ECJ The court considered the measure of compensation in a successful claim for sex discrimination arising from the health authority’s provision of an earlier compulsory retirement age for women compared with that for men in the same employment. The health authority paid her the maximum sum of pounds 6,250 which was then permitted as compensation … Continue reading M H Marshall v Southampton And South West Hampshire Area Health Authority (Teaching): ECJ 26 Feb 1986
The court considered the compatibility with EU law of regulations 21 and 24 of the 2006 Regulations, and the legality at common law of the appellant’s administrative detention from 3 April until 6 June 2012 and of bail restrictions thereafter until 2 January 2013. The regulations were designed to give effect to the Citizens Directive … Continue reading Nouazli, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 20 Apr 2016
ECJ Member States – Obligations – Exercise of residual powers in the field of the registration of vessels – Compliance with Community law. Free movement of persons – Freedom of establishment – Registration of a fishing vessel in a Member State – Conditions relating to the nationality, residence and domicile of the owners, charterers and … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Transport, ex parte Factortame: ECJ 25 Jul 1991
The department complained that the defendants had entered into a transaction with their farm at an undervalue so as to defeat its claim for recovery of sums due. The transaction used the grant of a tenancy by the first chargee. Held: The farmers’ appeal as to the farm transaction failed: ‘beyond argument that DEFRA was … Continue reading Feakins and Another v Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Civ 1513): CA 9 Dec 2005
(Newfoundland) A treaty, which does not terminate a state of war, has no legal effect upon the rights and duties of the subjects of the Crown and speaking generally no power resides in the Crown to compel them to obey the provisions of a treaty, or to expel them without supporting legislative authority. Judges: Watson, … Continue reading Walker v Baird and Another: PC 4 Aug 1892
ECJ It would be incompatible with the binding effect which article 189 of the EEC treaty ascribes to directives to exclude in principle the possibility of the obligation imposed by it being relied upon by persons concerned. Particularly in cases in which the community authorities have, by means of a directive, placed member states under … Continue reading Becker v Finanzamt Muenster-Innenstadt: ECJ 19 Jan 1982
The claimants sought to assert their rights under the Equal Treatment Directive, whoch had not been implemented. She had been made to retire at 60, but said that had she been a man she would not have had to retire until she reached 65 years old. She had succeeded at the Industrial Tribunal, but failed … Continue reading Doughty v Rolls Royce Plc: CA 19 Dec 1991
The maritime law administered by Courts of Admiralty in England and Scotland is the same, and the doctrine of maritime lien for damages is part of that law. In order that a maritime lien should attach to a ship for damages done to another, some act of navigation of the ship itself must either mediately … Continue reading Currie v M’Knight: HL 16 Nov 1896
The complainant company manufactured lawful TV decoders. It complained that Spain applied a requirement for prior approval before they could be used in Spain. They complained that the system operated to restrict the free movement of goods within the Community. Held: The scheme did infringe the right of free movement of goods, but the court … Continue reading Canal Satelite Digital SL v Adminstracion General del Estado, and Distribuidora de Television Digital SA (DTS): ECJ 22 Jan 2002
ECJ 1. Agriculture – common organization of the market – sugar – sale – maximum prices – unilateral fixing by a member state – prohibition (regulation no 1009/67 of the council) 2. Quantitative restrictions – measures having equivalent effect – concept (EEC treaty, article 30) 3. Agriculture – common organization of the market – sugar … Continue reading Riccardo Tasca: ECJ 26 Feb 1976
ECJ The right of nationals of a member state to enter the territory of another member state and reside there is a right conferred directly, on any person falling within the scope of community law, by the Treaty, especially articles 48, 52 and 59 or where appropriate, by the provisions adopted.For its implementation, independently of … Continue reading Royer v Belgium: ECJ 8 Apr 1976
