Acts
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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
Champerty: Lord Denning MR said: ‘The reason why the common law condemns champerty is because of the abuses to which it may give rise. The common law fears that the champertous maintainer might be tempted, for his own personal gain, to inflame the damages, to suppress evidence, or even to suborn witnesses. These fears may … Continue reading In re Trepca Mines (No 2): CA 1962
The court upheld the refusal of the master to allow the claimant solicitors to submit an amended bill: ‘In his oral submissions, Mr Stockler . . frankly acknowledged that he had been in error in supposing that it was possible to charge an uplift for contentious work, and said that he tried to make the … Continue reading Bilkus v Stockler Brunton (A Firm): ChD 30 Jul 2009
A claim was brought for the infringement of a patent. It was brought after the specification had been published, but before the patent had been sealed. Held: Time might run from a date before the plaintiff was entitled to sue. The cause of action for infringement accrued at the date of the infringement even if … Continue reading Sevcon Ltd v Lucas CAV Ltd: HL 1986
Requirements for Enforcing Consumer Loan Agreement The claimant challenged the validity of a loan agreement with his bank as a regulated consumer credit agreement. After default, the lender failed to satisfy a request for a copy of the agreement under section 77. The bank said that though it could not enforce the agreement, it remained … Continue reading McGuffick v The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc: ComC 6 Oct 2009
When drawing up accounts where the company faces contingent laibilities and provision has to be made, the principles upon which such provisions are made does not depend upon (Lord Radcliffe) ‘any exact analysis of the legal form of the relevant obligation’ but upon estimates of what in practice is likely to happen.The House noted the … Continue reading Southern Railway of Peru Ltd v Owen: HL 21 Jun 1956
The defendant solicitors acted for the plaintiff in the purchase of land, but failed to undertake a commons search which would have revealed an entry which would prevent the client pursuing his development. The defect was discovered only when purchasers from their clients later undertook a commons search. In fact the registration was erroneous, but … Continue reading G and K Ladenbau (UK) Ltd v Crawley and De Reya: QBD 25 Apr 1977
The Court considered the effect of a note or memorandum evidencing the sale of a property where it was described as ‘6,8 and 41, Boundary Street, Shoreditch (freehold).’ It was sought to connect the signature on a purchaser’s deposit cheque with an unsigned memorandum that stated the terms of the contract. Held: Jenkins LJ said: … Continue reading Timmins v Moreland Street Property Co Ltd: CA 1958
Complaint was made that the prisoner’s privileged conversations with his solicitors had been intercepted by the police. Held: The Act made explicit provisions allowing such interception and set out the appropriate safeguards. The interceptions were lawful. It was significant that a code of practice had been issued making detailed provision for the authorisation of monitoring … Continue reading McE, Re; McE v Prison Service of Northern Ireland and Another: HL 11 Mar 2009
The claimant firm of solicitors had been found negligent, and now sought a contribution to the damages awarded from the barrister defendant. They had not managed properly issues as to their clients competence to handle the proceedings. Held: The standard of care required was that: ‘the barrister must conduct himself in his professional work with … Continue reading McFaddens (A Firm) v Platford: TCC 30 Jan 2009
The English legal system has been producing law reports since time immemorial, and the Scots for even longer. These pages are full of codes making reference to such series, with their wonderful array of abbreviations. You cannot enquire about the law without beginning at least to understand and use them. Here is a brief, but … Continue reading Reports