The claimant had produced the Star War films which made use of props, in particular a ‘Stormtrooper’ helmet designed by the defendant. The defendant had then himself distributed models of the designs he had created. The appellant obtained judgment against the respondent in the US for punitive damages, but these had not been collected, and … Continue reading Lucasfilm Ltd and Others v Ainsworth and Another: SC 27 Jul 2011
The tenant claimed Rent Act protection for his tenancy. He had been rehoused and began his tenancy in 1970 with the ground floor used as a shop, and the first floor as living accomodation. He later abandoned the business use. He appealed a finding that he did not have protection under the 1977 Act. Held: … Continue reading Tan and Another v Sitkowski: CA 1 Feb 2007
This appeal raises the issue whether the daily vessel-operating expenses of shipowners incurred while they were negotiating to reduce the ransom demands of pirates should be allowed in general average – ie whether those expenses should be shared proportionately between all those whose property and entitlements were imperilled as a result of that seizure – … Continue reading Mitsui and Co Ltd and Others v Beteiligungsgesellschaft Lpg Tankerflotte Mbh and Co Kg and Another: SC 25 Oct 2017
The court considered the developing international jurisdiction over commercial activities of state bodies which might enjoy state immunity, and sought to ascertain whether or not the Central Bank of Nigeria was entitled to immunity from suit. Held: The key questions are those of ‘governmental control’ and ‘governmental functions’ and that these are to be determined … Continue reading Trendtex Trading Corporation v Central Bank of Nigeria: CA 1977
G was a prisoner who was refused permission by the Home Secretary to consult a solicitor with a view to bringing libel proceedings against a prison officer. The court construed article 6 of ECHR, which provides that ‘in the determination of his civil rights . . everyone is entitled to a fair . . hearing’, … Continue reading Golder v The United Kingdom: ECHR 21 Feb 1975
The Court was asked whether an employee’s remuneration is taxable as his or her emoluments or earnings when it is paid to a third party in circumstances in which the employee had no prior entitlement to receive it himself or herself. Held: The company’s appeal failed. The purposive approach to the interpretation of the general … Continue reading RFC 2012 Plc (Formerly The Rangers Football Club Plc) v Advocate General for Scotland: SC 5 Jul 2017
The principles set out in Canada Steamship apply to ‘clauses which purport to exempt one party to a contract from liability’. The principles should be applied without ‘mechanistic construction’.Lord Keith of Kinkel said: The tests were guidelines, but ‘guidelines’ but ‘the matter is essentially one of the ascertaining the intention of the contracting parties from … Continue reading Smith v UMB Chrysler (Scotland) Ltd: HL 9 Nov 1977
The court considered the treatment of losses in a London branch of the non-resident Bank. Had the company been resident it could have set off the losses. It claimed that the refusal was an unlawful discrimination. Judges: Sedley, Arden, Moses LJJ Citations: [2007] EWCA Civ 119 Links: Bailii Statutes: UK-Switzerland Double Taxation Convention of 8 … Continue reading HM Revenue and Customs v UBS Ag: CA 21 Feb 2007
ECJ 1. As regards the division of jurisdiction between national courts and the court of justice under article 177 of the treaty the national court, which is alone in having a direct knowledge of the facts of the case and of the arguments put forward by the parties, and which has to give judgment in … Continue reading Pigs Marketing Board v Raymond Redmond: ECJ 29 Nov 1978
ECJ 1. The Convention of 27 September 1968 must be interpreted having regard both to its principles and objectives and to its relationship with the treaty. The question whether the words and concepts used in the convention must be regarded as having their own independent meaning and as being thus common to all the contracting … Continue reading Somafer Sa v Saar-Ferngas Ag: ECJ 22 Nov 1978
ECJ The direct application of a community regulation means that its entry into force and its application in favour of or against those subject to it are independent of any measure adopting it into national law. By reason of the obligations imposed on them by the treaty member states must not impede the direct effect … Continue reading Fratelli Zerbone Snc v Amministrazione Delle Finanze Dello Stato: ECJ 31 Jan 1978
The claimant had been ordered to pay a deposit as a condition of being allowed to proceed with the claim which the tribunal had judged to have no reasonable prospect of success. The claim was struck out after the tribunal had been wrongly told that the deposits had not been paid. The strike out was … Continue reading Immigration Advisory Services v Oommen: EAT 19 Mar 1997
