Rylands v. Fletcher
- Case
- Rylands v. Fletcher
- Court
- House of Lords (United Kingdom)
- Year
- 1868
- Area
- Law of torts / Strict liability
- Summary
Water from the defendant's reservoir flooded the claimant's mine. The Court held the defendant strictly liable for the escape of a dangerous thing collected for a non-natural use — the origin of strict liability.
- Holding
A person who, for a non-natural use of land, brings and keeps something likely to do mischief is strictly liable for damage caused if it escapes — liability without proof of fault.