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Bevan Ashford v Geoff Yeandle (Contractors) Ltd (In Liquidation): ChD 23 Apr 1998

A conditional fee agreement allowing 50 per cent uplift for case being conducted before arbitrator was not unlawful as champerty, even though it was outside range of the proceedings listed for such arrangements. Citations: Times 23-Apr-1998, Gazette 28-May-1998 Statutes: Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 58 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Legal Professions Updated: 21 July … Continue reading Bevan Ashford v Geoff Yeandle (Contractors) Ltd (In Liquidation): ChD 23 Apr 1998

Garrett v Halton Borough Council: CA 18 Jul 2006

Citations: [2007] 1 WLR 554, [2006] EWCA Civ 1017 Links: Bailii Statutes: Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 58, Access to Justice Act 1999 27(1) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Mountain v Hastings CA 16-Apr-1993 The tenant disputed the effect of a notice to quit. Paragraph 3 of the form read: ‘The landlord … Continue reading Garrett v Halton Borough Council: CA 18 Jul 2006

Regina (Factortame Ltd and Others) v Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (No 8): CA 3 Jul 2002

A firm of accountants had agreed to provide their services as experts in a case on the basis that they would be paid by taking part of any damages awarded. The respondent claimed that such an agreement was champertous and unlawful. Held: The tort of champerty as such had been abolished, but the rule remained … Continue reading Regina (Factortame Ltd and Others) v Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (No 8): CA 3 Jul 2002

KU (A Child) v Liverpool City Council: CA 27 Apr 2005

(Practice Note) The solicitor appealed an order which made the success fee payable different at different stages of the court action. Held: The court had no power to make such an order. To the extent that the CPR might suggest otherwise they were wrong. ‘a practice direction has no legislative force. Practice directions provide invaluable … Continue reading KU (A Child) v Liverpool City Council: CA 27 Apr 2005

Lexlaw Ltd v Zuberi: ChD 9 Jun 2017

The claimant firm of solicitors sought payment of its charges. The defendant former client now challenged the enforceability of a Damages Based Agreement with them. Held: The application should be allowed to proceed as a preliminary point. Judges: Clark M Citations: [2017] EWHC 1350 (Ch) Links: Bailii Statutes: Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 58AA(2) … Continue reading Lexlaw Ltd v Zuberi: ChD 9 Jun 2017

Rees and Another v Gateley Wareing (A Firm) and Another: ChD 3 Dec 2013

Various defined issues in relation to a contingency fee agreement entered into by a firm of solicitors with their clients. In summary, the issues relate to the interpretation and application of the agreement and its enforceability, having regard to section 58 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, Rule 8 of the Solicitors’ Practice … Continue reading Rees and Another v Gateley Wareing (A Firm) and Another: ChD 3 Dec 2013

Oyston v The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc: SCCO 16 May 2006

The client and his solicitor had entered into a CFA in 2002 which provided for a success fee of 100% of reasonable costs, plus andpound;50,000 if the claimant recovered damages in excess of andpound;1m. This was a champertous agreement at common law which failed to comply with s 58 of the 1990 Act. In July … Continue reading Oyston v The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc: SCCO 16 May 2006

Pentecost v John: QBD 10 Jul 2015

The defendant had lost its defence of a personal injury claim, but succeesfully challenged the claim on the basis that a proper analysis of the contractual framework led to the inevitable conclusion that BBK had no enforceable claim against the claimant in respect of those costs incurred after 2 July 2009. The consequence of this … Continue reading Pentecost v John: QBD 10 Jul 2015

C (acting by her litigation friend JF) v W: CA 19 Dec 2008

The court considered the proper basis for a success fee payable on a conditional fee agreement where, when signed, the defendant had already admitted liability. The claim was by a woman after being injured in a car driven by her brother. By the time her second form of solicitors took over the case the defendant … Continue reading C (acting by her litigation friend JF) v W: CA 19 Dec 2008

Sibthorpe and Morris v London Borough of Southwark: CA 25 Jan 2011

The court was asked as to the extent to which the ancient rule against champerty prevents a solicitor agreeing to indemnify his claimant client against any liability for costs which she may incur against the defendant in the litigation in which the solicitors are to act for her. Held: The defendant’s appeal failed. The Conditional … Continue reading Sibthorpe and Morris v London Borough of Southwark: CA 25 Jan 2011