(reversed) The local authority sought to acquire the plaintiff’s bungalow by compulsory powers which allowed it to purchase land required to construct a new sewer. Held: By the 1978 Act, the word land was to be read to include buildings upon the land, and this was a correct purchase. Citations: [1973] 2 All ER 1123 … Continue reading Hutton v Esher Urban District Council: CA 1973
The House gave guidance on the interpretation of Tax statutes. Held: The consideration at issue had been paid both for shares and for something else, the waiver of a loan the seller had made to the company. Lord Wilberforce emphasised the need to consider each asset disposed of separately in the light of the rules … Continue reading Aberdeen Construction Group Ltd v Inland Revenue Commissioners: HL 1978
(Victoria) The Board set out the necessary conditions for a clause to be implied into a contract. Held: Lord Simon of Glaisdale said: ‘Their Lordships do not think it necessary to review exhaustively the authorities on the implication of a term in a contract which the parties have not thought fit to express. In their … Continue reading BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Ltd v The Shire of Hastings: PC 1977
The court was asked to interpret the 1976 Act to see whether its protection extended to cohabitees as well as to wives. In doing so it had to look at practice in the Court of Appeal in having to follow precedent. Held: The operation of the doctrine of precedent in the Court of Appeal so … Continue reading Davis v Johnson: HL 2 Jan 1978
(Admissibility) The Secretary of State had, after preliminary procedures, served notices on an insurance company disallowing it from writing any new business, because its managing director the applicant, had been found not to be a fit and proper person to be a controller of the company. He had misstated the value of the company’s assets. … Continue reading Kaplan v United Kingdom: ECHR 14 Dec 1978
The purposive approach to the interpretation of statutes will ‘promote the general legislative purpose underlying the provisions’ Judges: Lord Denning MR Citations: [1978] 1 All ER 1243 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Appeal from – Nothman v Barnet London Borough County Council HL 1978 The normal retiring age for an employee is to be … Continue reading Notham v London Borough of Barnet: CA 1978
The employer announced the closure of two factories and the redundancy of the workforce, at one factory in 15 days’ time and, at the other, in 63 days’ time. There was no consultation. The employer appealed a 60 day protective award. Held: (Majority) Appeal allowed in part. The ET were misled into thinking that the … Continue reading Talke Fashions Ltd v Society of Textile Workers: EAT 1978
Friends Provident had participated in a development project on terms which required it to pay its share of the development costs as it proceeded. It employed Hillier Parker, a firm of surveyors, to check demands made from time to time for payment of its share of development costs. Friends Provident paid the developer its share … Continue reading Friends’ Provident Life Office v Hillier, Parker May and Rowden: CA 1997
The Respondent employers had not attended a hearing before the Industrial Tribunal. The hearing went ahead. The Respondents applied for a review of the decision (that the employee had been unfairly dismissed and should be compensated) on the ground that they had not received notice of the proceedings leading to the decision. The Tribunal, having … Continue reading T and D Transport (Portsmouth) Limited v Limburn: EAT 1987
Where the words of a statute are clear, it is not open to the court to limit, change or disregard that meaning on the ground that the result of the legislation as drafted would be anomalous or absurd. Lord Simon of Glaisdale said as to an argument based on the anomaly of the result of … Continue reading Stock v Frank Jones (Tipton) Ltd: HL 1978
Sir Nicholas Browne-Wilkinson V-C spoke of section 7 of the 1978 Act: ‘If actual receipt is necessary to enable the addressee to take some necessary step, then the word ‘sent’ in the principal Act will be construed to mean ‘received” Judges: Sir Nicholas Browne-Wilkinson V-C Citations: [1987] 1 WLR 1586 Statutes: Interpretation Act 1978 7 … Continue reading Regina v Home Secretary, Ex parte Yeboah: CA 1987
Europa Since the concept of a contract of sale on instalment credit terms varies from one member state to another, in accordance with the objectives pursued by their respective laws, it is necessary, in the context of the convention, to consider that concept as being independent and therefore to give it a uniform substantive content … Continue reading Bertrand v Paul Ott KG: ECJ 21 Jun 1978
