It is necessary to concentrate on the intrinsic justice of a particular case in the light of the overriding objective. ‘For the reasons which I have just given, I think that the question is whether the claim has no real prospect of succeeding at trial and that it has to be answered having regard to … Continue reading Purdy v Cambran: 17 Dec 1999
The claimant challenged a production order made by the magistrates in respect of journalists’ material. They complained that the application had used secret evidence not disclosed to it, and that the judge had not given adequate reasons to support the decision. The poice were investigating an offence under the 1989 Act. Held: It was common … Continue reading British Sky Broadcasting Ltd, Regina (on The Application of) v The Central Criminal Court and Another: Admn 21 Dec 2011
Application by Defendants to set aside a default judgment entered against them pursuant to CPR Part 12.10, by reason of the Defendant’s failure to acknowledge service within time. Judges: The Hon Mr Justice Morison Citations: [2001] EWHC 531 (Comm) Links: Bailii Statutes: Civil Procedure Rules 12.10 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Civil Procedure Rules Updated: 04 … Continue reading Smit International (Deutschland) Gmbh v Josef Mobius Baugesellschaft Gmbh and Co: ComC 7 Jun 2001
No Judicial Review of Decisions of Private Body Despite the wide range of its powers, the disciplinary committee of the Jockey Club remains a domestic tribunal. Judicial review is not available to a member. The relationship is in contract between the club and its member. Sir Thomas Bingham MR said: ‘No serious racecourse management, owner, … Continue reading Regina v Disciplinary Committee of the Jockey Club, ex parte Aga Khan: CA 4 Dec 1992
The defendant’s witness statement referred to a letter written to him by the defendant’s solicitor. The claimant appealed refusal of an order for its disclosure. Held: The appeal failed. The letter was protected by legal professional privilege, and its mention in a statement did not automatically amount to waiver of that privilege. The rules referred … Continue reading Expandable Ltd and Another v Rubin: CA 11 Feb 2008
The case had concluded. Offers of settlement had been made and the operative one included an offer on the interest payable. The court came to decide how the interest part of the offer was to be considered when assessing whether the judgment bettered the offer. It was noted that an offer on costs was to … Continue reading Ali Reza-Delta Transport Co Ltd v United Arab Shipping Co Sag: CA 17 Jun 2003
The claim had been settled before action, and costs only proceedings had been instigated. He appealed a decision as to the award of costs in that case. The question was whether the phrase ‘the proceedings which gave rise to the assessment proceedings’ referred to the only actual proceedings, the costs claim, or to the settled … Continue reading Crosbie v Munroe, Motor Insurer’s Bureau: CA 14 Mar 2003
Whether, where an Appellant’s Notice is filed with the Court of Appeal electronically in accordance with ‘Electronic Working Pilot Scheme’ introduced by Practice Direction 51O (‘PD 51O’), it may be filed at any time up to midnight on the last day of the permitted period or must, either generally or at least in the case … Continue reading Microsoft Ireland Operations Ltd and Others v JJH Enterprises Ltd (Re Electronic Filing of Appellant’s Notice): CA 11 Nov 2022
The police were conducting a major investigation into suspected awards of state honours in return for cash and associated events. The AG had obtained an order restraining the defendant and other media from reporting allegations that one person was said to have accused another of asking her to lie for him. It was said that … Continue reading HM Attorney General v British Broadcasting Corporation: CA 12 Mar 2007
Once a legal aid certificate is revoked the party is deemed by statute never to have had the benefit of a legal aid certificate. The rules relating to assessment of costs which applied when a party had legal aid did not therefore apply. An order however which has once been made cannot be varied subsequently … Continue reading Deg-Deutsche Investitions Und Entwicklungsgesellschaft Mbh v Koshy and Others: ChD 13 Jan 2000
The claimant was the subject of confidential reports prepared by the defendants which were leaked to newspapers causing him damage. He sought leave to amend his claim to add claims for breach of the Data Protection Act and for public misfeasance. Under the Civil Procedure Rules a new claim should be allowed if it is … Continue reading Lord Ashcroft v Attorney General and Department for International Development: QBD 31 May 2002
The defendant appealed a summary judgement on the claimant’s claim with respect to her alleged disclosure of details Miss Campbell’s private life. The claimant sought an action for account of profits for breach of the terms of a contract of service. The defendant claimed that a violent assault by the claimant on her was a … Continue reading Campbell v Frisbee: ChD 14 Mar 2002
