Appealed from Court of Appeal Location United Kingdom | Date decided July 24, 1996 | |
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Full case name Stovin v Wise (Norfolk County Council, third party) Citation(s) [1996] UKHL 15
[1996] AC 923
[1996] 3 All ER 801 Judges sitting Lord Goff
Lord Jauncey
Lord Slynn
Lord Nicholls
Lord Hoffmann Court Judicial functions of the House of Lords Judge sittings Robert Goff, Baron Goff of Chieveley Similar Dorset Yacht Co Ltd v Ho, Caparo Industries plc v Dick, Bourhill v Young, Donoghue v Stevenson, Nettleship v Weston | ||
Stovin v Wise [1996] UKHL 15 is an English tort law case about a highway authority's liability in negligence. The majority speech of Lord Hoffmann contains important principles about omissions liability and the liability of public authorities.
Contents
Facts
Ms Wise was turning right at an acute intersection in Wymondham. Her view was obscured by an earthen bank which the Norfolk County Council's highway authority had earmarked for removal but since neglected. Ms Wise pulled into the road as Mr Stovin was approaching at speed on his motorbike. Unable to slow down in time, he crashed into Ms Wise's vehicle.
Judgment
Mr Stovin successfully sued Ms Wise in negligence. The High Court held her 70% to blame for the accident, and the Council 30%. The question on appeal was solely whether the Council could indeed be liable. The Court of Appeal of England and Wales held that it was.
House of Lords
The House of Lords upheld the Council's appeal. Lord Hoffmann wrote the majority opinion (with Lords Goff and Jauncey concurring). Lord Nicholls dissented (with Lord Slynn concurring).
Legacy
Stovin v Wise is a decision of major significance in the development of negligence liability in English law. It deals with both the liability of state defendants and liability for omissions; the case exemplifies, and helped to establish, English law's conservative attitude to both. To a large extent it builds upon the speech of Lord Wilberforce in X v Bedfordshire County Council.