Changes to the law on vicarious liability

A claim followed a flood which caused damage to the claimant’s factory in July 1998. The claimant, represented by law firm Crutes on the instructions of their insurers, had engaged the first defendant to install air conditioning to their factory during the summer shutdown period. The first defendant then subcontracted the ducting work to the second defendant.They in turn contracted with the third defendant to provide fitters and fitters’ mates on a labour only contract.