Is service of a claim form, a reserved legal activity for the purposes of the Legal Services Act 2007 Citations: [2018] EWCA Civ 2865 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Legal Professions Updated: 21 January 2023; Ref: scu.632679
Actions to enforce arbitration awards were brought, each in the name of a ship-owning company. At the time of the arbitrations the assets of each company had vested in a trustee in bankruptcy appointed under New York law, but the trustee had persuaded the arbitrators that the companies were the proper claimants and had commenced … Continue reading International Bulk Shipping and Services Ltd v President of India and Another: CA 11 Dec 1995
The knowledge of a solicitor, acting for both the borrower and the lender, of the lay clients intentions as regards the future use of the loan, is not to be imputed to the lender, even though the solicitor acts for both parties, and is the lender’s agent.Morritt LJ discussed section 199: ‘Counsel for the wife … Continue reading Halifax Mortgage Services Ltd (Formerly BNP Mortgages Ltd) v Stepsky and Another: CA 1 Dec 1995
Application had been made to register as a town or village green an area of land which was largely a boggy marsh. The local authority resisted the application wanting to use the land instead for housing. It then rejected advice it received from a non-statutory enquiry, and sought a declaration from the court as to … Continue reading Oxfordshire County Council v Oxford City Council and others: HL 24 May 2006
The court was asked to pierce the veil of incorporation of a company in the course of ancillary relief proceedings in a divorce. H had failed to co-operate with the court. After a comprehensive review of all the authorities, Munby J said: ‘The common theme running through all the cases in which the court has … Continue reading Ben Hashem v Ali Shayif and Another: FD 22 Sep 2008
The solicitors appealed against the assessment of their costs. The judge had found that they had estimated their costs and applied a 15% margin of error. Held: the judge should have given reasons for his judgment to allow the parties to assess the prospects of an appeal. There had been unusual developments, but the estimates … Continue reading Reynolds v Stone Rowe Brewer (A Firm): QBD 18 Mar 2008
There was a heated dispute between neighbours, culminating in some generous or perhaps over-generous pruning by the claimant of the defendant’s trees and shrubs on the boundaries. The defendants reported the matter to the police. Both Mr and Mrs Dalziel made oral complaints to the officer who attended upon them. He later returned and Mr … Continue reading Buckley v Dalziel: QBD 3 May 2007
The Law Society challenged the manner of introduction by the defendant of the proposed Unified Contract for the provision of legal aided services. Judges: Beatson J Citations: [2007] EWHC 1848 (Admin) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Legal Professions, Legal Aid Updated: 04 December 2022; Ref: scu.259641
The claimant challenged by judicial review the discharge of a legal aid certificate in educational negligence proceedings. Held: A final decision to revoke a legal aid certificate may be challenged by judicial review. Judges: Ouseley J Citations: [2007] EWHC 1786 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Legal Aid Act 1988 15(2), Civil Legal Aid (General) Regulations 1989 … Continue reading Martin v Legal Services Commission: Admn 27 Jul 2007
An ex parte application was made to quash a decision by the Advertising Standards Authority upholding a complaint that the applicants in that case were in breach of the British Codes of Advertising and Sales Promotion, and an injunction to prevent the respondents from publishing their adjudication. Popplewell J considered the question whether or not … Continue reading Regina v Advertising Standards Authority Limited ex parte Direct Line Financial Services Limited: Admn 8 Aug 1997
This appeal is about an elaborate scheme designed and marketed by KPMG relating to demonstrator cars used by retail distributors for test drives and other internal purposes. In the ordinary course, a car distributor will buy new cars for use as demonstrators, paying VAT on the full amount of the sale price. This will in … Continue reading Revenue and Customs v Pendragon Plc and Others: SC 10 Jun 2015
The builders had obtained a charging order for the costs awarded to them in extensive litigation, and a third party costs order but without the third party having opportunity to test the bill delivered. They had agreed to sell land to the defendant, but he had required the transfer to be in a different form … Continue reading Nelson v Greening and Sykes (Builders) Ltd: CA 18 Dec 2007
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 Association challenged the imposition of minimum pricing systems for alcohol, saying that it was in breach of European law. After a reference to the ECJ, the Court now considered its legality. Held: The Association’s appeal failed. Minimum pricing was a proportionate way of achieving a legitimate aim. From the outset, concern about the health … Continue reading Scotch Whisky Association and Others v The Lord Advocate and Another: SC 15 Nov 2017
