VAT – Exemption – welfare services – item 9 group 7 sch 9 VATA 1994 – payroll service – whether ‘closely linked to welfare’ Citations: [2019] UKFTT 354 (TC) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales VAT Updated: 21 October 2022; Ref: scu.638527
Cross loans were made between an investment company and pension schemes. The overall effect was to create payments which could be set off against Corporation Tax. They were not a pre-ordained series of transactions where the underlying loans were genuine, and the payments were made in respect of a genuine accrual of interest. Citations: Times … Continue reading McNiven (Inspector of Taxes) v Westmoreland Investments Ltd: CA 26 Oct 1998
Where an action had been begun on basis of allegations of negligence and breach of trust, new allegations of fraud where quite separate new causes of claim, and went beyond amendments and were disallowed outside the relevant limitation period. Sections 23 and 36 and the absence of express statutory mention in the 1980 Act of … Continue reading Paragon Finance Plc (Formerly Known As National Home Loans Corporation Plc v D B Thakerar and Co (a Firm); Ranga and Co (a Firm) and Sterling Financial Services Limited: CA 21 Jul 1998
In a marriage settlement, the first defendant, a solicitor, advised the persons who were acting as trustees, though not yet formally appointed as such. He suggested a series improper of investments for the trust funds. The money was to be lent on speculative building, and the margin was unsatisfactory. The money was lost. Lord Herschell … Continue reading Mara v Browne: CA 17 Dec 1895
The company sought repayment of excess advance corporation tax payments made under a mistake of law. The question was the extent of the effect of the ruling in Klienwort Benson, in particular whether it covered sums paid as taxation, and how the law of limitation was to be allowed for. Held: Money paid under a … Continue reading Inland Revenue and Another v Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group Plc: CA 4 Feb 2005
The defendant denied that it had copied the plaintiff’s designs. Held: There was sufficient evidence of copying. It was wrong to dissect a work, but rather the court should look at the matter as a whole. Judges: Lawrence Collins QC Citations: [1998] EWHC Patents 349, [1998] FSR 803 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: … Continue reading Designers Guild Limited v Russell Williams (Textiles) Limited: PatC 14 Jan 1998
To protect her estate from Inheritance Tax, the deceased gave land to her solicitor, but then took back a lease. The solicitor then conveyed the land on freehold on to members of her family. Held: The lease-back by the nominee was not void as a grant of a lease to herself. Lord Hoffmann said: ‘whether … Continue reading Ingram and Another v Commissioners of Inland Revenue: HL 10 Dec 1998
The plaintiffs, with the leave of the court, had obtained garnishee and charging orders nisi against the debtor 11 and a half years after they had obtained a consent judgment. Held: An application by the judgment debtor to set aside the orders on the ground that they were statute barred under section 24(1) should be … Continue reading Lowsley and Another v Forbes (Trading As I E Design Services): HL 29 Jul 1998
A refusal in a non-criminal cause or matter by a Divisional Court of the Queen’s Bench Division or by a single judge to grant leave to apply for judicial review is appealable to the Court of Appeal. Judges: Lord Lane CJ and Sir John Donaldson M.R Citations: [1982] 1 W L R 1375 Jurisdiction: England … Continue reading Practice Direction of 2nd November 1982: CA 2 Nov 1982
The claimants wanted to bring actions in respect of various matters under shareholders agreements in complex international joint ventures. Leave was given to serve English proceedings in Malta, and the claim form and particulars of claim were faxed and emailed and delivered by hand at the registered offices of the company and at the private … Continue reading BAS Capital Funding Corporation, Deutsche Bank Ag London, Paine Webber Capital Inc, PW Exe Lp, Pw Partners 1999 Lp v Medfinco Limited, Abacus Holdings Limited, Andreas W Gerdes, HTC Inc, etc: ChD 25 Jul 2003
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
The bank had obtained a judgement against the defendant, and took a charging order. Nothing happened for more than twelve years, and the defendant now argued that the order and debt was discharged. Held: The enforcement of the charging order by normal means is not barred by section 20(1), and unlike the position under a … Continue reading Yorkshire Bank Finance Ltd v Mulhall and Another: CA 24 Oct 2008
