Stevenson v Waite Tileman Ltd
P suffered a cut on his hand as a
result of emoloyers negligence, as
aresult it was argued that an
infection entered into the wound and caused brain damage.
Held:
Requires intial claim of injury reasonably foreseeable; does not
matter if ultimate injury unforeseeable.
DEFENCES
1.
CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE
Where the Plaintiff fails to take care for his or her own safety
26Liability for contributory negligence
i
(1)
If a person (
the claimant
) suffers damage as the result partly of the claimant's failure to take
reasonable care (
contributory negligence
) and partly of the wrong of any other person or persons
—
(a)
except as provided in section 63, a claim in respect of the damage is not defeated by reason
of the contributory negligence of the claimant; and
(b)
the damages recoverable in respect of the wrong must be reduced to such extent as the
court thinks just and equitable having regard to the claimant's share in the responsibility for
the damage.
(1A)
Subsection (1) does not operate to defeat any defence arising under a contract.
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(1B)
If any contract or enactment providing for the limitation of liability is applicable to the claim, the
amount of damages awarded to the claimant by virtue of subsection (1) is not to exceed the
maximum limit so applicable.
(1C)
If a claim is brought in a court of limited jurisdiction, the court may award damages up to the limit of
its jurisdiction even though the amount of damages has first been reduced under subsection (1) or
(1B).
(2)
Where damages are recoverable by any person by virtue of subsection (1) subject to such reduction
as is therein mentioned, the court shall find and record the total damages which, apart from any
limitation referred to in subsections (1B) and (1C), would have been awarded, if the claimant had not
been guilty of contributory negligence.
*
*
*
*
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(4)
Where any person dies as a result partly of his or her failure to take reasonable care (
contributory
negligence
) and partly of the wrong of any other person or persons an action brought by the
dependants of the first-mentioned person under Part III of this Act shall not be defeated nor shall
any damages recoverable by those dependants under that action be reduced by reason of that first-
mentioned person's contributory negligence.
(5)
Where, in any case to which subsection (1) of this section applies, one of the persons responsible
for the damage avoids liability to any other such person or his personal representative by pleading
any enactment limiting the time within which proceedings may be taken, he shall not be entitled to
recover any damages from that other person or representative by virtue of the said subsection.
(6)
Where any case to which subsection (1) of this section applies is tried with a jury, the jury shall
determine the total damages which would have been recoverable if the claimant had not been guilty
of contributory negligence and the extent to which those damages are to be reduced.

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