DOC, BD, LOSS, DEFENCES Flashcards
(113 cards)
What are the 4 elements of establishing negligence?
- Did D owe C a duty of care
- Did D breach that duty of care
- Did D’s breach cause C loss
- Are there an applicable defences
What was the initial test for owing a duty of care?
donoghue v Stevenson: the neighbour principle: take reasonable care to avoid harming others whom it is reasonably foreseeable would be directly affected by your actions
What was the Anns test which was rejected by Caparo?
a duty of care will arise wherever it is reasonably foreseeable that others may be harmed by your carelessness, unless there are policy reasons for denying or restricting such a duty
What happened in the case of Carparo v Dickman?
the claimants bought shares plc in reliance on an audit into the company’s finances carried out by the defendant. In fact the accounts published by the defendant were inaccurate and the claimants sued in negligence.
the claimants bought shares plc in reliance on an audit into the company’s finances carried out by the defendant. In fact the accounts published by the defendant were inaccurate and the claimants sued in negligence.
What happened in the case of Carparo v Dickman?
What is the tripartite test of the Caparo test? and the incremental approach
1) was it reasonably foreseeable that a failure to take care could cause damage to the claimant?
2) was there a relationship of proximity between the claimant and the defendant?
3) is it fair, just and reasonable that the law should recognise a duty on the defendant to take reasonable care not to cause that damage to the claimant
or the incremental basis
-that a court should recognise a duty of care where it can find some previous decision where a duty of care has been recognised in an analogous situation. In some circumstances it may be justified to extend the duty of care incrementally
What are the 2 points under the first step of the tripartite test
-reaosnable foreseeability ?
1) claimant must fall within a class of individuals put at foreseeable risk by the defendants action
2) the defendant does not owe a duty of care to the world at large
- Palsgraf v Long Island
the 2 points under the reasonably foreseeable step of the Caparo test 1) claimant must fall within a class of individuals put at foreseeable risk by the defendants action
2) the defendant does not owe a duty of care to the world at large
this was established in -Palsgraf v Long Island
discuss case
One of the men tripped and whilst attempting to help the fallen man, members of the railway staff caused a box of fireworks to fall and the fireworks to explode.
HELD:
Whilst it was acknowledged that the guards who caused the package of fireworks to fall were negligent in doing so, it was not considered that they were negligent to the claimant
One of the men tripped and whilst attempting to help the fallen man, members of the railway staff caused a box of fireworks to fall and the fireworks to explode.
HELD:
Whilst it was acknowledged that the guards who caused the package of fireworks to fall were negligent in doing so, it was not considered that they were negligent to the claimant
the 2 points under the reasonably foreseeable step of the Caparo test 1) claimant must fall within a class of individuals put at foreseeable risk by the defendants action
2) the defendant does not owe a duty of care to the world at large
this was established in -Palsgraf v Long Island
discuss case
the 2nd step of the Caparo test is proximity. What are the two points under this test?
1) not a definable concept but merely a description of circumstances from which, pragmatically, the courts conclude a duty of care exists
2) ambiguous as to what type of relationship must exist
- alcock
the 2nd step of the Caparo test is proximity.
1) not a definable concept but merely a description of circumstances from which, pragmatically, the courts conclude a duty of care exists
2) ambiguous as to what type of relationship must exist
-this is seen in Alcock
discuss case
In this case the family of those who died in the Hillsborough disaster who watched from T.V and radio were insufficiently proximate to have a duty of care owed.
In this case the family of those who died in the Hillsborough disaster who watched from T.V and radio were insufficiently proximate to have a duty of care owed.
the 2nd step of the Caparo test is proximity.
1) not a definable concept but merely a description of circumstances from which, pragmatically, the courts conclude a duty of care exists
2) ambiguous as to what type of relationship must exist
-this is seen in Alcock
discuss case
The 3rd step of the Caparo test is for it to be fair, just and reasonable. What are the 2 points?
1) allows for alot of judicial discretion
2) public policy: any extension of tortious liability will occur on an incremental basis (robinson)
- Bishop Rock Marine
The Caparo test does not apply to all claims in negligence. Which case established that it will not apply where there are established categories?
Robinson
The Caparo test does not apply to all claims in negligence this was established in Robinson
discuss case
claimant was an old frail woman who was knocked over by policy in a busy street who were attempting to arrest a suspected drug dealer.
Issue:
did police officers owe a duty of care
HELD:
did not depend on Caparo but on existing principles of law in negligence.
since there was a reasonably foreseeable risk of injury if the arrest was attempted, when pedestrians especially physically vulnerable ones may be injured
police officers owed a duty of care towards pedestrians in the immediate vicinity when the arrest was attempted
claimant was an old frail woman who was knocked over by policy in a busy street who were attempting to arrest a suspected drug dealer.
Issue:
did police officers owe a duty of care
HELD:
did not depend on Caparo but on existing principles of law in negligence.
since there was a reasonably foreseeable risk of injury if the arrest was attempted, when pedestrians especially physically vulnerable ones may be injured
police officers owed a duty of care towards pedestrians in the immediate vicinity when the arrest was attempted
The Caparo test does not apply to all claims in negligence this was established in Robinson
discuss case
What are 4 examples of established categories?1
1) ROAD USERS
2) manufacturers to consumers
3) employers to employees
4) doctors to patients
What case is an example of a case within an established category of a duty of care owed by those who provide and run casualty to take reasonable care not to cause physical injury to patient?
Darnley
The 3rd step of the caparo test is that it must be fair just and reasonable to impose a duty. this was established in Bishop Rock Marine
discuss case
Claimants cargo was being transported when the ship carrying it needed repairing. It docked for repairs but only opted for temporary repairs. the classifications society deemed it seaworthy. The ship then sank
The defendants, the classification society had no duty of care
HELD :
it was held that it would be unfair, unjust and unreasonable to place a duty of care on a classification society as against a ship owner, it being the ship owner who would ordinarily be required to recover in circumstances such as this,
Claimants cargo was being transported when the ship carrying it needed repairing. It docked for repairs but only opted for temporary repairs. the classifications society deemed it seaworthy. The ship then sank
The defendants, the classification society had no duty of care
HELD :
it was held that it would be unfair, unjust and unreasonable to place a duty of care on a classification society as against a ship owner, it being the ship owner who would ordinarily be required to recover in circumstances such as this,
The 3rd step of the caparo test is that it must be fair just and reasonable to impose a duty. this was established in Bishop Rock Marine
discuss case
What are the factors courts take into account when determine whether a duty of care exists?
- the law is generally more ready and willing to prohibit acts rather than omissions
- some harms aren’t considered sufficiently serious such as mere anxiety and upset
- where there is an undesirable impact on the defendant/others in their position
a) could lead people in Ds position to act overcautiously
b) lead to excessive liability where he/she may face overwhelming crippling claims of compensation
In what 2 ways does the court address the issue of whether D has breached the duty of care?
1) How the defendant ought to have behaved in the circumstances
2) the behaviour the defendants. Did they as a matter of fact fall below the standard of care required
The question as to whether D has breached the duty of care has the basic test of reasonableness. What is the test?
negligence is the ommission to do something which the reasonable man would do
The question as to whether D has breached the duty of care has the basic test of reasonableness. negligence is the ommission to do something which the reasonable man would do
what case established this?
Blyth v Birmingham Waterworks