Wells v Cooper  [1958] 2 All ER 527  Court of Appeal

The defendant fixed the door knob on the back door to his home. He had no specialist skills, not being a professional carpenter. He used the wrong size screws. The claimant, a fishmonger, visited the defendant's home to sell fish fish to the defendant. He took the fish into the home and on leaving he pulled the door shut using the door knob.  Unfortunately, the doorknob came off in his hand and he fell back down some steps. He suffered personal injury and brought an action in negligence against the defendant.

Held:

The defendant was not in breach of duty. He was not expected to meet the standard of a reasonable professional carpenter. He was only expected to meet the standard of a reasonable amateur homeowner undertaking their own repairs.

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