On 31st July 2019 the High Court handed down judgment in Labbadia v Alitalia (2019) EWHC 2103 (QB). The Claimant had slipped on snow or ice as he descended a set of aircraft steps at Milan Linate airport in Italy. He alleged that his injuries were caused by an ‘accident’ within the meaning of Article 17 of the Montreal Convention 1999. Margaret Obi (sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge) concluded that the presence of snow/ice on the steps, and the adverse weather in Milan, was not an accident but was a ‘state of affairs’. However, the decision to use uncovered aircraft steps was an unusual or unexpected event external to the passenger and therefore constituted an accident within the meaning of the Convention.
Jack Harding, instructed by Eversheds Sutherland, represented the Defendant airline.
Chambers congratulates Adam Dawson upon being awarded an MBE for services to charity and service to the Jewish Community. For over 30 years Adam has been involved in the heart of the Jewish community, leading several charities and organisations. After a year as Chair of…
This week Russell Wilcox and Thomas Clarke examine whether in applications to set aside default judgment there exists such a thing as a ‘co-defendant principle’; essential reading for all practitioners. Co-defendants and Applications to Set Aside: the More the Merrier? In the recent case of…
Introduction On Wednesday 21st of May, the Supreme Court handed down judgment in the long-awaited case of URS Corporation Ltd v BDW Trading Ltd [2025] UKSC 21. The judgment was awaited by almost all with an interest in construction law and related professional negligence. BDW…
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