Reviewed case brief

Bolton v. Stone

[1951] AC 850

[1951] AC 850 · House of Lords (UK)

negligencerisk-utility-balancingstandard-of-care
Court
House of Lords (UK)
Year
1951
Subjects
Law of Torts
Reviewed
2026-08-02

Rule established

A reasonable person calibrates precautions according to the genuine probability and magnitude of a risk, weighed against the burden of further precautions; negligence does not require guarding against every conceivable, however remote, risk.

Facts

    Issues

      Held

        Ratio decidendi

        How to use it in an exam

        Editorial source

        [1951] AC 850

        Educational summary only. Read the reported judgment or an authorised law report before relying on the case professionally.