The court asked how to apply the concept in European law of ‘The reasonably well-informed and diligent tenderer’. The pursuer had had a contract for the delivery of healthcare services, but had lost it when it was retendered. Held: When an unsuccessful tenderer for a public contract challenges that award, the issue as to whether … Continue reading Healthcare at Home Ltd v The Common Services Agency: SC 30 Jul 2014
Abortion Time Limit statement was correct. The Court considered ‘ the correct interpretation of the words, ‘the pregnancy has not exceeded its twenty-fourth week’ in s.1(1)(a) of the Abortion Act 1967 ‘ The guidance was challenged as the calculations. The date of the beginning of the pregnancy was usually taken from the date of the … Continue reading British Pregnancy Advisory Service, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care: Admn 5 Jun 2019
The defendant sought an extension of time for leave to appeal against his conviction for fraud. After his conviction there had been academic debate as to its basis, and the present application was not opposed. He had originally been charged under the Fraud Act 2006, but in relation to events taking place before it came … Continue reading White v Regina: CACD 15 Apr 2014
Sensitisation to salt can be personal injury The claimants, had developed platinum salt sensitisation due to the defendant employer’s breach of health and safety regulations and common law duty, claimed a cause of action for personal injury. Platinum salt sensitisation is, in itself, an asymptomatic condition but further exposure to chlorinated platinum salts is likely … Continue reading Dryden and Others v Johnson Matthey Plc: SC 21 Mar 2018
Lack of Capacity – Effect on Proceedings The Court was asked ‘First, what is the test for deciding whether a person lacks the mental capacity to conduct legal proceedings on her own behalf (in which case the Civil Procedure Rules require that she has a litigation friend to conduct the proceedings for her)? Second, what … Continue reading Dunhill v Burgin: SC 12 Mar 2014
The defenders owned a substantial grouse moor in Scotland. There had been difficulties with grouse stocks, and steps taken over years to allow stocks to recover. They had responded to enquiries from one Mr Erskine with misleading figures. Mr Erskine formed a company, the appellant, to take a lease. The company now appealed rejection of … Continue reading Cramaso Llp v Ogilvie-Grant, Earl of Seafield and Others: SC 12 Feb 2014
The petitioners, convicted serving prisoners, had sought judicial review of the refusal to allow them to vote in the Scottish Referendum on Independence. The request had been refused in the Outer and Inner Houses. Held: (Kerr, Wilson JJSC dissenting) The ban did not infringe the prisoners’ human rights. The referendum was not an election to … Continue reading Moohan and Another v The Lord Advocate: SC 17 Dec 2014
Child not entirely free of responsibility The claimant child, left a school bus and stepped out from behind it into the path of the respondent’s car. She appealed against a finding of 70% contributory negligence. Held: Her appeal succeeded (Majority, Lord Hodge and Lord Wilson dissenting). Her contribution was assessed at 50%. The court rejected … Continue reading Jackson v Murray and Another: SC 18 Feb 2015
The deceased had suffered a head injury at work from the defendant’s admitted negligence. She had been making a good recovery but then collapsed and died at home from pulmonary emboli, and thrombosis which were a consequence of the injury. The claimant, her daughter witnessed the death, but not the accident, and herself suffered post … Continue reading Taylor v A Novo (UK) Ltd: CA 18 Mar 2013
Rights of Custody under Convention The Court was asked as to what were ‘rights of custody’ within the Convention. M had at first left her child with the maternal grandmother in an informal but long term arrangement in Latvia when M moved to Northern Ireland. Later M removed the child to Northern Ireland against the … Continue reading In re K (A Child): SC 15 Mar 2014
The claimant sought damages after an explosion at the defender’s nearby premises damaged its shop. The defender said that the claim was out of time, and now appealed against a decision that time had not begun to run under the 1973 Act. Held: (Lord Hodge and Lord Toulson dissenting) The appeal was allowed. The natural … Continue reading David T Morrison and Co Ltd (T/A Gael Home Interiors) v ICL Plastics Ltd and Others: SC 30 Jul 2014
Balance of probabilities remains standard of proof There had been cross allegations of abuse within the family, and concerns by the authorities for the children. The judge had been unable to decide whether the child had been shown to be ‘likely to suffer significant harm’ as a consequence. Having found some evidence to suggest that … Continue reading In re B (Children) (Care Proceedings: Standard of Proof) (CAFCASS intervening): HL 11 Jun 2008
