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.
Proces Donoghue protiv Stevensona koji je uslijedio postavio je važan pravni presedan: Smatralo se da je Stevenson, proizvođač đumbirovog piva, imao jasnu obvezu dužne pažnje spram May Donoghue, premda nije bilo ugovora među njima, a ona, zapravo, i nije kupila piće.