Where a patentee sues for infringement and then discontinues his claim against the alleged infringer and consents to the revocation of his patent, he may yet require the alleged infringer to pay a substantial proportion of his costs if he can show that this situation came about because the alleged infringer had amended his defence … Continue reading Baird v Moule’s Patent Earth Closet Co Ltd: CA 3 Feb 1876
The parties had litigated the sale of land free of restrictive covenants. Held: The rule that a party was entilted to its costs of defending an action under the Act for the discharge of a covenant at least as far as was necessary for it to have been able to establish whether it was proper … Continue reading University of East London Higher Education Corporation v London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and others: ChD 14 Dec 2004
There had been proceedings as to the misuse of confidential information. X, a non-party, now sought disclosure of papers used in that case. The case had been settled by means of a Tomlin Schedule, and that, subject to further order, non-parties might not obtain documents on the court file. Held: The applicant X was entitled … Continue reading ABC Ltd v Y: ChD 6 Dec 2010
The parties had litigated the validity of a patent. Judges: Lord Neuberger MR, Aikens, Lewison LJJ Citations: [2011] EWCA Civ 1288 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Baird v Moule’s Patent Earth Closet Co Ltd CA 3-Feb-1876 Where a patentee sues for infringement and then discontinues his claim against the alleged infringer … Continue reading Fresenius Kabi Deutschland Gmbh and Others v Carefusion 303 Inc: CA 8 Nov 2011
The defendants appealed against a refusal to allow them to amend their pleadings. They wished to include allegations as to matters which were unknown to the journalist at the time of publication. Held: It is necessary for the defendants to establish that they had a duty to publish the article if they are to be … Continue reading Loutchansky v Times Newspapers Limited (No 2): CA 12 Mar 2001
At first instance the appellant had dishonestly assisted another party to defraud the respondent, and ordered payment of substantial damages. The defendant, non-resident, sought to appeal, and the respondent asked the court to order payment into court of the amount of the award, saying that the appellant did not otherwise have the assets within the … Continue reading Goldtrail Travel Ltd v Onur Air Tasimacilik As: SC 2 Aug 2017
E Was born with and still suffered severe learning difficulties. The court was asked as to the extent of his capacity to make decisions, and as to where he should live, with a family member, the carer or with the local authority, which had removed him from her care. As he had become an adult, … Continue reading G v E and Others: CoP 26 Mar 2010
An application had been made to set aside a possession order obtained by a social landlord and determined by a district judge who applied CPR3.1 (7), when setting the possession order aside. By the time the landlord’s appeal against that decision was heard, the decision in Forcelux was available and the circuit judge held that … Continue reading London Borough of Hackney v Findlay: CA 20 Jan 2011
SERVICE CHARGES -Costs before leasehold valuation tribunal – Whether payable under Lease – Effect of Paragraph 10(4) of Schedule 12 of Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 – Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 – jurisdiction of LVT’s – how it should be exercised – Significant imbalance in parties’ rights – Reasonableness of legal … Continue reading Canary Riverside Pte Ltd v Schilling and others: LT 16 Dec 2005
The parties had been involved in protracted litigation where a freezing order had been made to support a claim which was eventually dismissed. The claimant sought to have set aside an earlier order made ordering him to pay costs on failing to have the order discharged. Held: The order had been made under the former … Continue reading Deg-Deutsche Investitions – Undentwicklungs Gesellschaft Gmbh v Thomas Koshy: ChD 13 Dec 2004
The claimant journalist sought disclosure of papers acquired by the respondent in its conduct of enquiries into the charitable Mariam appeal. The Commission referred to an absolute exemption under section 32(2) of the 2000 Act, saying that the exemption continued until the papers were destroyed, or for 20 years under the 1958 Act. Held: The … Continue reading Kennedy v The Charity Commission: SC 26 Mar 2014
Three prisoners raised questions as to the circumstances in which the Parole Board is required to hold an oral hearing before making an adverse decision. One of the appeals (Osborn) concerned a determinate sentence prisoner who was released on licence but then recalled to custody. The other appeals (Booth and Reilly) were indeterminate sentence prisoners … Continue reading Osborn v The Parole Board: SC 9 Oct 2013