A child was found to have bruising consistent with physical abuse. Either or both parents might have caused it, but the judge felt it likely that only one had, that he was unable to decide which, and that they were not so serious that he had to say that the other must have known. Held: … Continue reading In re S-B (Children) (Care proceedings: Standard of proof): SC 14 Dec 2009
Right to be Forgotten is not absolute The two claimants separately had criminal convictions from years before. They objected to the defendant indexing third party web pages which included personal data in the form of information about those convictions, which were now spent. The claims were in Data Protection and the common law tort of … Continue reading NT 1 and NT 2 v Google Llc: QBD 13 Apr 2018
Appropriation was not in sufficient form The claimants had challenged an order supporting the decision of the Council to use their allotments for a new primary school, saying that the land had be appropriated as allotment land, and that therefore the consent of the minister was needed. Held: The appeal failed. The use of the … Continue reading Adamson, Regina (on The Application of) v Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council: CA 18 Feb 2020
A train crash was caused when an ash tree fell from the defendant’s land across the railway line. The company sought damages from the land-owner. Held: The land-owner’s duty extended no further than the carrying out of periodic informal or preliminary observations/inspections of the tree. She was capable of performing that duty and that she … Continue reading Stagecoach South Western Trains Ltd v Hind and Another: TCC 11 Jun 2014
Section 3(1) of the 1998 Act is not available where the suggested interpretation is contrary to express statutory words or is by implication necessarily contradicted by the statute. The judge’s task is to interpret, not to legislate. The proposed ‘starring system’ was inconsistent in an important respect with the scheme of the Children Act 1989, … Continue reading In re S (Minors) (Care Order: Implementation of Care Plan): HL 14 Mar 2002
The claimant appealed against refusal of permission to erect a six turbine wind farm. The inspector had recommended the plan, but the defendant had decided against it. Held: The claim failed. The planning inspector’s report is the starting-point for the Secretary of State’s deliberations. However, it is his statutory function to make a planning judgment … Continue reading Wind Prospect Developments Ltd v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Another: Admn 5 Dec 2014
The validity of certain United Kingdom legislation was challenged on the basis that it contravened provisions of the EEC Treaty by depriving the applicants of their Community rights to fish in European waters, and an interlocutory injunction was sought against the Secretary of State to restrain enforcement of that law pending a reference. The House … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Transport, ex parte Factortame (No 2): HL 11 Oct 1990
The claimant was a bystander, injured during an arrest on the street by officers employed by the respondent. She now appealed against rejection of her claim in negligence. Held; No duty of care was owed, and that, even if the officers had owed Mrs . .
Mortgagees of the interest of a builder under a building agreement, advanced money to him from time to time, relying upon certificates given by a surveyor as to stages reached. The surveyor was not appointed by the mortgagees, and there was no . .
The Court was asked whether the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (‘the Commissioner’) owes a duty to her officers, in the conduct of proceedings against her based on their alleged misconduct, to take reasonable care to protect them from . .
The Commission challenged the compatibility of the NI law relating to banning nearly all abortions with Human Rights Law. It now challenged a decision that it did not have standing to bring the case.
Held: (Lady Hale, Lord Kerr and Lord Wilson . .
The taxpayer challenged the ‘pay first’ rule under VAT which required them, before challenging a VAT assessment, first to deposit the VAT said to be due under the assessment.
Held: The appeal failed. There had not been shown any true . .
The Court was asked in what circumstances can damages for breach of contract be assessed by reference to the sum that the claimant could hypothetically have received in return for releasing the defendant from the obligation which he failed to . .
On arrest for shoplifting a 12 year old said he had been doing so to get food, and that he had been hit with a belt by his father. Investigation revealed the home to be dangerous, and all eight children were removed to the care of the LA. The . .
A new born baby was placed with foster carers on discharge from hospital. Both parents had learning difficulties and agreed to the baby being placed with a particular couple. At that stage the local authority considered this an informal arrangement . .
Appeal against an order made after an agreement within the family that the children should live with the paternal grandmother.
Orse In re W (Parental Agreement with Local Authority)
The mother had placed her three children with their . .