Income Tax/Corporation Tax : Penalty – Corporation tax – company’s failure to notify chargeability to tax – late returns penalties under Schedule 41 Finance Act 2008 – Schedule 18 Finance Act 1998 – director’s loans – penalties under Sections 455 and 458 Corporation Tax Act 2010 – s 7(3) Schedule 4 – whether reasonable excuse … Continue reading Starflex Contractors Ltd v Revenue and Customs: FTTTx 9 Jan 2019
Paragraph 18 to Schedule 18 of the Finance Act 1998- Whether reasonable excuse for late return – No [2012] UKFTT 282 (TC) Bailii England and Wales Taxes Management Updated: 12 November 2021; Ref: scu.462717
Air System plant excluded from Rating value The court was asked whether the services provided by a specialised air handling system, used in connection with refrigerated merchandise in the appellant’s retail store, are ‘manufacturing operations or trade processes’ for rating purposes. Held: Iceland’s appeal was allowed and the decision of the First Tier Tribunal restored. … Continue reading Iceland Foods Ltd v Berry (Valuation Officer): SC 7 Mar 2018
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 company sought to recover damages from a director who had acted dishonestly, by concealing a financial interest in a different company which had made loans to the claimant company. He replied that the claim was out of time. At first instance the first defendant had been found dishonest through non-disclosure, and that section 21 … Continue reading DEG-Deutsche Investitions und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH v Koshy and Other (No 3); Gwembe Valley Development Co Ltd (in receivership) v Same (No 3): CA 28 Jul 2003
The defendant solicitors had each acted for banks in completing charges over property. They had given the standard agreed form of undertaking to secure a good and marketable title, and the banks now alleged that they were in breach because undisclosed covenants variously restricted future development of the land. Held: The standard solicitor’s undertaking to … Continue reading Barclays Bank Plc v Weeks Legg and Dean (a Firm); Barclays Bank Plc v Lougher and Others; Barclays Bank Plc v Hopkin John and Co: CA 21 May 1998
A party had applied to a judge for what in effect amounted to leave to appeal and had been refused. Held: Wherever power is given to a legal authority to grant or refuse leave to appeal, the decision of that authority is, from the very nature of the thing, final and conclusive and without appeal, … Continue reading In re Housing of the Working Classes Act 1890, Ex parte Stevenson: CA 1892
The court considered the extent of the House’s jurisdiction as an appellate court. Section 3 of the 1876 Act provided that an appeal should lie to the House of Lords from ‘any order or judgment of . . Her Majesty’s Court of Appeal in England’. The court of appeal had refused leave to appeal against … Continue reading Lane v Esdaile: HL 5 May 1891
The parties entered into a written contract for the sale of land which, in error, provided for completion on a Sunday. The parties varied the date to the Friday but did not execute a new contract which would comply with section 2(1) of the 1989 Act. Time was not initially of the essence of the … Continue reading McCausland and Another v Duncan Lawrie Ltd and Another: CA 18 Jun 1996
The appellant solicitor acted in a land transaction. The land was mortgaged to the respondent bank. She wrote to the bank stating her client’s intention to repay the whole loan. The letter was negligently mistaken and the bankers allowed the . .
The making of an order for restitution after finding an unjust enrichment by subrogation, is not dependant upon having found any common or unilateral intention of the parties. The House distinguished between contractual subrogation of the kind most . .
Several companies within a group paid VAT. Later the basis of charge to output VAT was revised, and a reclaim became due, but the VAT group had been dissolved. Could the appellant, former lead within the group now make the reclaim.
Held: . .
(Bermuda) An appeal Court did have jurisdiction to hear an appeal against the discharge of leave to apply for certiorari order, since this was outside scope of the rule in Lane v Esdaille.
Lord Hoffmann said: ‘Nevertheless, the limited nature . .
