This document discusses the legal liabilities and risks associated with poor quality information. It outlines sources of liability under legislation like data protection acts as well as common law through case precedents. Two relevant torts are discussed - negligence and defamation. Negligence requires a duty of care, breach of duty, loss or damage, and a causal link. This is exemplified in the Hedley Byrne case where a bank provided an inaccurate credit reference. Defamation involves publishing a false statement about a person that lowers their reputation. Defenses to defamation include justification, fair comment, and privilege.

1. Careful Now! The Legal Perils of Poor Information Quality Fergal Crehan BL

3. TORT A tort is a civil wrong. It is behaviour, by act or omission, which though not necessarily criminal, creates a liability for any damage consequently caused to another party

7. The Hedley Byrne Principle where “ a person takes it upon himself to give information or advice to, or allows his information or advice to be passed on to another person who, as he knows or should know, will place reliance upon it, then a Duty of Care will arise ”

9. Foreseeability “ Reasonably Foreseeable as the natural and probable cause of one's actions”

10. Standard of Care How far does the Duty of Care extend?

11. Defamation Where a false statement is published about a person which tends to lower that person in the eyes of right-thinking members of society

14. Harassment Ferguson v British Gas Protection from Harassment Act, 1997