ECJ Judgment – Interpretation of Articles 48 and 52 of the EEC Treaty (subsequently Articles 48 and 52 of the EC Treaty, now, after amendment, Articles 39 EC and 43 EC), Article 67 of the EEC Treaty (subsequently Article 67 of the EC Treaty, repealed by the Treaty of Amsterdam), Articles 6 and 8a of … Continue reading The heirs of H Barbier v Inspecteur van de Belastingdienst Particulieren/Ondernemingen buitenland te Heerlen: ECJ 11 Dec 2003
The claimant company said that the 2010 Act was outside the competence of the Scottish Parliament insofar as it severely restricted the capacity of those selling cigarettes to display them for sale. They suggested two faults. First, that the subject matters were reserved to the UK Parliament under the 1998 Act. Second that the Act … Continue reading Imperial Tobacco Ltd v The Lord Advocate: SC 12 Dec 2012
ECJ Actions for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Measures of direct and individual concern to them – Regulation concerning the registration of geographical indications and designations of origin under the procedure provided for in Article 17 of Regulation No 2081/92 – Action brought by producers of `tourons’ – Inadmissible (EC Treaty, Arts 173, … Continue reading Biscuiterie confiserie LOR and Confiserie du Tech v Commission: ECFI 26 Mar 1999
ECJ 1 A claim in an action for annulment that the Commission should be required to adopt appropriate measures to comply with its obligations under Article 176 of the Treaty is inadmissible. While it is for the institution concerned, under that provision, to adopt the measures required to give effect to a judgment delivered in … Continue reading IECC v Commission T-133/95: ECFI 16 Sep 1998
ECJ 1 A claim in an action for annulment that the Commission should be required to adopt appropriate measures to comply with its obligations under Article 176 of the Treaty is inadmissible. While it is for the institution concerned, under that provision, to adopt the measures required to give effect to a judgment delivered in … Continue reading IECC v Commission T-110/95: ECFI 16 Sep 1998
ECFI 1. The Community judicature manifestly has no jurisdiction to issue directions to the Community institutions, to the Member States or to natural or legal persons or to give a ruling, on the initiative of a natural or legal person, on the compatibility of a Member State’ s or a natural or legal person’ s … Continue reading Koelman v Commission: ECFI 9 Jan 1996
(Judgment) In the context of intervention measures in the beef and veal sector, and in particular of the system of buying-in by tendering procedures, Article 9(1) of Regulation No 859/89 provides that tenderers must undertake to comply with all the relevant provisions and Article 9(2) that interested parties may submit one tender only per category … Continue reading United Kingdom v Commission C-209/96: ECJ 1 Oct 1998
An excise duty which is charged on electricity of domestic origin at rates which vary according to its method of production, while being levied on imported electricity at a flat rate which is higher than the lowest rate but lower than the highest rate applicable to electricity of domestic origin, constitutes internal taxation within the … Continue reading Proceedings brought by Outokumpu Oy: ECJ 2 Apr 1998
ECJ Directive 75/442 on waste, as amended by Directive 91/156, and Regulation No 259/93 on the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community cannot be interpreted as meaning that the principles of self-sufficiency and proximity are applicable to shipments of waste for recovery. That follows from the … Continue reading Chemische Afvalstoffen Dusseldorp and others v Minister van Volkshuisvesting, Ruimtelijke Ordening en Milieubeheer: ECJ 25 Jun 1998
(Judgment) 1. The need to provide an interpretation of Community law which will be of use to the national court makes it necessary for the latter to define the factual and legislative context of the questions submitted or, at the very least, explain the factual circumstances on which those questions are based. The information provided … Continue reading Criminal proceedings against Gallotti and others: ECJ 12 Sep 1996