Judges: Arden, Briggs, Bean LJJ Citations: [2017] EWCA Civ 846 Links: Bailii Statutes: Leasehold Reform Act 1967 9, Interpretation Act 1978 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Landlord and Tenant Updated: 27 March 2022; Ref: scu.588336
LANDLORD AND TENANT – SERVICE CHARGES – s196 Law of Property Act 1925 – s 7 Interpretation Act 1978 – service of notices – waiver of invalidity of notices – s20B Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, contents of notices – appeal allowed. Citations: [2017] UKUT 150 (LC) Links: Bailii Statutes: Law of Property Act 1925 … Continue reading London Borough of Southwark v Akhtar Re: 11 and 54 John Kennedy House: UTLC 20 Apr 2017
Mr Nelson was employed as a producer but had in fact been engaged in the Caribbean Service of the BBC in terms of the work which he had actually been doing. The contract of employment expressly provided that he should serve wherever and however he might be required. Held: The closure of the BBC service … Continue reading Nelson v British Broadcasting Corporation: CA 1977
The claimant sought return of recordings and of money paid to the defendant through an alleged fraud or threats. She was the former wife of the Sultan of Brunei and head of state, who now sought an order requiring the court to protect his identity in the proceedings, saying that the Acts required the UK … Continue reading Aziz v Aziz and others: CA 11 Jul 2007
Minor Irregularity in Break Notice Not Fatal Leases contained clauses allowing the tenant to break the lease by serving not less than six months notice to expire on the third anniversary of the commencement date of the term of the lease. The tenant gave notice to determine the leases on 12th January 1995, although the … Continue reading Mannai Investment Co Ltd v Eagle Star Assurance: HL 21 May 1997
The curtilage of a house is narrowly confined to the area surrounding it and did not extend to a paddock. Buckley LJ said: ‘In my judgment, for one corporeal hereditament to fall within the curtilage of another, the former must be so intimately associated with the latter as to lead to the conclusion that the … Continue reading Methuen-Campbell v Walters: CA 1978
There had been a trial of 35 days regarding rights of way over land, which had proved fruitless, and where some orders had been made without jurisdiction. The result had been inconclusive. The costs order was now appealed, the plaintiff complaining that the judge had failed to take into account an offer of settlement made … Continue reading Cutts v Head and Another: CA 7 Dec 1983
The House considered the application of Orders made under the Counter-Inflation Acts 1972 and 1973 to premises let initially to the Minister of Works and then to the Secretary of State for the Environment for occupation by civil servants. Each of the relevant counter-inflation Orders contained definitions of ‘business tenancy’ and ‘business’. Held: In view … Continue reading Town Investments Ltd v Department of the Environment: HL 2 Mar 1977
The appellant, former chair of a road activist group, challenged certain roads orders saying that the respondent had not carried out the required environmental assessment. His claim was that the road had been adopted without the consultation required by the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive (‘the SEA Directive’), and that that the scope of the public … Continue reading Walton v The Scottish Ministers: SC 17 Oct 2012
The company sought the rectification of the register of village greens to remove an entry relating to its land, saying that the Council had not properly considered the need properly to identify the locality which was said to have enjoyed the rights claimed. Held: Rectification was ordered. The Green ought not to have been registered … Continue reading Paddico (267) Ltd v Kirklees Metropolitan Council and Others: ChD 23 Jun 2011
There are no degrees of nullity The plaintiffs had owned mining property in Egypt. Their interests were damaged and or sequestrated and they sought compensation from the Respondent Commission. The plaintiffs brought an action for the declaration rejecting their claims was a nullity. The Commission replied that the courts were precluded from considering the question … Continue reading Anisminic Ltd v Foreign Compensation Commission: HL 17 Dec 1968
Refusal to return Land Contract Deposit The court was asked as to whether a seller could retain a deposit paid by the claimant on a sale where contracts had been exchanged but the buyer had proved unable to go ahead. Held: The appeal against refusal of return of the deposit failed. The court looked at … Continue reading MIDILL (97Pl) Ltd v Park Lane Estates Ltd and Another: CA 11 Nov 2008
A trailer full of whisky had been stolen. Four fifths of its retail value was excise duty. Because it was to have been exported, duty had not been paid. On the theft the owners had had to pay the duty. The owners sued the carriers for the loss, but . .
