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NLJ this week: Deliveroo, vicarious liability & unsavoury bites

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Vicarious liability and the gig economy may not be a match made in heaven, certainly not from the perspective of Deliveroo riders and other workers

In this week’s NLJ, Ross Fletcher, senior lecturer, Northumbria Law School, examines an unusual case that has served up a menu of unsavoury snacks for those involved.

The story of R v Rocha starts with a pizza delivery and proceeds to Winchester Crown Court, via a substitute Deliveroo-er, a seemingly uncooperative customer and a bitten thumb. Fletcher attempts to untangle the threads of liability, with reference to existing case law on vicarious liability.

Fletcher writes: ‘The law reports contain many examples of attempts by commercial enterprises to evade liability for the acts of their workers. However, the law in this area has been quick to adapt accordingly, and it is likely that the same will be true of this case in any civil proceedings that may arise.’

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Tech companies will be legally required to prevent material that encourages or assists serious self-harm appearing on their platforms, under Online Safety Act 2023 regulations due to come into force in the autumn
Commercial leasehold, the defence of insanity and ‘consent’ in the criminal law are among the next tranche of projects for the Law Commission
The Bar has a culture of ‘impunity’ and ‘collusive bystanding’ in which making a complaint is deemed career-ending due to a ‘cohort of untouchables’ at the top, Baroness Harriet Harman KC has found
Lawyers have broadly welcomed plans to electronically tag up to 22,000 more offenders, scrap most prison terms below a year and make prisoners ‘earn’ early release
David Lammy, Ellie Reeves and Baroness Levitt have taken up office at the Ministry of Justice, following the cabinet reshuffle
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