Each claimant sought damages after being exposed to asbestos dust. The defendants resisted saying that the injury alleged, the development of pleural plaques, was yet insufficient as damage to found a claim. Held: (Smith LJ dissenting) The defendants appeals succeeded. The claimants had three possible claims, none of which on their own would amount to … Continue reading Rothwell v Chemical and Insulating Co Ltd and Another: CA 26 Jan 2006
VAT – Default Surcharges – Section 59(7) and 71 VAT Act 1994 – INCOME TAX — late filing and late payment penalties – paragraphs 23 and 16 of Schedules 55 and 56 to the Finance Act 2009 – forty-one penalties between 2007 and 2017 – issue: reasonable excuse – CEC v Steptoe, Perrin v HMRC … Continue reading Robin St John Sellers v Revenue and Customs (VAT – Default Surcharges): FTTTx 26 Jan 2021
ECHR Article 9-1 Manifest religion or belief Disciplinary measures against employees for wearing religious symbols (cross) at work or refusing to perform duties they considered incompatible with their religious beliefs: violation; no violations Article 14 Discrimination Disciplinary measures against employees for wearing religious symbols (cross) at work or refusing to perform duties they considered incompatible … Continue reading Eweida And Others v The United Kingdom: ECHR 15 Jan 2013
The claimant sought to set aside an arbitration saying that the arbitrator had misapplied the test for economic duress. Judges: Cooke HHJ Citations: [2012] EWHC 273 (Comm) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Pace Shipping Co Ltd of Malta v Churchgate Nigeria Ltd of Nigeria ComC 7-Oct-2010 The courts do not approach … Continue reading Progress Bulk Carriers Ltd v Tube City IMS Llc: ComC 17 Feb 2012
The plaintiff employed the defendant barrister to pursue her claim for ancillary relief in divorce. She sought to recover damages for his alleged negligence. Held: A barrister’s immunity from suit for negligence in advocacy extends to settlements made under court approval and once there has been any intervention of the court.Butler-Sloss LJ said: ‘Although it … Continue reading Kelley v Corston: CA 20 Aug 1997
‘ whether to exercise the statutory power conferred on me by Schedule 3 ss1(2)(b) to the Legal Services Act 2007, to allow Michael Shrimpton rights of audience in these habeas corpus proceedings. ‘ Judges: Mr Justice Fordham Citations: [2022] EWHC 2684 (Admin) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Legal Professions Updated: 28 October 2022; Ref: … Continue reading Malik v Governor of HM Prison Hindley (No 2): Admn 24 Oct 2022
The court was asked as to whether the on-line marketplace site defendant was liable for trade mark infringements by those advertising goods on the web-site. Held: The ECJ had not yet clarified the law on accessory liability in trade mark infringement, and the legislation remained unclear. Many of the direct sellers were held to be … Continue reading L’Oreal Sa and Others v Ebay International Ag and Others: ChD 22 May 2009
EAT JURISDICTIONAL POINTS – Fraud and illegalityContract of employment – illegality in performance.An employee who knows that his assertion to be self employed is unsustainable and yet claims to the Revenue to be self employed misrepresents his own understanding of the position and acts in bad faith; it is contrary to public policy to lend … Continue reading Connolly v Whitestone Solicitors: EAT 24 Jun 2011
The court was asked whether the respondents, a firm of solicitors and a barrister, are in respect of acting on behalf of Aaron Phillips in certain criminal proceedings entitled to fees payable under the Litigators’ Graduated Fee Scheme (GFS) or under the Very High Costs Cases (VHCC) scheme. The issue involves a point of interpretation … Continue reading The Lord Chancellor v Alexander Johnson and Co Solicitors and Another: QBD 29 Jul 2011
The claimant alleged trade mark infringement by the respondents by the use of a mark in a pop-up advert. Held: The own-name defence to trade mark infringement is limited. Some confusion may be allowed if overall the competition was not unfair in all the circumstances. No confusion was intended; they wanted only to associate their … Continue reading Reed Executive Plc, Reed Solutions Plc v Reed Business Information Ltd, Reed Elsevier (Uk) Ltd, Totaljobs Com Ltd: CA 3 Mar 2004
Four barristers challenged, by a judicial review, a decision by which the LSB approved an application proposed by the BSB jointly with two other approved regulators, the SRA and IPS, to introduce the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates Judges: Sir Brian Leveson P QBD, Bean, Cranston JJ Citations: [2014] EWHC 28 (Admin) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: … Continue reading Lumsdon and Others, Regina (on The Application of) v Legal Services Board: Admn 20 Jan 2014
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
