This article discusses the process of establishing negligence in a business law case. It explains the essential elements of negligence and their application in a real-life scenario. The article also explores the concept of vicarious liability and contributory negligence.
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Running head: BUSINESS LAW Business Law Name of the Student Name of the University Author Note
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1BUSINESS LAW Question 1 Issue The first issue in the present case is whether Marie can establish an act of negligence to be present in the actions of the gardener that has caused her injury. Rule One of the area of the law of torts is the tort of negligence. This kind of tort requires a person to fail to ensure a duty of care in his actions that he is supposed to ensure under a given set of circumstances and, which have eventually caused injury to another person. The tort of negligence is actionable by the person who has been injured by the negligent acts. However, to claim damages and bring an action against the person indulging into negligent act, the injured person needs to establish four essential elements relating to negligence is existing within the act of the person, which is alleged to have been negligent. The first point that the injured is required to prove to render a person to have acted negligently is the fact that the alleged person has incurred a duty to ensure and maintain care in conformity with the norms of the given circumstances. This can be further illustrated with the case of Stokes v House With No Steps [2016] QSC 791. In the case Caparo Industries PLC v Dickman [1990] UKHL 22, it has been contended by the court that a threefold test can be applied to include an act within the cover of negligence. This threefold test requires the existence of the duty to be foreseeable, there needs to be a connection between the injured and the alleged and the duty of care needs to be fair and just. The next thing that an injured is required to prove to claim damages under negligence is that the person has contravened the duty that he has to exercise care. This can be supported with the case of Liverpool Catholic Club Ltd v Moor [2014] NSWCA 3943. Next to that, the injured is required to prove that the injury that has been 1Stokes v House With No Steps [2016] QSC 79 2Caparo Industries PLC v Dickman [1990] UKHL 2 3Liverpool Catholic Club Ltd v Moor [2014] NSWCA 394
2BUSINESS LAW caused to him is the effect of the breach of duty that has been committed by the alleged person. This can further be illustrated with the case of Reid v Commercial Club (Albury) Ltd [2014] NSWCA 984. Lastly, the injured person needs to show that there exists a proximity between the act of negligence and the injury caused to the person the relation needs to be direct and not remote. This can further be contended with the case of Swan v Monash Law Book Co-operative [2013] VSC 3265. The existence of all these essential elements relating to negligence would render the negligent person liable and would conferred the injured without interest that would amount to claim damages. This can be illustrator with the case of Taylor v Haileybury [2013] VSC 586. Application In the present situation, the gardener has been employed for the repair of the garden in the rooftop of a building. This work would require the gardener to ensure adequate safety measures to be taken by the gardener to avoid accidents. This can be construed to be a duty to ensure and maintain care in conformity with the norms of the given circumstances. This can be further illustrated with the case of Stokes v House With No Steps [2016] QSC 79. The gardener has notified the residents of the building to not access the rooftop during the work. This can be construed to be an adequate measure. Hence, the gardener can be construed to have contravened the duty that he has to exercise care. This can be supported with the case of Liverpool Catholic Club Ltd v Moor [2014] NSWCA 394. Marie accessed the rooftop and broke her wrist slipping from a palm leaf and was taken to the hospital. This incurred her a medical expense and a cancellation of a trip.This can be construed to be an the injury that has been caused to him is the effect of the breach of duty 4Reid v Commercial Club (Albury) Ltd [2014] NSWCA 98 5Swan v Monash Law Book Co-operative [2013] VSC 326 6Taylor v Haileybury [2013] VSC 58
3BUSINESS LAW that has been committed by the alleged person. This can further be illustrated with the case of Reid v Commercial Club (Albury) Ltd [2014] NSWCA 98. Moreover, Marie has slipped from palm leaf that has been present there owing to the garden work being in progress. This can prove a proximity between the act of negligence and the injury caused to the person the relation needs to be direct and not remote. This can further be contended with the case of Swan v Monash Law Book Co-operative [2013] VSC 326. As all the four elements of negligence has been satisfied, it can be contended that Marie can establish an act of negligence to be present in the actions of the gardener that has caused her injury. Conclusion Marie can establish an act of negligence to be present in the actions of the gardener that has caused her injury. Question 2 Issue The second issue in the present case is whether Nilesh can be held responsible for the tort of negligence that has been committed by the gardener causing damage to Marie. Rule Vicarious liability is a situation where a person is held liable for the torts of another. This kind of liability is created when the person who has been held liable has a position where he is in charge of the actions of another, whose torts has been holding the person in charge liable. The vicarious liability is mostly evident when there is an agency relationship between two persons that is to say the person committing wrongful act is acting on behalf of or within the scope of the authority of the person in charge. However, to hold the superior or the person
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4BUSINESS LAW in charge liable for the wrongful acts of another person, the third party injured having an interest needs to establish that the agent has acted within the scope of the authority that the principle or the person in charge has extended upon him. This can further be illustrated with the case of Cox v Ministry of Justice [2016] 2 WLR 8067. Vicarious liability is also evident in the case of employer-employee relationship where employer can be held liable for the wrongful or tortious act of the employee as evident from the case of Mohamud v WM Morrison Supermarkets [2016] AC 6778. Application Nilesh has noticed the gardener to have been exhibiting excellence and hence discussed with the CEO to subcontract him to other jobs. This has amounted to the employment of the gardener for the garden work in the building, subsequent to which the negligent act and the injury to Marie has taken place. This can be construed to be an existence of the vicarious liability of Nilesh for the negligent acts of the gardener, as vicarious liability is also evident in the case of employer-employee relationship where employer can be held liable for the wrongful or tortious act of the employee as evident from the case of Mohamud v WM Morrison Supermarkets [2016] AC 677. Conclusion Nilesh can be held responsible for the tort of negligence that has been committed by the gardener causing damage to Marie. 7Cox v Ministry of Justice [2016] 2 WLR 806 8Mohamud v WM Morrison Supermarkets [2016] AC 677
5BUSINESS LAW Question 3 Issue The third issue in the present case is whether any damages towards the medical expense and the trip cancellation expense will be available to Marie. Rule Contributory negligence can be said to have occurred if the person who has been injured by a negligent acts of another has a reasonable involvement in the commission of the negligence. Such an involvement of the aggrieved in the negligent act would render the damages available to the aggrieved to have been reduced in proportion to the contribution. This can further be illustrated with the case of T and X Company Pty Ltd v Chivas [2014] NSWSCA 235. Application In the present situation, Marie has accessed the rooftop irrespective of the warning dropped in the mailbox. This can be construed to be a contribution of Marie in the act of negligence. Hence, the damages available to Marie will be reduced in proportion to the contribution. This can further be illustrated with the case of T and X Company Pty Ltd v Chivas [2014] NSWSCA 235. Conclusion Marie will get the medical expense but not the money lost by cancelling holiday.
6BUSINESS LAW Reference Caparo Industries PLC v Dickman [1990] UKHL 2 Cox v Ministry of Justice [2016] 2 WLR 806 Liverpool Catholic Club Ltd v Moor [2014] NSWCA 394 Mohamud v WM Morrison Supermarkets [2016] AC 677 Reid v Commercial Club (Albury) Ltd [2014] NSWCA 98 Stokes v House With No Steps [2016] QSC 79 Swan v Monash Law Book Co-operative [2013] VSC 326 T and X Company Pty Ltd v Chivas [2014] NSWSCA 235 Taylor v Haileybury [2013] VSC 58