liable as only two teengae girls playing
degree of risk
negligence - break of duty - the degree of risk
- court decides wether there has been a breach
- there are risk factors that may be considered
- .1. does the claimant have any special characteritics which should be taken into acount?
- .2. what is the size of the risk?
- .3. is it practicable to take precautions?
- .4. is the risk forseeable
- .5. is there a public benifit to the risk?
.1. does the claimant have any special characteristics
negligence - break of duty - the degree of risk
- paris v stepney borough council
- blind in one eye
- worked where there was a risk to the eyes
- not given protective goggles
- liable
- even tho the characteritics are special they should have taken precautions whne there is a known risk
.2. what is the size of the risk?
negligence - break of duty - the degree of risk
- when the risk is small there is unlikly to be a duty of care
- bolton v stone
- got hit by a cricket ball walking past a cirkcet pitch
- had a 17 foot fence protecting the road
- only 6 balls had left the ground in 30 years
- not liable as they have done everything they can
- HOWEVER if there is a known risk and little precautions have been taken then more likly to be liable
- haley v london electricity board
- dug ground out to put wires in it
- put signs but no barriers
- blind claimant fell in the hole
- liable
.3. is it practible to take precautions
negligence - break of duty - the degree of risk
- court have to consider the balanceof risk involed against the cost and effort of taking precautions
- latimer v AEC ltd
- factory was flooded and floor was slippery
- sawdust was put on floor
- perosn slipped
- not liable
.4. is the risk forseeable?
negligence - break of duty - the degree of risk
- if the risk of harm is not known there is no breach
- roe v minister of health
- anaesthic was kept in glass tubes which were sterrilised
- glass had unkown cracks
- claimant got paralised
- not liable
.5. is there public benefit to the risk?
negligence - break of duty - the degree of risk
- if there is an emergency then greater risks can be taken and lower standard of care
- emergency survices
- watt v hertfordshire county council
- claimant was firefighter
- went to save lady under lorry
- didnt have proper equipment and he got crushed
- not liable - emergency
- day v high performance sports
- claimant was experienced climber and fell
- wasnt rescued properly
- not liable - acting in emergency
damage
negligence - damage
- the loss suffered was caused by the breach of duty and that the damdge is remote
- causation - the idea that the breach of duty factually and legally caused the damage
- remotness of damage - the idea that the damadge has to be reasonably forseeable
causation
negligence - damage
- .1. factual causation
- use the but for test
- barnett v chelsea and kengsington hospital
- 3 men went to hosptial after not feeling after drinking tea
- doctor told go home
- man died
- not liable as to far gone
- multiple causes - dont have to prove defendant breach was the main just that they contributed
- .2. legal causation
- de minimis
- intervening act break the chain of causation
- wether the injury was forseeable consequence of the orginal negligence or omision
remotness of damage
negligence - damage
- must not be too remote
- type of harm
- egg shell skull rule
remotness of damage - not be too remote
negligence - damage
- the damage can not be too remote from the d negligence
- the injury or damage must be reasonable foreseeable
- the wagon mound- important
- oil spilt on water and set fire
- not forseeable that it would catch light
- crossly v rawlinson
- lorry caught fire man went to help and fell
- tried to see
- not forseeable he would have fallen
remotness of damage - type of harm
negligence - damage
- the damage must be of the same type/kind as the harm that could have been forseen
- the case even if the precise way the harm actually happened wasnt necessarliy forseeable
- hughes v lord advocate
