What legal principle was established by the case of Donoghue v. Stevenson [1932]?

The case of Donoghue v. Stevenson [1932] is pivotal in the development of the law of negligence and primarily established the "neighbour principle." This principle asserts that individuals owe a duty of care to others who are closely affected by their actions, or as the court stated, those whom they should reasonably have in mind as being affected by their conduct. In this specific case, the claimant became ill after consuming a product (ginger beer) that contained a decomposed snail, which was not visible due to the opaque container. The court recognized that the manufacturer had a duty of care to consumers, establishing a foundation for future negligence claims.

This principle has had far-reaching implications in various areas of law, effectively broadening the scope of liability beyond direct contractual relationships. It introduced the idea that one must act with consideration for the potential impact of their actions on others, thereby guiding personal conduct in many situations.