Wheat v E Lacon & Co Ltd

Subject Matter

COURT OF APPEAL — Fact, question of — Appeal from lower court — Duty of appellate court to decide what inference should be drawn from undisputed evidence — Fall down stairs in dark — Cause of fall

[1966] AC 552; [1966] 2 WLR 581

NEGLIGENCE — Contributory negligence — Duty owed by injured party — Descending staircase in dark — Duty to act carefully — Death of injured party — Whether contributory negligence

[1966] 1 QB 335; [1966] AC 552; [1965] 3 WLR 142; [1966] 2 WLR 581

OCCUPIERS' LIABILITY — “Common duty of care” — Inn — Paying guest killed by fall on staircase — Staircase left unlighted by manager — Standard of care — Liability of owners of inn — Occupier's Liability Act, 1957, ss 1, 2

[1966] 1 QB 335; [1966] AC 552; [1965] 3 WLR 142; [1966] 2 WLR 581

OCCUPIERS' LIABILITY — “Occupation” — Inn — Manager employed by owners of inn — Manager's wife allowed to take in paying guests in private part of premises — Right of owners to enter private part for specific purposes — Paying guest killed by fall on staircase in private part — Whether owners in “occupation” of staircase — Whether any duty of care owed — Whether in breach of duty — Occupiers' Liability Act, 1957, ss 1, 2

[1966] 1 QB 335; [1966] AC 552; [1965] 3 WLR 142; [1966] 2 WLR 581

Appellate History