- man hole - kids played in it and fell and caught fire
- liable - forseeable injury
- bradford v robinson rentals
- c was sent by employer to get a new van bc the old one didnt have heaters
- got frostbite
- liable - injuries were unusal but forseeable
remotness of damage - eggshell skull rule
negligence - damage
- must take the victum as he finds them
- smith v leech brain
- man working in factory got burnt by molton iron
- already had pre-cancerous condition
- caused cancer
- liable
defences to negligence
negligence defences
- contributory negligence - part defence
- consent - full defence
contributory negligence
negligence defences
- where both defendant and claimant are to blame
- can be reduced to the extent which the claimant contributed
- decided by the judge
- sayers v harlow urban district council - reduced 25% due to recklessness
- jayes v imi ltd - reduced 100% as took guard off
- o’connel v jackson - reduced 15% wasnt wearing a helmet
- froom v butcher - reduced 20% as wasnt wearing a seatbelt
consent - volenti
negligence defences
- no injury is done to somebody who consents to the risks
- defendant has to show
- .1. knowledge of the precise risk
- ,2, exercise of free choice by claimant
- .3. a voluntary acceptance of the risk
- THIS DEFENCE CAN NOT BE USED FOR ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
,1, knowledge of the precise risk involved
negligence defences - consent
- defendant must have full undertsnading of the nature of the actual risk
- stermer v lawson
- borrwed a motor bike and got injured
- no defence - not been shown how to properly use
.2. exercise of free choice by claimant
negligence defences - consent
- claimant has must voluntarily accept the risk and undertake it
- smith v baker
- injured on contruction site
- knew risks but didnt consent to the lack of care
- could make claim
.3. a voluntary acceptance of the risk
negligence defences - consent
- where a person has a duty to act and is then injured because of the defendants negligence - NO DEFENCE
- means the claimant had no choice but to act
- haynes v harwood
- police officer injured by holding horse which was tied properly
- no defence - officer was working to protect not acting volentaryily
- ogwo v taylor
- fire fighter got injured putting a reckless fire out
- no defence
strenghts of duty care
evaluations of negligence
- using the case robinson
- provides clearer advide for claimants (similar cases) , more efficent
- proximate test (c v d)
- flexable with new situations (but unclear and undefined)
- duty of care is important to establish posisble fault
- fairness for defendant
- making sure you are sueing the correct people
weakness of duty of care
evaluations of negligence
- the c v d test lacks clarity
- makes it difficult for lawyers to advise clients - extremly objective
- judges deciding cases
- “fair”,”just”,”reasonable”
- judge decides that these words mean
- “blanket immunity”
- police force are imune from being sued
- hill v west yourkshire police
reforms for duty of care
evaluations of negligence
- use dictionary
- clear guidlines
- be able to sue the police - change some rules
strenghts of breach
evaluations of negligence
- allows defedants characteristics to be taken into account
- allows law to be applied fairly
- vunreable claimants protected
- nettleship v weston - unfair to be held to an expert
- holds experts to a high standard
- poeple have to stay ta a high standard
- quality of provisions
- however could put of surgeons doing big risky surgerys
- forseeable risk + practical precautions
- fairer for defendant
- bolton v stone , small risk led to big outcome
- expect less from children
- however how do we decided the age - all mature differently
weaknesses of breach
evaluations of negligence
- standards are the same no matter the experience
- nettleship v weston
- junior doctors & experts
- bolton v stone
- claimant got no compensation as risk was small
- all precautions taken
- still injured
- what is reasonable?
