Harris Re Gloucester Place Mews (Landlord and Tenant – Rent Act 1977 – Assessment of Fair Rent): UTLC 10 May 2018
Citations: [2018] UKUT 166 (LC) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Land Updated: 20 April 2022; Ref: scu.614991
Citations: [2018] UKUT 166 (LC) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Land Updated: 20 April 2022; Ref: scu.614991
The claimant applied to the Council for accommodation, claiming to be homeless and in priority need. The council housed him in a hotel owned by Mr Manek in Tooting Bec . He had a room, a separate bathroom and lavatory, and shared use of a kitchen. After three days the council completed their investigations. Though … Continue reading Mohamed v Manek and Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea: CA 28 Apr 1995
The appellant was receiving care and support from social services. He was found to have abused and threatened the team leader in telephone calls to her. He appealed against a conviction under the 1997 Act, saying that his calls did not amount to a course of conduct because on two of the three occasions, she … Continue reading James v Crown Prosecution Service: Admn 4 Nov 2009
The rent assessment committee had rejected market rent comparables as an indicator of market rent for the subject premises, because, inter alia, they were not satisfied of the actual absence of scarcity, and thus found that the landlord had not demonstrated the unsoundness of registered fair rent comparables. Held: The decision was upheld. A fair … Continue reading Spath Holme Ltd v Greater Manchester and Lancashire Rent Assessment Committee: CA 9 Aug 1995
The respondent had taken a tenancy of premises from the local authority. The ground floor was for use as a shop, and the first was residential. He had previously taken a licence and had refurbished the premises. The authority sold the freehold to the claimant, who now sought possession through forfeiture. The defendant sought relief … Continue reading Broadway Investments Hackney Ltd v Grant: CA 20 Dec 2006
Citations: [1954] 1 QB 446 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Mentioned – Pirabakaran v Patel and Another CA 26-May-2006 The landlord had wanted possession. The tenant said that the landlord had been harassing him. The landlord said that the tenancy was a mixed residential and business tenancy and that the 1977 Act did not … Continue reading Regina v Brighton and Area Rent Tribunal Ex parte Slaughter: CA 1954
It was claimed that the defendant’s computer software infringed the copyright in software owned by the claimant. A declaration was sought beacause of allegations that assertions about infringement had been made to third parties. Held: The declaration was refused. There was no explicit provision in copyright law for a declaration of non-infringement as was available … Continue reading Point Solutions Ltd v Focus Business Solutions Ltd and Another: ChD 16 Dec 2005
The appellant had contracted to provide office accomodation to the defendant. The air conditioning did not work and there were other defects. The appellant now challenged a finding of liability and that its contract terms which were said to totally exclude liability were unfair under the 1977 Act. Held: The appeal succeeded. Alternative remedies would … Continue reading Regus (UK) Ltd v Epcot Solutions Ltd: CA 15 Apr 2008
Large leaden vessels which were not fastened to the building in any way but simply rested by their own weight were held to be heritable since they had had to be taken to pieces in order to be removed and had then been sold as old lead. Citations: (1823) 2 S 270 Jurisdiction: Scotland Cited … Continue reading Niven v Pitcairn: 1823
The council laid complaints against the defenedant that it had not properly re-instated road surfaces after completing works. It now appealed, by way of case stated, against the court’s acceptance of the defendant’s argument that the large number of individual complaints would lead to a risk of a substantially greater punishment than parliament had intended, … Continue reading Hertfordshire County Council v National Grid Gas Plc: Admn 2 Nov 2007
The application raised two issues: the Tribunal’s power to remit a case for rehearing by an adjudicator, and when an order made by a lone chairman of the Tribunal may be varied or set aside. The Tribunal only has the powers it is given. The two powers of remittal are not to be treated differently, … Continue reading Secretary of State for the Home Department v Immigration Appeal Tribunal: Admn 9 Apr 2001
The claimant sought a declaration that she had inherited her mother’s stautory tenancy in 1987. She alleged encroachment by the landlord and a failure to repair. The landlord denied that she actually lived there so as to attract the protection of the 1977 Act. She received housing benefit. She said she had been driven out … Continue reading Kerr v Stephens: CA 15 Feb 2006
