An entity which is constituted in such a way that its purpose is to assist, promote and advance the industrial development, prosperity and economic welfare of the area in which it operates, can be seen as effectively carrying out government policy in the way that a government department does and therefore to assume the position … Continue reading Mellenger v New Brunswick Development Corporation: CA 1971
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Philips J set out the consequences of the 1971 Act: ‘Before 1971 there was perhaps a tendency to find in contracts of employment elements of a public character which would enable the court to extend to the employee the protection flowing from ‘the right to be heard’ enjoyed by the holders of an office. Since … Continue reading 102 Social Club and Institute Ltd v Bickerton: 1977
(National Industrial Relations Court) The court was asked to calculate damages on a dismissal, and particularly as to whether the manner of the dismissal should affect the damages. Held: The common law rules and authorities on wrongful dismissal are irrelevant. That cause of action is quite unaffected by the Act which has created an entirely … Continue reading Norton Tool Co Ltd v Tewson: NIRC 30 Oct 1972
The employee was dismissed in October but given six months notice. It was agreed that he should work out that notice until March. However, on 28 January 1972 the employee was persuaded to finish, accepting two months pay in lieu of working during February or March. He received his holiday pay, insurance cards and P45 … Continue reading Lees v Arthur Greaves (Lees) Limited: CA 1974
The court discussed whether, having found errors in the employer’s dismissal of the emploee, the tribunal can take into account other circumstances to say that the employee might have been dismissed in any event. Held: Sir Hugh Griffiths said: ‘We are unable to accept the submission that ‘the circumstances’ are limited to those directly affecting … Continue reading Vokes Ltd v Bear: 1973
The employee, an airline pilot, was entitled to three months contractual notice. The Tribunal had awarded compensation for the full three months even although he had earned a salary from other employment during part of that period. Bristow J said: ‘Now the reason that the Industrial Tribunal awarded the equivalent of the wages that Mr … Continue reading Tradewinds Airways v Fletcher: EAT 1981
Though the 1971 Act made no reference to it, nonetheless there could be an unfair dismissal deriving from a constructive dismissal. An argument that the converse interpretation should be adopted because earlier legislation (the 1965 Act) had defined dismissal expressly so as to include constructive dismissal was roundly rejected: ‘That comparison points, it is said, … Continue reading Sutcliffe v Hawker Siddley Aviation Limited: NIRC 1973
Sir Hugh Griffiths said: ‘It appears to this Court that the manifest overall purpose of Section 26 is to give a measure of protection to an employer if his business is faced with ruin by a strike. It enables him in those circumstances, if he cannot carry on the business without a labour force, to … Continue reading Heath and Another v JP Longman (Meat Salesman) Limited: 1973
The defendant, in a strike picket during an industrial dispute, stood holding a placard in front of a vehicle on a highway, urging the driver not to work at a site nearby and preventing him from proceeding along the highway as the driver wished. The House heard his appeal against a direction that he be … Continue reading Broome v Director of Public Prosecutions: HL 20 Dec 1973
The claimant had produced the Star War films which made use of props, in particular a ‘Stormtrooper’ helmet designed by the defendant. The defendant had then himself distributed models of the designs he had created. The appellant obtained judgment against the respondent in the US for punitive damages, but these had not been collected, and … Continue reading Lucasfilm Ltd and Others v Ainsworth and Another: SC 27 Jul 2011
The claimants had made several Star Wars films for which the defendants had designed various props items. The parties disputed ownership of the rights in the designs, and in articular of a stormtrooper helmet. The issues came down to whether the defendant had rights to reproduce images under sections 51 and 52. The claimants appealed … Continue reading Lucasfilm Ltd and Others v Ainsworth and Another: CA 16 Dec 2009
The defendant appealed a finding that it had abused its dominant market position in refusing to supply to the claimant a copyright licence for its information on horse racing at a proper or acceptable price. The defendant was said to have a monopoly on the information Held: The appeal was upheld. ‘unfairness in pricing is … Continue reading Attheraces Ltd and Another v The British Horseracing Board Ltd and Another: CA 2 Feb 2007
Compensation for non-economic loss brought about by the manner of an unfair dismissal is, on authority and on principle, recoverable. The award of such compensation by the employment tribunal in the present case was not excessive and was adequately explained. The court could look to parliamentary reports to identify the mischief sought to be rectified, … Continue reading Dunnachie v Kingston Upon Hull City Council: CA 11 Feb 2004
The claimant sought damages following his dismissal to include a sum to reflect the manner of his dismissal and the distress caused. Held: The remarks of Lord Hoffmann in Johnson -v- Unysis were obiter. The court could not, under the section, include any element for a non-financial loss, such as injury to feelings arising from … Continue reading Dunnachie v Kingston-upon-Hull City Council: HL 15 Jul 2004
The claimant appealed after her claim for sex discrimination had failed. She had been dismissed from her position an associate minister of the church. The court had found that it had no jurisdiction, saying that her appointment was not an employment. However the jurisdiction in sex discrimination cases was wider, extending to those who ‘contract … Continue reading Percy v Church of Scotland Board of National Mission: HL 15 Dec 2005
The appellant, a part time recorder challenged his exclusion from pension arrangements. Held: The appeal was allowed. No objective justification has been shown for departing from the basic principle of remunerating part-timers pro rata temporis. ‘The reality is that recorders are expected to observe the terms and conditions of their appointment, and that they may … Continue reading O’Brien v Ministry of Justice: SC 6 Feb 2013
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
A company went into liquidation, being owed substantial sums by another company in the same group, but itself insolvent. A settlement did not include accrued interest, but was claimed to be taxed as if it had, and on an accruals basis. If so, was this an expense properly arising in the insolvency, and payable as … Continue reading Kahn and Another v Commissioners of Inland Revenue; In re Toshoku Finance plc: HL 20 Feb 2002
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
The pursuer sought damages after her husband’s death from lung cancer. She said that the defenders were negligent in having continued to sell him cigarettes knowing that they would cause this. Held: The action failed. The plaintiff had not proved that the smoking of cigarettes was the cause of the lung cancer, and it was … Continue reading McTear v Imperial Tobacco Ltd: OHCS 31 May 2005