- vauge, objective
- judges decided and all different]
- therefore not consitent
reforms for breach
evaluations of negligence
- change depending on what type of experience somebody has
- easier to sue sports grounds
- guidlines for medical experts
strength of caustation/remoteness
evaluations of negligence
- factual causation
- fair
- makes sure d is at fault
- egg shell skull rule
- justice for claimants whos not at fault
- remotness
- good for d
- only liable for forseeable harm
- reinforces motion of “mitigation of loss”
weakness of causation/remotness
evaluations of negligence
- inconsistent
- remotness is decided by judge - to much power
- inconsistent application of causation
- factual causation discrepancies about hospitals
- barnett, chester v asfar
- some hospitals liable and some not
- problem when more than one defendant
- claimant cant prove which one did it
- remotness
- unfair on claimant , limits liablity on d
- issues with intervening act
- steamship case
- natural disaster but ship was already damadged
- d only liable for first damadge - unfair for claimant
occupiers liability
occupiers liability - A01 for both
- claimants injury or loss to property suffered while on the occupiers premises
- occupiers liability act 1957 (lawful visitors)
- occupiers liability act 1984 (tresspassers)
* first need to prove occipur and premises - loss for lawful - personal injury and property
- loss for tresspasser - only personal injury
.1. occupier
occupiers liability - A01 for both
- no statutory defintion
- section1(2) states “someone in control of the premises”
- the test is found in the case wheat v e lacon
- doesnt have to be the owner or tennant , can be manager or emplyer
- more than one person can be in control
- defendant doesnt need proprietary interest
- harris v birkenhead
- council put up sign in house, abbanded
- 4 yr old gets injured, council in control
- bailey v armes
- the supermarket nor family were in control of the roof
.2. premises
occupiers liability - A01 for both
- section 1(3)(a)
- “any fixed or moveable structure including any vessel, vehicle or aircraft
- london graving dock v horton - ship in a dry dock
- hartwell v grayson - vehicles
- haseldine v daw and son - lifts
- wheeler v copas - ladders
lawful visitors
occupier liability for lawful visitors (1957)
- invitees (any invited to enter)
- licensees (permission to be there for a particular period)
- contractual permission (person who has bought a ticket for an event)
- statutory right (police)
owe a duty
occupier liability for lawful visitors (1957)
- section 2(2) - have to keep a visitor reasonably safe not completly
- laverton v kiapasha takeaway supreme
- slip resistant floors , been cleaned
- c slipped and hurt ankle - not liable , kept reasonably safe
- the duty doesnt extend to liability for pure accidents
- cole v davis-gilbert
- injured from falling in a maypole hole
- tried to sue royal legion
- happened 2 yrs after removal
- duty cant last that long and accident
duty for children
occupier liability for lawful visitors (1957)
- additonal special duty - section2(3)
- must be prepared for children to be less careful , must be reasonaly safe for a child of that age
- children are attracted to allurments
duty for children cases
occupier liability for lawful visitors (1957)
- may not pose a threat to an adult may be dangerous to a child - glasgow corporation v taylor
- 7yr old ate wild berries in park and died
- council aware of fanger and didnt htink of children - liable
- should guard against allurments - jolley v london borough of sutton
- rotton boat
- kids played on it and injured
- council liable
- parents- phiips v rochester corporation
- 5 and 7 yr playing on council land
- fell down hole
- council not liable - no parents
liability for tradesman
occupier liability for lawful visitors (1957)
- owe a duty for a tradesman coming onto their premises
- section2(3)(b) - if injured related to his traid then not liable
- but should be told about special risks
- roles v nathan
- chimney sweeps died while working
- not liable - know the risks of the job
liability for torts comminted by independant contractor (defence)
occupier liability for lawful visitors (1957)
- if visitor is injured by a workmans negligent work
- section2(4)
- occupier must prove that
- .1. must be reasonable for the occupier to give the work to the contractor (was specilst or complex work) - haseldine v daw and son
- lift shaft fell
- not liable as it was specialst work and should have been given to a specilst firm
- .2. the contractor must be competent and insured - bottomly v todmorden cricket club
- cricket club used stunt team for fireworks
