HOWMET LTD v ECONOMY DEVICES LTD AND OTHERS

[2016] BLR 555

COURT OF APPEAL(CIVIL DIVISION)

Before Lady Justice Arden,Lord Justice Jackson,Sir Akenhead

Negligence – Product liability – Property damage – Causation – Knowledge of defect – Break in chain of causation. – Breach of statutory duty – Consumer Protection Act 1987 – Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 (SI 1994 No 3260) – Causation – Knowledge of defect – Break in chain of causation. – Evidence – Causation – Whether judge obliged to choose between unlikely causes – Failure to discharge burden of proof. – Companies – Knowledge – Attribution of employees’ knowledge – Constructive knowledge.