1267 – 1278 – 1285 – 1297 – 1361 – 1449 – 1491 – 1533 – 1677 – 1688 – 1689 – 1700 – 1706 – 1710 – 1730 – 1737 – 1738 – 1751 – 1774 – 1792 – 1793 – 1804 – 1814 – 1819 – 1824 – 1828 – 1831 – 1832 … Continue reading Acts
FTTTx Penalty – Late filing of company’s tax return – Whether return filed within three months of the due date – No – Appeal dismissed – Schedule 18 Finance Act 1998 Judges: Brooks TJ Citations: [2011] UKFTT 311 (TC) Links: Bailii Statutes: Finance Act 1998 Sch 18 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Taxes Management Updated: 17 … Continue reading GV Cox Ltd v Revenue and Customs: FTTTx 10 May 2011
The inspector had sought additional information from the company with respect to its tax returns, believing that the company had not provided sufficient information about the earnings of foreign controlled companies. They now challenged the ability of the commissioners, upheld at first instance to rule on a question of law. Held: Schedule 33 contained no … Continue reading HM Revenue and Customs v Vodafone 2: CA 28 Jul 2006
The taxpayer insurance company had transferred sums from accounts designated as Capital Reserves. The Revenue said that these were properly part of the profit and loss accounts for the respective tax years, and chargeable receipts. Held: The Revenue’s cross appeal succeeded. As a life assurance company, the amounts to be taken into account in computing … Continue reading Scottish Widows Plc v Revenue and Customs: SC 6 Jul 2011
The company wished to assign losses in its European subsidiaries against its profits. Since the losses were first claimed, the subsidiaries had gone into insolvent liquidation.
Held: Lord Hope said: ‘I would answer the first issue by rejecting . .
Penalties for failure to file company tax returns – Schedule 18 Finance Act 1998 – taxpayer relied on agent to file returns – unaware returns had not been filed – whether reasonable excuse – no – appeal dismissed Citations: [2019] UKFTT 535 (TC) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Corporation Tax Updated: 31 December 2022; … Continue reading Making Productions Ltd v Revenue and Customs (Corporation Tax – Penalties for Failure To File Company Tax Returns): FTTTx 14 Aug 2019
Schedule 18 Finance Act 1998 – successive failures to file company tax return – whether shortage of funds to pay agent reasonable excuse – no – whether proportionality to be taken into account by Tribunal – no – appeal dismissed Citations: [2012] UKFTT 99 (TC) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Corporation Tax Updated: 09 … Continue reading Torbensrichard Ltd v Revenue and Customs: FTTTx 31 Jan 2012
Solicitors were instructed by the bank to obtain the signature of a client and of his wife to a motgage. The deed was signed by the husband and a woman pretending to be the wife. Held: The court said that it was asked whether the bank intended to ask for, and whether the solicitors intended … Continue reading Midland Bank Plc v Cox McQueen (A Firm): CA 26 Jan 1999
Corporation Tax – group relief – claimant company resident in the United Kingdom – subsidiaries resident in other EU member states – whether making a claim for group relief implies the withdrawal of an earlier claim for group relief in respect of losses of companies resident in the United Kingdom – whether claim made in … Continue reading Linpac v Revenue and Customs (Income Tax/Corporation Tax : Exemptions and Reliefs): FTTTx 31 Jan 2020
Losses arose from the misvaluation of a company before its purchase. The respondent had funded the purchase, relying upon a valuation by the predecessor of the appellant firm of accountants. Further advances had been made when the true situation was revealed. Held: The accountants’ appeal succeeded. As a general rule ‘collateral benefits are those whose … Continue reading Lowick Rose Llp v Swynson Ltd and Another: SC 11 Apr 2017
The Society appealed dismissal for limitation of its claim against the defendant firm of accountants arising from alleged fraud in approval of a solicitor’s accounts. Held: The liability did not arise until the Society decided to make compensation to those who had been affected by the solicitor’s default. The claims in negligence were not time … Continue reading The Law Society v Sephton and Co and others: CA 13 Dec 2004
Partners Liable for Dishonest Act of Solicitor A solicitor had been alleged to have acted dishonestly, having assisted in a fraudulent breach of trust by drafting certain documents. Contributions to the damages were sought from his partners. Held: The acts complained of were so close to the activities which a solicitor would normally undertake, that … Continue reading Dubai Aluminium Company Limited v Salaam and Others: HL 5 Dec 2002
