Complaint was made that the Foxtons standard terms of acting in residential lettings were unfair. Foxtons objected to the jurisdiction of the Claimant to intervene. Held: On a challenge to an individual contract, the court would be able to see the term in the particular context and be better able to see its fairness or … Continue reading Office of Fair Trading v Foxtons Ltd: ChD 17 Jul 2008
EAT PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Striking-out/dismissal In April 2009, the Claimant, who was then 77 years of age, was employed by the Respondent, when he was laid off without pay. While still being employed by the Respondent he submitted an ET1 alleging he had been laid off. By a judgment of Employment Judge Salter (‘the … Continue reading Foster v Bon Groundwork Ltd: EAT 17 Mar 2011
Trident entered into Aircraft Operating Lease Agreements in identical terms with First Flight in respect of two ATP model aircraft. The leases represented the culmination of negotiations between a representative of the manufacturer, BAE Systems Regional Aircraft Limited (‘BAE’), and representatives of First Flight and were signed by a representative of BAE on behalf of … Continue reading Trident Turboprop (Dublin) Ltd v First Flight Couriers Ltd: Comc 17 Jul 2008
The bank had sought summary dismissal of a claim for non-payment of bonuses to the claimant a former employee, and now appealed refusal of its request for summary dismissal, saying that the claim had no prospect of success. The claimant said that though the payments were discretionary, it was an implied term that the bank … Continue reading Commerzbank Ag v Keen: CA 17 Nov 2006
The appellant had contracted to purchase maintenance from the defendant of aircraft it had also purchased from them. They sought damages for negligence, saying the defendants had failed to prevent a known risk of corrosion. The defendants argued that its contract excluded liability, and under the Act, that clause was not subjected to a test … Continue reading Amiri Flight Authority v BAE Systems Plc: CA 17 Oct 2003
The appellant said that his human rights were infringed when, as a moslem, he was refsued time off from his work as a primary school teacher to attend prayers at the mosque on Fridays. He had subsequentlly been re-instated part-time, but complained that this affected his pension rights. Held: Lord Denning MR said that whilst … Continue reading Ahmad v Inner London Education Authority: CA 1977
The court was asked as to the interpretation of the phrase ‘deals . . On the other’s written standard terms of business’. Judges: Longmore, Henderson LJJ Citations: [2017] EWCA Civ 845 Links: Bailii Statutes: Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 3 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Contract, Consumer Updated: 27 March 2022; Ref: scu.588315
The claimant sought an injunction to prevent the respondent Trades Union calling on its members to boycott mail to South Africa. The respondents challenged the ability of the court to make such an order. Held: The wide wording of the statute did not mean that the courts had, in effect, limitless powers to grant interlocutory … Continue reading Gouriet v Union of Post Office Workers: HL 26 Jul 1977
References: [2008] EWHC 1686 (Comm), [2009] 1 All ER (Comm) 16 Links: Bailii Coram: Aikens J Trident entered into Aircraft Operating Lease Agreements in identical terms with First Flight in respect of two ATP model aircraft. The leases represented the culmination of negotiations between a representative of the manufacturer, BAE Systems Regional Aircraft Limited (‘BAE’), … Continue reading Trident Turboprop (Dublin) Ltd v First Flight Couriers Ltd; Comc 17 Jul 2008
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The court considered the meaning of ‘standard form contract’ as it applied in Scotland under the 1977 Act: ‘The Act does not define ‘standard form contract’, but its meaning is not difficult to comprehend. In some cases there may be difficulty deciding whether the phrase properly applies to particular contract. I have no difficulty deciding … Continue reading McCrone v Boots Farm Sales Limited: 1981
British Telecommunications Plc provided its own directory service. BT was licenced as a public telecommunications operator requiring it to provide telephone services on request to anyone who sought them without discrimination. The claimant wanted to operate its own free service, and contracted with BT to use a line, but BT then gave notice to end … Continue reading Timeload Ltd v British Telecommunications plc: CA 1995
A clause providing that the employer could dismiss an employee in the first two years of employment without implementing the disciplinary procedure was not void under the 1977 Act. Section 3 extended to contracts of employment and although the meaning was ‘artificial’, an employee dealt ‘as a consumer’ with his employer. However the claim failed … Continue reading Brigden v American Express Bank Ltd: 2000
The defendants had contracted to transport goods for the plaintiff. The goods had been left at empty premises and were damaged or stolen. The defendant sought to rely upon their clause excluding liability. Held: The reasonableness of a standard contract term was best pleaded by the proponent of it. ‘There is much to be said … Continue reading Sheffield v Pickfords Limited and Pickfords Removals Limited: CA 11 Feb 1997
A claim was made for declaratory relief. Held: The Claimant, a re-insurer, did not have locus to claim a declaration that the main insurer could avoid the main contract of insurance, to which the Claimant was not a party. The court considered ‘the general policy of the law to resolve disputes between all parties in … Continue reading Meadows Indemnity Co Ltd v The Insurance Corporation of Ireland plc and Another: CA 1989
