September 22, 2025
Ferguson v Welsh [1987] UKHL 14 (29 October 1987)
An employee of a demolition sub-contractor was injured by a collapsing wall. The main contractor had, before engaging the sub-contractor, negligently demolished an adjacent building, leaving the wall unsafe. The House of Lords held the main contractor owed a duty of care. Facts Mrs. Anderson engaged a main contractor, Mr. Spence (the second defender), to carry out work on her property, including the demolition of a small outbuilding. Subsequently, Durham City Council accepted Mr. Spence’s tender for the demolition of a block of four houses, one of which was adjacent to Mrs. Anderson’s outbuilding. Before the contract with the Council
