Cheng v Western Pursuits Trust Trading as Vauxhall Inn

In *Cheng v Western Pursuits Trust Trading as Vauxhall Inn*, the applicant, Mr Cheng, sought to recover damages for personal injury sustained at the Vauxhall Inn, operated by the respondent, Western Pursuits Trust. The dispute concerned the applicant's claim for compensation following an incident where he alleged he slipped on a wet floor.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the respondent had breached its duty of care to the applicant as an invitee on its premises. Specifically, the court had to determine if the respondent had taken reasonable steps to ensure the safety of its patrons, particularly in relation to the presence of a wet floor, and whether any such breach caused or contributed to the applicant's injuries.

Judge Driver found that the respondent had not breached its duty of care. The evidence established that the floor had become wet due to a patron spilling a drink shortly before the incident. The court accepted that staff had promptly attended to the spill, placing a "wet floor" sign in the vicinity and commencing the cleaning process. This demonstrated that the respondent had taken reasonable precautions to warn patrons of the hazard and to mitigate the risk of injury. The applicant's failure to observe the warning sign or exercise due care for his own safety was a significant factor in the court's determination.