The parties disputed whether a contract (licence to occupy an office) had been varied by an oral agreement, where the terms prohibited such.
Held: The ‘no oral variation’ clause applied. Such clauses were in common commercial use and served a . .
EAT The Tribunal was asked whether the claimant was a worker within the meaning of the Regulations and so entitled to their protection in receiving holiday pay.
Held: The appropriate classification of a . .
The testator had a sister, a wife, and two illegitimate children. His appointed George Arkle (‘GA’), if GA should survive him, his executor and trustee, but if GA should die in his lifetime he appointed Benjamin Arkle (‘BA’). He then gave ‘the . .
EAT PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Case management
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Preliminary issues
On 12 March 2015, at a telephone Case Management Preliminary Hearing, . .
Mortgagees of the interest of a builder under a building agreement, advanced money to him from time to time, relying upon certificates given by a surveyor as to stages reached. The surveyor was not appointed by the mortgagees, and there was no . .
References: [2014] WASC 102 Links: Austlii Coram: Edelman J (Supreme Court of Western Australia) Equity – Fiduciary duties – Whether mere existence of conflict is actionable – Whether a breach of conflict rule requires a fiduciary actually to act in a position of conflict and pursue or prefer a personal interest – Judgment pars [263] … Continue reading Agricultural Land Management Ltd v Jackson (No 2); 2 May 2014
References: (1843) 3 Hare 100, [1843] EngR 917, (1843) 67 ER 313 Links: Commonlii Coram: Sir James Wigram VC The court set down the principles to be applied in abuse of process cases, where a matter was raised again which should have been dealt with in earlier proceedings. Sir James Wigram VC said: ‘In trying … Continue reading Henderson v Henderson; 20 Jul 1843
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
Citations: [2022] EWCA Civ 1047 Links: Bailii Statutes: Care Act 2014 18 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: See also – BG and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Suffolk County Council (Consequentials) CA 26-Jul-2022 . . Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete. Local Government, Benefits Updated: 04 August 2022; … Continue reading BG and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Suffolk County Council: CA 26 Jul 2022
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 claimant challenged a production order made by the magistrates in respect of journalists’ material. They complained that the application had used secret evidence not disclosed to it, and that the judge had not given adequate reasons to support the decision. The poice were investigating an offence under the 1989 Act. Held: It was common … Continue reading British Sky Broadcasting Ltd, Regina (on The Application of) v The Central Criminal Court and Another: Admn 21 Dec 2011
Mr Leander had been refused employment at a museum located on a naval base, having been assessed as a security risk on the basis of information stored on a register maintained by State security services that had not been disclosed him. Mr Leander complained that he should have been provided with the information in question, … Continue reading Leander v Sweden: ECHR 26 Mar 1987
The respondent was an experienced ambulance driver. His wife underwent emergency treatment at the appellant’s hospital. He had claimed as a secondary victim for the distress he suffered witnessing her suffering. Held: The hospital’s appeal succeeded. This was not a case in which there was a sudden appreciation of an event: ‘what the Claimant saw … Continue reading Liverpool Women’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust v Ronayne: CA 17 Jun 2015
Claim alleging misselling of interest rate hedging products. The court considered the defendants strike out application, and applications for leave to amend pleadings. Held: it will normally be appropriate for summary judgment to be pursued on a limitation point by an application made under CPR 24.2 and preferably after the claimant has had an opportunity … Continue reading Boyse (International) Ltd v Natwest Markets Plc and Another: ChD 27 May 2020
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
Ex turpi causa non oritur actio A claim was made for the price of goods which the plaintiff sold to the defendant in Dunkirk, knowing that the defendant’s purpose was to smuggle the goods into England. The plaintiff was met with a defence of illegality. Held: The defence failed. Knowledge on the part of the … Continue reading Holman v Johnson: 5 Jul 1775
The defendant had been convicted of murder in 1952, and hung. A court hearing an appeal after many years must apply laws from different eras to different aspects. The law of the offence (of murder) to be applied was that at the time of the offence. In this case however the summing up was so … Continue reading Regina v Derek William Bentley (Deceased): CACD 30 Jul 1998
