Stovin v Wise

Stovin v Wise is an English tort law case about a highway authority's liability in negligence. The majority speech of Lord Hoffmann contains important principles about omissions liability and the liability of public authorities.

Background

Ms Wise was turning right at an acute intersection in Wymondham. Her view was obscured by an earthen bank, which the Norfolk County Council's highway authority had earmarked for removal but since neglected. Ms Wise pulled into the road as Mr Stovin was approaching at speed on his motorbike. Unable to slow down in time, he crashed into Ms Wise's vehicle.
Mr Stovin successfully sued Ms Wise in negligence. The High Court held her 70% to blame for the accident and the Council 30%. The question on appeal was solely whether the Council could indeed be liable. The Court of Appeal of England and Wales held that it was.

The House of Lords upheld the Council's appeal by finding that no duty of care requiring it to remove the earthen bank existed. Lord Hoffmann wrote the majority opinion. Lord Nicholls dissented.

Stovin v Wise is a decision of major significance in the development of negligence liability in English law. It deals with both the liability of state defendants and liability for omissions and exemplifies and helped to establish English law's conservative attitude to both.