Whilst the law clearly allowed prosecutions under the Act after no more than two incidents of harassment, nevertheless, prosecutors should look to the reality of whether the acts complained of did in fact amount to a course of conduct under the Act. In this case, but marginally, they did. Prosecutors should look to the purpose … Continue reading Pratt v Director of Public Prosecutions: QBD 21 Jun 2001
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 claimant appealed, saying that she had lost her action for possession when the judge had failed to allow her to amend her pleadings to add an allegation that the tenant ws using the premises for an immoral purpose, having been convicted of living off the proceeds of prostitution. Held: The amendment would introduce an … Continue reading Bokhari v Redjep: CA 23 Nov 1998
No Judicial Review of Decisions of Private Body Despite the wide range of its powers, the disciplinary committee of the Jockey Club remains a domestic tribunal. Judicial review is not available to a member. The relationship is in contract between the club and its member. Sir Thomas Bingham MR said: ‘No serious racecourse management, owner, … Continue reading Regina v Disciplinary Committee of the Jockey Club, ex parte Aga Khan: CA 4 Dec 1992
Citations: [2007] EWCA Civ 1449 Links: Bailii Statutes: Rent Act 1977 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 26 November 2022; Ref: scu.264481
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
(Ireland) A tenant subject to a re-entry clause in his tenancy agreement in the case of his being made bankrupt, and who had gone bankrupt had broken an obligation of his tenancy. He was not protected from an order for possession. ‘The tenant here has broken one of the conditions of his tenancy by allowing … Continue reading In re Drew (A Bankrupt): 1929
The convictions had been referred back to the Court of Appeal in relation to various grounds, but the s.34 direction was a further ground relied on by the appellants. The Court recognised that the direction was inadequate by reference to the standards in 2006. The direction did not contain the key direction suggested to be … Continue reading Steele, Whomes and Corry , Regina v: CACD 22 Feb 2006
The House was asked as to the extent to which a consignor can claim damages against a carrier in circumstances where the consignor did not retain either property or risk. To the general principle that a person cannot recover substantial damages for breach of contract where he himself has suffered no loss by reason of … Continue reading Albacruz (Cargo Owners) v Albazero ‘The Albazero’: HL 1977
The court considered an extension of the time for claiming damages for personal injuries after the claimants said they had been sexually abused as children in the care of the defendants. Held: The test to be applied under section 14(2) was ‘partly subjective’and ‘section 14(2) was designed principally to provide for cases of late diagnosis … Continue reading KR and others v Bryn Alyn Community (Holdings) Ltd and Another: CA 10 Jun 2003
The mother of the child on behalf of whom the application was made, was to face trial for murder. The child was in care and an order was sought to restrain publiction of material which might reveal his identity, including matters arising during the trial. Held: (Hale LJ dissenting) The court in this case was … Continue reading Re S (A Child): CA 10 Jul 2003
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
A ferry plied its way between Dublin and Holyhead, coming into English territorial waters three or four times a day, and for up to three hours on each occasion. The claimants asserted that the construction of the hull infringed its patent. Held: The Act specifically excluded liability where an infringing ship or other item came … Continue reading Stena Rederi Aktiebolag and Another v Irish Ferries Ltd: CA 6 Feb 2003
IPO The application concerns game playing services in game machines, such as slot machines or video poker games. The thrust of the application is to enable game patrons to recover left-amounts which may arise from transactions involving different currencies. This is facilitated by software in the game machine’s logic modules. These left-over amounts can be … Continue reading IGT (Patent) O/140/13: IPO 27 Mar 2013
Application for declaration that tenants were regulated tenants under the 1977 Act. Citations: [2007] EWCA Civ 863 Links: Bailii Statutes: Rent Act 1977 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 12 November 2022; Ref: scu.259132
The claimant sought damages. The respondent had acted as an adoption agency but had failed to disclose all relevant information about the child. Held: Any such duty extended only during the period where the child was with the prospective adopters pending their decision on adoption. Hale LJ: ‘Whenever the question of a common law duty … Continue reading A and Another v Essex County Council: CA 17 Dec 2003