The claimant, a famous writer, complained on behalf of her infant son that he had been photographed in a public street with her, and that the photograph had later been published in a national newspaper. She appealed an order striking out her claim on the basis that the child did not have a right of … Continue reading Murray v Big Pictures (UK) Ltd; Murray v Express Newspapers: CA 7 May 2008
(1) A litigant in person who had argued that a COT3 could not be relied upon because of misrepresentation and estoppel (and possibly also by way of interpretative construction) should have been allowed to refer to without prejudice material in support of those submissions. Oceanbulk Shipping and Trading SA v TMT Asia Ltd [2010] UKSC … Continue reading Cole v Elders Voice: EAT 26 Nov 2020
(Extra Division, Inner House) The reclaimers, Roman Catholic midwives working on a labour ward as co-ordinators, sought to assert a right of conscientious objection under the 1967 Act. The respondents said that only those directly involved in the termination of a pregnancy could assert such a right. Held: The midwives’ appeal succeeded. The Act set … Continue reading Doogan and Another v NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board: SCS 24 Apr 2013
The several defendants appealed against sentences imposed for acts preparatory to terrorism. Each had been involved to a lesser extent than principals in a larger circle. Held: Leveson LJ said: ‘Although potentially highly relevant both to culpability and potential harm (and, thus, of importance for the purpose of fixing the punitive part of any sentence) … Continue reading Khan and Others v Regina: CACD 16 Apr 2013
(Grand Chamber) – The applicant had been detained in Kenya. He had allowed himself to be taken by Kenyan officials to Nairobi airport in the belief that he was free to leave for a destination of his choice, but they took him to an aircraft in which Turkish officials were waiting for him and he … Continue reading Ocalan v Turkey: ECHR 12 May 2005
Alleged breach of non-solicitation covenants in the sale of a business providing ‘supported living’ services for children leaving care and vulnerable adults. Held: The defendant’s appeal was dismissed. The test was whether an award of damages on the Wrotham Park basis was the just response in the particular case. That was a matter for the … Continue reading Morris-Garner and Another v One Step (Support) Ltd: CA 22 Mar 2016
Fresh counsel instructed by McGregor on appeal alleged incompetence on the part of trial counsel. Held: Where a fresh advocate is instructed to advance an application for leave to appeal based on the conduct of the trial, s/he should consider very carefully whether it is necessary to contact the trial lawyers and or advise their … Continue reading Regina v Doherty and McGregor: CACD 1997
The claimant advanced funds to the respondent for him to invest in a bank of which the claimant had insider knowledge. In fact the defendant did not invest the funds, the knowledge was incorrect. The defendant however did not return the sums advanced, saying he need not return it because the contract was for an … Continue reading Patel v Mirza: SC 20 Jul 2016
A negligent delay in the diagnosis of her cancer left the clamant dependent on paid for surrogacy arrangements. Three issues were raised; could damages to fund surrogacy arrangements using the claimant’s own eggs be recovered? Second, if so, could damages to fund arrangements using donor eggs be recovered? Third, in either event, could damages to … Continue reading Whittington Hospital NHS Trust v XX: SC 1 Apr 2020
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
Lord Russell of Killowen said: ‘The function of the Employment Appeal Tribunal is to correct errors of law where one is established and identified. I think care must be taken to avoid concluding that an experienced industrial tribunal by not expressly mentioning some point or breach has overlooked it.’ It should not examine the tribunal … Continue reading Retarded Childrens Aid Society v Day: CA 1978
Canlii (Supreme Court of Canada) Torts – Liability – Intentional torts – Abuse of children by foster parents – Whether government can be held liable for harm children suffered in foster care – Whether government negligent – Whether government vicariously liable for torts of foster parents – Whether government liable for breach of non-delegable duty … Continue reading KLB v British Columbia: 2 Oct 2003
Appeal against finding that a local authority was not responsible for the sexual abuse of the appellant whilst with foster carers as a child. Held: As to whether the duty as non-delegable, such a duty must relate to a function which the local authority had assumed a duty to perform. Fostering was not a function … Continue reading NA v Nottinghamshire County Council: CA 12 Nov 2015
The claimant was a non-white head teacher, alleging that her school governors and local authority had undermined and had ‘deliberately endorsed a targeted campaign of discrimination, bullying, harassment and victimisation’ against her as an Asian head teacher; and that the Council, ‘deliberately and unlawfully endorsed a targeted campaign of discrimination, bullying and harassment and victimisation … Continue reading Singh v Moorlands Primary School and Another: CA 25 Jul 2013
