Hughes v. Lord Advocate

Post Office employees left an open manhole unattended and surrounded by kerosene lanterns during a break; Hughes (plaintiff), a young boy, and a companion entered the site and knocked a lantern into the manhole, causing kerosene vapor to ignite, triggering an explosion that caused Hughes to fall into the manhole and suffer burns. Hughes sued the Lord Advocate (defendant), representing the Post Office employees, for negligence; the trial court found burn injuries generally foreseeable but ruled the specific manner (an explosion) unforeseeable, ruling for the defendant.