Money had been loaned for the purchase of three ships,and mortgages over the ships had been given given. The borrowers were in default, and the lender sought to arrest the vessels. The defendant argued that the way the arrest had been undertaken caused additional losses. Held: The Bank’s actions constituted a breach of the obligation … Continue reading Den Norske Bank Asa v Acemex Management Company Ltd: CA 7 Nov 2003
In an earlier interim decision relating to an application for revocation, the claims of the patent had been found to be invalid but the patentee was allowed the opportunity to file amendments under s.75 aimed at rectifying the defects found. A request to amend was subsequently filed which was opposed by the claimant for revocation. … Continue reading Linstol UK Limited v Huang (Patent): IPO 21 Nov 2012
The application related to method of storing data in a computer. The method relied on de-duplication of the data such that only one copy of the data is stored. If an attempt is made to store a further copy of the same data then instead of storing that same data again, a pointer to the … Continue reading Quantum Corporation (Patent): IPO 14 Nov 2012
A rent officer can investigate whether a tenancy is protected by the Rent Act 1977 in order to decide whether he has jurisdiction to fix the rent. Citations: [1978] QB 1 Statutes: Rent Act 1977 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Sugar v British Broadcasting Corporation and Another HL 11-Feb-2009 The Corporation had … Continue reading Regina v Kensington and Chelsea (Royal) London Borough Rent Officer, Ex parte Noel: 1978
The defendant was a Rent Act tenant. She was the last remaining tenant in a block of twenty flats which the landlord wished to redevelop. She said that the alternative accommodation offered was unsuitable. She had not co-operated with the claimant is assessing her medical condition. She now said that the order debarring her from … Continue reading PB Investments Ltd v McInnes: CA 19 Jun 2007
The claimant sought to appeal the quashing of determinations of a fair rent for two properties. Citations: [1997] EWCA Civ 2453, [1999] QB 92 Statutes: Rent Act 1977 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Spath Home Ltd v Greater Manchester and Lancashire Rent Assessment Committee QBD 13-Jul-1994 The rent assessment committee had rejected proposed … Continue reading Curtis v Chairman of London Rent Assessment Committee; Huntingford and Packford: CA 9 Oct 1997
A homosexual partner of a deceased tenant was not a member of that tenant’s family so as to entitle him to inherit the Rent Act tenancy on the death of his partner. Citations: Times 31-Jul-1997, [1997] EWCA Civ 2169, [2000] L and TR 44 Links: Bailii Statutes: Rent Act 1977 Sch 1 2(2) Jurisdiction: England … Continue reading Fitzpatrick v Sterling Housing Association: CA 23 Jul 1997
IPO Patent applications GB0621068.6 and GB0621069.4 relate to methods where parthenogenesis is used to activate a human oocyte (i.e. stimulation of a human oocyte, without fertilisation by a sperm cell) to produce a parthenogenetically-activated oocyte or ‘parthenote’. GB0621068.6 concerns the production of human stem cells from such parthenotes, whilst GB0621069.4 concerns human synthetic corneas and … Continue reading International Stem Cell Corporation (Patent): IPO 16 Aug 2012
When considering whether to consent to an assignment of a lease, a landlord need consider only his own interests. Judges: Roskill, Lawton, Megaw LJ Citations: [1979] EWCA Civ 1, [1979] 3 WLR 14, [1979] QB 593, 250 EG 345, [1979] 2 All ER 657 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Approved – Bickel v … Continue reading West Layton Ltd v Ford; West Layton Ltd v Joseph and Another: CA 12 Feb 1979
The applicants sought to strike out a claim under section 459. The two companies sold toiletries, the one as retail agent for the other. They disputed the relationship of the companies, and the use of a trading name. Documents were disclosed which appeared to be fabrications. Held: Where a party was in breach of court … Continue reading Arrow Nominees Inc, Blackledge v Blackledge: ChD 2 Nov 1999
The parties had married, but the male partner was a transsexual, having been born female and having undergone treatment for Gender Identity Dysphoria. After IVF treatment, the couple had a child. As the marriage broke down the truth was revealed in court, but the plaintiff said that his wife had known the true position. He … Continue reading J v S T (Formerly J): CA 21 Nov 1996
