Negligently infliclicted economic loss

Negligently inflicted economic loss

Generally no duty of care is owed to avoid causing another to suffer a loss which is purely economic. Ie one where the financial loss is not related to a personal injury or damage to property. See:

Spartan Steel & Alloys Ltd v Martin [1972] 3 WLR 502

However, where the economic is caused by negligent mis-statement as oppose to a negligent act liability may be imposed as established by a House of Lords obiter in:

Hedley Byrne & Co v Heller [1963] 3 WLR 101

Anns v Merton London Borough Council [1978] AC 728

Murphy v Brentwood District Council [1991] 1 AC 398

Caparo Industries Plc v Dickman [1990] 2 AC 605

Gorham v British Telecommunications Plc [2000] EWCA Civ 234

Henderson v Merrett Syndicates [1995] 2 AC 145

Junior Books Ltd v Veitchi [1982] 3 WLR 477

McFarlane v Tayside Health Board [2000] 2 AC 59

Parkinson v St James [2001] 3 WLR 376

Rees v Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust [2003] 3 WLR 1091

Reid v Rush & Tompkins Plc [1990] 1 WLR 212

Merrett v Babb [2001] 3 WLR 1

Simaan General Contracting Co v Pilkington Glass Ltd [1988] QB 758

Smith v Eric S Bush [1990] 1 AC 831

South Australia Asset Management Corp v York Montague [1996] 3 WLR 87

A duty of care may exist even where the defendant would have a defence to an action in defamation:

Spring v Guardian Assurance [1994] 3 WLR 354

White v Jones [1995] 2 WLR 187

Williams v Natural Life Health Foods [1998] 2 All ER 577