Tankard v John Fredricks Plastics Ltd; Jones v Attrill etc: CA 11 Dec 2008

The defendants sought to argue that the conditional fee arrangement used by the claimant’s solicitors had been void under the 2000 regulations. They claimed that the solicitors had failed to disclose an interest in the policies sold. Held: No interest existed which should have been disclosed. The test was whether a reasonable person would think … Continue reading Tankard v John Fredricks Plastics Ltd; Jones v Attrill etc: CA 11 Dec 2008

MGN Limited v United Kingdom: ECHR 24 Oct 2008

The Mirror had published a picture of Naomi Campbell leaving a rehabilitation clinic. They appealed a decision in which having been found to have infringed her privacy by a covertly taken photograph, they had then been ordered to pay very substantial sums in costs, including a success fee. Held: The court asked the parties to … Continue reading MGN Limited v United Kingdom: ECHR 24 Oct 2008

Campbell v MGN Ltd (No 2): HL 20 Oct 2005

The appellant sought to challenge the level of costs sought by the claimant after she had succeeded in her appeal to the House. Though a relatively small sum had been awarded, the costs and success fee were very substantial. The newspaper claimed that the costs claimed infringed its right to freedom of expression. Held: The … Continue reading Campbell v MGN Ltd (No 2): HL 20 Oct 2005

Morris and Another v London Borough of Southwark: QBD 5 Feb 2010

The residential tenant claimant sought damages from her council for failure to repair her flat. The counciil now objected to being asked to pay her costs, saying that the agreement with her solicitors was champertous, being a Conditional Fee Agreement, in that it indemnified her agsinst costs which might be awarded against her. The deputy … Continue reading Morris and Another v London Borough of Southwark: QBD 5 Feb 2010

Gaynor v Central West London Buses Ltd: CA 28 Jul 2006

The solicitors appealed a finding that a conditional fee agreement with their client was unenforceable as against their client for failing to meet the requirements of the 1990 Act, which in turn deprived them of a right to claim the costs from the defendant. It was said that the client care letter did not show … Continue reading Gaynor v Central West London Buses Ltd: CA 28 Jul 2006

Midtown Ltd v City of London Real Property Company Ltd: ChD 20 Jan 2005

Tenants occupied land next to land which was to be developed after compulsory acquisition. The tenants and the landlords asserted a right of light over the land, and sought an injunction to prevent the development. The developer denied that any right of light had been acquired. The sky contour diagrams projected that the reductions in … Continue reading Midtown Ltd v City of London Real Property Company Ltd: ChD 20 Jan 2005

Hazell v Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council: HL 1991

Swap deals outwith Council powers The authority entered into interest rate swap deals to protect itself against adverse money market movements. They began to lose substantial amounts when interest rates rose, and the district auditor sought a declaration that the contracts were void, there being no express power in the relevant legislation. Held: The arrangements … Continue reading Hazell v Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council: HL 1991

Hedley Byrne and Co Ltd v Heller and Partners Ltd: HL 28 May 1963

Banker’s Liability for Negligent Reference The appellants were advertising agents. They were liable themselves for advertising space taken for a client, and had sought a financial reference from the defendant bankers to the client. The reference was negligent, but the bankers denied any assumption of a duty of care to a third party when purely … Continue reading Hedley Byrne and Co Ltd v Heller and Partners Ltd: HL 28 May 1963

Regina (Holding and Barnes plc) v Secretary of State for Environment Transport and the Regions; Regina (Alconbury Developments Ltd and Others) v Same and Others: HL 9 May 2001

Power to call in is administrative in nature The powers of the Secretary of State to call in a planning application for his decision, and certain other planning powers, were essentially an administrative power, and not a judicial one, and therefore it was not a breach of the applicants’ rights to a fair hearing before … Continue reading Regina (Holding and Barnes plc) v Secretary of State for Environment Transport and the Regions; Regina (Alconbury Developments Ltd and Others) v Same and Others: HL 9 May 2001

Bank Mellat v Her Majesty’s Treasury (No 2): SC 19 Jun 2013

The bank challenged measures taken by HM Treasury to restrict access to the United Kingdom’s financial markets by a major Iranian commercial bank, Bank Mellat, on the account of its alleged connection with Iran’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes. The bank sought to have the direction given under section 7 of the 2008 Act. … Continue reading Bank Mellat v Her Majesty’s Treasury (No 2): SC 19 Jun 2013

