Occupiers and Public Liability

Occupiers’ and public liability law plays a vital role in protecting individuals who suffer injury due to unsafe premises or environments. Whether in shops, hotels, public spaces, or transport settings, those responsible for maintaining these areas have a duty to ensure they are reasonably safe for visitors. When that duty is not met, injured individuals are entitled to seek redress.

This webinar will explore how claimants can establish liability, the key legal principles involved, and how recent case law shapes the approach to proving breach, causation, and responsibility in personal injury claims.

Legal Framework: Occupiers’ Liability

• Overview of the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 and Occupiers’ Liability Act 1984
• Who is an “occupier”?
• Lawful visitors vs trespassers
• Duty of care and standard of care required

Public Liability in Practice

• Definition and scope of public liability
• Relationship with occupiers’ liability

Key Principles from Recent Case Law

a. Duty and Foreseeability

• Lillystone v Bradgate Education Partnership
  • Scope of duty in educational settings
  • Trespassers
  • Foreseeability of risk

b. Breach of Duty and Standard of Care

• Malone v Eastern Counties Linen and Lord Byron Hotel
  • Reasonable steps to ensure safety
  • Industry standards and compliance

c. Causation and Evidence

• Rix v Stonegate Pub Co Ltd
  • Linking breach to injury
  • Importance of factual evidence

d. Liability in Hospitality Settings

• Apres Lounge Ltd v Wade
• White Lion Hotel (A Partnership) v James Brown
  • Managing risks in bars, hotels, and leisure venues

e. Public Authorities and Duty of Care

• Ovu v London Underground Ltd
• Brown v South West Lakes Trust
  • Extent of duty owed by public bodies
  • Balancing public access and safety

Who this is for:

This webinar is a must-watch for anyone working within Personal Injury.

Level of expertise:

All Levels – this can be picked up throughout anyones professional career regardless of experience

CPD hours:

This live webinar provides you with 1 hour of learning.

Attendees will receive a CPD certificate upon completion of this course.

Learning objectives:

• Understand the legal framework: Gain a clear overview of occupiers’ and public liability, including the duties owed to lawful visitors and how liability arises.
• Apply key legal principles to claims: Develop an understanding of how to establish duty, breach, and causation using practical examples and recent case law.
• Strengthen evidence and case strategy: Learn how to identify, gather, and use evidence effectively to support personal injury claims.