Bank not liable for fraud of customer The appellant sought to make the bank liable for a fraud committed by the Bank’s customer, the appellant saying that the Bank knew or ought to have known of the fraud. The court was asked whether a party liable only as a dishonest assistant was a trustee, and … Continue reading Williams v Central Bank of Nigeria: SC 19 Feb 2014
The appellants contracted through an agent to supply tyres. The respondents contracted not to do certain things, and in case of breach concluded: ‘We agree to pay to the Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company, Ltd. the sum of 5 l. for each and every tyre, cover or tube sold or offered in breach of this agreement, … Continue reading Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company Ltd v New Garage and Motor Company Ltd: HL 1 Jul 1914
EAT Four employees successfully established before the Employment Tribunal that they had been unfairly dismissed for redundancy. The Tribunal found that there had been procedural defects. In particular the assessments in the redundancy exercise had been inadequate and subjective. The Tribunal considered whether the dismissals were fair under section 98A(2) of the Employment Rights Act … Continue reading Software 2000 Ltd v Andrews etc: EAT 17 Jan 2007
The question arising was whether paragraph 55(2) of Schedule 8 to the Finance Act 1995, a reinsurance treaty entered into on 25 November 1994 by the taxpayer reinsurer with a non-resident cedant is, by virtue of the fact that policies of life assurance ceded by that treaty were issued before 1 November 1994, within the … Continue reading Barrett (HM Inspector of Taxes) v Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Ltd: CA 12 Jun 2003
An award of damages for misrepresentation required that there had at some time been a right of rescission, not necessarily a continuing right to rescind. An acknowledgement of non-reliance clause has become a common part of modern commercial contracts. An entire agreement clause limits the terms of the parties’ agreement to their written agreement and … Continue reading Thomas Witter v TBP Industries Ltd: ChD 15 Jul 1994
Penalty – Late filing of corporation tax return – Whether reasonable excuse on the facts – No – Appeal dismissed -paragraph 18 schedule 18 Finance Act 1998 Citations: [2011] UKFTT 248 (TC) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Corporation Tax Updated: 12 November 2022; Ref: scu.442978
The deceased had first conveyed property to her solicitor. Leases back were then created in her favour, and then the freeholds were conveyed at her direction to her children and grandchildren. They were potentially exempt transfers. Held: (Millett LJ dissenting) The conveyance to the solicitor left the solicitor holding the property as bare trustee for … Continue reading Ingram and Palmer-Tomkinson (Executors of the Estate of Lady Jane Lindsay Morgan Ingram Deceased) v Commissioners of Inland Revenue: CA 28 Jul 1997
CORPORATION TAX – penalties for late filing of company tax returns for three accounting periods – insufficient evidence that HMRC had given proper notice to file the returns under paragraph 3 of Schedule 18 Finance Act 1998 – appeal allowed Citations: [2019] UKFTT 575 (TC) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Corporation Tax Updated: 03 … Continue reading Tillzane Scaffolding Ltd v Revenue and Customs: FTTTx 12 Sep 2019
Corporation Tax – Late Filing – Flat-Rate Penalties – Schedule 18 Finance Act 1998 – Were the penalties correctly imposed? – Yes – Was there a reasonable excuse? – No – Appeal dismissed. Citations: [2019] UKFTT 431 (TC) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Corporation Tax Updated: 28 October 2022; Ref: scu.641234
CORPORATION TAX – Late Filing Flat-Rate Penalties – Schedule 18 Finance Act 1998 – Were the penalties correctly imposed? – Yes – Was there a reasonable excuse? – No – Appeal dismissed Citations: [2019] UKFTT 486 (TC) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Corporation Tax Updated: 25 October 2022; Ref: scu.641257
EAT Deposit ordered. Order lost in post due to the Claimant putting wrong post-code on ET1. Review. Distinguishing Judgments from Orders. Strike-out. Extending time. Judges: His Honour Peter Clark Citations: [2005] UKEAT 0318 – 05 – 2907, UKEAT/0319/05/TM, UKEAT/0318/05/TM, [2005] ICR 1647, UKEAT/0320/05/TM, [2005] IRLR 836 Links: Bailii, EATn Statutes: Employment Tribunal Rules 2004 20(1) … Continue reading Sodexho Ltd v Gibbons: EAT 14 Jul 2005
Penalty – Failure to provide information and documents – reliance on accountant to provide information and documents – Whether reasonable excuse – Yes – Appeal allowed – Paragraph 29 schedule 18 Finance Act 1998 Citations: [2009] UKFTT 328 (TC) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Taxes Management Updated: 04 October 2022; Ref: scu.409123