The Claimant applied for judicial review of the decision of Winchester City Council to authorise variations to a contract with a developer to build a new mixed retail, residential and transport centre in the heart of Winchester city centre. As a councillor, he sought to challenge the decision to authorise variations of a contract between … Continue reading Gottlieb, Regina (on The Application of) v Winchester City Council: Admn 11 Feb 2015
Solicitor firms had been made bankrupt leaving a shortfall after thefts from client accounts of over 12 million pounds. The thief had diappeared, and the other partners were now discharged form bankruptcy. The Law Society accepted that it could not proceed to claim against the discharged bankrupts, but now sought recovery from their insurers. Held: … Continue reading Law Society of England and Wales and others v Shah and others: ChD 30 Nov 2007
A reinsurance contract which contained a clause which provided that no settlement or compromise of a claim could be made or liability admitted by the insured without the prior approval of the reinsurers. The court considered how the discretion to approve a settlement must be exercised. Held: What was proscribed in all of them was … Continue reading Gan Insurance Co Ltd v Tai Ping Insurance Co Ltd: CA 3 Jul 2001
The court was asked questions to interpret the terms of interest-bearing notes, which were issued by Eurosail-UK 2007-3BL PLC, a special purpose vehicle formed to hold income-producing assets, consisting of mortgage loans, to be used to meet the liabilities on the Notes, and in particular whether the rspondent had been insolvent when entering into them. … Continue reading BNY Corporate Trustee Services Ltd v Eurosail-UK 2007-3BL Plc and Others: CA 7 Mar 2011
LRA Claimant with legal aid obtains a partial right of way to her property in settlement of a dispute as to her rights of access. Legal Services Commission not entitled to charge over her property under section 10(7) of the Access to Justice Act 1999. Citations: [2007] EWLandRA 2006 – 1672 Links: Bailii Statutes: Access … Continue reading Legal Services Commission v Pugh (Charges and Charging Orders): LRA 21 Dec 2007
The Law Society said that the 2007 Act would involve the transfer of it employees working within the Legal Complaints Service to the new office for Legal Complaints and that the TUPE regulations would apply. Judges: Akenhead J Citations: [2010] EWHC 352 (QB), [2010] IRLR 407 Links: Bailii Statutes: Legal Services Act 2007, Transfer of … Continue reading Law Society of England and Wales v Secretary of State for Justice and Another: QBD 26 Feb 2010
The claimant had been found to have been unfailry dismissed by respondent, on the termination of her employment as an assistant Clerk to the Justices. The EAT had upheld her claim, but had at first rejected her claim for long-term and retirement compensation under the 1978 Regulations. On remittal of the case, they had found … Continue reading Secretary of State for Justice v Slee: CA 24 Jan 2011
Dyson J set out the principles applicable in establishing a pleading of commercial duress: (i) Economic pressure can amount to duress, provided it may be characterised as illegitimate and has constituted a ‘but for’ cause inducing the claimant to enter into the relevant contract or to make a payment. See Mance J in S.L. Huyton … Continue reading DSND Subsea Ltd v Petroleum Geo Services Asa: TCC 28 Jul 2000
Gibraltar – The claimant challenged a public housing allocation policy which gave preference to married couples and parents of children, excluding same sex and infertile couples. Held: The aim of discouraging homosexual relationships is equally impermissible under sections 7(1) and 14 of the Constitution of Gibraltar. The suggested aims are incoherent and the means employed … Continue reading Rodriguez v Minister of Housing of The Government and Another: PC 14 Dec 2009
The claimant, being in a prolonged dispute with the Authority had requested copies (internal and external) of correspondence and other communications relating to him. The request was resisted on several grounds according to the nature of the documents involved. The issue now was as to the availability of legal professional privilege where the lawyer involved … Continue reading Calland v Information Commissioner and The Financial Services Authority: IT 8 Aug 2008
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
The claimants, in the US awaiting execution for murders, challenged the permitting by the defendant for export of the chemical Sodium Thipental which would be used for their execution. The respondent said that its use in general anaesthesia practice meant that it was not subject to control. The claimants said that the export was a … Continue reading Zagorski and Baze, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Others: Admn 29 Nov 2010
