Please note: The quoted words come from Lord Denning's Court of Appeal judgment, which the House of Lords reversed.
Facts
A wife's car was used by her husband, who let a friend drive while he was drunk. There was a crash.
Issue
Was the car owner ?
Held
The House of Lords held she was not, as the driver was not her agent.
Principle
Vicarious liability means one person takes the place of another so far as liability is concerned (Lord Denning in the Court of Appeal).
Why it matters
Limits on vicarious liability for car owners.
Cited in these chapters
Cite this page
Morgans v Launchbury [1973] AC 127 (Lanbuk) <https://www.lanbuk.com/llb/torts/cases/launchbury-v-morgans> accessed 31 October 2026
The accessed date is today's date. Check your course or publisher's style guide.
This summary is a Lanbuk study aid based on the generally known facts and reports of the case. It is not legal advice.