The court considered a contributory invalidity scheme: ‘today the general rule is that Article 6(1) does apply in the field of social insurance, including even welfare assistance . . State intervention is not sufficient to establish that Article 6(1) is inapplicable; other considerations argue in favour of the applicability of Article 6(1) in the instant … Continue reading Schuler-Zgraggen v Switzerland: ECHR 24 Jun 1993
The court was asked whether the applicant’s entitlement to a statutory sickness allowance, which was a contributory scheme but for which she had not registered due to illness, was a civil right within the meaning of article 6. Held: The applicant claimed a right ‘flowing from specific rules laid down by the legislation in force’ … Continue reading Feldbrugge v The Netherlands: ECHR 29 May 1986
The company’s pension scheme provided that the trustees were to form an opinion as to the employee’s ability or otherwise to work. The plaintiff sought payment of an ill-health pension under the Bank Pension Scheme. Held: A pension scheme trust is quite different from other trusts. Pension benefits are part of the consideration which an … Continue reading Mihlenstedt v Barclays Bank International: CA 1989
The council appealed against a decision that the crown court had jurisdiction to extend the time for appeal against refusal of a private hire vehicle licence. Held: The court did not have the jurisdiction it used: ‘The terms of the section 300 of the Public Health Act 1936 are, in my view clear. A fixed … Continue reading Stockton-On-Tees Borough Council v Latif: Admn 13 Feb 2009
Appeals were made against interlocutory injunctions for alleged trade mark infringement. Held: The court should hesitate about making a final decision for summary judgment without a trial, even where there is no obvious conflict of fact at the time of the application, where reasonable grounds exist for believing that a fuller investigation into the facts … Continue reading Doncaster Pharmaceuticals Group Ltd and Others v The Bolton Pharmaceutical Company 100 Ltd: CA 26 May 2006
The defendant in the main action sought a third party costs order. Judges: Morgan J Citations: [2008] EWHC 192 (Ch) Links: Bailii Statutes: Civil Procedure Rules 48.2 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Thomson v Berkhamsted Collegiate School QBD 2-Oct-2009 Costs were to be sought against third parties to the action. A pupil … Continue reading PR Records Ltd v Vinyl 2000 Limited and others: ChD 15 Jan 2008
The respondent brought in laws restricting marriages between persons subject to immigration control, requiring those seeking non Church of England marriages to first obtain a certificate from the defendant that the marriage was approved. The applicants said this was discriminatory and infringed their human rights. Held: Legislation which prevented marriages of convenience between aliens and … Continue reading Baiai and Others, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: Admn 10 Apr 2006
The claimant sought damages in negligence against solicitors who had advised the executors in an estate of which he was a beneficiary. He now sought to amend his claim to make a claim in his personal and in derivative capacities. Sums had been paid out of the estate which had defeated the inheritance rights of … Continue reading Roberts v Gill and Co and Another: CA 15 Jul 2008
Presumption in Favour of Open Proceedings There had been an unauthorised dissemination by the petitioner to third parties of the official shorthand writer’s notes of a nullity suit which had been heard in camera. An application was made for a committal for contempt. Held: The House equated the contempt to a breach of an injunction … Continue reading Scott v Scott: HL 5 May 1913
The defendants appealed convictions for contempt of court, on the basis of having wilfully interrupted the court. The respondent said that no appeal lay. Held: The statute was ambiguous, and ‘there can be no good reason why a person convicted under s.12 should not have a right of appeal against conviction as well as against … Continue reading Haw and Another v City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court: Admn 12 Dec 2007
The applicants complained that they had been made subject to non-derogating control orders as suspected terrorists, but that the failure to inform them of the allegations or evidence against them was unfair and infringed their human rights. The material was withheld in the interests of national security. Held: The failure to supply the defendants with … Continue reading Secretary of State for the Home Department v AF AN and AE (No 3): HL 10 Jun 2009
Application for disclosure against a non-party. Citations: [2006] EWHC 2756 (TCC) Links: Bailii Statutes: Supreme Court Act 1981 34, Civil Procedure Rules 1998 31.17 Litigation Practice, Civil Procedure Rules Updated: 08 July 2022; Ref: scu.246935