Solicitor Firm Member was a Protected Worker The solicitor appellant had been a member of the firm, a limited liability partnership. She disclosed criminal misbehaviour by a partner in a branch in Africa. On dismissal she sought protection as a whistleblower. This was rejected, it being found that a member of such a firm was … Continue reading Clyde and Co LLP and Another v van Winkelhof: SC 21 May 2014
Two boys were born to Russian parents in what became Kazakhstan. After their parents’ divorce, their mother married a Bulgarian and they all came to live in Bulgaria. The mother was granted a permanent residence permit and the boys were entitled to residence on the basis of her permit. They were educated at Bulgarian primary … Continue reading Ponomaryov and Others v Bulgaria: ECHR 21 Jun 2011
The association sought a judicial review of a decision not to pay compensation in respect of their or their parents or grandparents’ internment by the Japanese in the Second World War. Payment was not made because those interned were not born in Britain. Held: No legitimate expectation had been created and relied upon. The parliamentary … Continue reading The Association of British Civilian Internees – Far Eastern Region (ABCIFER) v Secretary of State for Defence: CA 3 Apr 2003
LT LANDLORD AND TENANT – service charges – liability – whether lessee liable for management costs – held lessee liable for costs incurred in providing specified services under lease but not otherwise – Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 s 27A. Citations: [2008] EWLands LRX – 114 – 2007 Links: Bailii Statutes: Landlord and Tenant Act … Continue reading Norwich City Council v Marshall: LT 23 Oct 2008
The claimant complained of an irregularly obtained judgment. The defendant had obtained an amendment to a writ of sequestration in the course of a bitterly fought dispute bewteen the defendant and the owner of the claimant. The judge had found the irregularity proved, but declined to set the order aside. The claimant now said that … Continue reading Tombstone Ltd v Raja and Another; Raja v Van Hoogstraten and others (No 9): CA 17 Dec 2008
The parties challenged the refusal and admission to the respective lists of pharmacies allowed to operate in the Todmorden and Freckleton districts. The judge had said that the local PCTs had departed from the appropriate ministerial guidance which emphasised the need for competition. Held: The appeal against the allowance of the entry for the roposed … Continue reading Assura Pharmacy Ltd, Regina (on the Application of) v National Health Service Litigation Authority (Family Health Services Appeal Unit): CA 5 Dec 2008
Underhill J said: ‘where an employee has made a positive choice to operate arrangements which have the effect of depriving the Revenue of payment to which it is entitled, contracts giving effect to those arrangements will be unlawful notwithstanding that the employee may genuinely have believed them to be lawful. The position might be different … Continue reading Daymond v Enterprise South Devon: EAT 6 Jun 2007
Arden LJ considered the principles to be applied when considering whether a party to civil litigation should be allowed to appeal a trial judge’s decision on the basis that a claim, which could have been brought before him but was not, would have succeeded if it had been so brought. She concluded: ‘CPR 52.8 provides … Continue reading Crane (T/A Indigital Satelite Services) v Sky In-Home Ltd and Another: CA 3 Jul 2008
The defendant was the claimant’s daughter in law. In the course of a bitter divorce she made allegations to the police which were investigated but did not lead to a prosecution. The claimant appealed dismissal of his claim for defamation on the basis that such a complaint was protected by absolute privilege. Held: The claimant’s … Continue reading Westcott v Westcott: CA 15 Jul 2008
Judges: Lindblom J Citations: [2011] EWHC 2923 (Admin), [2012] 1 WLR 3227 Links: Bailii Statutes: Legal Services Act 2007 14993) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Legal Professions Updated: 17 July 2022; Ref: scu.466306
(Grand Chamber) Principle of judicial protection National legislation not providing for a self-standing action to challenge the compatibility of a national provision with Community law Procedural autonomy Principles of equivalence and effectiveness Interim protection. ‘it is for the national courts to interpret the procedural rules governing actions brought before them, such as the requirement for … Continue reading Unibet (London) Ltd, Unibet (International) Ltd v Justitie-kanslern (Freedom To Provide Services): ECJ 13 Mar 2007
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
Citations: [2007] EWHC 2466 (QB) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Myers v Elman HL 1939 The solicitor had successfully appealed against an order for a contribution to the other party’s legal costs, after his clerk had filed statements in court which he knew to be misleading. The solicitor’s appeal had been … Continue reading Axa Sun Life Services Plc v Cannon and Another: QBD 30 Oct 2007