The Master of the Rolls considered the use of an exemption clause, saying that the Court was to consider first whether the breach was ‘fundamental’. If so, he said, the court itself deprives the party of the benefit of an exemption or limitation . .
Claim by time share owners for easements over neighbouring land. The easements were for various sporting rights and facilities.
Held: The Claimants were entitled to appropriate declaratory relief confirming that they have the rights they claim . .
This appeal raises a question about the interpretation of article 16 of the Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea 1974 (‘the Athens Convention’) and its application to the Scots law of limitation of . .
A consignment of whisky was stolen whilst on consignemt from a bonded warehouse under CMR terms for Teheran. In bond, it was worth 7,000 pounds, and on export no excise duty was to be paid. Being stolen in the course of transit, excise duty of . .
A house occupied by the medical superintendent of an asylum fronted on to a public road and had access from the back to the asylum itself, although it was very much closer than to the asylum than are the lecturers’ cottages to any other college . .
The court considered the finality of decision of a county court judge regarding the interpretation of the phrase ‘structural alteration’ in the 1974 Act. Paragraph 2 (2) of Schedule 8 provided that the determination of the county court judge ‘shall . .
The charterers of three ships on time charter had made deductions from time charter hire payments which the shipowners regarded as unjustified. In retaliation the shipowners purported to revoke the authority of the Charterers (to be implied under . .
A design for sunglasses was challenged for prior publication. However the law in England differed from that apparently imposed from Europe as to the existence of a 12 month period of grace before applying for registration.
Held: Instruments . .
A company complained that it had been refused a tender for work because of discrimination on the ground of religious belief or political opinion since the unions on the site refused to work with the company’s employees, the unions believing the . .
The principles set out in Canada Steamship apply to ‘clauses which purport to exempt one party to a contract from liability’. The principles should be applied without ‘mechanistic construction’. Lord Keith of Kinkel: The tests were guidelines, but . .
References: [1972] 2 QB 71 Coram: Salmon LJ Ratio: When construing a clause: ‘in the end you are driven back to construing the clause in question to see what it means’ This case cites: Restricted – Canada Steamship Lines Ltd v The King PC ([1952] AC 192) A lease of a freight shed exonerated the … Continue reading Hollierv Rambler Motors (AMC) Ltd: 1972
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
The section in the earlier Act was modified to give effect to the 1978 Act. Citations: [1990] 1 EGLR 92 Statutes: Landlord and Tenant Act 1927 23, Interpretation Act 1978 7 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Explained – Beanby Estates Ltd v Egg Stores (Stamford Hill) Ltd ChD 9-May-2003 The landlord had served a … Continue reading Lex Services plc v Johns: 1990
The Defendant relied on Section 7 of the 1978 Act to support of its contention that it had served on the Claimant a counter-notice under Section 45 Leasehold Reform (Housing and Urban Development) Act 1993 (‘the 1993 Act’). The Claimant contended that Section 7 allowed him to prove on the facts that the counter-notice had … Continue reading Calladine-Smith v Saveorder Ltd: ChD 5 Jul 2011
The time limits for lodging appeals against Employment tribunal rulings are strict. The date of promulgation is the operative date from which the date sent is to be calculated. The rules set aside the normal rules on interpretation as to when a document might be deemed to arrive. Judges: Morrison P Citations: Gazette 02-Sep-1999, [1999] … Continue reading Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council v Ladejobi: EAT 2 Sep 1999
The tenant had a lease of business premises. The premises were damaged in a terrorist attack, and the landlord served a notice terminating the lease. The lease gave the right to the landlord to determine the lease if the property was incapable of occupation for more than six months. It came to be accepted that … Continue reading Blunden v Frogmore Investments Ltd: CA 30 Apr 2002
The landlord had served a notice under the 1954 Act. The tenant served a counter notice, but the question was whether he was late, or out of time. Held: The combination of the various provisions meant that the landlord’s notice had irrevocably been deemed to have been served and on the day it was posted. … Continue reading Beanby Estates Ltd v Egg Stores (Stamford Hill) Ltd: ChD 9 May 2003
