Parker V. South Eastern Railway Company Article Index for
Parker
Website Links For
Parker
 

Information About

Parker V. South Eastern Railway Company





BACKGROUND


Mr. Parker left a bag in the cloakroom of a railway station. On depositing his bag and paying two pence he received a ticket, which, on its back, stated that the railway was excluded from liability for items worth £10 or more. Parker failed to read the clause as he thought the ticket was only a receipt of payment. (However, he admitted that he knew the ticket contained writing.) The question of law put to the court was whether the clause applied to Parker. At trial the jury found for Mr. Parker as it was reasonable for him not to read the ticket.


JUDGMENT


The Court held that if Parker was aware the ticket contained writing, Mr. Parker would presumed to know of the existence of the clause. However, it also ruled that the railway must have shown that it went to reasonable efforts to bring the condition to Mr. Parker's attention. The Court ordered a retrial for the jury to consider whether reasonable notice was given.


SOURCES


http://www.droit.univ-paris5.fr/jebrana/FACS/common_law/01100.html