October 3, 2025
Spring v Guardian Assurance plc [1995] 2 AC 296
An ex-employee sued his former employer for providing a negligent and damaging reference which caused him economic loss. The House of Lords held that an employer owes a duty of care to an employee when preparing a reference for a third party. Facts The plaintiff, Mr Spring, was dismissed from his role as a company sales director for Guardian Assurance plc (‘Guardian’). He then sought to work for another insurance company, Scottish Amicable, in a similar capacity. Under the rules of the regulatory body, the Life Assurance and Unit Trust Regulatory Organisation (LAUTRO), Scottish Amicable was required to seek a