The Secretary of State sought a disqualification order. The director argued that one shoul not be made in the absence of some breach of legal duty, some dishonesty should be shown. Held: The answer was a mixture of fact and law. A breach of duty alone was neither necessary nor sufficient. Unfitness by reason of … Continue reading The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry v Goldberg, Mcavoy: ChD 26 Nov 2003
The revenue appealed against refusal of its petition for the winding up of the company for non-payment of a VAT assessment. The company said that the assessment was disputed. The revenue said that the company had been run for the purpose of submitting false VAT Input tax claims, and suppressing Output tax invoices. Held: The … Continue reading Revenue and Customs v Rochdale Drinks Distributors Ltd: CA 13 Oct 2011
Appeal against Information Notices issued under Schedule 36 of Finance Act 2008 – whether the information was reasonably required – whether Data Protection Act 1998 applies- whether Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 applies – whether information required is unreasonable and onerous – appeal dismissed Citations: [2011] UKFTT 187 (TC) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and … Continue reading D Midgley and Sons Ltd and Another v Revenue and Customs: FTTTx 17 Mar 2011
FTTTx Company Tax – Penalties for late returns (Finance Act 1998, Sch 18, para 17) – Reasonable excuse (Taxes Management Act 1970, s.118(2)) – Returns submitted within deadline but rejected by HMRC as accounts were not signed – Burden on HMRC to establish that returns were filed late and therefore to establish in this case … Continue reading Codu Computer Ltd v Revenue and Customs: FTTTx 28 Feb 2011
Appeal by Revenue against rejection of assessment to Corporation Tax made as ‘discovery assessment’. Citations: [2007] EWHC 1684 (Ch) Links: Bailii Statutes: Finance Act 1998 Sch18 p14 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Corporation Tax Updated: 11 September 2022; Ref: scu.258162
Parish members objected to the building within the church grounds of an education centre. They said that the land was to be used for the purposes of the members of the parish only under a trust deed of 1851. Held: The deed had to be construed in its context at the time. At the time … Continue reading St Mary and St Michael Parish Advisory Company Ltd v The Westminster Roman Catholic Diocese Trustee, Her Majesty’s Attorney Genera and others: ChD 6 Apr 2006
World-wide freezing orders had been made under the 1982 Act. The defendants were members of a Turkish family with substantial business interests in the telecommunications industry. In breach of orders made in the US some defendants had sought to hide their assets. They had failed to respond as required to orders to disclose their assest, … Continue reading Motorola Credit Corporation v Uzan and others (No 2): CA 12 Jun 2003
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
Penalty – Failure to provide information and documents – reliance on accountant – Whether reasonable excuse – No – Appeal dismissed – Paragraph 29 schedule 18 Finance Act 1998 Citations: [2009] UKFTT 329 (TC) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Corporation Tax Updated: 17 August 2022; Ref: scu.409108
FTTTx Applications for directions to close enquiry into tax returns – Whether possible to give directions – Applications dismissed – section 28A Taxes Management Act 1970 and paragraph 33 schedule 18 Finance Act 1998 Citations: [2010] UKFTT 19 (TC) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Taxes Management Updated: 17 August 2022; Ref: scu.408865
Europa The benefits paid by an employer to a worker on the latter’s redundancy constitute a form of pay to which the worker is entitled in respect of his employment, which is paid to him upon termination of the employment relationship, which facilitates his adjustment to the new circumstances resulting from the loss of his … Continue reading Barber v Guardian Royal Exchange Assurance Group: ECJ 17 May 1990
What Lane v. Esdaile decided, and all that it decided, was that where it is provided that an appeal shall lie by leave of a particular court or courts, neither the grant nor refusal of leave is an appealable decision. The Court of Appeal could depart from an earlier decision in those ‘rare and exceptional … Continue reading Rickards v Rickards: CA 20 Jun 1989
Dispute over the authorship of the screenplay of a film. Held: ‘the judgment cannot stand. The judge has adopted an erroneous approach to the evidence, failed to make important findings of primary fact, failed to take account of material matters and applied incorrect legal standards to the assessment of the sufficiency of Ms Kogan’s contributions. … Continue reading Kogan v Martin and Others: CA 9 Oct 2019
