STRICT LIABILITY UNDER TORTS| LAW OF TORTS NOTES|

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STRICT LIABILITY UNDER TORTS

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Strict Liability Ryland V Fletcher  

The principle of strict liability has its origin in the leading case Ryland V. Fletcher. In this case B, a mill owner employed independent contractors who were competent, to construct a water reservoir for the purpose of his mill. In the course of construction the contractors came across some old shafts and passages on B’s land. They did not block them up, but completed the construction. When the reservoir was filled with water, water gushed through the shaft and flooded the mines of A.A sued B. The court held that B was liable on the ground of “Strict liability”.

 

Blackburn J held we think that, the true rule of law is that the person who for his own purposes brings on his land and collects and keeps there anything likely to do mischief, if it escapes, must keep it in, at his peril and if he does not do so, is prima facie answerable for all the damage which is the natural consequence of its escape” .

 

This is the rule in Ryland V. Fletcher. In this case, B was not negligent although the contractors were negligent. Still under the rule of strict liability B was held liable.

 

Scope of the Rule  

This decision laid down a new principle which became the subject matter of great importance in later years. It is considered as a starting point of the liability wider than what it was before the decision of the court. This rule has been extended to a large number of cases.

Eg. Escape of fire, gas, explosives, Electricity, Oil, vibrations, Bad fumes etc. Here escape is necessary otherwise there is no liability. To apply the rule there must be a personal injury sustained by the plaintiff.

In Shiftman’s case the plaintiff was injured as he was struck by a falling flag pole belonging to defendants. The rule was applied and D was held liable. If the flooding is due to natural cause, as in the case of gravitation then the defendant will not be liable. If a person grows poisonous trees and his neighbor’s horse happens to eat the leaves over the compound and die ,the defendant would be liable [Crowburst V. A.B. Board]

The question is whether the things are dangerous or not. Justice Blackburn stated that if anything is stored which is likely to do mischief then the liability arises. Normally water is not dangerous. But, in Rylands V. Fletcher, that was the main thing for the injury. Hence, the thing here need not be dangerous by itself.

 

Exceptions:

  • Consent of the plaintiff: If the plaintiff has given his con sent the strict liability rule will not apply but ‘volenti non-fit injuria’ applies. Hence, the defendant will not be liable. In a leading case,Peter V. Prince of Wales Theatre, A took a lease of a theatre which had been fixed with pipes with running water to be used in case of fire hazard. Due to frost there was leakage in the pipes resulting in the damage to the property of P. P sued D the owner. The court held D not liable as there was consent of the plaintiff.
  • Common Benefit: If source of danger is for the common benefit of both the plaintiff and the defendant, the defendant is not liable. In Carstairs V. Taylor, B was in the first floor and A was in the ground floor as a tenant. Water from the roof collected in a box and was discharged out through a pipe. A rat gnawed a hole in the box and water leaked out and damaged the goods of A. Held B not liable. The reason was that the arrangement was for the common benefit of both the parties.
  • Act of Stranger: If the escape of a thing is due to the act of stranger, the rule will not apply. In Richards V. Lothian, a stranger deliberately blocked up the waste pipe of a lavatory fixed in the premises of D. This caused flooding the premises of P. P sued D. Held, the defendant D was not liable as the act was due to a stranger.
  • Statutory authority: Sometimes the law made by parlia ment or State Legislature excludes strict liability. In Green V. Cheisea Water Works Company, the Parliament had authorised the company to lay the main pipes. The pipes burst flooding the premises of P. It was held that the company was not liable, (of course, the act should not be due to the negligence of the defendant).
  • Act of God: It is a general defence and may be set up to establish that the escape was due to some natural cause which was beyond the control of the defendant.
  • Default of the Plaintiff: If the injury is due to the default of the plaintiff then there is no compensation. In a decided case, the plaintiff teased a Chimpanzee in a zoo and the animal caused injury by biting the hand of the plaintiff. Held the plaintiff alone was responsible and the defendant was not liable.

The modern law has extended this principle of liability to various circumstances and situations. Escape of sparks from railway engine, escape of fire from one house to another have been dealt with at length. In recent years, the liability is extended to nuclear installation where Radio active substances cause hazards to individuals.

 

Scienter Action:  Means “Action when there is Knowledge”. This is the principle applied in respect of animals. Animals are broadly classified in to two categories.

  1. Ferrae naturae and
  2. Mensuetae naturae.

 

Ferrae Naturae means ferocious animals which are by nature Ferocious. The law relating to this, under the extended meaning of Ryland V. Fletcher, is that the very bringing and keeping of such animals is prohibited. Mensuetae naturae means domestic animals which are by nature docile and obedient. But, they may have a tendency to become ferocious under some circumstances. The owner may or may not know the dangerous propensity of the animals. If he does not know the propensity, he is not liable in tort. However if it is possible to establish that the defendant had the knowledge of the dangerous propensity of the animal, the defendant becomes liable under “Scienter Action”.

In respect of ferocious animals like Lion, Tiger Chimpanzee etc., the very bringing is prohibited because the experience of human beings shows that these animals like Dogs, Cats, Cows, Bullocks, Donkeys, Horses, etc. are not by themselves dangerous to human society. But the domestic animals may develop a propensity to cause harm or injury and the owner is liable if he has the knowledge of this propensity. In a number of cases decided, the Courts have held that in order to constitute a tortious liability it must be established:

  • That the animal was savagery
  • That the defendant knew or had knowledge of the tendency of his animal.

 

In Hudson V. Roberts : The bull of Roberts gored Hudson on seeing in his hands a red hand-Kerchief. Held Defendant liable as 1) the animal had so attacked others many times previously (2) that defendant had knowledge of it.

In Jackson V. Smithson : The facts were that one person by name Catherine was attacked by a ram, which goaded her and threw her down. Held, defendant liable as he had knowledge of the propensity of the animal.

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