TORT TORT – Occupiers’ Liability Q7, 2014 Parties Involve! "lsa – violin player, "l#o’s sister, $ans’s %rien "l#o&"lsa nine years ol brot'er $ans – "lsa’s %rien, o(ner o% restaurant Issues! 1) *'et'er *'et'er "lsa can can sue $ans bein+ bein+ ne+li+ent ne+li+ent by le%t le%t t'e t'e so#e tools on t'e corrior oor ('ic' cause "lsa severely in-ure. & licensees 2) *'et'er *'et'er "l#o can sue sue $ans %or %or loc/in+ t'e t'e oors an an cause cause 'i# in-ure in-ure ('ile runnin+ to anot'er re eit. & trespasser ) *'et'er *'et'er $ans can can raise t'e t'e e%ence on "lsa "lsa on t'e case case "lsa +et +et in-ure. in-ure. 4) *'et'er *'et'er $ans can can raise t'e t'e e%ence on "l#o "l#o on t'e case case "l#o +et in-ure in-ure.. Introuction! Occupiers’ liability arises in a situation ('ere t'e pre#ises are not as sa%e as it s'oul reasonably be, 'ence cause in-ury3 a#a+e to t'e plainti. Occupiers’ liability base on t'e stanar o% care re5uire o% t'e e%enant occupier. occupier. 6n occupier is so#eone ('o 'as t'e i##eiate supervision, control an t'e po(er o% per#ittin+3pro'ibitin+ t'e entry o% ot'er persons. In orer to establis' occupiers’ liability, t'e occupier #ust 'ave a su8cient e+ree o% control over t'e pre#ise t'at 'e ou+'t to reali9e t'at any %ailure on 'is part to use care #ay result in in-ury to a person co#in+ la(%ully: In orer to be an ;occupier’ it is not necessary %or a person to 'ave entire control over t'e pre#ises:'e #ay s'are t'e control (it' ot'ers:.sually t'e occupier oes not 'ave any interest in t'e presence o% t'e license on 'is pre#ises. 6 social visitor is one ('o enters into private pre#ises (it' t'e per#ission o% t'e e%enant occupier or by invitation. $is purpose %or bein+ on t'e pre#ises is social in nature an oes not con%er any #aterialistic or econo#ic avanta+es to t'e occupier. 6 uty o% cares arises ('en belo( %actors are establis'e! #eanin+ o% t'e occupier’ /no(le+e, #eanin+ o% conceale or 'ien an+er an /no(le+e o% t'e plainti. $ans is t'e occupier o% t'e pre#ise – t'e restaurant an t'e restaurant uner renovation (or/. "lsa (as +iven t'e per#ission %ro# $ans to pra ctice violin at t'e 'all o% t'e restaurant uner t'e cate+ory licensees as a social visitors. $ans
(as +ivin+ t'e per#ission (it'out 'avin+ any interest %ro# "lsa. "lsa’s purpose on t'e occupier pre#ises is to practice violin an oes not con%er any #aterialistic or econo#ic avanta+es to t'e occupier. In ?eap @'en+ $oc/ v Aa-i#a&Taisei Boint Centure, t'e plainti, ('o (as a +eolo+ist, (as in-ure urin+ a visit to a #ine, t'e visit bein+ %or 'is o(n purposes an not #eant to brin+ any benet to e%enant. Deanin+ o% t'e occupier’ /no(le+e Occupier (oul be liable i% 'e ou+'t to 'ave /no(n o% t'e eistence o% t'e an+er. *'en $ans le%t t'e tools on t'e corrior, 'e ou+'t to 'ave /no(n t'at t'e tools #i+'t 'ar# to anyone ('o run t'rou+' t'e corrior to save t'eir li%e %ro# re. I% t'e occupier /no(ns o% t'e conition o% pre#ises an a reasonable #an (oul 'ave reali9e o% t'e eistence o% an+er, t'e occupier (ill be ta/en as 'avin+ /no(le+e o% t'e an+er as in case o% $a(/ins v @oulson. T'e occupier (as 'el liable to t'e plainti as 'e /ne( one o% 'is steps o% t'e laers (as bro/en, even t'ou+' 'e i not realise t'e etent o% t'e an+er. $ere, "lsa (as in-ure severely ue to t'e ne+li+ent o% $ans (as livin+ t'e tools on t'e corrior. In t'is case, $ans i %ulll t'is %actor. Deanin+ o% conceale or 'ien an+er T'e an+er is conceal or 'ien ('en t'e licensee is not a(are o% an coul not be epecte to be a(are. $ere, "lsa i not notice t'e tools on t'e corrior an slippe on a scre(river. In t'e case o% ?eap @'en+ $oc/ v Aa-i#a&Taisei Boint Centure state above, t'e -u+e 'el t'at t'e e%enants (ere %oun liable as t'e cause o% t'e in-ury, ('ic' (as a pro-ection o% roc/ in a tunnel, (as a conceale an+er an (as /no(n or ou+'t to 'ave been /no(n by t'e e%enant. In t'is case, $ans i %ulll t'is %actor. Ano(le+e o% t'e plainti I% t'e plainti /no(s o% t'e an+er or t'e circu#stances on t'e pre#ises (it' t'e (arnin+ +iven by occupier, t'e an+er ceases to be conceale or 'ien an+er. In t'is case, $ans i put a notice t'at t'e restaurant is uner renovation. $o(ever 'e i not #ention t'e route or eit to be use urin+ e#er+ency incient. $ans i not ta/e consieration %or #ore precautions as t'is is t'e public place %or 'i# to 'ave custo#er at 'is restaurant. In t'e case o% Li# Eeo( *a' v $ousin+ an =evelop#ent Foar, court 'el t'at since t'ere (as unli#ite access to t'e stall, t'e plainti (as not a trespasser an even i% 'e (as, e%enant s'oul 'ave %oreseen t'at #e#bers o% t'e public (oul patroni9e t'e stall. Ea#e li/e t'e case, "lsa can access to ierent (ay ('ic' s'e t'in/ is t'e %aster (ay to +et ri %ro# t'e re. T'ere%ore, $ans 'as establis'e t'is %actor. In t'e conclusion, $ans 'as %ullle t'e entire %actor an establis'e t'e stanar o% care %or t'is issue. T'ere%ore, "lsa 'as c'ance to success%ully sue $ans. Issue 2!
*'et'er "l#o can sue $ans %or loc/in+ t'e oors an cause 'i# in-ure ('ile runnin+ to anot'er re eit. & Trespasser La( an 6pplication 6 trespasser is a person ('o enters pre#ises (it'out any epress or i#plie per#ission o% t'e occupier. $is eistence on t'e pre#ises #ay not be /no(n to t'e occupier, suc' a (anerin+ c'il, a t'ie%, a person ('o 'as lost 'is (ay, an so %ort'. 6n occupier i not o(e a uty to(ars a trespasserG nevert'eless t'e occupier #ust ta/e reasonable steps o% co##on 'u#anity an co##on sense to avoi an+erG or to +ive (arnin+ to people ('o #i+'t be on 'is pre#ises. T'us, t'e %actor to establis' t'e stanar o% care is base on t'e presence o% t'e trespasser is /no(n or reasonable %oreseeable an uty to (arn t'e trespasser o% t'e potential a#a+e. Hor t'e c'il trespassers, ain+ anot'er ;allure#ent’ %actor t'at t'e occupier is in a sense to invitin+ c'ilren to #ele (it' t'e an+erous t'in+ an it %ollo(s t'at a uty #ust be i#pose to 'i#. 6pparently, "l#o is -ust a years ol c'il brin+ in to $ans’ restaurant by 'er sister (it'out ac/no(le+#ent o% $ans an %all uner cate+ory o% c'il trespasser. T'e presence o% t'e trespasser is reasonable %oreseeable %or $ans as t'e restaurant is t'e public area %or anyone to +o in an out even t'ou+' t'ey #i+'t not +o in %or t'e purpose to 'ave #eal. *anin+ notice t'at $ans i put %or t'e renovation (or/ by (arnin+ t'at no c'ilren is allo(e to enter is su8cient. *'et'er t'e renovation (or/ at 'all s'oul be consiere as t'e allure#ent %actor is a %act to be ecie on t'e circu#stances o% eac' case, an in t'e instant case, t'e 'all s'all not be consiere as allure#ent. In Einuri bin Tubar v Eyari/at "ast Bo'ore Ea(#ills, plainti ('o (as eleven years ol (ent into e%enant’s co#poun an bat'e. *'ile 'e (as crossin+ t'e yar on 'is (ay 'o#e, 'is 'an (as trappe uner t'e lo+s in t'e yar an 'a to be a#putate. T'e court 'el! : an ob-ect s'oul not be consiere an allure#ent unless t'e te#ptation ('ic' it presents is suc' t'at no nor#al c'il coul be epecte to restrain 'i#sel% %ro# inter #elin+, even i% 'e /no(s t'at to inter&#ele is (ron+:.