The claimant had sought to conduct a competition to sell his house, the entry fees being collected by the defendant internet payment services provider. The defendant terminated the service to him, and he complained that that caused him substantial damages, and that the terms were unfair. Held: ‘Mr Overy is not entitled to the protection … Continue reading Overy v Paypal (Europe) Ltd: QBD 2 Mar 2012
Claim for rescission of contract for purchase of Ferrari car at auction after discovery of alteration to odometer.Jonathan Hirst QC said (after discussing the Christie’s case): ‘Plainly this authority provides substantial ammunition for BandB Monaco to contend that they owed no duty of care to [the claimant] but, if English law applied, I would hold … Continue reading Morin v Bonhams and Brooks Ltd and Another: ComC 18 Mar 2003
The company alleged negligence by its financial advisers. Held: Gloster J said that the absence of a written advisory agreement is a strong pointer against the existence of a free-standing duty of care to give investment advice. Gloster J said: ‘terms which simply define the basis upon which services will be rendered and confirm the … Continue reading JP Morgan Chase Bank and others v Springwell Navigation Corporation: Comc 27 May 2008
The claimants manufactured and sold storage tanks. They sought substantial damages after chemical materials purchased from the defendants to help bond the tanks failed. Judges: Christopher Clarke J Citations: [2006] EWHC 1900 (Comm), [2006] 2 CLC 220, [2006] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 629 Links: Bailii Statutes: Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, Sale of Goods Act 1979 … Continue reading Balmoral Group Ltd v Borealis [UK] Ltd and others: ComC 25 Jul 2006
PC (Bermuda) The courts should be reluctant to accept a fetter on the employer’s right to dismiss on notice where there is an express term in the contract empowering the employer to do so. Lord Millet considered the contention that the employer was duty bound to preserve the relationship of trust and confidence: ‘which ought … Continue reading Reda, Abdul-Jalil v Flag Limited: PC 11 Jul 2002
The plaintiff had contracted to purchase software from the respondent. The system failed to perform, and the defendant sought to rely upon its exclusion and limitation of liability clauses. Held: It is for the party claiming that a contract term satisfies the requirement of reasonableness to show that it does. To decide whether term was … Continue reading Watford Electronics Ltd v Sanderson CFL Ltd: CA 23 Feb 2001
It having been conceded that contracts of service fell within section 15 of the 1977 Act, the court found that the question whether the contract was a consumer contract depended on the circumstances. Though the employee pursuer was to be regarded as a consumer in relation to his contract of employment with the defenders, the … Continue reading Chapman v Aberdeen Construction Group: 1991
Jonathan Parker LJ discussed the granting of declarations: ‘things have indeed moved on since the Meadows case was decided; and the courts should not nowadays apply such a restrictive meaning to the passage in Lord Diplock’s speech in Gouriet’s case’. Judges: Jonathan Parker LJ Citations: [2006] Ch 585 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – … Continue reading Feetum v Levy: CA 2006
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
The claimant appealed after her claim for sex discrimination had failed. She had been dismissed from her position an associate minister of the church. The court had found that it had no jurisdiction, saying that her appointment was not an employment. However the jurisdiction in sex discrimination cases was wider, extending to those who ‘contract … Continue reading Percy v Church of Scotland Board of National Mission: HL 15 Dec 2005
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: For a tribunal to find itself … Continue reading Nelson v British Broadcasting Corporation (No 2 ): CA 1980
The insurance company had paid claims on policies used to underwrite the production of TV films. The re-insurers resisted the claims against them by the insurers on the grounds of non-disclosure by the insured, or in the alternative damages for misrepresentation. The policies were novel and sophisticated contracts and included clauses modifying the duties of … Continue reading HIH Casualty and General Insurance Limited and others v Chase Manhattan Bank and others: HL 20 Feb 2003
The court reconsidered the law relating to penalty clauses in contracts. The first appeal, Cavendish Square Holding BV v Talal El Makdessi, raised the issue in relation to two clauses in a substantial commercial contract. The second appeal, ParkingEye Ltd v Beavis, raised the issue at a consumer level, with a separate issue under the … Continue reading Cavendish Square Holding Bv v Talal El Makdessi; ParkingEye Ltd v Beavis: SC 4 Nov 2015
In Smith, the lender instructed a valuer who knew that the buyer and mortgagee were likely to rely on his valuation alone. The valuer said his terms excluded responsibility. The mortgagor had paid an inspection fee to the building society and received a copy of the report, and relying on it, had bought the house. … Continue reading Smith v Eric S Bush, a firm etc: HL 20 Apr 1989
Rehearing/Review – Little Difference on Appeal The appellant asked the Court to reverse a decision on the facts reached in the lower court. Held: The appeal failed (Majority decision). The court’s approach should be the same whether the case was dealt with as a rehearing or as a review. Tanfern was limited to appeals from … Continue reading Assicurazioni Generali Spa v Arab Insurance Group (BSC): CA 13 Nov 2002
