LAWS101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Physical Therapy, Clinical Psychology, Fide
Document Summary
Two different approaches that aid in the argument of a case. Noscitur a sociis- words derive colour from those that surround them. Example #1- all floors steps, stairs, passages and gangways shall be kept free of obstruction. Suing his employer for injury sustained where he worked in a factory storage area- had fallen due to something on the factory floor. A factory floor being completely free of obstruction would be unreasonable- the ordinary literal meaning of floor" on its own would not be useful. Due to words following, one could argue that it only applied to the parts of the factory where employees would pass each other every day. The storage area is not a pathway, and the complainant is unsuccessful. Example#2 - to shoot, stab, cut or wound any person. The words shoot, stab, cut limit the meaning of wound" to the use of an instrument outside the human body- having used an implement to break the skin".