< Eince "l#o (as brou+'t in by "lsa t'us no allure#ent %actor can be i#pose on $ans. $o(ever, occupier still 'as a 'i+'er stanar o% care on t'e c'il trespasser. Hro# 'ere $ans can raise a e%ence on "l#o not to liable on "l#o’s in-uries. Issue *'et'er $ans can raise t'e e%ence on "lsa on t'e case "lsa +et in-ure. T'ere is no e%ence %or $ans on "lsa. T'ere%ore, "lsa can success%ully sue $ans on 'er in-uries. Issue 4 *'et'er $ans can raise t'e e%ence on "l#o on t'e case "l#o +et in-ure. La( an 6pplication 6n occupier ('o is sue #ay raise t'e e%ence i% volenti non t in-uria or t'at 'e 'as put up a su8cient notice or (arnin+. Jotices #ay be in t'e %or# o% a
(arnin+, or an eclusion clause. It #ay also ta/e t'e %or# o% a evice ('ic' prevents visitors %ro# +ettin+ into contact (it' t'e an+er. In case 6s'o(n v *illia# Ea#ueis K Eons, t'e court 'el t'at an eclusion clause #ay be raise as a co#plete e%ence i% t'e clause is clear an su8cient. $ere, $ans can raise t'e co#plete e%ence on "l#o an "lsa on "l#o’s in-uries as 'e i put t'e notice to pro'ibite c'ilren to +o in t'e 'all ue to renovation (or/. Hor t'e c'il trespassers, t'e sa%ety o% c'ilren to a lar+e eten lies on t'eir parents or +uarian an t'ere%ore an occupier 'as t'e ri+'t to 5uestion t'is responsibility, i% t'e (arnin+s +iven by 'i# are consiere su8cient. T'ere%ore, $ans can success%ully e%ence in t'is case as "lsa i notice t'e (arnin+ boar in t'e 'all. In conclusion, $ans (ill only 'el liable on "lsa %or 'er in-uries an not liable on "l#o’s in-uries. Q7, 201 – Occupiers’ Liability Parties Involve! Aiara Trust – o(ner o% Aiara Par/ Eeri Eutera En F' – #ana+e#ent o% t'e par/ Tayoob – Hat'er Daria & Dot'er @'enta – /i Issues! 1.) *'et'er Daria can sue Aiara Trust an Eeri Eutera %or not +ivin+ t'e notice o% t'e ept' o% t'e (ater pool an cause 'er in-ure. – Licensee 2.) *'et'er @'enta can sue Aiara Trust an Eeri Eutera %or t'e seriously ill a%ter ate t'e poisonous purple c'erries %ro# t'e Aiara Par/. – @'ilren Licensee .) *'et'er Aiara Trust an Eeri Eutera can raise e%ence on Daria %or t'e in-uries. 4.) *'et'er Aiara Trust an Eeri Eutera can raise e%ence on @'enta’s parents %or not ta/in+ +oo care to @'enta. Introuction! Occupiers’ liability arises in a situation ('ere t'e pre#ises are not as sa%e as it s'oul reasonably be, 'ence cause in-ury3 a#a+e to t'e plainti. Occupiers’ liability base on t'e stanar o% care re5uire o% t'e e%enant occupier. 6n occupier is so#eone ('o 'as t'e i##eiate supervision, control an t'e po(er o% per#ittin+3pro'ibitin+ t'e entry o% ot'er persons. In orer to establis' occupiers’ liability, t'e occupier #ust 'ave a su8cient e+ree o% control over t'e pre#ise t'at 'e ou+'t to reali9e t'at any %ailure on 'is part to use care #ay result in in-ury to a person co#in+ la(%ully: In orer to be an ;occupier’ it is not necessary %or a person to 'ave entire control over t'e pre#ises:'e #ay s'are t'e control (it' ot'ers:.