Shareholder May Sue for Additional Personal Losses A company brought a claim of negligence against its solicitors, and, after that claim was settled, the company’s owner brought a separate claim in respect of the same subject-matter. Held: It need not be an abuse of the court for a shareholder to seek damages against advisers to … Continue reading Johnson v Gore Wood and Co: HL 14 Dec 2000
The court was asked whether the employment tribunal had been correct, after finding that the appellant had been unfairly dismissed, to order her reinstatement. She had worked as a fingerprint officer, but her reinstatement was to be on terms that she should not attend court in her role. The court was now asked whether an … Continue reading McBride v Scottish Police Authority (Scotland): SC 15 Jun 2016
The parties had settled an earlier employment dispute on the basis that the employer would not make an statement adverse to the claimant. He said that their reporting him to the Independent Safeguarding Authority was a breach of that agreement leaving him not bound by the compromise. Bean LJ [2015] EWCA Civ 1596 Bailii Unfair … Continue reading Zinda v Ark School: CA 28 Jul 2015
The parties contracted for the supply of material to be used in the manufacture of drinks. The material was to be supplied according to a recognised British Standard. Held: The use of the British Standard of itself was not sufficient to imply any warranty of satisfactory quality or fitness for purpose upon which a purchaser … Continue reading Messer UK Ltd and Another v Britvic Soft Drinks Ltd and others: CA 30 Apr 2002
The appellant entered into two aircraft leasing agreements but were unable to maintain payments. They appealed against rejection of their argument that the agreements were not exempt from the controls under the 1977 Act by being international supply agreements. Held: The appeal failed. The intention of section 26 was to exclude such agreements entirely from … Continue reading Trident Turboprop (Dublin) Ltd v First Flight Couriers Ltd: CA 2 Apr 2009
The parties disputed whether the inclusion of length of service within a selection matrix for redundancy purposes would amount to unlawful age discrimination. The court was asked whether it was correct to make a declaratory judgment when the case had otherwise been effectively settled. Held: With considerable misgivings, the court agreed to hear the appeal. … Continue reading Rolls-Royce plc v Unite the Union: CA 14 May 2009
Same Sex Partner Entitled to tenancy Succession The protected tenant had died. His same-sex partner sought a statutory inheritance of the tenancy. Held: His appeal succeeded. The Fitzpatrick case referred to the position before the 1998 Act: ‘Discriminatory law undermines the rule of law because it is the antithesis of fairness. It brings the law … Continue reading Ghaidan v Godin-Mendoza: HL 21 Jun 2004
The claimant sought equal pay with other, male, warehouse operatives who were doing work of equal value but for more money. The Court of Appeal had held that since other men were also employed on the same terms both as to pay and work, her claim failed. Held: The claim was not disbarred in this … Continue reading Pickstone v Freemans Plc: HL 30 Jun 1988
The House was asked whether a failure by a lessor to keep strictly to the timetable laid down in a rent review clause in a lease necessarily deprived the lessor of the benefit of the rent review. Held: A stipulation as to time in an option clause will normally be of the essence. The grantor … Continue reading United Scientific Holdings v Burnley Borough Council: HL 1978
Account taken of circumstances wihout ambiguity The respondent gave advice on home income plans. The individual claimants had assigned their initial claims to the scheme, but later sought also to have their mortgages in favour of the respondent set aside. Held: Investors having once assigned their causes of action to the ICS, could not later … Continue reading Investors Compensation Scheme Ltd v West Bromwich Building Society: HL 19 Jun 1997
The parties had contracted for the sale of land. The purchaser secured the rescinding of the contract for innocent misrepresentation. A notice of a relevant planning application had not been passed on by the seller’s solicitors. The seller appealed saying that the judge had been wrong to find that condition 7.1.3 of the Standard Conditions … Continue reading Cleaver and Others v Schyde Investments Ltd: CA 29 Jul 2011
B had been dismissed for allegedly being involved with a number of other employees in acts of dishonesty relating to staff purchases. She had denied the abuse. The tribunal had found the dismissal unfair in the methods used to decide to dismiss her. Held: The company’s appeal was allowed. The store had reasonable grounds for … Continue reading British Home Stores Ltd v Burchell: EAT 1978
The claimants had been employed by a local authority and then transferred to the respondents. They had had the benefit that their terms of employment were subject to collective agreement. The respondent was not part of the negotiation of later . .
The Chagos Islands had been a British dependent territory since 1814. The British government repatriated the islanders in the 1960s, and the Ilois now sought damages for their wrongful displacement, misfeasance, deceit, negligence and to establish a . .
The plaintiffs appealed against refusal of an interlocutory injunction restraining the Defendants, ‘Mercury’ from withdrawing from Zockoll the use of a particular telephone number, 0500 354448. Immediately upon that Order being made, Mercury . .
References: [2008] EWHC 1186 (Comm) Links: Bailii Coram: Gloster J Gloster J said: ‘terms which simply define the basis upon which services will be rendered and confirm the basis upon which parties are transacting business are not subject to section 2 of UCTA. Otherwise, every contract which contains contractual terms defining the extent of each … Continue reading JP Morgan Chase Bank and others v Springwell Navigation Corporation; Comc 27 May 2008
