Smith v Leurs; 22 Oct 1945

References: (1945) 70 CLR 256, [1945] HCA 27
Links: Austlii
Coram: Latham CJ, Starke, Dixon and McTiernan JJ
High Court of Australia – The parents of a child denied liability for harm caused by their son using a shanghai.
Held: Dixon J said that: ‘It is, however, exceptional to find in the law a duty to control another’s actions to prevent harm to strangers. The general rule is that one man is under no duty of controlling another man to prevent his doing damage to a third. There are, however, special relations which are the source of a duty of this nature.’
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Last Update: 16-Dec-15 Ref: 556830