%our types i% entrants an stanar o% care re5uire. T'ere are contractual entrants, invitees, licensees an trespassers. In t'is case, Aiara Trust an Eeri Eutera En F' are t'e occupiers an t'ey (ill beco#e e%enant o% t'e case. Issue 1! *'et'er Daria can sue Aiara Trust an Eeri Eutera %or not +ivin+ t'e notice o% t'e ept' o% t'e (ater pool an cause 'er in-ure. – Licensee La( an 6pplication Licensee is a person ('o enters t'e pre#ises (it' t'e occupier’s +ratuitous per#ission, be it epress or i#plie. >sually t'e occupier oes not 'ave any interest in t'e presence o% t'e license on 'is pre#ises. "ntrant as o% ri+'t is t'ose ('o 'ave t'e ri+'t to enter into pre#ises t'at are open to public suc' as Public Par/, public pool, public library ant etc. T'e +eneral principle is t'at actual /no(le+e o% t'e occupier as to t'e eistence o% an+er is not necessary an t'e licensee visitor cannot assu#e t'at t'e pre#ises (ill be %ree %ro# visible an+ers. T'e occupier #ust 'o(ever, ta/e reasonable steps in t'e circu#stances to avoi any a#a+e %ro# occurrin+, especially i% t'e an+er is obvious. I% t'e occupier %aile to carry out t'e sa%ety o% 'is pre#ise an (it' t'e conse5uences, #e#ber o% public is in-ure ue to t'e an+er raise %ro# 'is pre#ises. T'en t'e occupier sai to 'ave %aile to eercise t'e reasonable care to avoi t'e a#a+e. 6 uty o% cares arises ('en belo( %actors is establis'e! #eanin+ o% t'e occupier’ /no(le+e, #eanin+ o% conceale or 'ien an+er an /no(le+e o% t'e plainti. Aiara Par/ is a public par/ (it' t'e occupier’s +ratuitous per#ission to t'e public. E#all entrance %ees as t'eir #aintenance %ees i not brin+ #uc' interest o% t'e licensees on t'eir pre#ises. In t'e case o% 6i/en v Ain+borou+' @orporation, @onsieration t'at ou+'t to aect t'e stanar o% care epecte o% an occupier o% pre#ises to ('ic' #e#bers o% t'e public can enter as o% ri+'t (as clearly lai o(n by =ion B. Deanin+ o% t'e occupier’ /no(le+e Occupier (oul be liable i% 'e ou+'t to 'ave /no(n o% t'e eistence o% t'e an+er. Aiara Trust an Eeri Eutera s'oul 'ave /no(n t'e ept' o% t'e cool by proviin+ t'e #easure#ent o% t'e pool ept' to t'e public. I% t'e occupier /no(ns o% t'e conition o% pre#ises an a reasonable #an (oul 'ave reali9e o% t'e eistence o% an+er, t'e occupier (ill be ta/en as 'avin+ /no(le+e o% t'e an+er as in case o% $a(/ins v @oulson. T'e occupier (as 'el liable to t'e plainti as 'e /ne( one o% 'is steps o% t'e laers (as bro/en, even t'ou+' 'e i not realise t'e etent o% t'e an+er. $ere, Daria (as in-ure as s'e %aile in testin+ t'e ept' o% t'e (ater. Aiara Trust an Eeri Eutera i %ulll t'is %actor. Deanin+ o% conceale or 'ien an+er T'e an+er is conceal or 'ien ('en t'e licensee is not a(are o% an coul not be epecte to be a(are. $ere, Daria conclues t'at t'e pool is sa%e a%ter 'er test on t'e (ater su++este t'e pon is s'allo(. In t'e case o% Lat'a# v R
Bo'nson K Jep'e(, t'e court state t'at conceale an+er consists o% so#et'in+ 'ien or conceale an t'e ele#ent o% surprise. T'e pre#ises #i+'t loo/ sa%e but is in %act a trap. In t'is case, t'e ept' o% t'e pool (ater #i+'t loo/ sa%e but in %act it is a trap %or public. 6n t'ere%or Aiara Trust an Eeri Eutera %ullle t'is %actor. Ano(le+e o% t'e plainti I% t'e plainti /no(s o% t'e an+er or t'e circu#stances on t'e pre#ises (it' t'e (arnin+ +iven by occupier, t'e an+er ceases to be conceale or 'ien an+er. In t'is case, Daria i not /no( t'e an+er o% t'e pool as t'e occupier %aile to provie t'e #easure#ent o% t'e ept' o% t'e (ater an cause Daria in-ure. In %act, Daria i o 'er part ('ic' t'e licensee cannot assu#e t'at t'e pre#ises (ill be %ree %ro# visible an+ers an s'e #a/es t'e test on pool ept'. T'ere%ore, Aiara Trust an Eeri Eutera 'ave establis'e t'is %actor. In t'e conclusion, Aiara Trust an Eeri Eutera 'as %ullle t'e entire %actor an establis'e t'e stanar o% care %or t'is issue. T'ere%ore, Daria 'as c'ance to success%ully sue Aiara Trust