The Worshipful Company of Grocers v Keltbray Group Holdings Ltd & Anor [2016] EWHC 1167 (QB) (19 May 2016)

The Worshipful Company of Grocers v Keltbray Group Holdings Ltd & Anor [2016] EWHC 1167 (QB) (19 May 2016)

The claimant failed to prove on the balance of probabilities that the collapse at the London Stock Exchange site caused the fracture of the cistern at Grocers' Hall. The evidence did not establish that the vibrations from the collapse, given the distance and intervening structures, were sufficient to cause the damage, especially as no comparable damage was observed in closer buildings. The expert evidence did not support causation, and the claimant's case was not made out.

Citation
[2016] EWHC 1167 (QB)
Parties
Claimant: The Worshipful Company of Grocers; First Defendant: Keltbray Group Holdings Limited; Second Defendant: Rook (HPL) Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
19 May 2016
Procedural Posture
Tort/negligence / Judgment After Trial
Outcome
Claim dismissed
Legal Topics
Negligence, Causation, Property Damage, Vibration Damage, Building Collapse
Tort Law Construction Law Negligence Causation Property Damage Vibration Damage Building Collapse

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 3 Authorities cited 5 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 3
Sign in to unlock

Parties

The Worshipful Company of Grocers

Claimant

Keltbray Group Holdings Limited

First Defendant

Rook (HPL) Limited

Second Defendant

Procedural Posture

Tort/negligence / Judgment After Trial

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the collapse at the London Stock Exchange site caused the fracture of the cistern at Grocers' Hall
  2. 2 Whether the damage to Grocers' Hall was attributable to ground-borne vibrations from the collapse

Ratio Decidendi

The claimant failed to prove on the balance of probabilities that the collapse at the London Stock Exchange site caused the fracture of the cistern at Grocers' Hall. The evidence did not establish that the vibrations from the collapse, given the distance and intervening structures, were sufficient to cause the damage, especially as no comparable damage was observed in closer buildings. The expert evidence did not support causation, and the claimant's case was not made out.

Court Disposition

Claim dismissed

Orders

  • Claim dismissed against the First Defendant
  • No order as to costs against the discontinued Second Defendant