- went wrong and got injured
- liable - didnt choose competant contractor
- .3. occupier must check the work has been done propely (even if requires an expert) - woodward v mayor of hastings
- need all of these
defences for lawful vistors
occupier liability for lawful visitors (1957)
- contributory negligence
- consent
- warning notices - complete defence
- must be effective enough
- exclusion clauses
occupier liability for tresspassers
occupier liability for tresspassers (1984)
- section 1(1)(a)
- duty applies in respect of people other than lawful
- the duty - section1(4) - to take such care as is reasobale in the cirsumstance to see that the tresspasser is not injured by reason of the danger
- the greater the risk the more precautions
duty test
occupier liability for tresspassers (1984)
section 1(3)
* .1. he is aware of the danger or beleives it exists
* .2. to beleive that the other is in the vicinty of the danger or may come of the vicinity
* .3. offer the other some protection
adult tresspassers
occupier liability for tresspassers (1984)
- not liable if tresspaper was injured by obvious danger - ratcliff v mcconnel
- broke into swimming pool, dived in and no sign, dont need sign for obvious danger
- the time of day/year is relevant - donoghue v folkstone properties
- went to harbour and swam at midnight in december, slipped, no liable
- occupier doesnt have to spend a lot of money to make the premises safe - tomlinson v congleton bc
- resiviour, dont need to put fence up, sign was enough
- occupier doesnt expect tresspassers - higgs v foster
- expection pit for trucks, someone in there, no warning , not liable
- wasnt aware of danger - rhind v astbury water park
- didnt know submerged glass block was there , not liable
children tresspapers
occupier liability for tresspassers (1984)
- same approach applies to child tresspapssers as adult
- keown v conventury healthcentre nhs trust
- children running up and down staircase
- slipt on ice
- not liable
defences for occupier liability for tresspassers (1984)
occupier liability for tresspassers (1984)
- contributory negligence
- consent (volenti)
- warning signs
occupiers liablity evaulation
occupiers liablity evaulation
- inconsitentcies between the damadge covered by 1957 and 1984
- should tresspassers be abllowed to claim
- obvious dangers
inconsitencies between the damadge covered by the 1957 and 1984 acts
occupiers liablity evaulation
- .1. 1957 allows for personal injury and damadge but 1984 only personal injury - compensation is limited for tresspassers
- .2. 1957 test is reasonable care to keep visitors reaosnably safe , 1984 is about being aware of the danger and people coming in
- .3. 1984 test is inconsistent with usual objective tests - requires specifc knowledge
should tresspasers be able to claim?
occupiers liablity evaulation
- judges reflect public opinoin by trying to not allow tresspapssers compensation
- obvious dangers test to limit liability of occupiers
- howver judges dont always represent the public
- revill v newbery - 82 yr old was injured by a tresspasser and still have to pay compensation
obvious dangers
occupiers liablity evaulation
- no duty owed to an occipuer if the injury is from an obvious danger
- test is now in both
- good thing
- still inconsistent
reforms for occupiers liability
occupiers liablity evaulation
- introduce no fault liability- go through insurance instead of courts
- state run compensation scheme paid by taxes
- change in approach of judges
private nuisance
private nuisance
- “the unlawful interference with a persons use or enjoyment of their land coming from the unreasonable use of neigbours land”
- claimant - anyone who has had the use or enjoyment of their land affected, have to have propiority interest
- hunter v canary wharf - claim was about their view but they dont own the view
- defendant - either caused or allowed or failed to deal with problem , dont need propiroty interest
- sedleigh-dunfeild v o’callaghan - council came to fit pipe , monks knew it was broken didnt do anything, liable
direct inference
private nuisance
- roots
- sewage
indirect inference
private nuisance
- noise
- smell
- fumes
factors affecting reasonableness of defendant
private nuisance
- local area
- time of day and duration
- malicous defendant
- sensitve claimant
- social benefit
local area
private nuisance - factors affecting reasonableness
- court will decide if its purely residentual, partly residentual or countryside
- has the character changed over time
- sturges v bridgeman
- “what would be nuisance in belgrave square would not nessicarliy be so in bermonsdey”
time of day and duration
private nuisance - factors affecting reasonableness