ECJ 1. Although a directive may not of itself impose obligations on an individual and cannot therefore be relied upon as such against him, the national court which applies national law and is required to interpret it must as far as possible do so, whether the provisions in question were adopted before or after the … Continue reading MPA Pharma v Rhone-Poulenc Pharma GmbH: ECJ 11 Jul 1996
1. Under the procedure provided for by Article 177 of the Treaty, it is for the national court to assess the scope of national provisions and the manner in which they are to be applied. Since the national court is best placed to assess, in view of the particularities of the case, the need for … Continue reading CIA Security International v Signalson and Securitel: ECJ 30 Apr 1996
ECJ (Judgment) 1. Pursuant to the division of judicial functions between national courts and the Court of Justice provided for by Article 177 of the Treaty, the Court gives preliminary rulings where the questions referred concern the interpretation of a provision of Community law without, in principle, having to look into the circumstances in which … Continue reading Associazione Italiana per il WWF and others C-118/94: ECJ 7 Mar 1996
ECJ 1. Although a directive may not of itself impose obligations on an individual and cannot therefore be relied upon as such against him, the national court which applies national law and is required to interpret it must as far as possible do so, whether the provisions in question were adopted before or after the … Continue reading Eurim-Pharm Arzneimittel v Beiersdorf and others: ECJ 11 Jul 1996
Europa In exercising its powers under Articles 155 and 169 of the Treaty, the Commission, when bringing an action for failure to comply with obligations under the Treaty, does not have to show that there is a specific interest in bringing the action. Article 169 is not intended to protect the Commission’ s own rights. … Continue reading Commission v Germany: ECJ 11 Aug 1995
Europa Failure to fulfil obligations – Directives concerning breeding animals of the porcine species, sheep and goats – Failure to transpose. Mere administrative practices, which by their nature are alterable at will by the authorities and are not given the appropriate publicity, cannot be regarded as constituting proper fulfilment of the obligations incumbent on the … Continue reading Commission of the European Communities v Ireland (Rec 1993,p I-7055) (Judgment): ECJ 22 Dec 1993
ECJ 1. In proceedings under Article 169 of the Treaty, it is for the Commission to judge at what time it will bring an action for failure to fulfil obligations; the considerations which determine its choice of time cannot affect the admissibility of the action. That being so, the fact that no action was taken … Continue reading Commission v Germany (Rec 1994,p I-2039) (Judgment): ECJ 1 Jun 1994
Acts of the institutions – Statement of reasons – Obligation – Scope – Commission decision reducing the assistance granted by the European Social Fund to a vocational training programme (EEC Treaty, Art. 190) Whilst in the context of the original application for assistance from the European Social Fund, a summary statement of the reasons for … Continue reading Cipeke v Commission: ECJ 4 Jun 1992
Europa 1. It follows from the very wording of Article 235 of the Treaty that its use as the legal basis for a measure is justified only where no other provision of the Treaty gives the Community institutions the necessary power to adopt the measure in question. 2. Article 128 of the Treaty must be … Continue reading United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, French Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany v Council of the European Communities (Judgment): ECJ 11 Jun 1991
Municipal courts have not and cannot have the competence to adjudicate upon or to enforce the rights arising out of transactions entered into by independent sovereign states between themselves on the plane of international law.(Cape of Good Hope) Judges: Lord Halsbury LC Citations: [1899] AC 572, [1899] UKPC 61 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales … Continue reading Thomas Cook and James Charles Cook v Sir James Gordon Sprigg: PC 1 Aug 1899
1. Although the powers conferred on the Commission by Article 90(3) of the Treaty operate in a specific field of application and under conditions defined by reference to the particular objective of that article, that does not prevent the ‘directives’ and ‘decisions’ referred to in that provision from falling within the general category of directives … Continue reading Commission v Greece: ECJ 30 Jun 1988