The local authority made a CPO in 1981 in respect of a sports ground. The applicants later acquired the land. In 1989 the order was confirmed and in March 1989 a vesting order was made. The authority was unable to afford to complete the purchase. In October 1992, the applicant sought a declaration that the … Continue reading Co-operative Insurance Society Ltd v Hastings Borough Council: ChD 23 Jun 1993
Part time retained firefighters claimed discrimination under the Regulations when their conditions of service were compared with those of full-time firefighters. They appealed a finding that they had been employed under different types of contract and that therefore no claim arose. Held: There was insufficient reason to treat the retained firefighters as being employed under … Continue reading Matthews and others v Kent and Medway Towns Fire Authority and others: CA 2 Jul 2004
Judges: Miss Joanna Smith QC Sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court Citations: [2018] EWHC 1873 (Ch) Links: Bailii Statutes: Rent Act 1977 13, Housing Act 1988 38 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 31 October 2022; Ref: scu.682212
The respondent mortgagee had obtained an order for possession against the mortgagor freeholder, referred to in the judgment as ‘the Chief’, who had, prior to the mortgage, granted a tenancy to the appellant. Held: The landlord’s retention of a right to use the kitchen made the tenancy a restricted tenancy even though no use was … Continue reading The Mortgage Corporation Ltd v Ubah: CA 21 Mar 1996
Where adoption is to be considered against the will of the parent, the court should recognise when asking whether the opposition was unreasonable that the test is objective and supposes that this person is endowed with a mind and temperament capable of making reasonable decisions: ‘. . making the freeing order, the judge had to … Continue reading Re C (a Minor) (Adoption: Parental Agreement: Contact): CA 1993
An unprotected tenant, moving with his Landlord’s family to a new house, didn’t gain protection on move. Citations: Gazette 06-Jul-1994, Times 25-May-1994, Ind Summary 06-Jun-1994 Statutes: Rent Act 1977 12(1)(b)(I) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Landlord and Tenant Updated: 26 October 2022; Ref: scu.84484
The special character of a district is relevant when a court was asked to consider an offer of alternative accommodation for a tenant. Citations: Ind Summary 05-Jul-1993, Times 28-Jun-1993 Statutes: Rent Act 1977 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Landlord and Tenant, Housing Updated: 26 October 2022; Ref: scu.79841
IPO Entitlement, Striking out – This is a reference under section 8 in respect of an unpublished patent application. The claimant does not know the precise contents of the application. Its claim is based on the title of the application and its employment of the two named co-inventors and co-applicants. The co-applicants requested that the … Continue reading Fireworks Fire Protection Limited v Cooke and Musk (Patent): IPO 10 Jun 2011
IPO An uncontested application was filed by Renovo Limited. As a result, it was found that Ann Helena Ledwith should be mentioned as a joint inventor in the published patent application and granted patent for the invention along with the currently named inventors, Mark William James Ferguson, Sharon O’Kane, David Fairlamb and Tracey Mason. It … Continue reading Renovo Limited, Ledwith, Williams Ferguson, O’Kane, Fairlamb and Mason (Patent): IPO 27 Jan 2011
Claim construction, Infringement, Inventive step, Sufficiency – The patent relates to a device for conducting fluid released from a pressure relief valve of a boiler, via a conduit, to the outside of a building and changing direction of the fluid using a cup-shaped portion at the end of the conduit. The claimant sought a declaration … Continue reading Richard Wragg v Mike Donnelly (Patent): IPO 9 Aug 2010
IPO An uncontested application was filed by BPB Limited. As a result, it was found that Agnes Smith and Thierry Chotard should be mentioned as joint inventors in the published patent application and granted patent for the invention along with the currently named inventors, Samantha O’Keefe and Cedric Biguenet. It was also directed that an … Continue reading BPB Limited, O’Keefe, Biguenet, Smith and Chotard (Patent): IPO 10 May 2010
IPO The invention relates to a touch sensitive user interface for an electronic device, for example, a mobile telephone, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), MP3 player or similar hand-held device. The application as a whole describes various embodiments whereby gestures or combinations of gestures (e.g. movements of the finger across the surface of a touch-sensitive display … Continue reading Khalil Arafat (Patent): IPO 10 May 2010
The tenant claimed Rent Act protection for his tenancy. He had been rehoused and began his tenancy in 1970 with the ground floor used as a shop, and the first floor as living accomodation. He later abandoned the business use. He appealed a finding that he did not have protection under the 1977 Act. Held: … Continue reading Tan and Another v Sitkowski: CA 1 Feb 2007
