M’Grigor and Others (Bertram’S Marriage-Contract Trustees) v M’Grigor and Others: SCS 9 Mar 1888
Citations: [1888] SLR 25 – 385 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: Scotland Scotland Updated: 20 April 2022; Ref: scu.614355
Citations: [1888] SLR 25 – 385 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: Scotland Scotland Updated: 20 April 2022; Ref: scu.614355
(High Court of Australia) The court considered an action for damages by a party to a contract to enforce an obligation intended to benefit another. Held: Windeyer J: ‘ I can see no reason why in such cases the damages which A would suffer upon B’s breach of his contract to pay C $500 would … Continue reading Coulls v Bagot’s Executor and Trustee Co Ltd: 21 Mar 1967
A limited company is not a trustee of its funds, but their beneficial owner. However, the fiduciary character of the duties of its directors mean that they are treated as if they were trustees of those funds of the company which are in their hands or under their control, and if they misapply them they … Continue reading Re Lands Allotment Company: CA 1894
The trust was created in 1948, and provided gifts over, which had now failed. The court considered the construction of the term ‘stautory next of kin’. The possible beneficiaries claimed through being adopted, arguing that at the date of the last beneficary’s death, all impediments to inheritance by adopted children had been removed by statute. … Continue reading Re Erskine 1948 Trust: ChD 29 Mar 2012
The deceased had first conveyed property to her solicitor. Leases back were then created in her favour, and then the freeholds were conveyed at her direction to her children and grandchildren. They were potentially exempt transfers. Held: (Millett LJ dissenting) The conveyance to the solicitor left the solicitor holding the property as bare trustee for … Continue reading Ingram and Palmer-Tomkinson (Executors of the Estate of Lady Jane Lindsay Morgan Ingram Deceased) v Commissioners of Inland Revenue: CA 28 Jul 1997
Shareholders in the defendant company challenged its claim to legal privilege. They argued that when the directors obtained the advice in question, they did so on behalf of the company as a whole, and that they could not, therefore, assert privilege in the advice as against the shareholders. Held: The shareholders were entitled to discovery … Continue reading Gourand v Edison Gower Bell Telephone Co of Europe Ltd: ChD 1888
A man effected an insurance policy which contained a term that it should not be assignable in any case whatever. He had previously covenanted with trustees to settle after-acquired property. Held: The court will seek to protect the interests of those who are contractually entitled to have the benefit of an inalienable asset even before … Continue reading Re Turcan: CA 1888
A solicitor commenced an action on June 12th, 1896 for his fees for work which had been completed on May 30th 1889. Held: A period of limitation runs from the date on which the ingredients of the cause of action are complete. The statute of limitations began to run from the time the work was … Continue reading Coburn v Colledge: CA 5 Apr 1897
Where there has been culpa lata on the part of trustees and loss to the trust-estate which it might reasonably be concluded would not have been incurred apart from the trustees’ failure in duty, the onus lies upon them to show that the loss would equally have been incurred if they had performed their duty. … Continue reading Carruthers v Carruthers’ Trustees: HL 13 Jul 1896
Lush LJ said: ‘ The next question which, no doubt, is a very important and substantial one, is, that Lloyds, having sustained no damage themselves could not recover for the losses sustained by third parties by reason of the default of Robert Henry Harper as an Underwriter. That, to my mind, is a startling and … Continue reading Lloyd’s v Harper: 1888
There could be no objection to an assignment by the trustee in bankruptyc of a cause of action in return for a share of the proceeds, which ‘apart from the bankruptcy law . . is plainly void for champerty.’ Judges: Chitty J Citations: (1888) 40 ChD 481 Cited by: Cited – Norglen Ltd (In Liquidation) … Continue reading Guy v Churchill: 1888
The court was asked whether a building scheme had been established. Held: It had. The court set out the factors which must be shown to establish a building scheme on an estate; Both plaintiff and defendant’s titles must derive from the same vendor who must have laid out a definitive scheme for development before the … Continue reading Elliston v Reacher: ChD 1908
Banker’s Liability for Negligent Reference The appellants were advertising agents. They were liable themselves for advertising space taken for a client, and had sought a financial reference from the defendant bankers to the client. The reference was negligent, but the bankers denied any assumption of a duty of care to a third party when purely … Continue reading Hedley Byrne and Co Ltd v Heller and Partners Ltd: HL 28 May 1963
The local authority had incurred expense in paving a street. They were entitled to apportion those expenses amongst the owners of the properties fronting onto that street and summarily to recover from the respective owners the amounts so apportioned. In addition statute provided that such expenses should be charged on the premises in respect of … Continue reading Hornsey Local Board v Monarch Investment Building Society: CA 1889
There are no degrees of nullity The plaintiffs had owned mining property in Egypt. Their interests were damaged and or sequestrated and they sought compensation from the Respondent Commission. The plaintiffs brought an action for the declaration rejecting their claims was a nullity. The Commission replied that the courts were precluded from considering the question … Continue reading Anisminic Ltd v Foreign Compensation Commission: HL 17 Dec 1968
In October, 1898, a contract was entered into on behalf of the present trustees of Hollis Hospital for the sale of certain freehold property belonging to the hospital. The property contracted to be sold formed part of certain property which had been conveyed by H. to trustees upon trusts for the hospital by deeds of … Continue reading In re Hollis’ Hospital and Hague’s Contract: ChD 5 Jul 1899
Long Relationship Not Enough for Interest in Home The parties lived together for 17 years but were not married. The woman took the man’s name, but beyond taking on usual household duties, she made no direct financial contribution to the house. She brought up their two children over 17 years. Latterly she went to work, … Continue reading Burns v Burns: CA 1984
A creditor can create, for good consideration an equitable charge over book debts which will attach to them as soon as they come into existence.