The appellant company appealed dismissal of their defence to a claim for unfair dismissal that the employment contract was tainted with illegality. The EAT had heard two cases with raised the question of the effect on unfair dismissal claims of illegality. Held: These were not cases in which false representations had been made. That was … Continue reading Enfield Technical Services Ltd v Payne and Another: CA 22 Apr 2008
Inherent High Court power may restrain Publicity The claimant child’s mother was to be tried for the murder of his brother by poisoning with salt. It was feared that the publicity which would normally attend a trial, would be damaging to S, and an application was made for reporting restrictions to be applied to avoid … Continue reading In re S (a Child) (Identification: Restrictions on Publication): HL 28 Oct 2004
No unnecessary Anonymity The appellant, having been acquitted of misconduct, complained of the anonymisation of various parties by the SDT. Held: The court was critical of the approach taken by the Tribunal. ‘I see no good reason why Ms Pearson, Ms Stone, Mr Ewing and Mr Blakemore, should have been anonymised by the tribunal. They … Continue reading Lu v Solicitors Regulation Authority: Admn 6 Jul 2022
The claimant, whilst pregnant, travelled from Ireland to, and gave birth in France, to use their system of anonymous registration. She wanted the child adopted, and, following the birth, the system whereby she could request the return of the child within a two month period was twice explained to her. She was told that, after … Continue reading Kearns v France: ECHR 10 Jan 2008
The claimant was a Zimbabwean National who was to be removed from the country. He was unlawfully held in detention pending removal. He sought damages for false imprisonment. He had been held over a long period pending decisions in the courts on the legality of returning failed asylum applicants to Zimbabwe. Held: Despite allegations of … Continue reading SK, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: Admn 25 Jan 2008
The court was asked whether the weight-watchers program which included attendance at a course and a supply of supporting materials was one single standard-rated supply or separate supplies of zero-rated printed materials and standard-rated support services. Held: The court asked whether if the tribunal was mistaken as to the law the court should overrule the … Continue reading HM Revenue and Customs v Weight Watchers (UK) Ltd: ChD 21 Jan 2008
The claimant appealed against a decision that the conditional fee agreement with her solicitors had been unenforceable because the solicitors had not disclosed to her a conflicting interest in recommending insurers. The issue was whether the CFA was one within Regulation 3A of the 2003 Regulations under which ‘the client is liable to pay his … Continue reading Jones v Wrexham Borough Council: CA 19 Dec 2007
VDT VAT – PLACE OF SUPPLY – the Appellant supplied acting services for the production of a film, Perfect Creature in New Zealand – the Appellant’s acting services related to artistic, cultural and entertainment activities – no requirement that the supplies had to be made before a live audience – the Appellant’s supplies were physically … Continue reading Burrows v Revenue and Customs: VDT 9 Nov 2007
The provisions of article 13, as referred to in article 15(1) of Directive 2002/58/EC concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector ([2002] OJ L201/37) must be interpreted as ‘expressing the Community legislature’s intention not to exclude from their scope the protection of the right to property … Continue reading Productores de Musica de Espana (Promusicae) v Telefonica de Espana SAU: ECJ 18 Jul 2007
EAT Unfair dismissal – Exclusions including worker/jurisdiction These two appeals consider the circumstances in which contracts will be considered illegal so as to preclude an employee from taking claims for unfair dismissal. In Payne the Employment Tribunal found that there was no illegal contract; in Grace that there was. `The EAT upheld the Payne decision … Continue reading Enfield Technical Services Ltd v Payne; Grace v BF Components Ltd: EAT 25 Jul 2007
The claimants, a firm of accountants, sued their former clients for unpaid fees. The defendant company counterclaimed for professional negligence. The claimant had expended andpound;5.6m in costs. The claimants now sought a non-party costs order against former directors of the company, which had gone into administration. They said that the company’s counterclaim was built on … Continue reading Chantrey Vellacott v The Convergence Group Plc and others: ChD 31 Jul 2007
(Cayman Islands) The plaintiff had been wrongfully dismissed from his post as a public officer. He appealed against a refusal to award him his pay. Held: The dismissal from a public office being unlawful, it was void and ineffective to remove him from office. He remained entitled to his full salary and other benefits.Lord Bingham … Continue reading McLaughlin v Cayman Islands: PC 23 Jul 2007
