The rising costs of covering solicitors

The Consumer Complaints Service has raised the maximum fine it can impose on law firms by 200% - and now new proposals contemplate scrapping the distinction between poor service and misconduct

In Viasystems (Tyneside) v Thermal Transfer (Northern) and others (2005), the Court of Appeal made the landmark decision that there could be dual vicarious liability, overturning a long standing assumption dating back to 1826.

The case arose from a flood at a factory. The claimant had engaged D1 to install a new air conditioning system. D1 had sub-contracted the ducting work to D2, who had in turn contracted with D3 to provide fitters and fitters' mates on a labour-only basis.

The Court found