The case of Donoghue vs. Stevenson that followed set a very important legal precedent: Stevenson, the manufacturer of the ginger beer, was held to have a clear duty of care towards May Donoghue, even though there was no contract between them, and, indeed, she hadn't even bought the drink.
Den efterfølgende sag: Donoghue v Stevenson, satte en meget vigtig juridisk præcedens: Stevenson, producenten af ingefærsøllen, var fundet til at have en klar diligenspligt over for May Donoghue, selvom der ikke var nogen kontrakt mellem dem, og uagtet det, at hun ikke selv havde købt drinken.