Action against animal rights protester for protection against alleged threats againt bio-medical research centre. Judges: Irwin J Citations: [2006] EWHC 2490 (QB) Links: Bailii Statutes: Civil Procedure Rules 19.6 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Boyle, Regina (On the Application of) v Haverhill Pub Watch and Others Admn 8-Oct-2009 The claimant had been … Continue reading Oxford University v Webb: QBD 13 Oct 2006
The parties had disputed payments for subcontracting work on a major project. The matter had been referred to arbitration, and the claimants now appealed refusal of leave to appeal the adjudicator’s award. Held: The dispute was complex and substantial. Nevertheless, the adjudicator ‘not only took the initiative in ascertaining the facts but also applied his … Continue reading Carillion Construction Ltd v Devonport Royal Dockyard Ltd: CA 16 Nov 2005
The claimant owned the copyright in several successful computer games. He had granted licenses for the use of the software, which licences were assigned to the defendants. Disputes arose as to the calculation of royalty payments, and the claimant sought to exercise his auditing rights. The defendant company in the US handled the accountancy for … Continue reading Sawyer v Atari Interactive Inc: ChD 1 Nov 2005
The Jockey had been disqualified from riding for five years for breaches of the club’s rules. He said the punishment was disproportionate in effectively preventing him working for a living. Held: The appeal failed, and the judge’s analysis was approved. Having entered the profession, the claimant must accept its rules. He had broken them. The … Continue reading Bradley v The Jockey Club: CA 12 Jul 2005
The defendants appealed against confiscation orders on the basis that in various ways, the Crown had failed to comply with procedural requirements. Held: The courts must remember the importance of such procedures in the fight against crime, and must not allow procedural or technical failures to defeat that purpose. Courts should rather look to see … Continue reading Sekhon, etc v Regina: CACD 16 Dec 2002
The defendant wished to make a claim against another party outside the jurisdiction and was granted permission to serve documents which were headed ‘defence and counterclaim’. The proposed defendant argued that such a document could be served in this way. Held: The defendant should apply to the court for leave to add the party outside … Continue reading Shahar v Tsitsekkos and others: ChD 17 Nov 2004
Mrs Nolan had been employed at a US airbase. When it closed, and she was made redundant, she complained that the appellant had not consulted properly on the redundancies. The US denied that it had responsibility to consult, and now appealed. Held: The appeal failed (Lord Carnworth dissenting). That the exact situation might not have … Continue reading The United States of America v Nolan: SC 21 Oct 2015
EAT This interlocutory appeal raises a point of general importance regarding Employment Tribunal practice where one Tribunal revisits and varies or alters an interlocutory order or direction made by an earlier Tribunal. We use the expression Tribunal to include a Chairman properly sitting alone.’ Held: Although it was open to an Employment Tribunal to make … Continue reading Goldman Sachs Services Ltd v Montali: EAT 19 Oct 2001
Claimants sought damages for personal injuries after immunisation with the MMR vaccine. Citations: [2001] EWCA Civ 2027 Links: Bailii Statutes: Civil Procedure Rules Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Davies v Eli Lilly and Co (Opren Litigation) CA 1987 The powers in the section together with the power to make orders for costs under … Continue reading Afrika and others v Cape Plc and others; X Y Z and Others v Schering health Care Ltd; Sayers and Others v Merck, Smithkline Beecham plc MMR/MR vaccine litigation: CA 21 Dec 2001
The court considered the circumstancs allowing a striking out. Held: Consideration should be given to the question whether striking out the claim or defence would be disproportionate and, except perhaps where striking it out would be plainly proportionate, the judge should give reasons why it was proportionate in the particular case. Only in a case … Continue reading Asiansky Television Plc and Another v Bayer-Rosin: CA 19 Nov 2001
The claimant sought to begin proceedings to renew his business tenancy, but the proceedings were issued in the wrong name. He sought to amend the proceedings to substitute the correct defendant, but that application was out of time. Held: Proceedings under the 1954 Act were not within the proceedings listed by CPR 19.5 since the … Continue reading Parsons and Another v George and Another: CA 13 Jul 2004
Nieces had fallen out over their aunt’s estate. One niece had been closer than the others, and despite not properly understanding what she was doing the deceased had made lifetime gifts to the niece who was now executor. She appealed a finding of having an obligation as executor to reinstate the estate despite not herself … Continue reading Jennings and Another v Cairns: CA 18 Nov 2003
