Cases - Anglian Water Services Ltd v Crawshaw Robbins Ltd

Record details

Name
Anglian Water Services Ltd v Crawshaw Robbins Ltd
Date
[2001]
Citation
BLR 173
Legislation
Keywords
Contract administration
Summary

The defendant contractor, employed by the claimant on the ICE Conditions (5th edition) to do drilling works, damaged underground gas, water and electricity supplies. The engineer supervising the work was an employee of the claimant. The claimant alleged that as a result of the damage it had become liable to others in respect of the damage and suffered loss.

On a trial of preliminary issues it was found (inter alia) that the engineer owed his supervisory duties under the contract to the employer. Even if he could and should have detected and prevented the accident, this would not excuse a breach of contract by the contractor. (Different considerations would, however, arise if the engineer had negligently given instructions causing loss, damage or injury.)