Parsons v Uttley Ingham [1978] QB 791 Court of Appeal

The Claimant pig farmers purchased a food storage hopper from the defendant for the storage of pig feed. The hopper was installed negligently and lack of ventilation caused the pig feed to go mouldy. As a result, many of the pigs contracted e-coli and died. The Claimant claimed over £36k in respect of the loss of profit, vet bills and other costs relating to the death of the pigs. The Defendant contended this damage was too remote as it was not in the contemplation of the parties that the poor ventilation would cause e-coli and death of the pigs.

Held:

The death of the pigs was a natural result of feeding the pigs mouldy food within the first limb of Hadley v Baxendale [1854] EWHC Exch J70. There was no need to consider whether the death by e-coli was in the reasonable contemplation of the parties under the second limb.

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