EAT Unfair Dismissal: CompensationCompensation for unfair dismissal was capped at 6 months’ forward losses on the ground that the Claimant would have been dismissed at that stage. Since the parties could make attempts to work together, applying Gover v Propertycare and cases cited in it, the Employment Tribunal could not sensibly recreate the world as … Continue reading Carole Thornett v Scope: EAT 7 Feb 2006
The plaintiff sought the unsealing of the wills of the late Queen Mother and of the late Princess Margaret, claiming that these would assist him establishing that he was the illegitimate son of the latter. Held: The application was frivolous. None of the evidence presented remotely constituted evidence of what the claimant asserted. Though section … Continue reading Brown v HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, the Executors of the Estate of and others: FD 5 Jul 2007
Judgment – Law Relating To Undertakings – Public contracts Directive 89/665/EEC Review procedures concerning the award of public contracts Limitation period Principle of effectivenessArticle 1 of the Directive required member states to take the measures necessary to ensure that: ‘as regards contracts falling within the scope of Directive 2004/18/EC, decisions taken by the contracting authorities … Continue reading Lammerzahl GmbH v Freie Hansestadt Bremen: ECJ 7 Jun 2007
The claimants had been detained under the 1971 Act, after completing sentences of imprisonment pending their return to their home countries under deportations recommended by the judges at trial, or chosen by the respondent. They challenged as unlawful the respondent’s, at first unpublished, policy introduced in 2006, that by default, those awaiting deportation should be … Continue reading Lumba (WL) v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 23 Mar 2011
(Northern Ireland) Children had been taken to school in the face of vehement protests from Loyalists. The parents complained that the police had failed to protect them properly, since the behaviour was so bad as to amount to inhuman or degrading treatment, and that the police had given undue weight to the right to demonstrate. … Continue reading Re E (A Child); E v Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and Another (Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and others intervening): HL 12 Nov 2008
The trial judge had refused an order requested at a preparatory hearing by the defence for the disclosure of documents held by the prosecutor. The House was now asked whether a right of appeal existed against such a refusal. Held: The practice at preparatory hearings has been the subject of dispute. Lord Nichols said: ‘the … Continue reading H, Regina v (Interlocutory application: Disclosure): HL 28 Feb 2007
The claimant had been a Russian spy whilst in British Intelligence, escaping from prison and fleeing to Russia in 1966. He now complained that an action by the respondent government to seek to recover royalties from a book had been so extended in time as to deny him a fair trial. The proceedings had lasted … Continue reading Blake v The United Kingdom: ECHR 26 Sep 2006
The claimant brought a claim for detriment suffered after he had made a protected disclosure. The employer replied that he was out of the three month time limit. He had been off sick after being assaulted, and said that his employers had treated him as a troublemaker after he complained and disclosed that he had … Continue reading Arthur v London Eastern Railway Ltd (T/A One Stansted Express): CA 25 Oct 2006
The parties disputed whether their claim should be arbitrated. Held: A claim as to whether the contract itself had been made was not one which could be arbitrated by provisions in that contract. It does not arise ‘under’ the contract. The arbitrator does not have jurisdiction to decide this issue; the court alone does. Nor … Continue reading Fiona Trust and Holding Corp and others v Privalov and others: ComC 20 Oct 2006
Citations: [2007] 1 WLR 554, [2006] EWCA Civ 1017 Links: Bailii Statutes: Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 58, Access to Justice Act 1999 27(1) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Mountain v Hastings CA 16-Apr-1993 The tenant disputed the effect of a notice to quit. Paragraph 3 of the form read: ‘The landlord … Continue reading Garrett v Halton Borough Council: CA 18 Jul 2006
The court considered the duties on the respondent in providing an enhanced criminal record certificate. In one case, the claimant had brought up her son who was made subject to child protection procedures for neglect. Her job involved supervising children at lunch time at a school. In the second case, a school head teacher had … Continue reading L, Regina (on the Application of) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis: Admn 19 Mar 2006
The reason adduced by the union for the dismissal of the climant was found by the Tribunal on the facts not to be the true reason for dismissal, the true reason being the union executive committee’s political antipathy to Mr Brady. Held: It was highly arguable that a finding that disciplinary proceedings had been commenced … Continue reading Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen v Brady: EAT 31 Mar 2006
