September 14, 2025
Armes v Nottinghamshire County Council [2017] UKSC 60 (18 October 2017)
The appellant was abused by foster parents with whom she was placed by the local authority. The Supreme Court held the council vicariously liable for this abuse, finding the council's relationship with the foster parents was sufficiently analogous to employment to impose liability. Facts The appellant, Natasha Armes, was placed in the care of Nottinghamshire County Council (“the council”) from the age of seven. The council placed her with two sets of foster parents, Mr and Mrs A and later Mr and Mrs B. During these placements, she suffered physical and emotional abuse by Mrs A and sexual abuse by