- to be actionable, the inference is likely to be continous and at unreasobale hours of the day or late at night
- E.G consistant late night paties
- crown river cruise ltd v kimbolton fireworks ltd
- river barge was set alight by flamable debrie coming from firework display
- not normally a nuisance but is in this case
malicious defendant
private nuisance - factors affecting reasonableness
- delibratly harmful act will usally be inreasonable and private nuisance
- christie v davey
- c was music teachers and held music parties
- d banging pots bc annoyed
- deliriate malice behaviour
sensitive claimant
private nuisance - factors affecting reasonableness
- if it can be shown that the claimant is particulary sensitive then may not be private nusicance
- robinson v kilbert
- special paper ruined by other paper in basement
- no nuisance - to senstive
- network rail infrastructure v morris
- new tracks were put next to a recording studio and messed up equipment
- no nuisance
social benefit
private nuisance - factors affecting reasonableness
- if it is proved that it is providing a benefit to the community, may be considered reasonable
- miller v jackson
- cricket balls always in garden
- had high fence
- social benifit - no nuisance
defences to nuisance
private nuisance
- consent
- prescription - if carried on for 20 years and no complaints sturges v bridgman - doctor rooms by factories , defence failed bc the 20yrs started when rooms were built
- statutory authority and planning permisson - allen v gulf oil - did not have permission to have n oil refinary
remedies
private nuisance
- injunctions
- damages
- abatement
rylands v fletcher
rylands v fletcher
- strict liability tort - no requirment to show fault
- claimant - has to have an interest in the land affected
- defendant - must have some control over the land
- rylands v fletcher
- build resivour on land - didnt cover mines properly in neighbours land
four part test
rylands v fletcher
- .1. bringing onto the land
- .2. the thing is likly to do mischeif if it escapes
- .3. non - natural use of the land
- .4. escapes and causes forseeable harm
.1. bringing onto the land
rylands v fletcher
- the defendant must bring something onto the land that is not naturally present
- not weeds - giles v walker
- not rainwater - ellison v minister of defence
.2. the thing is likly to do mischeif if it escapes
rylands v fletcher
- test of forseeability
- if escapes must be forseeable
- for example
- gas and electricity - transco v stockport
- poisonous fumes
- tree branches
- chair-o-plane - hale v jenning bros - liable
- fire - lms v styrene packaging - liable
- but - stannard - flamable tires - not liable
.3. non-natural use of land
rylands v fletcher
- non-natural refers to some unusal use of land
- examples of natural uses that would not lead to liability
- fire in a grate
- defective electic wiring
- domestic water supply - rickards v lothing
- benefit of the community - british celanese v ah hunt ltd
- stored strips of metal foil for electrics , blew away
- benefit neigbourhood
.4. escapes and causes forseebale damage
rylands v fletcher
- claimant needs propiroty interest in the land
- read v lyons - just employees and claiming for personal injury
- must be forseeable
- cambridge water co - although lots of floods, it was not reasonable to make them move , too much money
defences
rylands v fletcher
- consent
- contributory negligence
- act of starnger - perry v kendricks transport - petrol tank, one unscrewed, another threw cigarrete
- act of god
- statutory authority
vicarious liability
vicarious liability
- comes from the test barclays bank
- two part test
- .1. was the person alleged to have commited the tort an employee (relationship)
- .2. did the employee commit the alleged tort closely connected his employment (connection)
traditional test for employment
vicarious liability - traditional test for employment
- if there is a clear employment relationship, we have 3 traditonal tests
- control test
- intergtaion or organisation test
- economic reality test
control test
vicarious liability - traditional test for employment
- comes from the case short v henderson - “master & servant”
- how much autonomy over own work does tortfeaser have?
- if there is more control they are more likly an employee
- mersey docks & harbour board v coggins and griffths
- crane driver hired out , paying wages and sent with the equipment
- hawley v luminar leisure
- bouncer supplied by another company assualted a a customer
- club was liable
intergration or organisation test
vicarious liability - traditional test for employment
- how intergrated/important is the tortfeaser to the company?
