A limited company is not a trustee of its funds, but their beneficial owner. However, the fiduciary character of the duties of its directors mean that they are treated as if they were trustees of those funds of the company which are in their hands or under their control, and if they misapply them they … Continue reading Re Lands Allotment Company: CA 1894
The court discussed the basis of the equitable doctrine of laches. Lord Selbourne LC said: ‘Now the doctrine of laches in courts of equity is not an arbitrary or technical doctrine. Where it would be practically unjust to give a remedy, either because the party has by his conduct done that which might fairly be … Continue reading The Lindsay Petroleum Company v Hurd and Others: PC 20 Jan 1874
(Bahamas) The provisions in the Acts of 1833 and 1874 did away with the earlier doctrine of ‘non adverse’ possession, under which, in the absence of an ouster, the possession of one joint tenant or tenant in common was regarded as the possession of the others, so that time did not run against those who … Continue reading Paradise Beach and Transportation Co Ltd v Price-Robinson: PC 1968
A contract debt had been then secured on land. The defendant pleaded limitation. Held: The section, in not enlarging the period of recovery of a simple contract debt from 6 years to 12 years, was prohibitory and was enacted to limit existing limitation periods relating to the recovery of debts charged on land. The addition … Continue reading Barnes v Glenton: 1899
A mortgage deed contained an express covenant to repay on demand the amount advanced. The principal sum and interest were secured by a mortgage of real property. A demand for payment was made, but not satisfied. An action was brought on the covenant (not on a simple contract debt) for the sum due under the … Continue reading Sutton v Sutton: 1882
A court will, by analogy, apply a statutory limitation period if the remedy in equity, specific performance, is ‘correspondent to the remedy at law’ and where ‘the suit in equity corresponds with an action at law’. Lord Westbury said: ‘For where the remedy in Equity is correspondent to the remedy at Law, and the latter … Continue reading Knox v Gye: HL 1872
The freeholder charged the land in 1856. He remained in possession, and did not make any payments or give any acknowledgment of the mortgagee’s title. In 1870 the mortgagee presented a bill for foreclosure, and in 1874 a bill of redemption or foreclosure was granted, with foreclosure being made absolute in 1877, and possession sought … Continue reading Heath v Pugh: CA 1881
The local authority had incurred expense in paving a street. They were entitled to apportion those expenses amongst the owners of the properties fronting onto that street and summarily to recover from the respective owners the amounts so apportioned. In addition statute provided that such expenses should be charged on the premises in respect of … Continue reading Hornsey Local Board v Monarch Investment Building Society: CA 1889
The defendant invited the plaintiff to take part in a syndicated loan. The defendant’s assistant secretary signed a letter to the plaintiff making representations, now claimed to be fraudulent. The defendant succeeded at first instance arguing that the signature was not that of the bank, and that even if it was, the action would be … Continue reading UBAF Ltd v European American Banking Corporation: CA 1984
The mortgagees had made no payments under the charge for more than twelve years, and had remained in possession throughout. They argued that the bank were prevented from now seeking to enforce the charge. The bank argued that the possession had not been adverse. The court had declared that the bank could not proceed. Held: … Continue reading National Westminster Bank Plc v Ashe (Trustee In Bankruptcy of Djabar Babai): CA 8 Feb 2008
Right of Recovery of Money Paid under Mistake Kleinwort Benson had made payments to a local authority under swap agreements which were thought to be legally enforceable when made. Subsequently, a decision of the House of Lords, (Hazell v. Hammersmith and Fulham) established that such swap agreements were unlawful. Kleinwort Benson then sought restitution of … Continue reading Kleinwort Benson Ltd v Lincoln City Council etc: HL 29 Jul 1998
References: (1874) LR 5 PC 221, [1873] 5 AC 221 Coram: Sir Barnes Peacock, Lord Selbourne LC The court discussed the basis of the equitable doctrine of laches. Lord Selbourne LC said: ‘Now the doctrine of laches in courts of equity is not an arbitrary or technical doctrine. Where it would be practically unjust to … Continue reading Lindsay Petroleum Company v Hurd: 1873
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An administrator de son tort, who was also a beneficiary, held the estate property on trust, and so could not establish adverse possession against the estate during the period of trusteeship. He held a sufficient interest in the assets already. A delay in the application for the grant did not apply where time had not … Continue reading Earnshaw and Others v Hartley: CA 31 Mar 1999
Losses arose from the misvaluation of a company before its purchase. The respondent had funded the purchase, relying upon a valuation by the predecessor of the appellant firm of accountants. Further advances had been made when the true situation was revealed. Held: The accountants’ appeal succeeded. As a general rule ‘collateral benefits are those whose … Continue reading Lowick Rose Llp v Swynson Ltd and Another: SC 11 Apr 2017
Partners Liable for Dishonest Act of Solicitor A solicitor had been alleged to have acted dishonestly, having assisted in a fraudulent breach of trust by drafting certain documents. Contributions to the damages were sought from his partners. Held: The acts complained of were so close to the activities which a solicitor would normally undertake, that … Continue reading Dubai Aluminium Company Limited v Salaam and Others: HL 5 Dec 2002
Bank not liable for fraud of customer The appellant sought to make the bank liable for a fraud committed by the Bank’s customer, the appellant saying that the Bank knew or ought to have known of the fraud. The court was asked whether a party liable only as a dishonest assistant was a trustee, and … Continue reading Williams v Central Bank of Nigeria: SC 19 Feb 2014
(Ontario) An assignee for the benefit of creditors conveyed mortgaged property to the mortgagee in satisfaction of part of the debt due to him. The mortgagee was also one of the inspectors required by the Canadian legislation to supervise the conduct of assignments for the benefit of creditors. Twelve years after the conveyance creditors commenced … Continue reading Taylor v Davies: PC 19 Dec 1919