The applicant had been sentenced to detention during Her Majesty’s Pleasure. He sought a judicial review of the Lord Chief Justice’s recommendation to the Home Secretary for the minimum term he was to serve. Held: In exercising this function, the LCJ was acting in a judicial capacity, and therefore his recommendation was not subject to … Continue reading Regina (on the Application of Dudson) v Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Lord Chief Justice: Admn 21 Nov 2003
The Claimant, a highly qualified lawyer in several foreign jurisdictions, only acquired a practising certificate in this country in 1998. He was a successful commercial lawyer practising as a sole practitioner in the City of London, but in his ‘spare time’ was working on a revision of the Merchant Shipping Acts. In that connection he … Continue reading Stockinger v Highdorn Co Ltd and Ors: SCCO 5 Apr 2001
The claimants claimed damages for the sale by the defendants in the UK of CD’s manufactured for sale only in the far East. The defendants challenged the right of a claimant phonographic society to have the right to sue on behalf of its members. Held: The right to issue representative actions varies with the nature … Continue reading Independiente Ltd and others v Music Trading On-Line (HK) Ltd and others: ChD 13 Mar 2003
The claimant in a defamation case appealed a decision to strike out his claim on the basis that it was an abuse of process, being intended to act as an harassment of the defendant, or to cause commercial embarrassment or undue cost. Held: Applying Broxton, the case was properly struck out. The test of abuse … Continue reading Wallis v Valentine and Others: CA 18 Jul 2002
The claimant succeeded in her action for personal injuries. She appealed against an order for costs in her favour on the standard basis, saying that it should have been on an indemnity basis. Judges: Schiemann, Tuckey, Jonathon Parker LJJ Citations: [2002] 3 All ER 263, [2002] EWCA Civ 398, [2002] PIQR 591, [2003] 1 WLR … Continue reading Huck v Robson: CA 21 Mar 2002
The case concerned the management of substantial multi-party actions, and in particular the form of costs orders. The claimants sought a payment of the ‘common costs’ element to be made payable as the appropriate relative common issues were resolved. Held: The purpose of the new rules was to clarify the sharing of the burden of … Continue reading Sayers and Others v Smith Kline Beecham plc and Others; X, Y, Z and Others v Schering Health Care Ltd and Others; Afrika and Others v Cape plc: CA 21 Dec 2001
Ms Halabi applied to annul her bankruptcy order, made for non payment of her rates. She applied within approximately 6 months of her adjudication. Her bankrupt estate was solvent but illiquid. She had not previously appreciated that she had sufficient equity in her property (over andpound;70k) to borrow sufficient to discharge her debt. Held: The … Continue reading Halabi v London Borough of Camden: ChD 14 Feb 2008
Judgment creditors obtained a garnishee order nisi, but the bank objected to the order being made absolute. The account was in Hong Kong, where there was a real danger, that the law would not relieve them of their obligation to the account holders to pay the balance to them, after satisfaction of the garnishee debt. … Continue reading Societe Eram Shipping Company Ltd v Compagnie International De Navigation and Others: CA 7 Aug 2001
Two foreign nationals with leave to remain in this country committed serious crimes. The Secretary of State ordered their deportation. Held: Where the deportation of a foreigner following a conviction here, would conflict with his human rights, the court had to assess whether the, first, the objective could be achieved by some alternative, less interfering, … Continue reading Samaroo and Sezek v Secretary of State for the Home Department: CA 17 Jul 2001
The court was asked whether a school was entitled to refuse to allow a Muslim girl to wear the niqab full face veil at school. The reasons were ‘first educational factors resulting from a teacher being unable to see the face of the girl with a niqab; second the importance of a uniform policy as … Continue reading X, Regina (on the Application of) v Y School: Admn 21 Feb 2007
The district auditor had issued a certificate under the 1982 Act surcharging the appellant councillors in the sum of 106,103, pounds being the amount of a loss incurred or deficiency caused, as the auditor found, by their wilful misconduct. Held: An aggrieved objector to local government spending should pursue his rights under the Act and … Continue reading Lloyd v McMahon: HL 12 Mar 1987
The court’s powers under the new CPR to deal with non-compliance with time limits, were wide enough to allow the court to allow re-instatement of an action previously struck out. The court could find alternative ways of dealing with any delay which could recompense the other party and seek to achieve justice as between the … Continue reading Biguzzi v Rank Leisure Plc: CA 26 Jul 1999