The tribunal was asked as to the date from which time started to run for the purposes of calculating the 42-day period within which an appeal should have been brought from a decision of an Employment Tribunal, if it was to be brought at all. Held: Morison J said that Section 7 of the Interpretation … Continue reading London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham v Ladejobi: EAT 1 Nov 1998
In the context of the time for appealing to the EAT under Rule 3(3) EAT Rules 1993, as amended, ‘sent’ referred to the date appearing on the ET ‘decision’.Morison P said: ‘Industrial Tribunal chairmen are required to produce reasons. When reduced to writing, it is the responsibility of the clerk to transmit those reasons to … Continue reading Mock v Inland Revenue: EAT 1 Mar 1999
The rules required a notice to be sent not less than 14 days before a date fixed for a hearing. Held: The word ‘send’ in Rule 5 refers to the date when the notice is received or deemed to have been received under the Interpretation Act. In so concluding, it relied upon section 7 of … Continue reading Derrybaa Ltd v Castro Blanco: EAT 1986
UTLC HOUSING – ENFORCEMENT ACTION – improvement notice – request for extension of time to appeal – criteria to be applied – para. 14(3), Sch. 1, Housing Act 2004 – proof of service by post – s. 233, Local Government Act 1972 – s. 7, Interpretation Act 1978 – appeal allowed Martin Rodger QC, DP … Continue reading Nottingham City Council v Tyas: UTLC 3 Oct 2013
A party to an arbitration under the 1996 Act disputed whether the award had been served so as to leave that party out of time to appeal.
Rix LJ spoke of the common law as requiring proof of receipt, whereas the Interpretation Act deemed receipt . .
The court considered whether the 1993 Act should be construed as expropriatory legislation and therefore was to be read strictly. Held: The Court rejected the submission that the relevant provisions must be strictly construed because the 1993 Act was expropriatory in nature. Millet LJ said: ‘It would, in my opinion, be wrong to disregard the … Continue reading Cadogan v McGirk: CA 25 Apr 1996
Application had been made to register as a town or village green an area of land which was largely a boggy marsh. The local authority resisted the application wanting to use the land instead for housing. It then rejected advice it received from a non-statutory enquiry, and sought a declaration from the court as to … Continue reading Oxfordshire County Council v Oxford City Council and others: HL 24 May 2006
Provisions against discrimination on religious grounds in Northern Ireland, could apply to appointment of a firm to a panel of experts, where one person was designated to carry out that work. ‘it is essential, for there to be ’employment,’ that the person making the contract shall himself undertake to do, at any rate, some of … Continue reading Kelly v Northern Ireland Housing Executive; Loughran v Northern Ireland Housing Executive: HL 29 Jul 1998
When a one year fixed term employment contract was extended by a period of less than a year, but then not again renewed, there was no unfair dismissal, since the exemption for the original term applied also to any extension. There had been conflicting interpretations of the statutory provisions. S197 could not be construed on … Continue reading British Broadcasting Corporation v Kelly-Phillips: CA 24 Apr 1998
EAT JURISDICTIONAL POINTS – Extension of time: reasonably practicableWhere a Claimant has retained a solicitor to act for him and failed to meet the deadline for presenting a complaint of unfair dismissal to an Employment Tribunal, the adviser’s fault will defeat any attempt to argue that it was not reasonably practicable to make a timely … Continue reading El-Kholy v Rentokil Initial Facilities Services (UK) Ltd: EAT 21 Mar 2013
Where communications had been intercepted in a foreign country, and the manner of such interceptions had been lawful in that country, the evidence produced was admissible in evidence in a trial in England. An admission of such evidence was not an infringement of the rights to a fair trial, nor of the right to respect … Continue reading Regina v P and others: HL 19 Dec 2000
The trust was created in 1948, and provided gifts over, which had now failed. The court considered the construction of the term ‘stautory next of kin’. The possible beneficiaries claimed through being adopted, arguing that at the date of the last beneficary’s death, all impediments to inheritance by adopted children had been removed by statute. … Continue reading Re Erskine 1948 Trust: ChD 29 Mar 2012