Land had been acquired by a deed under the 1841 Act, but had in 1995 ceased to be used as a school ‘for the education of children and adults of the labouring manufacturing and other poorer classes . . And for no other purpose ‘. Under the Act, the land would revert to the claimants … Continue reading Fraser and Another v Canterbury Diocesan Board of Finance and others: HL 27 Oct 2005
The dispute followed the grounding of a tanker the Ocean Victory. The ship was working outside of a safe port requirement in the charterparty agreement. The contract required the purchase of insurance against maritime war and protection and indemnity risks. The grounding occurred during a combination of severe weather events. Each of the two elements … Continue reading Gard Marine and Energy Ltd and Another v China National Chartering Company Ltd and Another: SC 10 May 2017
Twins were conjoined (Siamese). Medically, both could not survive, and one was dependent upon the vital organs of the other. Doctors applied for permission to separate the twins which would be followed by the inevitable death of one of them. The parents, devout Roman Catholics, resisted. Held: The parents’ views were subject to the overriding … Continue reading In Re A (Minors) (Conjoined Twins: Medical Treatment); aka In re A (Children) (Conjoined Twins: Surgical Separation): CA 22 Sep 2000
A grant of land was made under the 1841 Act in 1872 (after the 1870 Act) and the school had in 1874 been transferred to a school board under section 23 of the 1870 Act. The school closed permanently in 1992. The issue was whether reverter had occurred in 1874, with the result that the … Continue reading Fraser and Another v Canterbury Diocesan Board Of Finance (No 1): CA 24 Nov 2000
Land was granted for use as a school for the education of poor persons in accordance with the principles of the National Society. In 1876 the school had become a ‘provided school’ run by a School Board under the Education Act 1870. That meant that, by virtue of section 14(2) of the Act, no ‘religious … Continue reading Habermehl v Attorney General: 1996
The claimant sought to bring a claim against the administrators of a partnership alleging a duty of care to creditors. Held: Such an administrator owed no greater duty to creditors than would a director. That duty was no different whether the duty was also a fiduciary duty or one at common law. His position was … Continue reading Oldham and others v Georgina Kyrris and Another: CA 4 Nov 2003
Mrs Jolly let a farm to her son who paid rent until 1881, but not thereafter, and her title to the farm was extinguished in 1893. She died in 1898. The question which arose was whether at her death any rent arrears remained due. Held: The extinction of the title also determined her entitlement to … Continue reading In Re Jolly: CA 1900
All that is required to constitute an acknowledgement so as to defeat a claim under limitation, is that, as between himself and the paper title owner, the person in possession acknowledges that the paper title owner has the better title to the land. Whether or not a particular writing amounts to an acknowledgement depends on … Continue reading Edgington v Clark: 1963
The respondent appealed against a finding that the provision which made a loan agreement completely invalid for lack of compliance with the 1974 Act was itself invalid under the Human Rights Act since it deprived the respondent lender of its property rights. It was also argued that it was not possible to make a declaration … Continue reading Wilson v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; Wilson v First County Trust Ltd (No 2): HL 10 Jul 2003
No Condemnation Without Opportunity For Defence Ridge, a Chief Constable, had been wrongfully dismissed without being given the opportunity of presenting his defence. He had been acquitted of the charges brought against him, but the judge at trial had made adverse comments about his behaviour. He now accepted that he should leave, but sought to … Continue reading Ridge v Baldwin (No 1): HL 14 Mar 1963
Where a claim had been made for possession of property under a legal charge, but no claim had been made for financial relief, and a later claim for such relief was made through an amended claim, the loss of the possible defence of limitation was a factor but not a determining one. The claim arose … Continue reading Lloyds Bank Plc v Rogers: CA 16 Jul 1999
This appeal is concerned with the liability of a local authority for what is alleged to have been a negligent failure to exercise its social services functions so as to protect children from harm caused by third parties. The principal question of law which it raises is whether a local authority or its employees may … Continue reading Poole Borough Council v GN and Another: SC 6 Jun 2019
One of the testatrix’s children was thought to be profligate, and had failed to maintain his own son. Acting under an enduring power of attorney, the testatrix’s attorneys made a substantial gift in establishing an educational trust for that son’s son. On her death, the other children argued that the share to be taken by … Continue reading In Re the Estate of Marjorie Langdon Cameron (Deceased); Peter David Phillips v Donald Cameron and Others: ChD 24 Mar 1999
Where a trespasser on land let on lease has as against the lessee acquired a title under the Statutes of Limitations, and the lessee subsequently surrenders the lease to the lessor, the lessor has no right of re-entry, and the period of. limitation does not begin to run, until the expiration of the term for … Continue reading Walter v Yalden: KBD 19 Jun 1902
The liability to account for profits on breach of the self-dealing rule and the fair-dealing rule does not arise from a breach of duty at all. In his judgment such liability is the consequence of an equitable disability rather than of a breach of duty, such as a breach of trust by a trustee or, … Continue reading Tito v Wadell (No 2): ChD 1977
The court allowed the plaintiff to establish by evidence that his particular debt was included in the total sum acknowledged to be due to a number of creditors.Lord Goddard CJ was satisfied that a lump sum in a balance sheet included the debt in question. The balance sheets of the defendant contained the statement, ‘to … Continue reading Jones v Bellgrove Properties Limited: CA 1949
(Antigua and Barbuda) The parties disputed a claim for land by adverse possession.
Held: Any acknowledgement of a paper title must be in writing. Lord Templeman explained the rule against reliance upon oral acknowledgements in adverse . .
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