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Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562 - Negligence Case

The plaintiff was treated to a bottle of ginger beer by a friend. She poured some of the contents into a glass and drank them. Later, when she poured the remainder, she found the remains of a decomposed snail. The plaintiff become very ill and was sick. She served a writ on the manufacturers, the defendants in this case. It was held that the defendants were liable because:

  • They owed a duty of care to anyone who drank their ginger beer.

  • They were in breach of that duty because of the snail found in the bottle.

  • The plaintiff suffered damage in that she became ill.

Court Decision