Philip Davy Successful in Armes v Nottingamshire County Council

Philip Davy represents successful Appellant in the Supreme Court – Armes -v- Nottinghamshire County Council [2017] UKSC 60

The Supreme Court has today handed down judgment in Armes -v- Nottinghamshire County Council [2017] UKSC 60 (also known as NA -v- Nottinghamshire County Council), an appeal dealing with ‘non-fault’ liability of a defendant (here, a local authority) for the intentional acts of a non-employee (here, a foster parent).

In a landmark decision, Lady Hale, Lord Reed, Lord Kerr and Lord Clarke (Lord Hughes dissenting) have decided that it is fair, just and reasonable to extend the doctrine of vicarious liability, on the part of a local authority, to cover the acts – even deliberate and intentional acts – of foster parents towards a foster child, even in the absence of any fault on the local authority’s part.

Please click here for a commentary

Please click here for the Judgment.