Facts
Stevedores dropped a plank into a ship's hold. It caused a spark that ignited petrol vapour and the ship was destroyed.
Issue
Is a liable for unforeseeable damage that is a direct result of negligence?
Held
Yes; the defendants were liable for the loss of the ship.
Principle
The direct consequences test for .
Why it matters
Disapproved by the Privy Council in The Wagon Mound (No 1).
Cited in these chapters
Cite this page
Re Polemis and Furness, Withy & Co Ltd [1921] 3 KB 560 (Lanbuk) <https://www.lanbuk.com/llb/torts/cases/re-polemis> accessed 31 October 2026
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This summary is a Lanbuk study aid based on the generally known facts and reports of the case. It is not legal advice.