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
Application to set aside anonymity order granted in earlier proceedings alleging sexual abuse. Judges: Males J Citations: [2016] EWHC 2864 (QB) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: See Also – NA v Nottinghamshire County Council QBD 2-Dec-2014 The claimant said that as a child the defendant had failed in its duty to protect her … Continue reading Armes v Nottinghamshire County Council: QBD 15 Nov 2016
The applicant had dual Iraqi and British nationality. He was detained by British Forces in Iraq under suspicion of terrorism, and interned. Held: His appeal failed. The UN resolution took priority over the European Convention on Human Rights where there was a conflict between them. ‘If the Security Council, acting under Chapter VII, consider that … Continue reading Al-Jedda v Secretary of State for Defence: CA 29 Mar 2006
The Council sought an order to quash the inspector’s decision to grant permission for a wind farm. Judges: Lang DBE J Citations: [2013] EWHC 473 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Newsmith Stainless Ltd, Regina (On the Application of) v Secretary of … Continue reading East Northamptonshire District Council and Others v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Another: Admn 8 Mar 2013
The court considered liability after serious injury was suffered by a professional jockey during a steeplechase. His horse threw him after landing and he collided with a guard rail. He now appealed against dismissal of his claim. Held: His appeal succeeded: ‘it is not enough for a defendant, where Regulations apply, simply to comply with … Continue reading Hide v The Steeplechase Company (Cheltenham) Ltd and Others: CA 22 May 2013
The claimant alleged complicity by the defendant, (now former) Foreign Secretary, in his mistreatment by the US while held in Libya. He also alleged involvement in his unlawful abduction and removal to Libya, from which had had fled for political persecution. The defendants now appealed from rejection of the defendants’ claim to state immunity and … Continue reading Belhaj and Another v Straw and Others: SC 17 Jan 2017
The parties disputed the effect of an option clause in a lease, and particularly whether, when fixing the price, potential for development was to be included. The clause required the ‘full market value’ to be paid. The tenant appealed. Held: The appeal failed. Lord Hope said: ‘The court’s task is to ascertain the intention of … Continue reading Multi-Link Leisure Developments Ltd v Lanarkshire Council: SC 17 Nov 2010
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
In the context of an intractable contact dispute, firmer case management may be required lest the family care system itself should contribute to the failure to develop a relationship with both parents, thereby violating the child’s article 8 rights Citations: [2013] EWCA Civ 1104, [2013] 3 FCR 257, [2014] 1 FLR 1185, [2013] Fam Law … Continue reading Re A (A Child): CA 6 Sep 2013
Outer House – The pursuer said that it had been misled into taking a lease of a grouse moor by the responders making a repesentation to Mr Erskine who had conducted negotiations, and then created the pursuer as a vehicle for the lease. He sought the reduction of the contract and damages. Held: Mr Erskine … Continue reading Cramaso Llp v Viscount Reidhaven’s Trustees: SCS 11 May 2010
The court was asked: ‘Was it unlawful for the Secretary of State for Health, the respondent, who had power to make provisions for the functioning of the National Health Service in England, to have failed to make a provision which would have enabled women who were citizens of the UK, but who were usually resident … Continue reading A and B, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Health: SC 14 Jun 2017
The claimant (then known as LNS) had obtained an injunction to restrain publication of private materials. Held: There was insufficient material to found an action in confidence or privacy. An applicant was unlikely to succeed either at an interim application or at trial, whether under the law of defamation or the law of privacy, where, … Continue reading Terry (previously LNS) v Persons Unknown: QBD 29 Jan 2010
Judges: Lord Justice Haddon-Cave Citations: [2019] (EWCA) Civ (EWCA) 1614 Links: Bailii Statutes: Care Act 2014, Children and Families Act 2014 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Local Government, Children Updated: 11 August 2022; Ref: scu.641801
Law of vicarious liability is on the move Former children at the children’s homes had sought damages for sexual and physical abuse. The court heard arguments as to the vicarious liability of the Society for abuse caused by a parish priest visiting the school. The Court of Appeal had found some defendants (school management trust) … Continue reading The Catholic Child Welfare Society and Others v Various Claimants and The Institute of The Brothers of The Christian Schools and Others: SC 21 Nov 2012
