The House considered the use of specialised dictionary definitions in explaining contract terms: ‘It is obvious that any such case would have to be carefully scrutinized by the Courts lest under the guise of providing a special ‘dictionary’ the parties should be merely introducing inadmissible evidence as to the negotiations leading up to the contract.’ Any construction of a written contract has to be approached by the Court first putting itself in the position of the parties to the contract.
Judges:
Lord Atkin
Citations:
[1933] Comm C1
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Contract
Updated: 30 April 2022; Ref: scu.199961