When looking at an application to strike out a claim, the normal ‘balance of probabilities’ standard of proof did not apply. It was the court’s task to assess whether, even if supplemented by evidence at trial, the claimant’s claim was bound to fail and even if unchallenged. The court could look to witness statements to … Continue reading The Royal Brompton Hospital National Health Service Trust v Hammond and Others (No 5): CA 11 Apr 2001
The applicant had been detained pending extradition to the United States on charges of fraud. He said the evidence would not have been sufficient to justify his committal for trial. Held: The Francis case did not establish that the 1984 Act did not apply to extradition procceedings, and they might also be admissible under the … Continue reading In Re Levin; Regina v Governor of Brixton Prison, Ex parte Levin: HL 10 Apr 1997
Wills J said: ‘All the common law statutes as to interpleader are now repealed and the right to that class of relief is regulated by Order LVII, by which the old practice of the Court of Chancery is modified’. Judges: Wills J Citations: (1886) 16 QBD 686 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – … Continue reading Reading v The London School Board: 1886
Especially given the new emphasis on proportionality, a party who brought contempt proceedings, in the case of an inadvertent breach of an injunction, with a view solely to creating costs for the other party, could expect to face those costs themselves. It was unwise to execute a complex search and seize order on a Saturday … Continue reading Adam Phones Ltd v Goldschmidt and Others: CA 17 Aug 1999
Appeal from Order joining party for purposes of third party costs order. Judges: Moore-Bick VP, Lewison, Simon LJJ Citations: [2016] EWCA Civ 23, [2016] CP Rep 17, [2016] 4 WLR 17, [2016] WLR(D) 25 Links: Bailii, WLRD Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Approved – Dymocks Franchise Systems (NSW) Pty Limited v Todd and Todd, Bilgola … Continue reading Deutsche Bank AG v Sebastian Holdings Inc and Another: CA 21 Jan 2016
The applicant sought to bring an action to challenge new rules on approval of export credit guarantees. The company was non-profit and founded to support investigation of bribery. It had applied for a protected costs order to support the application, and now appealed its refusal. Held: The court restated the practice on the making of … Continue reading Corner House Research, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry: CA 1 Mar 2005
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 was detained in a secure Mental Hospital. He complained at the seclusions policy applied by the hospital, saying that it departed from the Guidance issued for such policies by the Secretary of State under the Act. Held: The House allowed the Hospital’s appeal. The policy was lawful. Seclusion was to be seen as … Continue reading Regina v Ashworth Hospital Authority (Now Mersey Care National Health Service Trust) ex parte Munjaz: HL 13 Oct 2005
Application by the claimant for an interim payment pursuant to Part 25 of the Civil Procedure Rules in respect of its claim for damages against the defendant. The defendant opposes the application on the ground that the court can’t be satisfied that if the matter went to trial, Triuva would obtain judgment for a substantial … Continue reading Triuva Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaft v Galliford Try Construction Ltd: TCC 23 Feb 2017
A court has an inherent power to injunct a party not to institute or continue proceedings abroad, where they appear intended purely to harass another party in proceedings here. The two actions here were based upon the ‘same contractual relationship’ and concerned the ‘same subject matter’. This is not limited to cases of exclusive jurisdiction … Continue reading Turner v Grovit and others: CA 28 May 1999
It could be proper, when ordering for a third party to be joined in an action for judicial review, to order that the original party should not be responsible for the new party’s costs in any event. Such a power could be derived from the overriding objective, which required the court to take account of … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, ex parte O’Byrne: Admn 20 Aug 1999
Whilst litigants in person should be allowed the assistance of a McKenzie friend, the duties of the friend should not normally include representation and advocacy. Nevertheless, each case should be viewed separately, and applications for permission should be attended to, even if only granted in exceptional circumstances. The litigant should understand that this is an … Continue reading Izzo v Philip Ross and Co (a Firm): ChD 31 Jul 2001
Registered osteopath given conditional discharge for possession of offensive weapon in public place Judges: Lord Justice Underhill, (Vice-President of the Court of Appeal (Civil Division)), Lord Justice Stuart-Smith, And, Lord Justice Nugee Citations: [2021] EWCA Civ 1940, [2021] WLR(D) 636, [2022] 1 WLR 1626 Links: Bailii, WLRD, Judiciary Statutes: General Osteopathic Council (Professional Conduct Committee) … Continue reading Wray v General Osteopathic Council: CA 17 Dec 2021
