29 November 2019
Unanimous Decision in Mackenzie v Alcoa Manufacturing (GB) Ltd
Author
Author
Patrick Limb QC & Gareth McAloon have suceeded in the Court of Appeal for the Appellant in Mackenzie v Alcoa Manufacturing (GB) Ltd [2019] EWCA Civ 2110.
The Court of Appeal has this morning handed down judgment in this significant decision on a noise-induced hearing loss ("NIHL") claim in which they have overturned the decision of Garnham J and dismissed the Claimant’s claim for damages.
The Court unanimously agreed that whether or not inferences, such as that drawn against the Defendant in Keefe v Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Ltd [2010] EWCA Civ 683, can be drawn generally against Defendants to historic NIHL claims who have disclosed no noise surveys, depends on the circumstances of the case and that the guidance in Keefe should not be elevated to a rule of law. In this case, it was a relevant factor that the long passage of time may have caused such documents to be lost and that the presence of expert engineering evidence (which did not support exposure to excessive noise) could, even if an inference were drawn, mitigate against a finding that that inference ought to be to the extent that there is a positive finding of breach for excessive exposure to noise above the common law threshold applicable. Accordingly, the Court endorsed the decision of HHJ Vosper QC at first instance and his refusal not find the Defendant in breach of duty.
Guidance was also given on when it was that it could be said that a common law duty to undertake noise surveys first arose, and has urged caution on appellate courts when considering whether to overturn findings of fact by a trial judge who has had the advantage of hearing and considering the entirety of the evidence in a case.
For a full commentary please click here.
The judgment can be found here.
Share this blog
Ropewalk Chambers has, over many decades, established a market-leading reputation for detailed and specialist expertise in the field of Industrial Disease litigation.
Whether asbestos, noise, dust, vibration, stress or any other insidious process, including those which are newly emerging, its members have consistently appeared in the leading cases, determining the limits of liability, causation and quantum at first instance and appellate level.
Work is distributed within Chambers to enable Members of Chambers to represent both Claimants and Defendants in this field.
To find out more about our Disease barristers, click here.
Search blog by title or barrister
Subscribe for blog updates
Search by keyword
- Air Pollution
- Apportionment
- Asbestos
- Beryllium
- Bladder Cancer
- Breach of Duty
- Cancer
- Causation
- Civil Procedure
- Companies
- Concussion
- Contributory Negligence
- Costs
- Covid
- CTE
- Damages
- Dementia
- Dupuytren's Contracture
- Dust Diseases
- Evidence
- Expert Evidence
- Fatal Accidents
- Immunotherapy
- Inquests
- Insolvency
- Jurisdiction
- Limitation
- Mesothelioma
- Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
- Restoration of Companies
- Silicosis
- Sport
Recent Posts
- SURPRISE! Now, Show Cause!
- Pleading and Proving Section 33 of the Limitation Act 1980
- Historic Industrial Disease Claims with a Connection to a Jurisdiction Outside of England and Wales
