Donoghue v Stevenson (1932) AC 562
Facts: Mrs. Donoghue found a decomposing snail in the ginger beer and claimed to have suffered gastroenteritis and severe shock upon the sight of the snail. She sought to recover damages from Stevenson, claiming that the presence of snail was due to his negligence. Could Mrs. Donoghue bring an action in negligence against Stevenson? Stevenson argued that as they were not in a contractual relationship, hence there was no special relationship and therefore he did not owe her a duty of care.
Decisions: Mrs. Donoghue was entitled to recover damages against Stevenson who was negligent. He owed a duty of care to the consumer to take reasonable care by examining every bottle of ginger beer before the beers reached the ultimate customer.
Wakeling v Ripley (1951) 51 SR (NSW) 183…show more content… Throughout the years from 1940 to 1945, he wrote to his sister and her husband (the Wakelings) to persuade them to move from England to Australia to look after him. However, significant sacrifices were required to be made by the Wakelings, including Mr Wakeling resigning his lectureship at Cambridge University. In return, Ripley promised to bequeath the bulk of his estate and his house to the Wakelings. The Wakelings, in reliance upon his promises, left their employment, sold their house and came all the way to Australia in the early 1947.
One year after their arrival, disputes arose between the Wakelings and Ripley which resulted in Ripley reneging on his promise by selling off his house and disinheriting the Wakelings. The Wakelings then sued for breach of