National Westminster Bank plc v Spectrum Plus Limited and others: HL 30 Jun 2005

Former HL decision in Siebe Gorman overruled The company had become insolvent. The bank had a debenture and claimed that its charge over the book debts had become a fixed charge. The preferential creditors said that the charge was a floating charge and that they took priority. Held: The appeal was allowed. The debenture, although … Continue reading National Westminster Bank plc v Spectrum Plus Limited and others: HL 30 Jun 2005

Fitzpatrick v Sterling Housing Association Ltd: HL 28 Oct 1999

Same Sex Paartner to Inherit as Family Member The claimant had lived with the original tenant in a stable and long standing homosexual relationship at the deceased’s flat. After the tenant’s death he sought a statutory tenancy as a spouse of the deceased. The Act had been extended to include as a spouse someone living … Continue reading Fitzpatrick v Sterling Housing Association Ltd: HL 28 Oct 1999

Bloomsbury International Ltd v Sea Fish Industry Authority and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: SC 15 Jun 2011

The 1995 Regulations imposed a levy on fish both caught and first landed in the UK and also on imported fish products. The claimants, importers challenged the validity of the latter charges, saying that they went beyond the power given by the 1981 Act, and also were contrary to EU law. Held: The appeal succeeded. … Continue reading Bloomsbury International Ltd v Sea Fish Industry Authority and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: SC 15 Jun 2011

Ridehalgh v Horsefield; Allen v Unigate Dairies Ltd: CA 26 Jan 1994

Guidance for Wasted Costs Orders Guidance was given on the circumstances required for the making of wasted costs orders against legal advisers. A judge invited to make an order arising out of an advocate’s conduct of court proceedings must make full allowance for the fact that an advocate has to make decisions quickly and under … Continue reading Ridehalgh v Horsefield; Allen v Unigate Dairies Ltd: CA 26 Jan 1994

Turley v Unite The Union and Another: QBD 19 Dec 2019

Defamation of Labour MP by Unite and Blogger The claimant now a former MP had alleged that a posting on a website supported by the first defendant was false and defamatory. The posting suggested that the claimant had acted dishonestly in applying online for a category of membership of the union. The defendants pursued defences … Continue reading Turley v Unite The Union and Another: QBD 19 Dec 2019

The Rugby Football Union v Consolidated Information Services Ltd: SC 21 Nov 2012

The Union challenged the right of the respondent to resell tickets to international rugby matches. The tickets were subject to a condition rendering it void on any resale at above face value. They said that the respondent had advertised tickets in breach of this condition. The Court considered whether it was appropriate to protect the … Continue reading The Rugby Football Union v Consolidated Information Services Ltd: SC 21 Nov 2012

Clarkson v Gilbert and others: CA 14 Jun 2000

The court considered the restrictions on lay representatives appearing in court as the related to relatives of the party. Held: The same objections to granting rights of audience did not apply to a husband who merely wished to assist his wife by representing her in court. Where a close relative was seeking to represent a … Continue reading Clarkson v Gilbert and others: CA 14 Jun 2000

Marleasing SA v La Comercial Internacional de Alimentacion SA: ECJ 13 Nov 1990

Sympathetic construction of national legislation LMA OVIEDO sought a declaration that the contracts setting up Commercial International were void (a nullity) since they had been drawn up in order to defraud creditors. Commercial International relied on an EC Directive designed to protect companies and third parties from the adverse effects of the doctrine of nullity. … Continue reading Marleasing SA v La Comercial Internacional de Alimentacion SA: ECJ 13 Nov 1990

Acts

1267 – 1278 – 1285 – 1297 – 1361 – 1449 – 1491 – 1533 – 1677 – 1688 – 1689 – 1700 – 1706 – 1710 – 1730 – 1737 – 1738 – 1751 – 1774 – 1792 – 1793 – 1804 – 1814 – 1819 – 1824 – 1828 – 1831 – 1832 … Continue reading Acts

law index

Our law-index is a substantial selection from our database. Cases here are restricted in number by date and lack the additional facilities formerly available within lawindexpro. Please do enjoy this free version of the lawindex. Case law does not ‘belong’ to lawyers. Judgments are made up of words which can be read and understood (if … Continue reading law index