The claimants sought damages for damage to property alleging breach of statutory duty. The defendant said that the regulations were made under European not English law, and that the Secretary of State did not have power to make regulations under the 1974 Act which would give rise to a right to damages. The regulations had … Continue reading Vibixa Ltd, Polestar Jowetts Ltd v Komori UK Ltd and Another, Spectral Technology Ltd: CA 9 May 2006
The defendant downloaded indecent images of children onto his computer, and printed them out. He was convicted of making new images by virtue of creating copies on his disc by downloading, by displaying them on his screen, and by printing them out. Held: He had been properly convicted. Such creation of new copies was clearly … Continue reading Regina v Bowden: CACD 10 Nov 1999
EAT Deposit ordered. Order lost in post due to the Claimant putting wrong post-code on ET1. Review. Distinguishing Judgments from Orders. Strike-out. Extending time. Judges: His Honour Peter Clark Citations: [2005] UKEAT 0318 – 05 – 2907, UKEAT/0319/05/TM, UKEAT/0318/05/TM, [2005] ICR 1647, UKEAT/0320/05/TM, [2005] IRLR 836 Links: Bailii, EATn Statutes: Employment Tribunal Rules 2004 20(1) … Continue reading Sodexho Ltd v Gibbons: EAT 14 Jul 2005
The CPS appealed aganst a decision on a charge under the railway byelaws, that the charge be dismissed, the prosecution not having formally proved in accordance with any applicable statutory provision. The byelaws had in fact been properly introduced, but the 2000 Act had been repealed and replaced by the 2005 Act. The certificate provided … Continue reading Crown Prosecution Service v Inegbu: Admn 26 Nov 2008
Penalties for late filing of P35 for three consecutive years- whether returns for first two years were delivered to HMRC – Interpretation Act 1978 – appeal for those two years allowed and penalties set aside – whether penalty of pounds 400 for not filing the 2009-10 return online was unfair and/or disproportionate – no – … Continue reading Ross (T/A Hilltop Boarding Kennels) v Revenue and Customs: FTTTx 12 Dec 2011
The plaintiff took her mink stole to the defendants for cleaning. An employee received and stole the fur. The judge had held that the defendants were not liable because the theft was not committed in the course of employment. Held: The defendants were liable. Bailment includes as an element an assumption of responsibility by the … Continue reading Morris v C W Martin and Sons Ltd: CA 1965
The landlord had wanted possession. The tenant said that the landlord had been harassing him. The landlord said that the tenancy was a mixed residential and business tenancy and that the 1977 Act did not apply. Held: The 1977 Act applied. A tenancy for mixed purposes falls under the protection of the Act of 1954, … Continue reading Pirabakaran v Patel and Another: CA 26 May 2006
The claimant had been unfairly dismissed from her position as justices’ clerk. After appeal her additional claims for retirement and other compensation under the 1978 Regulations had been remitted to the Employment tribunal which had reconsidered and acceded to the claim. The Secretary of State appealed, saying that the Tribunal had failed properly to apply … Continue reading Secretary of State for Justice v Slee (2): Admn 22 Jan 2010
A school board employed staff to manage a residential school for vulnerable children. The staff committed sexual abuse of the children. The school denied vicarious liability for the acts of the teachers. Held: ‘Vicarious liability is legal responsibility imposed on an employer, although he is himself free from blame, for a tort committed by his … Continue reading Lister and Others v Hesley Hall Ltd: HL 3 May 2001
The appellants had suffered deep vein thrombosis whilst travelling on long haul air flights. The defendants said that their liability was limited because the injuries were not accidents. Held: The claimants’ appeal failed. The definition of accident in Fenton required adjustment in this context: for Convention purposes the ‘loss or hurt’ cannot itself be the … Continue reading Deep Vein Thrombosis and Air Travel Group Litigation: HL 8 Dec 2005
The court discussed what was meant by the curtilage of the appellant’s house: ‘Thus the sole issue is whether Mr Dyer’s house is or is not within the curtilage of another building or, by the application of section 6 of the Interpretation Act 1978, of more than one other building. This is a question of … Continue reading Dyer v Dorset County Council: CA 1988
The plaintiffs said the first defendant had defrauded them of substantial sums, and implicated other defendants. They claimed against five defendants variously for conspiracy to defraud and deceit and for breach of warranty. They also sought to trace the sum of andpound;383,872 paid under a mistake of fact induced by fraud, into an account with … Continue reading A v C (Note): ChD 1980