The applicant sought a declaration that the defendant had acted in breach of the Act, in accepting sums by way of deposit, without being authorised, and had made prohibited statements to attract such deposits. Could a civil court make such a finding which would be equivalent to a finding of guilt of a criminal offence? … Continue reading Financial Services Authority v Rourke: ChD 19 Oct 2001
The appeal concerned a final third party debt order (formerly a garnishee order). A judgment in France was registered here for enforcement. That jurisdiction was now challenged. Held: A third party debt order is a proprietary remedy operating by attachment against the property of the judgment debtor. The property so attached is the chose in … Continue reading Societe Eram Shipping Company Limited and others v Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp Ltd, Compagnie Internationale de Navigation: HL 12 Jun 2003
An injunction was sought against a Panamanian ship-owning company to restrain it from disposing of a fund, consisting of insurance proceeds, in England. The claimant for the injunction was suing the company in a Cyprus court for damages and believed the company to have no other assets from which to meet the hoped-for damages award … Continue reading Siskina (owners of Cargo lately on Board) v Distos Compania Naviera SA: HL 1979
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
Standing to Claim under A1P1 ECHR The appellants had written employers’ liability insurance policies. They appealed against rejection of their challenge to the 2009 Act which provided that asymptomatic pleural plaques, pleural thickening and asbestosis should constitute actionable harm for the purposes of an action of damages for personal injury. Held: The insurers’ appeals failed. … Continue reading AXA General Insurance Ltd and Others v Lord Advocate and Others: SC 12 Oct 2011
The respondent had arrived and claimed asylum. Three claims were rejected, two of which were fraudulent. She had two children by a UK citizen, and if deported the result would be (the father being unsuitable) that the children would have to return with her. Held: The mother’s appeal succeeded. The court had to consider the … Continue reading ZH (Tanzania) v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 1 Feb 2011
The applicant was a solicitor employed by a company in Belgium. He later resigned claiming unfair dismissal, saying he had been pressed to become involved in unlawful activities. The defendants sought to challenge the jurisdiction of the English Tribunal system. The defendants had begun procedures in Spain for conciliation. The claimant had obtained an injunction … Continue reading Turner v Grovit and others: HL 13 Dec 2001
Strike out – Realistic Not Fanciful Chance Needed The proper test for whether an action should be struck out under the new Rules was whether it had a realistic as opposed to a fanciful prospect of success. There was no justification for further attempts to explain the meaning of what are clear words. The judge … Continue reading Swain v Hillman: CA 21 Oct 1999
The court was asked: ‘can the court proceed to validate a warrant of possession where a landlord who seeks to enforce his right to possession because of an alleged breach of the terms of a suspended possession order has not complied with CPR 83.2? ‘ Held: CPR r 83.2 were intended to provide real protection … Continue reading Cardiff County Council v Lee (Flowers): CA 19 Oct 2016
No collateral attack on Jury findigs. An attempt was made to open up in a civil action, allegations of assaults by the police prior to the making of confessions which had been disposed of in a voir dire in the course of a criminal trial. The plaintiffs had imprisoned having spent many years after conviction … Continue reading Hunter v Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police: HL 19 Nov 1981
ECJ (Order) Reference for a preliminary ruling – Article 53(2) of the Rules of Procedure of the Court – Judicial cooperation in civil matters – Regulation (EU) No 1259/2010 – Scope – Recognition of a private divorce pronounced by a religious court in a third country – Manifest lack of jurisdiction of the Court C-281/15, … Continue reading Sahyouni v Mamisch: ECJ 12 May 2016
The deceased had committed suicide in prison. His family felt that the risk should have been known to the prison authorities, and that they had failed to guard against that risk. The coroner had requested an explanatory note from the jury. Held: The jury should indeed have been given opportunity to explain their verdict: ‘By … Continue reading Middleton, Regina (on the Application of) v Coroner for the Western District of Somerset: HL 11 Mar 2004
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
The claimants sought a declaration as against the residuary beneficiaries (wife and daughter) under the will, saying that the claimants had a beneficial interest in company shares within the estate. The defendants fild acknowledgments of service but asserting expressly that they did not submit to the jurisdiction of the court. The claimants said that the … Continue reading Winkler and Another v Shamoon and Others: ChD 15 Feb 2016
