 Prior to 1980, there was no knowledge that PCE should be avoided or that it could cause harm, but the Cambridge Water Company brought a case against Eastern Counties Leather anyway.The case first went to the High Court of Justice, where Kennedy J dismissed claims under nuisance, negligence and "Rylands v Fletcher" because the harm was not foreseeable.His decision was reversed by the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, who cited an "obscure decision" to justify doing so.