The principles of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights must be taken into consideration in community law. The principle of effective judicial control laid down in article 6 of Council Directive 76/207, a principle which underlies the constitutional traditions common to the member states and which is laid down in articles 6 … Continue reading Johnston v Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary: ECJ 15 May 1986
Europa It is essential that each member state should implement directives in a way which fully meets the requirements of clarity and certainty in legal situations which directives seek for the benefit of traders established in other member states. Mere administrative practices, which by their nature can be changed as and when the authorities please … Continue reading Commission of the European Communities v Kingdom of Belgium: ECJ 6 May 1980
Europa It would be incompatible with the binding effect attributed to decisions by article 189 to exclude in principle the possibility that persons affected may invoke the obligation imposed by a decision. Particularly in cases where, for example, the community authorities have by means of a decision imposed an obligation in a member state or … Continue reading Franz Grad v Finanzamt Traunstein. (Measures Adopted By An Institution ): ECJ 6 Oct 1970
Europa Measures adopted by an institution – proceedings instituted by individuals – regulation – possibility of measures of individual concern contained in a regulation (EEC treaty, article 173, second paragraph, article 189, second paragraph) 2. Measures adopted by an institution – proceedings instituted by individuals – provisions of regional significance, not of individual concern to … Continue reading Industria Molitoria Imolese and others v Council of the European Communities (Judgment): ECJ 13 Mar 1968
Europa Measures adopted by an institution – regulation – concept (EEC treaty, article 189). A measure which is applicable to objectively determined situations and which involves legal consequences for categories of persons viewed in a general and abstract manner constitutes a regulation. Cf. Paragraph 3, summary, joined cases 16 and 17/62, (1962) ECR 471. A … Continue reading Zuckerfabrik Watenstedt GmbH v Council of the European Communities (Judgment): ECJ 11 Jul 1968
Europa Individual measure adopted by an institution – authentic text (EEC treaty, article 189) 2. Policy of the EEC – rules on competition applicable to undertakings – application of article 85 of the EEC treaty – proceedings before the commission – prior notification of the parties concerned – purpose 3. Policy of the EEC – … Continue reading Etablissements Consten S a R L and Grundig-Verkaufs-GmbH v Commission of the European Economic Community: ECJ 13 Jul 1966
Different tax treatment of insurance products according to whether company offering them was based in the member country or another was unlawful breach of Treaty. Citations: Times 01-May-1998, C-118/96, [1998] EUECJ C-118/96 Links: Bailii Statutes: ECTreaty Art 59 Jurisdiction: European Cited by: Cited – Nouazli, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for … Continue reading Safir v Skattemyndigheten I Dajarnas Lan: ECJ 1 May 1998
A payment of a lump sum to female workers taking maternity leave so as to offset occupational disadvantage from the taking of that leave was not an infringement of equal pay provisions. The claim was that the payment went beyond making allowance for physical differences accompanying maternity to recompense for social disadvantage was equally felt … Continue reading Abdoulaya and Others v Regie Nationale Des Usines Renault SA: ECJ 20 Oct 1999
The wording in the directive regarding the ‘traditional practice of bathing by large numbers’ is precise, and the UK must implement it. Europa 1. Acts of the institutions – Directives – Implementation by the Member States – Information given to the Commission concerning planned measures – Obligation of the Commission to react within a specific … Continue reading Commission of the European Community v United Kingdom: ECJ 24 Aug 1993
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
Europa 1. Measures adopted by an institution – decision addressed to all member states – interpretation – criteria – consideration of different language versions of the measure in question (EEC treaty, article 189) 2. Community law – general principles – fundamental human rights included – respect for these ensured by the court. 1. When a … Continue reading Erich Stauder v City of Ulm – Sozialamt (Judgment): ECJ 12 Nov 1969