The claimants claimed for the estate of their murdered son. He had been waiting to give evidence in a criminal trial, and had asked the police for support having received threats. Other witnesses had also suffered intimidation including acts of arson to cars and premises. The police officer had been disciplined for failing to respond … Continue reading Van Colle v Hertfordshire Police: QBD 10 Mar 2006
The applicant challenged the exercise of a power of sale under a mortgage, saying that the mortgagee’s purposes included purposes not those under the mortgage. The parties had been involved in an attempted development of a penthouse. Held: The power was validly exercised. Provided the recovery of the sums for which the security was given … Continue reading Meretz Investments Nv and Another v ACP Ltd and others: ChD 30 Jan 2006
EAT Practice and Procedure: Appearance/Response, Review and Appellate Jurisdiction/Burns-Barke When a Respondent has been debarred from taking part in proceedings under ET Rule 9, he may request Reasons from the ET for the purpose of an application for review, but not for any other purpose (and, consequently, at least pending any legislative change to Rule … Continue reading NSM Music Ltd v J H Leefe: EAT 14 Dec 2005
ECJ Carriage by air – Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 – Articles 5, 6 and 7 -Compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights – Validity – Interpretation of Article 234 EC Judges: V Skouris, P Citations: C-344/04, [2006] EUECJ C-344/04, Times 16-Jan-2006, [2006] ECR … Continue reading Regina, ex parte International Air Transport Association, European Low Fares Airline Association v Department for Transport: ECJ 10 Jan 2006
The claimant company had failed in its action. The court was asked to make a costs order personally against the principal director of the claimant who had controlled the litigation and funded it. He responded that no impropriety had been shown on his part to allow such an order. Held: ‘It is not a requirement … Continue reading BE Studios Ltd v Smith and Williamson Ltd: ChD 2 Dec 2005
ECJ Approximation of laws – Food supplements – Directive 2002/46/EC – Prohibition on trade in products not complying with the directive – Validity – Legal basis – Article 95 EC – Articles 28 EC and 30 EC – Regulation (EC) No 3285/94 – Principles of subsidiarity, proportionality and equal treatment – Right to property – … Continue reading Alliance For Natural Health and Another, Regina (On The Application of) v Secretary Of State For Health and Anor (Approximation Of Laws): ECJ 12 Jul 2005
The claimant alleged that the defendants had been importing copies of their perfumes. The products were not counterfeits, but ‘smell-alikes’. The defendants’ packaging and naming was used to suggest which perfume it resembled. Held: The claimant’s expert survey evidence was defective in several ways, but even so there was no evidence of confusion under the … Continue reading L’Oreal Sa and others v Bellure NV and others: ChD 4 Oct 2006
The claimant wished to pursue his claim for defamation against the defendant, but was reluctant to return to the UK to give evidence, fearing arrest and extradition to the US. He appealed refusal of permission to be interviewed on video tape. Held (Majority): The appeal succeeded, and the judge’s order allowing the evidence to be … Continue reading Polanski v Conde Nast Publications Ltd: HL 10 Feb 2005
The appellant challenged an order for costs after dismissal of her application for judicial review of the respondent’s planning decision. The claimant had been granted legal aid at about the time of the bringing in of the new legal aid scheme. The two regimes differed as to the limits applied to sums recoverable from the … Continue reading Sonia Burkett, Regina (on the Application of) v London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham: CA 15 Oct 2004
Judges: Sharp J Citations: [2012] EWHC 2843 (QB) Links: Bailii Statutes: Legal Services Act 2007 28(3) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Legal Professions, Human Rights Updated: 21 June 2022; Ref: scu.465476
The claimant was a director of the employer’s company. He claimed that the relationship of trust and confidence with the company had been undermined so far as to be a repudiatory breach of the contract. Before his complaint of unfair dismissal, he wrote without prejudice to the employers offering to stay a full time employee … Continue reading Independent Research Services Ltd v Catterall: EAT 26 Jun 1992
Peer sought declarations that they were the owners, or licensees, of the UK copyright in musical works composed by Cuban nationals, relying on assignments in writing by the composers and in some instances by their heirs. The defendants claimed under other titles. In Cuba laws had been passed to to recover copyrights assigned abroad. Held: … Continue reading Peer International Corporation Southern Music Publishing Company Inc Peermusic (UK) Limited v Termidor Music Publishers Limited Termidor Musikverlag Gmbh and Co Kg -And-Editoria Musical De Cuba: CA 30 Jul 2003