The normal rules as to costs contained in the CPR should also be followed in probate actions save only that the judge should also take account of the guidance in the Spiers case, where an alternative costs order might be made if the testator or those interested in the residue had been the cause of … Continue reading In re Good, deceased; Carapeto v Good and Others: ChD 19 Apr 2002
The tenant had been secure but had his tenancy had been reduced to an insecure demoted tenancy after he was accused of anti-social behaviour. He had not himself been accused of any misbehaviour, but it was said that he should have controlled his family members. The county court had been unwilling to allow any challenge … Continue reading Manchester City Council v Pinnock: SC 3 Nov 2010
The three claimants had each been convicted of murders and served time. Their convictions had been reversed eventually, and they now appealed against the refusal of compensation for imprisonment, saying that there had been a miscarriage of justice. Held: The appeal of Adams was denied, but those of MacDermott and McCartney allowed (by majority). The … Continue reading Adams, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice: SC 11 May 2011
Short issue as to the requirements for valid ‘service’ of a completion notice so as to bring a newly completed building within liability for non-domestic rates. The notice had been served by email where no statutory authority existed for this. Held: The LA’s appeal succeeded. ‘Against the background of the detailed scheme established by or … Continue reading UKI (Kingsway) Ltd v Westminster City Council: SC 17 Dec 2018
A prison policy requiring prisoners not to be present when their property was searched and their mail was examined was unlawful. The policy had been introduced after failures in search procedures where officers had been intimidated by the presence of prisoners. Particularly when examining documents subject to legal professional privilege, the rules did not allow … Continue reading Regina (Daly) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: HL 23 May 2001
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
The claimants founded their action on the assertion that the defendants had been corrupt in obtaining contracts in India. The defendants argued that the English courts had no jurisdiction. The claimants held various small shareholdings in a company used as a vehicle for paying bribes, and sought return of the money paid. It was a … Continue reading Konamaneni v Rolls Royce Industrial Power (India) Limited: ChD 20 Dec 2001
Capacity for Litigation The claimant appealed against dismissal of his claims. He had earlier settled a claim for damages, but now sought to re-open it, and to claim in negligence against his former solicitors, saying that he had not had sufficient mental capacity at the time to accept the offer. Held: There is no definition … Continue reading Masterman-Lister v Brutton and Co, Jewell and Home Counties Dairies (No 1): CA 19 Dec 2002
The defendant objected to the introduction of certain evidence by the claimant under a Civil Evidence Act notice. Claimants seeking to adduce academic journals as expert evidence Arnold J [2013] EWHC 936 (Ch), [2013] WLR(D) 183 Bailii, WLRD Civil Procedure Rules 35 England and Wales Citing: See Also – Interflora Inc and Another v Marks … Continue reading Interflora Inc and Another v Marks and Spencer Plc and Another: ChD 15 Apr 2013
The claimants sought to issue election petitions to challenge the results of local elections. The petitioners had complied with all the rules save that they had failed to serve the notice of presentation within the five day period. The claimants argued that the Civil Procedure Rules took sway over the Election Rules, and that the … Continue reading Ullah and Others, Ahmed v Pagel, Scallan, Kennedy: CA 12 Dec 2002
The claimant company was licensed to carry out scientific research, including research on live animals. The defendant association and its members opposed such work as cruel. The claimant had obtained an injunction to restrain the defendants harrassing protests. They now sought additional orders to protect staff members. Held: The order had provided a structure within … Continue reading Huntingdon Life Sciences Group Plc and Another v Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC): QBD 15 Mar 2007
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 claimant issued proceedings requesting the court to return the summons to him for service. In error the court served direct. The defendant argued that the service error made the claim invalid, and in the circumstances out of time. The claimant appealed from a decision in the defendant’s favour. Held: The appeal succeeded. ‘the principal … Continue reading Stoute v LTA Operations Ltd (T/A Lawn Tennis Association): CA 15 May 2014