Europa Measures adopted by an institution – decision – concept (EEC treaty, article 189) 2. Policy of the EEC – rules on competition applicable to undertakings – infringements – fines – exemption – refusal by the commission – procedure to be followed before giving a refusal – statement of reasons (EEC treaty, articles 85, 86; … Continue reading Societe anonyme Cimenteries C B R Cementsbedrijven N V and others v Commission of the European Economic Community (Judgment): ECJ 15 Mar 1967
LMA Art.177[Art.234] EC proceedings – Ms Van Colson had applied for a job with the prison service and Ms Harz had applied for a job with a private company Deutsche Tradex GmbH. Both had been rejected. The German court found that they had been rejected on grounds of sex and that the rejection had not … Continue reading von Colson and Kamann v Land Nordrhein-Westfalen: ECJ 10 Apr 1984
Article 50 Notice Requires Parliament’s Authority The applicant challenged a decision by the respondent that he could use Crown prerogative powers to issue a notice under section 50 TUE to initiate the United Kingdom leaving the EU following the referendum under the 2015 Act. Held: Once the notice had been given, it was irrevocable. Consultation … Continue reading Miller and Dos Santos v The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union and Others: QBD 13 Nov 2016
The parties had arbitrated their dispute in London under a bilateral investment treaty between the US and Ecuador. The republic sought to appeal the arbitration. The applicant now appealed an order that the English High Court had jurisdiction to hear the appeal. Held: The appeal was dismissed. The treaty was intended to encourage bilateral trading … Continue reading Occidental Exploration and Production Company vRepublic of Ecuador: CA 9 Sep 2005
(First Division, Inner House) The reclaimer challenged dismissal of her claim for review of the recent decision for the prorogation of the Parliament at Westminster. Held: Reclaim was granted. The absence of reasons allowed the court to infer that the reason for the prorogation was unlawful.‘It was the role of the courts to protect Parliament. … Continue reading Cherry, Reclaiming Motion By Joanna Cherry QC MP and Others v The Advocate General: SCS 11 Sep 2019
ECJ 1. Where, under the procedure provided for by Article 177 of the Treaty, questions are formulated imprecisely, the Court may extract from all the information provided by the national court and from the documents concerning the main proceedings the points of Community law needing to be interpreted, having regard to the subject-matter of the … Continue reading Criminal proceedings against Arcaro: ECJ 26 Sep 1996
Extension oh Human Rights Beyond Borders The appellants complained that the system set up by the respondent where Home Office officers were placed in Prague airport to pre-vet applicants for asylum from Romania were dsicriminatory in that substantially more gypsies were refused entry than others, and that it was contrary to the obligations of the … Continue reading Regina v Immigration Officer at Prague Airport and another, ex parte European Roma Rights Centre and others: HL 9 Dec 2004
Sympathetic construction of national legislation LMA OVIEDO sought a declaration that the contracts setting up Commercial International were void (a nullity) since they had been drawn up in order to defraud creditors. Commercial International relied on an EC Directive designed to protect companies and third parties from the adverse effects of the doctrine of nullity. … Continue reading Marleasing SA v La Comercial Internacional de Alimentacion SA: ECJ 13 Nov 1990
Wherever the provisions of a directive appear, as far as their subject-matter is concerned, to be unconditional and sufficiently precise, those provisions may be relied upon by an individual against the state where that state fails to implement the directive in national law by the end of the period prescribed or where it fails to … Continue reading Criminal Proceedings Against Kolpinghuis Nijmegen Bv: ECJ 8 Oct 1987
A defendant sought to deny liability under a document relying on the 1677 Statute. the relevant document had been drawn up by a duly authorised agent of the Defendants. The document was a letter from the Plaintiff and the words ‘Messrs Hoare, Marr . .
