The May 2000 collapse of a tower crane in Londons Docklands is at the centre of a pending £8m High Court action.
The Technology and Construction Court has ruled on preliminary issues in a damages claim brought by Yarm Road Ltd and Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd against Hewden Tower Cranes Ltd over the crane’s collapse at the site of the new HSBC HQ building at Canary Wharf, London E14.
The collapse occurred during the course of an operation in which the height of the crane was increased by adding new sections to the tower.
The court held that the implied term of reasonable care and skill in section 13 of the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 could be implied into the crane-hire contract in so far as it was inconsistent with the express terms of the contract.
The hearing of the main damages claim will take place at a later date.
Yarm Road Ltd and another v Hewden Tower Cranes Ltd Technology and Construction Court (Judge Richard Seymour QC) 4 November 2002.
PLS News 6/11/02