- test comes from
- stevenson, jordan + harrison v mcdonald and evans
- if they are only an accesary to the company they wont be an employer
- cox v minister or justice
- prisoner working in kitchen
- dropped rice on someones foot
- prison has lots of control and cant run without him
- employer
econimic reality test
vicarious liability - traditional test for employment
- are they paying taxes, NI, payslip, pensions, tools and equpiment
- employmentready mixed contre v minister
- .1. employee agrees to provide work in exchange for a wage
- .2. the employee accpets that the work will be subject to the employer
- .3. everything in the contract is consistent
christtian brothers akin to employment test
vicarious liability - akin to employment
- .1. d likly to have means of compensation
- .2. tort was commited as a result of activity on behalf of the d
- .3. the tortfeasers activity is likly to be part of the d business activity
- .4. the d has created the risk of the tort being commited by the torfeaser by employing them
- .5. d maintains a dgree of control over tortfeaser
- catholic child welfare society v various claimants
- teachers sexually assulated kids at school
- connected to employment - liable
- mahamud v morrison supermarket
- employee assaulted customer at petrol station - employers liable
- barclays bank v various claimants
- doctors assulated employees while carrying our medical exmainations for barclays
- bank not liable
independant contractors
vicarious liability - akin to employment
- barclays bank v various claimants
- doctor had;
- other jobs
- insurance
- lots of autonomy
factors wether they are acting in course of their employment
vicarious liability - acting in course of their employment
- acting against orders
- acting outside employment
- commiting a criminal act
- negligent act
- acting on a frolic of their own
acting against orders
vicarious liability - acting in course of their employment
- is doing his job but acting against orders the employer is still liable
- if deloberatly acting in a prohinted way then employer not liable
- rose v plenty
- instructed not to use children in factories
- did and got injured
- employer liable as not prohibted just instructed
- twine v bear express
- c husband died due to negligence work who was prohibited not to give lifts
- employer not liable as prohinted not to
acting outside of employment
vicarious liability - acting in course of their employment
- doing something outside of their employment the employer is not liable
- beard v london general omnibus
- bus driver drove bus without authority
- employer not liable as acting outside of employment
comminting a criminal act
vicarious liability - acting in course of their employment
- if there is a close connection between crime and employment then employer liable
- lister v helsey hall
- sexually assaulted children at a special school
- close connection - employer liable
- n v chief constable of merseyside police
- sexual assult carried out by police officer
- employer not liable - only enabled him to gain trust
- mohamud v morrison
- employee assulated customer
- close connection
- employer liable
negligent act
vicarious liability - acting in course of their employment
- if the employee does a job badly then employer still liable
- century insurance v nothen ireland road transport board
- petrol tank driver
- threw cigarrete on the ground
- employer liable
acting on a frolic of their own
vicarious liability - acting in course of their employment
- causes damge to another while doing something outside their work, will not be liable
- hilton v thomas burton ltd
- took unathorised break and drive to cafe and had accident
- employer not liable as not acting in course of their employment
- smith v stages
- employee driving home from work but payed for that journey
- employer liable
liability for independant contractors
vicarious liability - acting in course of their employment
- morrison v various
- publised data that he stole whenhe worked at morrisons
- had been fired
- morrions was not liable - was to delibratly harm morrison
evaulations of vicarious liability
evaulations of vicarious liability
- confusing and ever changing employee test
- inconsitency of decisions in cases about employees undertaking dangerous or prohibited activities
- problems with replacing the employee test with a single test
- VL justified because employers should be more responsible and can pay more easily
- unfair burden on employers
confusing and ever changing employee test
evaulations of vicarious liability
- rules can be complictaed
- if the torfeaser is on loan/subcontracted
- are doing something not directly part of employment
- REFORM
- have a single test
- fairer and employer would be in no dount for whom they are responsible for
problems with replacing the employee tests with a single test
evaulations of vicarious liability
- restrictive to the diverse nature of employment contrcators
- could just use sub-contrcated workers to avoid responsibility for dangerous practice - unfair
- one size doesnt fit all - mersey docks v coggins
inconsistency of decisions in cases about employees undertaking dangerous or prohibited activites
evaulations of vicarious liability
- rose v plenty , twine v beans express
- both employees were told not to do things but only employer in rose was liable
- hilton acting on a frolic m so uncsuccseful clam, whereas similar facts in smith v stages but emplyer liable
unfair burden on employer
evaulations of vicarious liability
- unrealistic to expect an employer to have control over all possible and unpredictable actions of their employees
- less fair when tort is commited outside workplace/homeworking employer has less control
- contradicts fault based principle of liability
vicarious liability justified because employers should be more responsible and can pay more easily
evaulations of vicarious liability
- employer is at a better place to compensate because they will have insurance
- possibility of claims can encourage the employer to take higher standards of care and not turn a blind eye
- REFORM
- take an active role in monitoring employees activites
- employer should be responsible as they are in control, responsible for training and have power to fire anyone not doing their jobs properly