R v Stephens


R v Stephens is an English criminal law, public nuisance in land law and vicarious liability case decided by the Queen's Bench that applied a strict liability standard to the violation of the criminal statute prohibiting dumping of refuse into a river.

Facts

The defendant owned a quarry where refuse was dumped into a nearby river. The owner claimed he had no knowledge of the dumping and so should not be liable.

Judgment

The court held the quarry owner as "master" would be liable for acts of his servant, regardless of knowledge. He was convicted and faced the usual financial penalty. The offence was upheld as being one where no knowledge of the dumping was required.

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