Cases - Forsikringsaktieselskapet Vesta v Butcher

Record details

Name
Forsikringsaktieselskapet Vesta v Butcher
Date
[1986]
Citation
2 AII ER 488
Legislation
Keywords
Negligence in valuations and surveys
Summary

In an action between an insurance company and brokers, it was held that the statutory defence of contributory negligence cannot be used in an action for breach of a strict contractual duty (that is, one where liability is independent of negligence). Nor is it available in an action for breach of a contractual duty of care between parties whose relationship is such that no concurrent duty would arise in tort. However, the defence can be raised in an action for breach of a contractual duty of care where there is a concurrent duty in tort. The effect of this is that the defence will almost always be the available in an action for professional negligence.