an Eeri Eutera. $o(ever, e%ence can be raise bac/ to Daria (it' t'e notice state at t'e #ain entrance o% t'e par/. Issue 2! *'et'er @'enta can sue Aiara Trust an Eeri Eutera %or t'e seriously ill a%ter ate t'e poisonous purple c'erries %ro# t'e Aiara Par/. – @'ilren Licensee La( an 6pplication Part o% t'e licensee, entrant by i#plie per#ission enters into pre#ises in circu#stances ('ere t'e court i#plies a license. $e enters (it'out any epress restriction by t'e occupier. T'e court applies t'e octrine o% allure#ent in t'is cate+ory, suc' as a c'il enterin+ a piece o% lan ue to so#e attraction on t'e lan, or so#eone ('o is not prevente to use t'e occupier’s lan in orer to +et to t'e ot'er sie o% t'e lan. In t'is case, @'enta enterin+ t'e bus' (it' a notice %ro# #ana+e#ent an attracte by t'e purple c'erries an beco#e ill a%ter ate t'e c'erries. I% t'e licensee is a c'il, t'e uty on t'e occupier is 'i+'er as a c'il cannot be epecte to be a(are o% an+ers t'at #ay be obvious to aults. In P'ipps v Roc'ester @orporation, t(o c'ilren entere into t'e e%enant’s co#poun to pluc/ so#e %ruits. T'ey %ell an in-ure t'e#selves. T'e an+er (as visible to ault but not to c'ilren. T'e c'ilren (ere 'el to be licensees, but t'ere (as not breac' o% uty as t'e e%enant 'a a ri+'t to assu#e t'at pruent an reasonable parents or +uarian (oul not allo( t'eir c'ilren to venture into open spaces (it'out eercisin+ any control or (it'out rst ensurin+ t'at t'e place (as sa%e. $ere, @'enta cannot unerstan t'e notice (it' sy#bol s/ull 'ea an crossbones represent t'e poisonous as s'e is -ust a ve years ol c'il. @'enta’s parents i not loo/ closely to 'er ('en s'e (as (anerin+ to t'e bus'. Hro#
'ere, @'enta can sue Aiara an Eeri Eutera (it' t'e notice t'at s'e cannot unerstan an cause 'er illness. $o(ever, Aiara an Eeri Eutera can raise t'e e%ence bac/ to t'e parents o% @'enta %or not ta/in+ +oo care on 'er.
Issue ! *'et'er Aiara Trust an Eeri Eutera can raise e%ence on Daria %or t'e in-uries. La( an 6pplication 6n occupier ('o is sue #ay raise t'e e%ence i% volenti non t in-uria or t'at 'e 'as put up a su8cient notice or (arnin+. Jotices #ay be in t'e %or# o% a (arnin+, or an eclusion clause. It #ay also ta/e t'e %or# o% a evice ('ic' prevents visitors %ro# +ettin+ into contact (it' t'e an+er. In case 6s'o(n v *illia# Ea#ueis K Eons, t'e court 'el t'at an eclusion clause #ay be raise as a co#plete e%ence i% t'e clause is clear an su8cient. In t'is case, notice (as states at t'e #ain entrance to t'e par/ t'at t'e occupier (ill not ta/e responsibility %or any in-ury or a#a+e suere ('ile in t'eir pre#ises. Aiara an Eeri Eutera #ay e%ence t'e clai# on Daria t'at Daria s'oul %oresee any in-ury t'at (ill be 'appene. $o(ever, Daria can ar+ue t'at t'e an+er o% t'e pool is too 'ien as s'e cannot observe base on t'e eye #easure#ent. In aition, Aiara an Eeri Eutera never put any si+nboar %or t'e #easure#ent o% t'e pool as a +uieline %or t'e public ('ic' t'is is t'e %ailure %or t'e occupier to ensure t'e sa%ety o% t'eir property usa+e. T'us, Aiara an Eeri Eutera (ill be liable %or t'e Daria in-uries. Issue 4! *'et'er Aiara Trust an Eeri Eutera can raise e%ence on @'enta’s parents %or not ta/in+ +oo care to @'enta. Hro# t'e notice at t'e #ain entrance i also #ention t'at c'ilren #ust be acco#panie an supervise by responsible aults. Dana+e#ent tea# i +ive a su8cient notice t'at parents s'oul play t'eir role to ta/e care t'e c'il. *'en @'enta run in t'e bus' (it' t'e co#panion o% 'er parent, t'e incient (ill not 'appene as ault can unerstan t'e sy#bol o% poisonous an t'ere%ore (ill stop t'eir /i to ta/e t'e an+erous action. T'is is obviously t'e contributely ne+li+ent by t'e parents an t'e clai# %ro# @'enta (ill not be success as Aiara an Eeri Eutera (ill not liable %or 'er in-ury. 6s t'e conclusion, Aiara Trust an Eeri Eutera (ill only 'el liable to Daria in-uries but not @'enta in-uries.
