Liability

Are you adequately insured for third party and product liability?

The availability of appropriate and affordable insurance cover is currently a very hot topic for business, as it is for all sectors of society.  Adequate and affordable insurance cover is becoming harder to obtain as insurers are faced with increasing claims, whether caused by increasingly cataclysmic weather events or the ever escalating costs of reparations, particularly in a post-COVID world.

You should carefully consider whether your insurance cover is adequate and, to the extent that it is not, the options available to mitigate against this risk.  This may not only include obtaining better insurance cover.  It may also mean engaging in risk reduction measures that reduce the likelihood of damage to your business occurring in the first place.

If you have insurance, you must ensure that you engage commercially in a manner that is consistent with your insurance obligations. Also, if you are taking on a liability, such as under a lease, you must ensure that your insurance adequately covers that liability.

Liability insurance

Do you have adequate systems in place to avoid public and product liability?

The failure to foresee and avoid risk is often a consequence of a failure or complete absence of appropriate systems, procedures and processes. This failure generally occurs because a business does not take the time to think through the consequences of its actions and to develop a plan to put in place systems, procedures and processes to minimise risk or, at least, avoid the consequences of risk.

Even if there is a system in place, often a lack of enforcement of that system can be the reason for a risk arising and damage being caused. Insurance premiums are often reduced for organisations with demonstrably good risk management systems.

You may also be able to avoid or reduce your risks contractually. A well written contract with your suppliers, contractors and customers can greatly improve your risk profile.

Taking the time to plan is the key. We can help you in that regard, as we can with providing advice on your potential third party liabilities.

Liability systems

Do you understand how such liability might arise?

Third party and product liability risk generally arise as a result of the operation of three areas of law, namely:

  1. Consumer protection legislation
  2. Contractual obligations
  3. Negligence
Liability understanding

Consumer Protection Legislation

There are a number of pieces of legislation that may affect your liability risk, particularly in the area of product liability. It is essential that you are aware of the risks associated with your business operation and the products that you create and as to how those risks may be minimised.

Consumer protection legislation in this country is now quite developed. In essence, the legislation protecting consumer interests requires manufacturers, wholesalers, suppliers, retailers and importers to take responsibility for the failure of products to meet certain standards.

The impact of this legislation cannot be underestimated. There is not a single business operation that is not currently or potentially affected by the operation of such legislation.

Non-compliance with consumer protection legislation can be fatal to a business operation.

Without wishing to minimise the importance of all of this legislation, it is difficult to think of one that is more important or pervasive than the Competition and Consumer Act. This Act deals with a wide range of business dealings, such as;

  • restrictive trade practices
  • unconscionable conduct
  • consumer protection
  • liability of manufacturers and importers for defective goods
  • price exploitation
  • resale price maintenance.

It is usually impossible to restrict the effect of legislative obligations. However, it is important to ensure that you restrict your liability only to those things that you cannot avoid. 

Consumer protection

Contracts and legal liability

Contracts can be oral, in writing or implied. They can in fact be any combination of these.

So, when people buy products from you, they generally do so on the basis of an oral, written or implied contractual term that the products or services that you are providing to them are of a particular quality or suitability. 

There may be specific contractual undertakings given by you with respect to your products arising from the particular type of industry you are involved in, such as that the products are free from a particular disease or do not contain certain substances. 

Whatever the precise contractual terms, you must understand your contractual obligations and ensure that they facilitate your risk reduction objectives, however they arise. You should also, to the extent possible, ensure that contractual obligations and risks that you assume are consistent with, and protected by, your insurance.

You also need to know what steps you may be able to take to generally minimise and avoid your liability risks, for example by the use of a disclaimer or an acceptance of risk document.

Also, significant risk can arise from the failure to manage your contractual obligations in a timely and proper manner.  Contract Lifecyle Management software is available to manage your contracts digitally.

Signing contracts

What if I act negligently?

In causing damage or loss to a third party, it may be that you have acted negligently and can be sued by the person suffering loss on the basis of that negligence. Once again, you need to understand the extent of your risk and how you might go about minimising that risk.

If a risk is foreseeable and avoidable, you may well be responsible for damage caused by your negligent actions. The failure to foresee and avoid risk is generally a consequence of a failure or complete absence of appropriate systems, procedures and processes. This failure generally occurs because a business does not take the time to think through the consequences of its actions and to develop a plan to put in place systems, procedures and processes to minimise risk or, at least, avoid the consequences of risk.

Even if there is a system in place, often a lack of enforcement of that system can be the reason for a risk arising and damage being caused. 

Insurance premiums are often reduced for organisations with demonstrably good risk management systems.

Taking the time to plan is the key. We can help you in that regard, as we can with providing advice on your potential third party liabilities.

Negligence at work

Employers liability

In any litigation, it stands to reason that the injured person will look for the party with the deepest pockets. Except in very rare cases, this is not likely to be the employee! It is far more likely to be you.

You are responsible for the actions of your employees whilst they are engaging in their employment with you in so far as any third party is concerned. You may also be responsible for the actions of your subcontractors.

You cannot avoid the effect of vicarious liability except by ensuring that your employees and subcontractors do not act in such a way as to create risks that might expose you to liability.  This is an issue of training, planning and putting in place the appropriate systems, procedures and processes.

Employers liability

Our Business and Commercial Lawyers

Michael Perkins Principal Lawyer

Michael Perkins

Lawyer, author, educator

Michael Perkins, Co-Founder and Principal Lawyer Dip Law SAB, TEP, MICW has over 30 years’ experience of in resolving complexities for clients managing their family and business interests. While many professionals manage and deliver transactions for clients, Michael provides additional support with resolving broader complexity and conflict in the lives of his clients, where possible without resorting to litigation or other dispute resolution processes. He helps clients deal with the practical, strategic and operational needs of their businesses, conservation of their assets, activating community and philanthropic interests and planning for succession to their estate over time. Michael applies a multidisciplinary approach in dealing with the challenges of achieving growth, asset protection, estate governance and succession. Methodologies finessed with experience are applied, paving a way forward for globalising businesses as well as families making plans to manage their wealth for the benefit of subsequent generations.
Jeremy Duffy Autonomy First

Jeremy Duffy

Experienced business lawyer

Based in South Australia, Jeremy Duffy has over three decades of experience in practice including property law and commercial transactions. Jeremy’s clients over the years have included corporates, banks, property developers/managers, financial advisory firms, representative bodies and private clients.
Clarence Leung Chi Chiu Leung

Clarence Leung

 (Chi Chiu Leung)

Clarence Leung LL.B, LL.M (London); Diploma in Law (Sydney); TEP is a senior lawyer with over two decades of experience in trusts, commercial law, property law, litigation and migration law. Proficiently tri-lingual, Clarence is an experienced Private Client lawyer who is skilled in working with clients of diverse backgrounds and has extensive knowledge of business dynamics and trade practices. He has acted in or advised on disputed matters for clients with an Asian background including Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and mainland China. Trusts disputes and Litigation – Clarence has represented large-scale international companies in Trade Practice and fraudulent activity matters. He has represented individual clients in relation to caveats, partnership disputes, contested estates and injunctions. Commercial Law – Clarence helps clients deal with their wealth preservation and succession objectives for their commercial enterprises. He works for a diverse range of manufacturing distribution and retail market-focused businesses. Clarence also helps his clients deal with the legal issues that flow from the operations, management, planning and decision making processes as well as ownership of their commercial enterprises.

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