Lord Macnaghten said: ‘It was admitted by the learned counsel for the respondent, that a trader . .
A first mortgagee, Heard, had sold property under the power of sale and had retained a solicitor, Searle, to act in relation to the sale. Searle received the proceeds of sale, satisfied the first mortgage debt, but retained the balance, falsely . .
The court considered the liability of partners in a solicitors’ firm for embezzlement of client money by an employee of the firm. Once the true position became known, after many years, the client sued the surviving partners, who relied on . .
Recovery was sought from the partners of a defaulting solicitor.
Lord Herschell LC disposed of the argument about concealment first, and then turned to section 8, saying: ‘My Lords, the only remaining question is, Did the statute apply? It is . .
Court of Session Inner House First Division – By agreements purporting to be ‘minutes of lease, entered into in 1879 and 1880, the trustees of J. P. ‘let’ to J. S. P. certain premises, and the pawnbroking stock therein, J. S. P. being bound to pay a . .
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The court had to answer the question of whether the Pensions Ombudsman could make orders which the court could not. Held: It could not, Knox J said: ‘there is a real distinction between ordering compensation for inconvenience and distress caused by maladministration as an adjunct to the power to remedy injustice caused by maladministration which … Continue reading Hillsdown Holdings plc v Pensions Ombudsman: 1997
The claimant government sought the return to it of historical artefacts in the possession of the defendants. The defendant said the claimant could not establish title and that if it could the title under which the claim was made was punitive and not to be applied by English law. Held: It is necessary for a … Continue reading Iran v The Barakat Galleries Ltd: QBD 29 Mar 2007
The creditor had assigned the debt, but without first giving the debtor defendant the necessary notice. A challenge was made to the ability of the assignee to bring the action, saying that the deed of trust appointed to circumvent the reluctance of the original creditors to sue was invalid without such consent since the assignment … Continue reading Barbados Trust Company Ltd v Bank of Zambia and Another: CA 27 Feb 2007
The appellants sought partial exemption from rates on its premises. The Corporation challenged their charitable status. The society’s object was to encourage and provide facilities for cremation. Held: The object was charitable.Lord Reid said that it was not now necessary to produce evidence so as to show that the object was for the public benefit, … Continue reading Scottish Burial Reform and Cremation Society v Glasgow Corporation: HL 26 Jul 1967
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
Mr Sharp was the local land registrar with statutory duty to maintain the local registry, issuing certificates in response to search requests. A clerk who had been seconded by another Council to assist him negligently issued an inaccurate certificate to a prospective purchaser of land, omitting any reference to a claim to reimbursement of compensation … Continue reading Ministry of Housing and Local Government v Sharp: CA 1970
The deceased had assigned his coal merchant business to the respondent against a promise to pay andpound;5.00 a week to his widow whilst she lived. The respondent appealed an order requiring him to make the payments, saying that as a consolidating Act, the 1925 Act should not be read to change the common law. Held: … Continue reading Beswick v Beswick: HL 29 Jun 1967
A party was required to pay money into court before pursuing an appeal. She borrowed money for this purpose but on the express condition that it should be used for this purpose only and was not to become part of her general assets. The money was paid into court, but the appeal was compromised in … Continue reading Regina v Common Professional Examination Board, Ex Parte Mealing-Mcclead: CA 19 Apr 2000
An assignment of a cause of action by a company in liquidation was valid, even though the dominant purpose was to avoid having to give security for costs, and to get legal aid. In dismissing the argument that the transactions were a device to defeat the purpose of statutory provisions: ‘It is not that the … Continue reading Norglen Ltd (In Liquidation) v Reeds Rains Prudential Ltd and Others; Circuit Systems Ltd (In Liquidation) and Another v Zuken-Redac: HL 1 Dec 1997
The tenant company went into liquidation, the receiver disclaimed the lease, and the landlord claimed compensation under the Act. The question concerned how the compensation was to be calculated. Held: Where a solvent tenant under an onerous lease goes into voluntary liquidation, and the liquidator disclaims the lease, the right to payment of rent disappears, … Continue reading In Re Park Air Services Plc; Christopher Moran Holdings Ltd v Bairstow and Another: HL 4 Feb 1999
21 people protested peacefully on the verge of the A344, next to the perimeter fence at Stonehenge. Some carried banners saying ‘Never Again,’ ‘Stonehenge Campaign 10 years of Criminal Injustice’ and ‘Free Stonehenge.’ The officer in charge concluded that they constituted a ‘trespassory assembly’ and told them so. When asked to move off, many did, … Continue reading Director of Public Prosecutions v Jones and Lloyd: HL 4 Mar 1999