ICO This decision concerned whether the patent in suit should be restored following a failure to pay the renewal fee. In December 2000 and January 2001respectively two patent applications were filed for the same invention – a British (GB) application and a European (EP) application, the latter designating amongst other countries, GB and claiming priority … Continue reading Orkli (UK) Limited (Patent): IPO 30 Sep 2009
IPO The invention related to a gaming apparatus and method in which 2D image data was converted into a 3D video image and displayed on a non-planar 3D screen. The examiner had objected that the contribution of the invention was excluded under the above categories, but (although it was not apparent from the specification as … Continue reading IGT (Patent) O/149/08: IPO 23 May 2008
IPO The application relates to a method for generating links related to the content of an active window displayed on a computer screen and for embedding an icon representing these links within, for example, the title bar of the window. The application also discloses how a summary of one of these links is displayed when … Continue reading Autonomy Corporation Ltd (Patent): IPO 7 Nov 2007
IPO The application relates to a method of enabling an application running on an operating system on a portable computing device to access files stored on removable storage medium. Memory on different devices is typically managed according to different directory structures. In practice, this means that a file request from a device running on one … Continue reading Symbian Ltd (Patent): IPO 20 Aug 2007
IPO The application is concerned with games such as poker in which a combination of cards makes up a winning hand, or slot machine symbols making a winning row. In the card variant, certain cards have associated with them other, different, cards; for example the seven of hearts could be associated with the ace of … Continue reading IGT (Patent) O/198/07: IPO 16 Jul 2007
IPO Excluded fields (refused) – In a gaming machine, different results were classified into sets producing the same outcome, all results producing the same outcome being in the same set; the results were numbered and stored in a memory with the outcomes; and a processor randomly selected one of the outcomes and one of the … Continue reading IGT (Patent) O/077/07: IPO 15 Mar 2007
IPO The Hearing Officer found that the proprietor, represented by the General Manager (the Directing Mind), had effectively taken reasonable care to see that the sixteenth year renewal fee was paid by issuing standing instructions that renewal fees should be paid automatically on any overseas patent which was licenced, even if its Japanese parent patent … Continue reading Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited (Patent): IPO 14 Nov 2003
The application was entitled Hands-free megaphone and claimed a combination of a microphone assembly, a body pack including an output horn secured by a belt around a users body, and a cable connecting the microphone assembly and the body pack. An objection of lack of inventive step was based on a French patent. It was … Continue reading Robert Leonard Carpenter (Patent) O/325/03: IPO 27 Oct 2003
IPO The opponent in these proceedings commenced to design and trade in clothing under the name EMANUEL about 1977. A shop was opened in Chelsea in 1986 but due to the breakdown of her marriage the shop closed in 1990 and Ms Emanuel commenced to trade under her own name ELIZABETH EMANUEL and she registered … Continue reading Elizabeth Emanuel (Trade Mark: Opposition): IPO 17 Oct 2002
The company appealed against a finding that they were in breach of their contract of employment in not including the claimant in those considered for an enhanced redundancy package. Held: The appeal failed. Tribunals should be cautious before appearing to extend the terms of the implied duty of trust and confidence between employer and employee.Pill … Continue reading Transco Plc v O’Brien: CA 7 Mar 2002
IPO Excluded fields (allowed) – The applications relate to the use of parallel processing in active memory applications. Following the CFPH approach, the Hearing Officer was able to identify an advance in the art that lay outside the description of an invention in the sense of Article 52 of the EPC. However, he could find … Continue reading Micron Europe Limited (Patent): IPO 20 Sep 2006
IPO The claims related to an apparatus for gaming which was networked to a host computer and allocated players to levels each with an associated amount beyond which a player would be given an award. The nearest prior art was the applicant’s published application which lay in the section 2(3) field and had been refused … Continue reading Acres Gaming Incorporated (Patent): IPO 18 Sep 2006