EAT Redundancy – Collective consultation and information. Serota QC J said: ‘In English v Emery Reimbold and Strick Ltd . . the Court of Appeal gave guidance as to the circumstances in which a Judge might be invited to amplify his reasons and findings where these are considered to be insufficient. The EAT has adopted … Continue reading J K Bansi v Alpha Flight Services: EAT 3 Feb 2004
CJ Agriculture – Common organisation of the markets – Sugar – Regulation (EEC) No 2670/81 – Proof of export – Regulation (EEC) No 3719/88 – Correction of an export licence – Obvious inaccuracy – Principle of proportionality. Citations: C-329/01, [2004] EUECJ C-329/01, [2004] ECR I-1899 Links: Bailii Statutes: Regulation (EEC) No 3719/88, Regulation (EEC) No … Continue reading British Sugar v Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce: ECJ 19 Feb 2004
Six appeals concerned a number of aspects of the new Conditional Fee Agreement. Held: It should be normal for a CFA, redacted as necessary, to be disclosed for costs proceedings where a success fee is claimed. If a party seeks to rely on the CFA, as a matter of fairness she should ordinarily be put … Continue reading Hollins v Russell etc: CA 22 May 2003
The local council sought to claim payment for sewerage services enjoyed by a householder. Held: Where a supplier has supplied services to another and there is no contractual relationship in existence, the law may afford to the supplier restitutionary remedy. Lightman J said: ‘there are four essential ingredients to a claim in restitution: (i) a … Continue reading Rowe, Regina (on the Application of) v Vale of White Horse District Council: Admn 7 Mar 2003
The respondent sought to transpose the Directive into UK law. The Applicant objected saying that the Directive was invalid. Held: The Directive had been made under Article 95 EC, concerning the internal market. Insofar as the Directive regulated the composition of tobacco products, and their packaging and labelling as Low Tar etc, it was valid. … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Health ex parte British American Tobacco (Investments) Ltd and Imperial Tobacco Ltd: ECJ 10 Dec 2002
The claimants sought damages against the defendants for their late delivery of a building. The contractors sought to share the damages with the architects who had certified the delays, defeating their own claims. Held: The Act sought to extend the circumstances under which contributions could be sought, but their claim against the architects were of … Continue reading Royal Brompton Hospital National Health Service Trust v Hammond and others: HL 25 Apr 2002
The claimant asserted involvement by the defendant bank in a fraud perpetrated against him. Jurisdiction had already been admitted for one trust , and now the claimant sought to add two further claims. Held: ‘None of the gateways to English jurisdiction in CPR PD 6B paragraph 3.1 expressly permit a putative claimant to pursue a … Continue reading Williams v Central Bank of Nigeria: QBD 24 Jan 2012
(Judgment) Community law did not recognise the rights of animals as fundamental. The applicant owned animals, which fell to be destroyed as part of a preventive cull to protect against the spread of foot and mouth disease. The animals would not be moved nor mix with other animals. They claimed that the ban on vaccination … Continue reading Jippes and others v Minister van Landbouw, Natuurbeheer en Visserij: ECJ 12 Jul 2001
Citations: [2007] EWHC 2868 (Ch) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Legal Professions, Litigation Practice Updated: 02 June 2022; Ref: scu.261781
NATS had tendered unsuccessfully for a contract to provide air traffic control services at Gatrwick airport, and challenged the award. GAL denied that the Regulations applied and now sought disapplication of the automatic suspension from the award of contracts pending resolution. Held: The automatic suspension under the Regulations should not be lifted. The issue of … Continue reading NATS (Services) Ltd v Gatwick Airport Ltd and Another: TCC 2 Oct 2014
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
The parties, head lessor and sub-lessess, had assumed that following Brown -v- Wilson the sub-lease would continue upon the determination of the head lease, and had overlooked Pennell which overruled Brown v Wilson. However the lease made express provision. Held: The express preservation of the sub-lease allowed the sub-lease to continue. As to whether an … Continue reading PW and Co v Milton Gate Investments Ltd (BT Property Ltd and another, Part 20 defendants): ChD 8 Aug 2003
LANDLORD AND TENANT – FTT PROCEDURE – whether applicant entitled to appoint a lay representative to conduct tribunal proceedings on its behalf – whether ‘conduct of litigation’ before the FTT a reserved legal activity – whether lay representative an exempt person – s.22, Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 – ss. 13, 14, 18 Legal … Continue reading Buttercup Buildings Ltd v Avon Estates (London) Ltd and Others: UTLC 10 Dec 2020