In Shelbourne v Cancer Research UK, members of staff from one department organised CRUK’s Christmas party. The department manager carried out a risk assessment to cover as many eventualities as possible regarding potential hazards and how to mitigate them. Mr Beilik (B) attended the party. He was a visiting scientist, not employed by CRUK. B had been drinking from the start of the party. At 10.30pm, B went up to S who was on the dance floor and attempted to lift her off the ground, but he lost his balance and dropped her, resulting in her sustaining a serious back injury. The High Court agreed with the County Court that CRUK was not vicariously liable for B’s actions resulting in the injury. B’s presence at the party and his act of lifting S had nothing to do with the work which he undertook for CRUK. Therefore, as B’s field of activities at CRUK were not sufficiently connected with what happened at the party, CRUK was not vicariously liable for the £300,000 damages S was claiming.

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