The claimant alleged complicity by the defendant, (now former) Foreign Secretary, in his mistreatment by the US while held in Libya. He also alleged involvement in his unlawful abduction and removal to Libya, from which had had fled for political persecution. The defendants now appealed from rejection of the defendants’ claim to state immunity and … Continue reading Belhaj and Another v Straw and Others: SC 17 Jan 2017
The 1956 Act implemented as part of the domestic law the treaty obligations of the United Kingdom under the International Convention Relating to the Arrest of Seagoing Ships signed at Brussels on 10 May 1952 (the Arrest Convention). Held: The fundamental rule for the arrest of a ship under the provisions of the Arrest Convention … Continue reading The Eschersheim; The Jade: HL 1976
This appeal concerns the meaning and effect of the phrase ‘Customs Debt’ in article 221(4) of the former Customs Code of the EU, contained in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92. Customs duties may be due under ‘post-clearance demands’ and the Court now considered the time limits for such demands. The tax payer imported garlic, saying … Continue reading FMX Food Merchants Import Export Co Ltd v Revenue and Customs: SC 29 Jan 2020
The plaintiff’s was the highest bid for premises at an auction. The auctioneer used a borrowed form for sale by private treaty, though some clauses were inappropriate. A solicitor present edited the document and put in the date for completion. The auctioneer put in the vendor’s initials and surname (‘W.E.Stocks’). After the bidding, the auctioneer … Continue reading Leeman v Stocks: 1951
‘The central question in these three appeals is whether the setting of default multilateral interchange fees (‘MIFs’) within the MasterCard and Visa payment card systems contravenes article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union 2012/C326/01 (the ‘TFEU’).[1] Article 101(1) provides that agreements between undertakings which may affect trade between Member States … Continue reading Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd v Mastercard Incorporated and Others: CA 4 Jul 2018
The claimant sought damages for the losses it had suffered as a result of price fixing by the defendant companies in the vitamin market. The European Commission had already fined the defendant for its involvement. Held: In an action for breach of statutory duty the court can in appropriate circumstances make a restitutionary award, that … Continue reading Devenish Nutrition Ltd and others v Sanofi-Aventis SA (France) and others: ChD 19 Oct 2007
The claimant appellant alleged that properties she owned were transferred to the first defendant under undue influence or other unconscionable conduct by the second and third defendants. The claim was dismissed. Three years later she claimed to set that judgment aside having been obtained by fraud. To support the allegation she brought evidence not available … Continue reading Takhar v Gracefield Developments Ltd and Others: SC 20 Mar 2019
These proceedings raise, for the first time in the courts of the United Kingdom, the question how the concepts of sufficiency and infringement are to be applied to a patent relating to a specified medical use of a known pharmaceutical compound. Four issues arose: (i) the construction of the claims (in particular, Claim 3 as … Continue reading Warner-Lambert Company Llc v Generics (UK) Ltd (T/A Mylan) and Another: SC 14 Nov 2018
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
The claimant newspapers complained of the spidering of the web-sites and redistribution of the materials collected by the defendants to its subscribers. The defendants including the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA) denied that they needed a licence for the purpose. Held: The members of PRCA required licences from the claimants in order lawfully to receive … Continue reading The Newspaper Licensing Agency Ltd and Others v Meltwater Holding Bv and Others: ChD 26 Nov 2010
LRA Beneficial Interests, Trusts and Restrictions : Restrictions Where No Beneficial Interest Dismemberment of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; entry of restrictions; lex situs; private domestic law of England and Wales; occupation of property by a member of the Serbian diplomatic mission; principle of justiciability; ‘sufficient interest’; ‘right or claim’; Agreement on Succession Issues … Continue reading The Republic of Croatia v The Republic of Serbia: LRA 2 Jul 2009
The defendants sought to set aside orders allowing the claimants to serve proceedings alleging repudiation of a charterparty in turn allowing a claim against the defendants under a guarantee. The defendant said the guarantee was unenforceable under the 1677 Act not being in writing and signed. Held: There was no limit to the number of … Continue reading Golden Ocean Group Ltd v Salgaocar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd and Another: ComC 21 Jan 2011