The defendant was an animal rights protester who had been convicted under section 2(2) of the 1997 Act of engaging in a course of conduct amounting to harassment of the employees of a company. The District Judge hearing the case made a restraining order against him. Held: The court rejected the appellant’s primary ground (the … Continue reading Director Of Public Prosecutions v Dziurzynski: Admn 28 Jun 2002
GlaxoSmithKline sought an injunction to restrain unlawful conduct by way of trespass and harassment by animal rights activists done with the aim of preventing the use of animals in medical research. Held: The court discussed whether an order was available under the 1997 Act to protect a company. It did.Jack J said: ‘By section 5 … Continue reading Smithkline Beecham Plc and Others v Avery and Others (Representing Stop Huntingdon Cruelty (‘SHAC’): QBD 26 Jun 2009
The court discussed whether a terrace of cottages was within the curtilage of an old factory which was a listed building. At first instance, Skinner J had held that they were, and that permission could not be granted for their demolition. The Council appealed. Held: The appeal failed. Stephenson LJ said: ‘The terrace has not … Continue reading Attorney-General ex relater Sutcliffe and Others v Calderdale Borough Council: CA 1982
The 1978 Directive required consultation in the case of collective redundancies. Acts had incorrectly incorporated this requirement into English law. The error was corrected in the 1995 Regulations. Held: Anything is ‘related to’ a Community obligation so long as it is not distinct, separate or divorced from it. The 1995 Regulations were valid.Otton LJ said: … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry ex parte Unison: 1996
The Revenue had published a booklet, IR20, setting out their approach to the interpretation of the phrases ‘residence’ and ‘ordinary residence’. The taxpayer said that this was a more generous definition than the statutory one, and that having acted on it he had a legitimate expectation that the booklet’s interpretation would continue to be applied. … Continue reading Davies and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Revenue and Customs: SC 19 Oct 2011
EAT TRANSFER OF UNDERTAKINGSThe principles and approach which a Tribunal should take where there has been a transfer of one service provider’s activities to two or more transferees, and there is disagreement as to whether an employee’s contract is now to be with the transferor or any of the transferees, considered. The Tribunal had decided … Continue reading Kimberley Group Housing Ltd v Hambley and others (UK) Ltd: EAT 25 Apr 2008
The applicant built a shed on land behind his bungalow, but without planning consent. The planning authority issued enforcement proceedings. He appealed, contending that it fell within the Order. The inspector visited the property, and decided that it was not within the curtilage of the house. The land owner appealed. Held: Whether the shed was … Continue reading Crockett v Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and another: Admn 24 Oct 2002
The landowner appealed against an enforcement notice issued with respect to a chain link fence erected along the driveway of his grade II listed building. He said the drive was not part of the curtilage of the building. Held: The inspector had been wrong to place significance on what he thought was the owners intentions … Continue reading Lowe v First Secretary of State and Another: Admn 6 Feb 2003
Sanction had been sought for a scheme of arrangement on the winding up of an insurance company. There were objections. The original scheme had been proposed under English law, and it would be inappropriate for a Scottish court to try to sanction such an arrangement. Payment of et fess of Engliah lawyers was sought. Held: … Continue reading The Scottish Lion Insurance Company Ltd, Re Sanction of A Scheme of Arrangement: SCS 8 Mar 2006
The replacement by a tenant of windows in a flat did not amount to structural alterations. The lease was clear as to what could constitute such alterations, and despite the different uses of the term in the lease, it clearly did not include either windows or doors. Citations: Gazette 02-Sep-1999 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: … Continue reading Bent v High Cliff Developments Ltd and Another: ChD 2 Sep 1999
The defendants were said to have been found in possession of false passports. They successfully argued that the offence charged under the 1981 Act had been repealed by the 2006 Act. The prosecutor argued that a Schedule only came into effect when explicitly made to come into effect. Held: The prosecutor’s appeal succeeded. The 2006 … Continue reading Crown Prosecution Service, Regina (on the Application of) v Bow Street Magistrates Court and others: Admn 18 Jul 2006