Saad Investments was a Cayman Islands company in liquidation. The liquidator brought an action here, but the defendant sought a stay saying that another forum was clearly more appropriate. Shares in Saudi banks were said to be held in trust for the company, but Saudi law would not recognise such trusts. The shares had been … Continue reading Akers and Others v Samba Financial Group: SC 1 Feb 2017
The claimant government sought the return to it of historical artefacts in the possession of the defendants. The defendant said the claimant could not establish title and that if it could the title under which the claim was made was punitive and not to be applied by English law. Held: It is necessary for a … Continue reading Iran v The Barakat Galleries Ltd: QBD 29 Mar 2007
CORPORATION TAX — capital allowances – time limit for claims – Finance Act 1998, Schedule 18, paragraph 82 – claims for capital allowances submitted more than 12 months after filing dates – notice of enquiry given – whether claims timeous because submitted before enquiry completed – yes – appeal refuse Citations: [2019] UKUT 208 (TCC) … Continue reading Revenue and Customs v Dundas Heritable Ltd: UTTC 2 Jul 2019
The Revenue appealed findings as to the calculation of profits for corporation tax. The companies had sought to deduct sums from profits for depreciation of unsold stock in accordance with current accounting standards. Held: ‘the profit and loss account is concerned with revenue and expenses. A fall in the value of stock to below cost, … Continue reading Revenue and Customs v William Grant and Sons Distillers Ltd: HL 28 Mar 2007
Income Tax – closure notices under sections 28A and 28B of the Taxes Management Act 1970 and section 32, Sch18 Finance Act 1998; and appeals against information notices issued under Schedule 36 of the Finance Act 2008; whether copies sufficient; reasonably required and reasonable grounds considered Citations: [2019] UKFTT 388 (TC) Links: Bailii Statutes: Taxes … Continue reading Perfectos Printing Inks Ltd, Perfectos Printing Inks Group Ltd and Dr Price v Revenue and Customs: FTTTx 14 Jun 2019
Company Tax – Schedule 18 of Finance Act 1998 (‘FA’) – flat-rate and tax-relate penalties for failure to file a CT return on time – reliance on agent – whether taxpayer had a reasonable excuse for his default – appeal dismissed. Citations: [2019] UKFTT 351 (TC) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Corporation Tax Updated: … Continue reading J Hayes Properties Ltd v Revenue and Customs (: FTTTx 1 Jun 2019
The claimant alleged that the defendants had funded the purchase of various properties by secret and unlawful commissions taken by them whilst in power in Pakistan. They sought to recover the proceeds. They now sought permission to serve proceedings on the defendant companies abroad, outside a Lugano Convention country. Held: The claim should proced. ‘There … Continue reading Islamic Republic of Pakistan v Zardari and others: ComC 6 Oct 2006
The occupier had been granted a temporary licence by the authority under the homelessness provisions whilst it made its assessment. The assessment concluded that she had become homeless intentionally, and therefore terminated the licence and set out to evict her. She claimed that the authority had to get a court authority before so evicting her. … Continue reading Desnousse v London Borough of Newham and others: CA 17 May 2006
EAT Equal Pay Act – Material factor defence – In an equal pay claim involving a presumption of direct discrimination the genuine material factor defence requires justification by objective criteria.The claimant appealed dismissal of her action for equal pay, saying that the ‘material factor’ defence used to justify a different payment had been incorrectly applied. … Continue reading Sharp v Caledonia Group Services Ltd: EAT 1 Nov 2005
Tenants occupied land next to land which was to be developed after compulsory acquisition. The tenants and the landlords asserted a right of light over the land, and sought an injunction to prevent the development. The developer denied that any right of light had been acquired. The sky contour diagrams projected that the reductions in … Continue reading Midtown Ltd v City of London Real Property Company Ltd: ChD 20 Jan 2005
Paragraph 57(2) of Schedule 8 to the Finance Act 1995, which provides that section 442A of the Taxes Act 1998 ‘does not apply in relation to the reinsurance of a policy or contract where the policy or contract was made, and the reinsurance arrangement effected, before 29 November 1994’, provided an indication that the opening … Continue reading Barrett (HM Inspector of Taxes) v Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Ltd: ChD 5 Jul 2002
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
The claimant music producer and songwriter had entered into a publishers agreement with the defendant, agreeing to work for it. He now sought to be free to work for another company. The factual background was unclear, and the contract documentation self contradictory as to its term. Held: The court had first to try to read … Continue reading Taylor v Rive Droite Music Ltd: ChD 6 Jul 2004
