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This site is based on Disciplinary and Regulatory Proceedings, 5th and 6th Editions.
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on the Murder of Sir Thomas Overbury
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The 'complete control' principle

"Where the plaintiff belongs to a class which either is or ought to be within the contemplation of the defendant and the defendant by reason of his involvement in an activity which gives him a measure of control over and responsibility for a situation which, if dangerous, will be liable to injure the plaintiff, the defendant is liable if as a result of his unreasonable lack of care he causes a situation to exist which does in fact cause the plaintiff injury." Per Hobhouse LJ in Perrett v Collins [1998] 2 Lloyd's LR 255. The extent of this dictum was discussed by the House of Lords in the case of Sutradhar v. Natural Environment Research Council [2006] UKHL 33.


Categories: 4th Edition, Chapter 19, Updates