The defendant appealed from convictions of wounding with intent, and murder. The issue was one of identification, and he criticised the absence of a full Turnbull direction. Held: A Turnbull warning should warn the jury of the dangers inherent in identification evidence, the reason for the danger, and the fact that one or more honest … Continue reading Regina v Elliott: CACD 22 Dec 1997
The claimant was disabled, and sought sterilisation because she feared the additional difficulties she would face as a mother. The sterilisation failed. She sought damages. Held: The House having considered the issue in MacFarlane only recently it was inappropriate to change the rules set down in that case. Nothing had been put forward to argue … Continue reading Rees v Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust: HL 16 Oct 2003
The court discussed when it was appropriate for the Court of Appeal to substitute other lesser convictions, after the main conviction had been declared unsafe. Held: After studying the authorities at length, the court felt that the various convictions should be quashed, but that in some cases there was a possibility of substituting verdicts of … Continue reading Regina v Graham, Kansal, etc: CACD 25 Oct 1996
The Court considered whether, on exercising a break clause in a lease, the tenant was entitled to recover rent paid in advance. Held: The appeal failed. The Court of Appeal had imposed what was established law. The test for whether a clause might be implied in a contract is: ‘that it is necessary for business … Continue reading Marks and Spencer Plc v BNP Paribas Securities Services Trust Company (Jersey) Ltd and Another: SC 2 Dec 2015
Appeal from fair rent assessments Citations: [2003] EWHC 1465 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Rent Act 1977 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 04 October 2022; Ref: scu.185382
The court heard an appeal against a judgment in a boundary dispute, the losing party having latterly dicovered aerial photopgraphs. There appeared to be a difference between the total area as specified in a 1974 conveyance off of part and the area naturally forming the boundary. Judges: Maurice Kay VP, Lloyd, Sullivan LJJ Citations: [2012] … Continue reading Taylor v Lambert and Another: CA 18 Jan 2012
ECJ The Court of Justice considered a reference for a preliminary ruling, pursuant to article 1977 of the Treaty, as having been validly brought before it so long as the reference has not been withdrawn by the court from which it emanates or has not been quashed on appeal by a superior court. The direct … Continue reading Amministrazione Delle Finanze Dello Stato v Simmenthal SpA (No 2): ECJ 9 Mar 1978
A child had died. The father was accused and acquitted of murder by way of shaken baby syndrome. The local authority persisted with an application for care orders for the other children. Held: ‘I do not claim to have divined truth. I have reached conclusions based on what I believe to have been proved to … Continue reading A Local Authority v S and W and T By her Guardian: FD 27 May 2004
The claimants had been persuaded to take up leases on a service area constructed by the defendants. They said that the publicity materials had wildly exaggerated the actual number of visitors, and sought damages for fraudulent misrepresentation. Held: The claim in fraudulent misrepresentation failed. Lewison J discussed why the entire agreement clause satisfied the test … Continue reading Foodco UK Llp (T/A Muffin Break) and Others v Henry Boot Developments Ltd: ChD 3 Mar 2010
Leave to apply was pursued under the provisions of a Tomlin order. The parties had disputed the extent to which parts of the order should be exhibited to the court. Held: The Tomlin order should be amended to add terms necessary to give effect to the parties’ intentions. Citations: [2006] EWHC 904 (Ch) Links: Bailii … Continue reading Donington Park Leisure Ltd v Wheatcroft and Son Ltd: ChD 7 Apr 2006
Appeal from fair rent assessments Judges: Elias J Citations: [2003] EWHC 1455 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Rent Act 1977 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 27 September 2022; Ref: scu.185373
The tenant appealed against an order granting possession. The tenancy, being held of a mutual housing co-operative did not have security but was in a form restricting the landlord’s right to recover possession, and the tenant resisted saying that it was worded to create a lease for life (applying the LRB case). Held: The tenant’s … Continue reading Berrisford v Mexfield Housing Co-Operative Ltd: SC 9 Nov 2011
The claimant musician alleged defamation, saying that the defendant had accused him of being a right wing racist. The defendant now applied to strike out the claim as an abuse of process because of the claimant’s delay. Held: The application to strike out the claim failed. The reasons for delay were credible. The allegation was … Continue reading Morrissey v McNicholas and Another: QBD 26 Oct 2011
