Cases - Computastaff Ltd v Ingledew Brown Bennison & Garrett
Record details
- Name
- Computastaff Ltd v Ingledew Brown Bennison & Garrett
- Date
- [1983]
- Citation
- 2 EGLR 150
- Legislation
- Keywords
- Estate agency - Civil Liability (Contribution) Act 1978
- Summary
-
The plaintiff sued his agents when he discovered that they had misinformed him about the rateable value of premises they had found for him to rent. He also sued his solicitors for not establishing the true value. The agents claimed to have relied upon information provided by the landlord's agents and so joined them as third party under the Civil Liability (Contribution) Act 1978. The landlord's agents claimed to have relied upon information provided by Westminster City Council (the valuation office) so joined them as fourth party. The judge expressed 'admiration for the dexterity with which each tried to pass the buck'. With the exception of Westminster City Council, the defendants were found to have acted negligently. It was held that the landlord's agents, if sued by the plaintiff tenant, could have been held liable under the Hedley Byrne line of authority. Therefore, they were liable as a contributor under the 1978 Act.