The claimant had been assaulted and racially abused as he left a kiosk at the respondent’s petrol station by a member of staff. A manager had tried to dissuade the assailant, and the claim for damages against the supermarket had failed at first instance and at the court of appeal. Held: The appeal was allowed.Lord … Continue reading Mohamud v WM Morrison Supermarkets plc: SC 2 Mar 2016
The court was asked as to the interrelationship of the statutory schemes relating to the protection of employees’ pensions and to corporate insolvency. Held: Liabilities which arose from financial support directions or contribution notices issued by the Pensions Regulator under the 2004 Act after the company had gone into administration, which required the company to … Continue reading In re Nortel Companies and Others: SC 24 Jul 2013
The council tenant had wished to appeal following a possession order made after her tenancy had been demoted. The court handed down a supplemental judgment to give effect to its earlier decision. The Court had been asked ‘whether article 8 of the . . Convention . . requires a court, which is being asked to … Continue reading Manchester City Council v Pinnock: SC 9 Feb 2011
The newspaper applied for leave to access documents referred to but not released during the course of extradition proceedings in open court. Held: The application was to be allowed. Though extradition proceedings were not governed by the Civil Procedure Rules, wider principles still applied. The open justice principle is a constitutional principle to be found … Continue reading Guardian News and Media Ltd, Regina (on The Application of) v City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court: CA 3 Apr 2012
Defendants were to face trial in the US, accused of monstrous crimes. The appellant challenged the release of information to the USA by the respondent to support such prosecutions when the death penalty was a possible outcome of a conviction: ‘The issue in this case is the legality of the Government’s decision to provide mutual … Continue reading Elgizouli v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 25 Mar 2020
The claimant was working in a prison supervising working prisoners. One of them dropped a bag of rice on her causing injury. At the County Curt, the prisoner was found negligence in the prisoner, but not the appellant for vicarious liability. The claimant’s appeal succeeded at the Court of Appeal. Held: The Minister’s appeal failed. … Continue reading Cox v Ministry of Justice: SC 2 Mar 2016
The claimant had been seriously injured in an accident during a swimming lesson. She sought to claim against the local authority, and now appealed against a finding that it was not responsible, having contracted out the provision of swimming lessons. She said that the duty of care was non-delegable. Held: Her appeal succeeded. For a … Continue reading Woodland v Essex County Council: SC 23 Oct 2013
The Bank had employed a doctor to provide medical assessments as necessary. The doctor had used the opportunities presented to assault sexually many patients. The court was now asked whether the Bank was vicariously liable for the acts of this independent contractor. Held: The appeal was allowed. The Doctor was not employed by the bank … Continue reading Barclays Bank Plc v Various Claimants: SC 1 Apr 2020
Prisoner’s death – need for full public enquiry The deceased had been a young Asian prisoner. He was placed in a cell overnight with a prisoner known to be racist, extremely violent and mentally unstable. He was killed. The family sought an inquiry into the death. Held: There had been a police investigation and trial … Continue reading Amin, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: HL 16 Oct 2003
Twins were conjoined (Siamese). Medically, both could not survive, and one was dependent upon the vital organs of the other. Doctors applied for permission to separate the twins which would be followed by the inevitable death of one of them. The parents, devout Roman Catholics, resisted. Held: The parents’ views were subject to the overriding … Continue reading In Re A (Minors) (Conjoined Twins: Medical Treatment); aka In re A (Children) (Conjoined Twins: Surgical Separation): CA 22 Sep 2000
Procedures on Withdrawal of Life Support Treatment The patient had been severely injured in the Hillsborough disaster, and had come to be in a persistent vegetative state (PVS). The doctors sought permission to withdraw medical treatment. The Official Solicitor appealed against an order of the Court of Appeal permitting the action. Held: The appeal failed. … Continue reading Airedale NHS Trust v Bland: HL 4 Feb 1993
The claimant had been knocked from his motor cyle by the defendant. He hired a replacement, but when he sought payment of the associated hire charges, the defendant said that the hire company had failed to comply with the 208 Regulations, and that since the claimant had no obligation to pay, he could not claim … Continue reading Salat v Barutis: CA 20 Nov 2013