SCIT Corporation tax – late filing of company tax returns – penalty provisions – transitional provisions – whether fixed penalty under Schedule 18, paragraph 17 to the Finance Act 1998 for a third late filing of a company tax return should be the higher penalty of andpound;1000 where one or more of the previous late … Continue reading Lessex Ltd v HM Inspector of Taxes: SCIT 6 Nov 2003
The claimant challenged the rating of the land it had used for the erection of a mobile ohone mast. Held: Even though the company had the statutory right to place a mast in this location and without payment, for rating purposes the officer could ask what would be the cost of the company taking a … Continue reading Orange PCS v Alan Roy Bradford (Valuation Officer): CA 17 Feb 2004
The applicant had been refused a licence to operate within the farmer’s market. It sought judicial review of the rejection, but the respondent argued that it was a private company not susceptible to review. Held: The decisions of the Farmers Market were open to judicial review. The farmers markets were held on publicly owned land … Continue reading Hampshire County Council v Beer (T/A Hammer Trout Farm); Regina (Beer) v Hampshire Farmers’ Market Ltd: CA 21 Jul 2003
The executors challenged the assessment to Inheritance tax on the estate. The commissioners claimed that a gift of property into a trust included a sufficient reservation of benefit to disallow it as an exempt transfer. Held: The scheme was effective. The trust provided for the income to be paid to the settlor’s husband during his … Continue reading Commissioners of Inland Revenue v Eversden Eversden (As Executors of the Will of Greenstock Deceased): CA 15 May 2003
The claimant had been defrauded by a customer of the defendant bank. He brought a claim against the bank, saying that they knew or ought to have known of the fraudster’s activities, and were liable. The Bank denied that the UK courts had jurisdiction saying in particular that no claim arose because it would be … Continue reading Williams v Central Bank of Nigeria: QBD 8 Apr 2011
The court was willing to contemplate the possibility of an appeal by an applicant whose leave granted ex parte had been subsequently discharged. Judges: Lord Donaldson M.R Citations: [1990] Imm AR 1 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Kemper Reinsurance Company v The Minister of Finance and others PC 5-May-1998 (Bermuda) An appeal … Continue reading Begum v Secretary of State for the Home Department: CA 1990
The European Court had found the UK to have unlawfully treated differently payment of franked dividends between subsidiaries of UK companies according to whether all the UK subsidiaries were themselves UK based, thus prejudicing European subsidiaries, breach of EU Treaty guarantees of freedom of establishment and of movement of capital. The court was now asked … Continue reading Test Claimants In The Franked Investment Income Group Litigation v Inland Revenue: SC 23 May 2012
Where the Court of Appeal had refused permission to apply for judicial review after a similar refusal by a judge, that decision was also, by implication, a refusal to grant permission to appeal against the judge’s decision, and there was no scope for a further appeal to the House of Lords. It is not the … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Ex Parte Eastaway: HL 8 Nov 2000
The court contemplated the possibility of an appeal by an applicant whose leave granted ex parte had been subsequently discharged. Judges: Lord Donaldson MR Citations: [1990] Imm AR 98 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Kemper Reinsurance Company v The Minister of Finance and others PC 5-May-1998 (Bermuda) An appeal Court did have … Continue reading Doorga v Secretary of State for the Home Department: CA 1990
The ‘guidelines’ in Schedule 2 are usually regarded as of general application to the question of reasonableness under the 1977 Act. The effect of s13 which deals with exemption clauses, is to apply s3 inter alia to ‘no set off’ clauses. The reasonableness requirement must be satisfied in relation to the clause as a whole … Continue reading Stewart Gill Ltd v Horatio Myer and Co Ltd: CA 1992
The court considered the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal to hear certain appeals, saying that ‘Lane v. Esdaile is of general application and provides that where leave to bring proceedings is required it is not possible to appeal against a refusal to grant leave. The reason is obvious, namely that if you could appeal … Continue reading Dhillon v Secretary of State for the Home Department: CACD 1988
