REEMAN AND ANOTHER v. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND OTHERS

[1997] 2 Lloyd's Rep. 648

COURT OF APPEAL

Before Lord BINGHAM OF Cornhill, L.C.J., Lord Justice Peter Gibson and Lord Justice Phillips

Negligence - Duty of care - Breach - DOT certificate - Plaintiffs purchased fishing vessel - Vessel carried DOT certificate certifying vessel complied with various statutory regulations designed to ensure vessel seaworthy - DOT’s surveyor made arithmetical error in calculating vessel’s stability - Certificate withdrawn - Plaintiffs suffered financial loss - Whether DOT owed duty to exercise reasonable care not to cause plaintiffs pecuniary loss.