The court considered the market value of a private residence. The evidence was that its value to persons wishing to use it as a private residence was 750 pounds. However, the house adjoined a nurses’ home the trustees of which wanted to extend their premises and they purchased it for 1000 pounds. The trustees would … Continue reading Inland Revenue Commissioners v Clay: CA 1914
The applicant sought to bring an action to challenge new rules on approval of export credit guarantees. The company was non-profit and founded to support investigation of bribery. It had applied for a protected costs order to support the application, and now appealed its refusal. Held: The court restated the practice on the making of … Continue reading Corner House Research, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry: CA 1 Mar 2005
Charitable Company- Directors’ Status and Duties A married couple set up a charitable foundation to assist children in developing countries. When the marriage failed an attempt was made to establish a second foundation with funds from the first, as part of W leaving the Trust. Court approval was obtained, but the court ordered the remaining … Continue reading Lehtimaki and Others v Cooper: SC 29 Jul 2020
The deceased had made a gift of shares. She had executed a transfer, and acting upon the promise, the donee had agreed to become a director which he could only do if he also became a shareholder. The transfer was delivered to the deceased’s agent, but not to the company and was not registered. Held: … Continue reading Pennington and Another v Waine, Crampton and others: CA 4 Mar 2002
Bank not to recover more than its losses The court was asked as to the remedy available to the appellant bank against the respondent, a firm of solicitors, for breach of the solicitors’ custodial duties in respect of money entrusted to them for the purpose of completing a loan which was to be secured by … Continue reading AIB Group (UK) Plc v Mark Redler and Co Solicitors: SC 5 Nov 2014
The plaintiff had been an investor with the defendant. He asked them about an associated company. He was given advice which was incorrect. He claimed damages for negligence. Held: The company was not itself in the business of giving such advice. The advice had been gratuitous. The company had appreciated that he might act on … Continue reading Mutual Life And Citizens’ Assurance Co Ltd And Another v Evatt: PC 16 Nov 1971
The claimants sought damages from the defendant. He had been employed to manage their horse-racing activities, and it was alleged that he had made secret profits. The defendant denied any dishonesty, saying all matters were known to the deceased principal of the claimants. Held: The defendant had withheld disclosure of his possible personal interests in … Continue reading Newgate Stud Company, Newgate Stud Farm Llc v Penfold, Penfold Bloodstock Limited: ChD 21 Dec 2004
Former HL decision in Siebe Gorman overruled The company had become insolvent. The bank had a debenture and claimed that its charge over the book debts had become a fixed charge. The preferential creditors said that the charge was a floating charge and that they took priority. Held: The appeal was allowed. The debenture, although … Continue reading National Westminster Bank plc v Spectrum Plus Limited and others: HL 30 Jun 2005
The defendant had sold his business to the claimants and in part consideration had accepted restrictive covenants as to his not competing with them. On indicating his desire to leave the claimants and work for a competitor, made statements which the defendant claimed were poisonous and amounted to constructive dismissal. Held: The defendant had erased … Continue reading RDF Media Group Plc and Another v Clements: QBD 5 Dec 2007
The first defendant (F) had been employed by a company involved in a distribution agreement. He had sought to set up a competing arrangement whilst a director of the claimant, and diverted a contract to his new company. Held: A company director has additional, fiduciary duties over and above those of an employee. The duties … Continue reading Fassihim, Liddiardrams, International Ltd, Isograph Ltd v Item Software (UK) Ltd: CA 30 Sep 2004
The appellant company acted for the respondent footballer in placing him with a football club. The respondent said that he had also taken a payment from the club, nominally for arranging a work permit. The respondent said this was improper. The agent now appealed. Held: The side deal was and act within the agency and … Continue reading Imageview Management Ltd v Jack: CA 13 Feb 2009
The claimant sought, through judicial review, control over 8 emails sent by them to their lawyers. They claimed legal advice privilege, but the emails contained advice sent by their chartered accountants. The defendant had sought to use them in the course of an investigation of the claimant’s professional conduct. Held: In fact the solicitors had … Continue reading Ford, Regina (on The Application of) v The Financial Services Authority: Admn 11 Oct 2011
The local authority was tenant of properties which it sub-licensed to homeless persons for three years was liable for having allowed the properties to deteriorate. It was claimed that they were liable for permissive waste as tenants for a fixed . .