Estoppel Cannot Oust Statutory Discretion The plaintiff had been refused planning permission for a factory. The refusals were followed by the issue of Enforcement Notices and Stop Notices. The plaintiff said that they had been given re-assurances upon which they had relied. Held: The appeal failed. The court tried to reconcile invocations of estoppel with … Continue reading Western Fish Products Ltd v Penwith District Council and Another: CA 22 May 1978
The court considered the result of the transfer of the freehold of houses held under Rent Act 1977 contracts were affected. Judges: Charles Hollander QC Citations: [2011] EWHC 1467 (Ch) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 17 September 2022; Ref: scu.442575
The claimant had managed a pension scheme for the respondent company. It now challenged a finding of maladministration of the scheme, with respect to the methods of calculation of discounts applicable to those leaving the scheme. Held: Since the calculations employed would have been carried out for others whether or not the instant pension scheme … Continue reading Legal and General Assurance Society Ltd v CCA Stationery Ltd: ChD 12 Dec 2003
The landlord had wanted possession. The tenant said that the landlord had been harassing him. The landlord said that the tenancy was a mixed residential and business tenancy and that the 1977 Act did not apply. Held: The 1977 Act applied. A tenancy for mixed purposes falls under the protection of the Act of 1954, … Continue reading Pirabakaran v Patel and Another: CA 26 May 2006
The applicant claimed the right to purchase the freehold reversion for her home. The defendant said it was not held under a low rent so as to qualify, since the rent exceeded the rateable value as assessed. The rating list had been altered meantime from the two cottages to one combined listing. Held: Looking at … Continue reading Neville v Cowdray Trust Ltd and Another: CA 5 May 2006
The tenant had a Rent Act tenancy. The landlord failed to repair the premises, and he was unable to occupy them. The present appellant landlord took an assignment of the freehold, and sought possession for arrears of rent. The first proceedings were compromised with the tenant retaining the tenancy, and the landlord agreeing to carry … Continue reading Carphone Warehouse UK Ltd v Cyrus Malekout: CA 14 Jun 2006
The claimant sought an order to prevent the defendant, a former employee, from misusing its confidential information said to be held by her. Her contract contained no post employment restrictions but did seek to control confidential and other information. She had obtained employment with a customer of the claimant, and was said to carry out … Continue reading Caterpillar Logistics Services (UK) Ltd v Huesca De Crean: QBD 2 Dec 2011
The court was asked as to the compatibility of provisions in the 1978 Act with the human rights of the appellant. The claimants, Moroccan nationals were employed as domestic staff in embassies in London. They alleged both race discrimination and breach of the 1998 Regulations, saying that the statutory exemption of the Embassies from liability … Continue reading Benkharbouche v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: SC 18 Oct 2017
E Was born with and still suffered severe learning difficulties. The court was asked as to the extent of his capacity to make decisions, and as to where he should live, with a family member, the carer or with the local authority, which had removed him from her care. As he had become an adult, … Continue reading G v E and Others: CoP 26 Mar 2010
EAT PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Striking-out/dismissal In April 2009, the Claimant, who was then 77 years of age, was employed by the Respondent, when he was laid off without pay. While still being employed by the Respondent he submitted an ET1 alleging he had been laid off. By a judgment of Employment Judge Salter (‘the … Continue reading Foster v Bon Groundwork Ltd: EAT 17 Mar 2011
The court considered the developing international jurisdiction over commercial activities of state bodies which might enjoy state immunity, and sought to ascertain whether or not the Central Bank of Nigeria was entitled to immunity from suit. Held: The key questions are those of ‘governmental control’ and ‘governmental functions’ and that these are to be determined … Continue reading Trendtex Trading Corporation v Central Bank of Nigeria: CA 1977