The employee worked as a security officer for the appellant, which was in turn employed by the respondent to provide security for an airport controlled by the Merseyside City Council. The Council had the right of approval of any employee of the company at the airport. There was a complaint about Mr Dobie and the … Continue reading Dobie v Burns International Security Services (UK) Ltd: CA 14 May 1984
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 parties disputed the care of MN, a young adult without capacity. Held: Munby P gave four reasons why the Court of Protection should not embark on the kind of process for which the parents contended: first, it is not its proper function to embark upon a factual inquiry into some abstract issue the answer … Continue reading Re MN (Adult): CA 7 May 2015
Application for order under the 2005 Act restricting contact between the young adult child with disabilities and his family. Eleanor King J described his condition saying he had: ‘severe learning and physical disabilities together with autism and an uncommon epileptic condition resulting in frequent seizures and risk of sudden death. A nurse has to be … Continue reading ACCG and Another v MN and Others: CoP 20 Nov 2013
Challenge to rules requiring certain minimum levels of income (Minimum Income Requirement – MIR) for allowing entry for non-EEA spouse. Held: The challenges udder the Human Rights Act to the Rules themselves failed. Nor did any separate issue of discrimination arise under article 14. However, the appendix with instructions for entry clearance officers considering the … Continue reading MM (Lebanon) and Others, Regina (on The Applications of) v Secretary of State and Another: SC 22 Feb 2017
Sir Billy Butlin had executed a voluntary settlement to allow a majority of trustees to exercise a power under the settlement. By a drafting error the settlement did not give effect to this intention. Held: The court could rectify the settlement even though only one of the original trustees knew of the intention.Brightman J said: … Continue reading Re Butlin’s Settlement Trusts: 1976
Each appellant challenged how the judge had decided between alternative proofs of causation of the respective loss. In Ide, the claimant asserted a fault in a cycle handlebar, and in Lexus, the claimant asserted that it caught fire whilst unattended. The appellants each said that the respective judges had made the mistake of logic identified … Continue reading Ide v ATB Sales Ltd and Another: CA 28 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
The appellants were magazines and journalists who published, after committal proceedings, the name of a witness, a member of the security services, who had been referred to as Colonel B during the hearing. An order had been made for his name not to be disclosed during the hearing, but the court had had no power … Continue reading Attorney-General v Leveller Magazine Ltd: HL 1 Feb 1979
Presumption in Favour of Open Proceedings There had been an unauthorised dissemination by the petitioner to third parties of the official shorthand writer’s notes of a nullity suit which had been heard in camera. An application was made for a committal for contempt. Held: The House equated the contempt to a breach of an injunction … Continue reading Scott v Scott: HL 5 May 1913
Proceedings had been brought to challenge the validity of Orders in Council which had frozen the assets of the claimants in those proceedings. Ancillary orders were made and confirmed requiring them not to be identified. As the cases came to the Supreme Court, applications were also now made to lift the anonymity orders. Held: The … Continue reading In re Guardian News and Media Ltd and Others; HM Treasury v Ahmed and Others: SC 27 Jan 2010
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 appellant said that the police Service of Northern Ireland had failed properly to police the ‘flags protest’ in 2012 and 2013. The issue was not as to the care and effort taken, but an alleged misunderstanding of their powers. Held: Treacy J was right in his conclusion that the police laboured under a misapprehension … Continue reading DB v Chief Constable of Police Service of Northern Ireland: SC 1 Feb 2017
The employer had applied to strike out their employee’s claim for unfair dismissal, and also sought a deposit from the claimant. The claim had been re-instated by the EAT. Held: A claim should not be struck out where, as here, there were facts in dispute between the parties which might affect the decision. It was … Continue reading Ezsias v North Glamorgan NHS Trust: CA 7 Mar 2007
The defendant appealed reversal on appeal of the award of damages aganst them. The pursuer had been working within the hull of a ship, and the plank on which he was standing had snapped, causing him to fall. The plank should have been of sufficient strength to hold his weight. The pursuer’s memory of the … Continue reading Thomson v Kvaerner Govan Limited: HL 31 Jul 2003