The reason adduced by the union for the dismissal of the climant was found by the Tribunal on the facts not to be the true reason for dismissal, the true reason being the union executive committee’s political antipathy to Mr Brady. Held: It was highly arguable that a finding that disciplinary proceedings had been commenced … Continue reading Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen v Brady: EAT 31 Mar 2006
The defendants sought to have struck out a claim under the 1992 Regulations to support a claim under s15(2) of the 1974 Act. They said that the 1992 Regulations had been made only under s2(2) and not under s15(1). Held: The implementing regulations were made under specific sections, ‘and of all other powers enabling her … Continue reading Polestar Jowetts Ltd v Komori Ltd UK and Another: QBD 26 Jul 2005
The 2004 Act had been passed without the approval of the House of Lords and under the provisions of the 1911 Act as amended by the 1949 Act. The 1949 Act had used the provisions of the 1911 Act to amend the 1911 Act. The claimant said this meant that the 1949 Act was void, … Continue reading Jackson and Others, Regina (on the Application of) v Her Majesty’s Attorney General: Admn 28 Jan 2005
The applicant had been employed to provide services to RAF in the Ascension Islands. He alleged constructive dismissal. There was an issue as to whether somebody working in the Ascension Islands was protected by the 1996 Act. The restriction on jurisdiction in s196 had been removed. The question now was as to what test applied … Continue reading Serco Ltd v Lawson and Foreign and Commonwealth Office: CA 23 Jan 2004
EAT Disability Discrimination – Less favourable treatment. The appellant brought proceedings against the Respondents alleging that they had failed to make adjustments to her workplace and conditions so as to accommodate her disability, that they had treated her less favourably for reasons relating to her disability; and in the second case presented in 2000 that … Continue reading Meikle v Nottinghamshire County Council: EAT 19 Aug 2003
The claimant sought to appeal an order striking out its claim against the defendant under a performance bond. The defendant denied that the demand was valid, saying it did not allege a current breach of the contract. Held: The point upon which the strike out action succeeded was flawed. The breach continued, and the obligations … Continue reading Manx Electricity Authority v J P Morgan Chase Bank: CA 3 Oct 2003
The claimants sought damages against the defendants for their late delivery of a building. The contractors sought to share the damages with the architects who had certified the delays, defeating their own claims. Held: The Act sought to extend the circumstances under which contributions could be sought, but their claim against the architects were of … Continue reading Royal Brompton Hospital National Health Service Trust v Hammond and others: HL 25 Apr 2002
A claimant who had satisfied the conditions required to become eligible for special hardship allowance but who had yet made no claim, retained his right to the allowance after the Act under which the claim might be brought was repealed. ‘A mere hope or expectation of acquiring a right is insufficient. An entitlement, however, even … Continue reading Chief Adjudication Officer and Another v Maguire: CA 23 Mar 1999
The applicant claimed unfair dismissal. The employer replied that the employee had resigned. Held: The employer’s appeal was dismissed. The resignation had taken place in a heated moment, and it was not conclusive. An employer may not be able to rely upon a resignation made by an employee which had obviously been made in the … Continue reading Kwik-Fit (GB) Ltd v Lineham: EAT 5 Feb 1992
For possession of an indecent image of a child to be proved, it was necessary to establish some knowledge of its existence. Images stored without the defendant’s knowledge by browser software in a hidden cache, of which he was also unaware, were not such, and a conviction was quashed. The situation was akin to a … Continue reading Atkins v Director of Public Prosecutions; Goodland v Director of Public Prosecutions: Admn 8 Mar 2000
The tenant took a lease for under 7 years, accepting repairing and other obligations. The question was how those obligations fitted the landlord’s implied obligations under section 32, and the effect of the section on decorating covenants. The landlord argued that the decoration was not repair, that the statutory implied obligations were to be subtracted … Continue reading Irvine v Moran: 1991
