Disclaimer: This work was produced by one of our expert legal writers, as a learning aid to help law students with their studies.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not reflect the views of LawTeacher.net. Any information contained in this case summary does not constitute legal advice and should be treated as educational content only.

White v Blackmore - 1972

345 words (1 pages) Case Summary

21st Jun 2019 Case Summary Reference this In-house law team

Jurisdiction / Tag(s): UK Law

White v Blackmore [1972] 2 QB 651

Occupiers’ liability; effect of warning notices purporting to exclude liability for accidents

Facts

Mr White was a jalopy driver attending a race as a competitor. After competing, he returned with his family to watch another race as a spectator. At the entrance to the premises and within the programme, there were warning notices purporting to exclude liability for accidents, however caused. Mr White was standing beside the spectator’s rope when a car’s wheel became entangled in the rope. Mr White was thrown into the air and died from his injuries. Mrs White claimed damages in negligence and for breach of s2 Occupier’s Liability Act 1957.

Issues

The organisers argued that Mr White was fully aware of the risks of jalopy racing and of being a spectator at jalopy races and they, therefore, contended that the defence of volenti non fit injuria applied. They claimed they had taken reasonable steps to bring the exclusion of liability to the spectators’ attention. They argued they were perfectly entitled to exclude liability for accidents under s2(1) Occupier’s Liability Act 1957. Mrs White claimed the defence did not apply because her husband could not have known of the nature and extent of the risk of harm stemming from the negligent way the ropes were set up. She also argued the notices were ineffective in excluding liability for negligence.

Held

Mrs White’s claim was unsuccessful. The defence of volenti non fit injuria did not apply because Mr White could not be said to have had full knowledge of the extent of the risk of harm. The notices were, however, effective in excluding liability for his death. They had taken care to bring the exclusion to the spectator’s attention and they were entitled to exclude their duty of care under the Occupier’s Liability Act 1957.

Cite This Work

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below:

Reference Copied to Clipboard.
Reference Copied to Clipboard.
Reference Copied to Clipboard.
Reference Copied to Clipboard.
Reference Copied to Clipboard.
Reference Copied to Clipboard.
Reference Copied to Clipboard.

Related Services

View all

Related Content

Jurisdictions / Tags

Content relating to: "UK Law"

UK law covers the laws and legislation of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Essays, case summaries, problem questions and dissertations here are relevant to law students from the United Kingdom and Great Britain, as well as students wishing to learn more about the UK legal system from overseas.

Related Articles