The claimants said that they had been tortured by Saudi police when arrested on false charges. They sought damages, and appealed against an order denying jurisdiction over the defendants. They said that the allegation of torture allowed an exception to state immunity. Held: The Kingdom’s appeal succeeded. The protection of state immunity was essentially a … Continue reading Jones v Ministry of Interior for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and others: HL 14 Jun 2006
The bank customers, now appellants, redeemed a mortgage over their property, and the property was transferred to family members, who in turn borrowed from the same lender. A bank employee simply changed the name on the mortgage. This was ineffective to give the bank a charge, and the bank obtained a remedy through the law … Continue reading Bank of Cyprus UK Ltd v Menelaou: SC 4 Nov 2015
The applicant had unsuccessfully applied to the Divisional Court for leave to apply for judicial review and renewed his application, equally unsuccessfully, to the Court of Appeal. He then petitioned for leave to appeal to the House of Lords. Held: ‘l, decided that on the principle of Lane v. Esdaile the House had no jurisdiction … Continue reading In re Poh: HL 1983
The plaintiff had written long term (tail) insurance. The defendant came to re-insure it. On a dispute there were shown greater losses than had been disclosed, and that this had been known to the Plaintiff. Held: ‘material circumstance’ which would require disclosure under the Act are such circumstances as would affect an insurer’s mind. Did … Continue reading Pan Atlantic Insurance Co Ltd and Another v Pine Top Insurance Co Ltd: HL 27 Jul 1994
Corporation Tax – Capital allowances – s11 Capital Allowances Act 2001 – expenditure incurred on studies relating to the design and construction of offshore windfarms and their component parts including wind turbines and electrical cables – are the windfarms single items of plant – yes – in the alternative the wind turbines and electrical cables … Continue reading Gunfleet Sands Limited Gunfleet Sands II Limited Walney (UK) Offshore Windfarms Limite Dorsted West of Duddon Sands (UK) Limited v Revenue and Customs: FTTTx 3 Feb 2022
Swap deals outwith Council powers The authority entered into interest rate swap deals to protect itself against adverse money market movements. They began to lose substantial amounts when interest rates rose, and the district auditor sought a declaration that the contracts were void, there being no express power in the relevant legislation. Held: The arrangements … Continue reading Hazell v Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council: HL 1991
The applicant had been granted bail by a High Court judge when he was given leave to apply for judicial review of the decision refusing him leave to enter the United Kingdom. His application for judicial review was subsequently dismissed and the judge, considering that he had no further jurisdiction in the matter, refused bail … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for the Home Department, Ex parte Turkoglu: CA 1987
Reference to Parliamentary Papers behind Statute The inspector sought to tax the benefits in kind received by teachers at a private school in having their children educated at the school for free. Having agreed this was a taxable emolument, it was argued as to whether the taxable benefit was the cost to the employer, or … Continue reading Pepper (Inspector of Taxes) v Hart: HL 26 Nov 1992
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
Banker’s Liability for Negligent Reference The appellants were advertising agents. They were liable themselves for advertising space taken for a client, and had sought a financial reference from the defendant bankers to the client. The reference was negligent, but the bankers denied any assumption of a duty of care to a third party when purely … Continue reading Hedley Byrne and Co Ltd v Heller and Partners Ltd: HL 28 May 1963
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
The taxpayers used schemes to create allowable losses, and now appealed assessment to tax. The schemes involved a series of transactions none of which were a sham, but which had the effect of cancelling each other out. Held: If the true nature of the transactions could be seen by looking at them all together, then … Continue reading W T Ramsay Ltd v Inland Revenue Commissioners: HL 12 Mar 1981
Corporation Tax – Flat-rate and tax-geared penalties for late submission of company tax returns under Schedule 18 Finance Act 1998 – whether tax return incomplete – whether Director’s report under Companies Act 1985 and Companies Act 2006 required in order for return to be complete- yes -whether company had reasonable excuse for late submission of … Continue reading Goodtime Print and Design v Revenue and Customs: FTTTx 1 Oct 2012
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
