Law of Negligent Misstatement Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Law of Negligent Misstatement. Answer: Introduction: The present case is based on the chapter of negligence that is a part of the Tort law. The term negligence means a careless action that becomes harmful to others. The primary objective of the negligence is that a person should act diligently to avoid any accident where the outcome shall be detrimental in nature. It is the duty of a prudent man to act diligently and cautiously to avoid any harmful effect regarding any specific act. If there is a laxity regarding the same cropped up, the person can be held liable under the law of negligence. Negligence: There are certain essential elements present for committing a valid negligence. The first essentials are Duty of care. The principle of duty of care is, for the first time established in a historic case of Donoghue v Stevenson [1932], where the court was pleased to held the manufacturer of the Ginger bottle liable, where the decomposed body of a snail had found, for non-performance of duty of care. Thenegligence law of Australia was established with the case law of Grant v Australian Knitting Mills (1936). The second essential found when there is any breach regarding the duty occurred. The case of Donoghue v Stevenson is a historic case in the negligence arena and the chapter of negligence has been reviewed and renewed by this case. The general rule is that when a person speaks anything, he is bound by law to perform the duty and if he has failed to do so, the necessary provisions of law will apply on them. The third essentials of the negligence are the harmful effect of such breach of duty by the person. It is a fact that every person has certain rights to secure their own interest. If that interest is affected by the acts of others, the victim has a right to sue the wrongdoer in the competent court of justice. Misstatement: The present case is based on the principle of negligence. Apart from the essentials of the negligence, the case is attracted the provisions of the misstatement. It has been stated earlier that negligence is a part of thelaw of Tort. By Tort, it is meant that any act that is malice in nature and caused certain damages and can be prosecuted before the civil court of law. The term negligent misstatement means a wrong statement that is delivered by the person who stated certain facts or suggested certain things in good faith but the nature of the statement is careless. The wrongdoer in this case usually holds certain knowledge on a specific subject that the advice taker does not hold. It is obvious that if the statement made by the person, become wrong, it will impose serious burden on the advice taker and may injure him economically or physically. In this case, the elements of the contract will be applicable and the provision of the duty to take reasonable care will impose. In case if misstatement, the person to whom the statement are to be made, relied on the statement and take it as experts opinion. Therefore, if such statement indicates towards the wrong path, it will cause serious injury to the advice taker. In Shaddock Associates Pty Ltd v Parramatta City Council [1981] HCA 59, it was held that the advice of the solicitor on behalf of the associates caused losses to the council employees and therefore, the Associates held liable for the act of misstatement. Application: From the facts of the case, it is clear that John and Natalie are spouse to each other and wanted to start a motel business. They had certain conversations with Mrs Wentworth and they had taken the advices as experts opinion. Mrs Wentworth told the couple that she had certain motels in her hand that can be suitable for the start up business and showed them the same. The motel costs $100,000 and certain facts are stated to them regarding the non-profitability of the hotel. However, at the time of the payment, Mrs Wentworth told them that the motel would run smoothly at the time of the winter vacation and now they are investing into a gold mine. Believing the facts, the couple bought the motel at a lump sum amount but could not make profit within six months. Advice: Therefore, it is advices that both John and Natalie can claim damage from Mrs. Wentworth under the law of negligence. The provision regarding the case is misstatement by Mrs. Wentworth. It is a fact that by the misstatement of Wentworth, both the parties had suffered monetary loss. Mrs. Wentworth was an expert in the motel industry and the couple was novice. They invested their money on the words of Mrs. Wentworth. Therefore, the acts of Mrs. Wentworth attract the provision of misstatement and John and Natalie can claim damage from her.