HOWARD v. FURNESS-HOULDER ARGENTINE LINES, LTD., AND A. & R. BROWN, LTD.

(1936) 55 Ll.L.Rep. 121

KING'S BENCH DIVISION.

Before Mr. Justice Lewis.

Negligence-Personal injuries sustained by electric welder engaged in repair work on board first defendants' steamship El Uruguayo-Escape of steam owing to faulty boiler valve-Discovery that valve had been wrongly assembled, the bridge having been fitted upside-down -Evidence that boiler had a few months previously been stripped and reassembled by second defendants, marine engineers, under contract with first defendants-Claim against both defendants-Whether shipowners responsible for escape of steam under doctrine of Rylands v. Fletcher-Duty of first defendants towards invitees- Suggestion that drainage system was defective-Whether first defendants knew or should have known of danger from valve-Responsibility of second defendants-Contention that there was lack of care and skill on their part- Whether plaintiff prevented from recovering from second defendants on the ground that there was no privity of contract between them.