The government of Spain had issued an arrest warrant and application for extradition in respect of Pinochet Ugarte for his alleged crimes whilst president of Chile. He was arrested in England. He pleaded that he had immunity from prosecution. Held: A head of state’s immunity from prosecution extends only to official acts performed in exercise … Continue reading Regina v Bartle and The Commissioner Of Police For The Metropolis and Others Ex Parte Pinochet Ugarte, Regina v Evans and Another and The Commissioner of Police For The Metropolis and Others (No 1): HL 22 Nov 1998
(Hong Kong) The buyer brought an action for damages for breach of a contract for the sale of goods. The measure of damages was the difference between the contract price and the market value of the goods at the relevant date. The evidence called at trial was all directed to the market value of the … Continue reading Tai Hing Cotton Mill Limited v Kamsing Knitting Factory (A Firm): PC 27 Jul 1977
In each case the tenant occupied the property as his home, but was not a secure tenant of the local authority. The Court was asked whether, in granting a possession order in such a case, the court was obliged to consider the proportionality of the order requested. Powell had been given emergency accomodation as a … Continue reading London Borough of Hounslow v Powell, Leeds City Council v Hall etc: SC 23 Feb 2011
When offering courses to distance learning students, the College offered materials for the courses. As part of the course this supply would be exempt, as books, the supply would be zero-rated, but the taxpayer would be able to reclaim its VAT inputs. Held: ‘There clearly was a separate supply of goods, namely the printed material … Continue reading College of Estate Management v Commissioners of Customs and Excise: CA 11 Aug 2004
The claimant appealed refusal of its claim for possession against the respondents, occupiers of single-storey wooden bungalows on its land. The leases had expired. The defendants said the structures were their own, and not subject to the lease, and an order would infringe their human rights. They also claimed an estoppel based on reassurances given … Continue reading Keelwalk Properties Ltd v Betty Waller and Another: CA 30 Jul 2002
The claimants appealed against a decision of the Adjudicator that they had not acquired a piece of their neighbour’s land by adverse possession, on the basis that their use had been by virtue of an oral licence. The judge had found the occupation to be insufficient to demnstrate exclusion of others from the land. Held: … Continue reading Wilson and Another v Grainger: ChD 4 Dec 2009
The parties disputed the jurisdiction of the English courts over a letter of credit. It foresaw payment here and in sterling, made by the English bank as against the appropriate documents. Authority had been given for service out of the jurisdiction. Held: The English courts had jurisdiction in this issue. ‘[T]he correct approach for the … Continue reading Pt Pan Indonesia Bank Ltd Tbk v Marconi Communications International Ltd: CA 27 Apr 2005
The Claimant had relied on a number of causes of action in his ET claim, including an allegation of an automatically unfair health and safety dismissal contrary to s.100(1)(b) ERA 1996 for his having sought to undertake a workplace inspection in his capacity as a Safety Representative under the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations … Continue reading Markham v Asda Stores Ltd (Health and Safety): EAT 15 Aug 2019
The Society ran a mortgage rescue scheme, buying properties from borrowers unable to maintain mortgage repayments, and letting them back. As a co-operative, the former owners would become members. Because it was a mutual housing co-operative, the tenancy had no security beyond the 1977 Act. The appellant fell behind with her rent, but denied that … Continue reading Berrisford v Mexfield Housing Co- Operative Ltd: CA 15 Jul 2010
The claimants sought sole ownership of a patent. Held: The judge had erred when he reversed the decision of the hearing officer that the claimant was sole owner of the patent. The court expressed its regret that the matter had not been resolved without proceedings. Entitlement proceedings were inevitably complicated and expensive. They were more … Continue reading IDA Ltd and others v The University of Southampton and others: CA 2 Mar 2006
The Applicant AB, a lesbian woman aged 37, applied for contact to twin boys, E and F, aged 3. In making that application, she described herself as the boys’ ‘parent’; she ws so defined on the boys’ birth certificates. For the first 17 months of their lives, she fulfilled a parental role, as an integral … Continue reading AB v CD: FD 24 May 2013
ECJ The principle that men and women should receive equal pay, which is laid down by article 119, is one of the foundations of the community. It may be relied on before the national courts. These courts have a duty to ensure the protection of the rights which that provision vests in individuals, in particular … Continue reading Defrenne v Sabena (No 2): ECJ 8 Apr 1976