Necessity for Reference to ECJ Lord Denning said that the test for whether a question should be referred to the European Court of Justice is one of necessity, not desirability or convenience. There are cases where the point, if decided one way, would shorten the trial greatly. But if decided the other way, it would … Continue reading HP Bulmer Ltd and Another v J Bollinger Sa and others: CA 22 May 1974
The principal claimants sold the rights to take photographs of their wedding to a co-claimant magazine (OK). Persons acting on behalf of the defendants took unauthorised photographs which the defendants published. The claimants had retained joint copyright over the photographs and reserved a right to control publication of any particular photographs. In return they made … Continue reading Douglas and others v Hello! Ltd and others (No 3): CA 18 May 2005
Taxpayer companies challenged the way that the revenue restricted claims for group Corporation Tax relief for subsidiary companies in Europe. The issue was awaiting a decision of the European Court. The Revenue said that the claims now being made by other companies should proceed through the Commissioners who could implement European law directly. The taxpayers … Continue reading Autologic Holdings Plc and others v Commissioners of Inland Revenue: HL 28 Jul 2005
The parties disputed the trusts upon which three Gurdwaras (Sikh Temples) were held. The Court of Appeal had held that the issues underlying the dispute were to be found in matters of the faith of the Sikh parties, and had ordered a permanent stay. Held: The appeal was allowed. The matter was justiciable and should … Continue reading Shergill and Others v Khaira and Others: SC 11 Jun 2014
The plaintiffs tried to restrain the defendant from pursuing an action in the US courts claiming that the plaintiffs had acted together in an unlawful conspiracy to undermine the defendant’s business. Held: The action in the US were unlawful under the Sherman and Clayton acts, but were not unlawful in English law. The English courts … Continue reading British Airways Board v Laker Airways Limited: HL 1985
The respondent had issued bonds but in 2001 had declared a moratorium on paying them. The appellant hedge fund later bought the bonds, heavily discounted. Judgment was obtained in New York, which the appellants now sought to enforce against assets in the UK. They argued that the terms of issue waived state immunity. Held: The … Continue reading NML Capital Ltd v Argentina: SC 6 Jul 2011
The detainee appealed an order for extradition to the USA, saying that the offence (price-fixing) was not one known to English common law. The USA sought his extradition under the provisions of the Sherman Act. Held: It was not, and it would be wrong in principle to decide that it was: ‘The common law recognised … Continue reading Norris v United States of America and others: HL 12 Mar 2008
In a defamation action, issues arose as to two conflicting oil concessions which neighbouring states in the Arabian Gulf had granted over their territorial and offshore waters. The foreign relations of the United Kingdom and Iran were also involved in the dispute. The authorities concerning acts of state were reviewed for the purpose of a … Continue reading Buttes Gas and Oil Co v Hammer (No 3): HL 1981
EC has sole jurisdiction over old cartels Several claimants alleged that the defendant airway had been part of a cartel which had overcharged for freight services. The court now heard arguments about whether it had jurisdition to deal with claims which preceded the measures which had brought into force the EU competition rules. The cartel … Continue reading Emerald Supplies Ltd and Others v British Airways Plc: ChD 4 Oct 2017
The defendants sought leave to appeal out of time saying that their convictions had been under the 1984 Act which was later found to have been unenforceable for failure to comply with notification requirements under European law. The 1984 Act had had to be repealed and re-enacted in the 2010 Act. Held: Leave was refused. … Continue reading Regina v Budimir and Another: CACD 29 Jun 2010
The claimant had sought repayment of overpaid VAT, and the respondent resisted arguing that this would be an unjust enrichment. A reference to the European Court was sought.
Held: It was not possible to say that the House’s opinion was acte . .
The parties agreed that damages were payable in an action for restitution, but the sum depended upon to a calculation of interest. They disputed whether such interest should be calculated on a simple or compound basis. The company sought compound . .
Certain investment trust companies (ITCs) sought refunds of VAT paid on the supply of investment management services. EU law however clarified that they were not due. Refunds were restricted by the Commissioners both as to the amounts and limitation . .
The appellants had overpaid under a mistake of law very substantial sums in VAT over several years. The excess had been repaid, but with simple interest and not compound interest, which the now claimed (together with other taxpayers amounting to 17 . .
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