Source: All England Reporter
Publisher Citation: [2010] All ER (D) 113 (Jan)
Neutral Citation: [2010] EWCA Civ 7
Court: Court of Appeal, Civil Division
Judge:

Mummery, Richards and Toulson LLJ
Representation Mark Cannon QC (instructed by Kennedys Solicitors) for the defendants.
  Tim Lord QC (instructed by Watmores Solicitors) for the claimants.
Judgment Dates: 20 January 2010

Catchwords

Contract - Breach - Causation - Defendants subcontracted by claimant to install sprinkler system in office block - Valve failed in sprinkler system causing flooding - Flooding not contained by blocked drains - Whether defendants responsible for installing the valve - Whether damage caused by failure of valve or blockage of drains - Whether damage too remote.

The Case

Contract Breach. The Court of Appeal, Civil Division, dismissed an appeal by a subcontractor who had fitted a valve in a sprinkler system in an office building against the decision holding it liable for damage caused by flooding when the valve failed. The contract was found to show that the defendants were responsible for fitting the valve. The damage was the result of the failure of the valve and not by the blockage of drains which might have contained the flood. The damage was not too remote a consequence of the flooding.

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