The defendant was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice by making a false allegation of assault against the police. It was said that he must have made a false statement in his application for legal aid for the purpose of bringing his civil action for assault. The 1974 Act made it an … Continue reading Regina v Snaresbrook Crown Court, ex parte Director of Public Prosecutions: 1988
CourtService This was an appeal against the decision of a Costs Judge given on 31 August 2000 on a preliminary issue raised in the course of a detailed assessment of the Claimant Solicitors’ bills delivered to the Defendants. The background to the matter is that the Claimant firm had been endeavouring to recover outstanding legal … Continue reading Dibb and Clegg (A Firm) v Recover Ltd and Others: SCCO 12 Oct 2001
A party appealed against a finding that an agreement as to fee sharing with a solicitors’ firm, being in breach of the Solicitors Practice Rules, was unenforceable and void. Held: The appeal failed as to illegality, but succeeded on a quantum meruit. Bingham LJ summarised the arguments of the plaintiff: ‘(1) In the absence of … Continue reading Mohammed v Alaga and Co (A Firm): CA 30 Jun 1999
The plaintiff had written long term (tail) insurance. The defendant came to re-insure it. On a dispute there were shown greater losses than had been disclosed, and that this had been known to the Plaintiff. Held: ‘material circumstance’ which would require disclosure under the Act are such circumstances as would affect an insurer’s mind. Did … Continue reading Pan Atlantic Insurance Co Ltd and Another v Pine Top Insurance Co Ltd: HL 27 Jul 1994
Guidelines in the Solicitors Compensation Scheme stating claims which would not be admissible for compensation were not an unlawful restriction on the compensation fund committee. Citations: Times 13-Jan-1999 Statutes: Solicitors Act 1974 36(2), Solicitors Compensation Fund Rules 1995 Legal Professions Updated: 09 April 2022; Ref: scu.85354
‘Dishonesty’ in solicitor includes making false entries even where there was no financial loss. Citations: Times 11-Jul-1995 Statutes: Solicitors Act 1974 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Legal Professions Updated: 08 April 2022; Ref: scu.81681
The court reconsidered the law relating to penalty clauses in contracts. The first appeal, Cavendish Square Holding BV v Talal El Makdessi, raised the issue in relation to two clauses in a substantial commercial contract. The second appeal, ParkingEye Ltd v Beavis, raised the issue at a consumer level, with a separate issue under the … Continue reading Cavendish Square Holding Bv v Talal El Makdessi; ParkingEye Ltd v Beavis: SC 4 Nov 2015
Question about the scope of the statutory trust imposed by section 35 and Schedule 1, paragraph 6, of the Solicitors Act 1974 where the Law Society has intervened in the practice of a solicitor. Judges: John Martin QC Citations: [2017] EWHC 2496 (Ch) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Legal Professions Updated: 01 April 2022; … Continue reading The Law Society v Pathania: ChD 10 Oct 2017
Law Society Council has authority to pass resolution on client’s funds held in Society. Citations: Ind Summary 04-Sep-1995 Statutes: Solicitors Act 1974 Sch 1 Para 6 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Legal Professions Updated: 31 March 2022; Ref: scu.85702
The Law Society intervened in the practice of the claimant solicitor under the powers conferred on them by Section 35 of and Schedule 1(2) to the Solicitors Act 1974 on the ground specified in paragraph 1(1)(a) of the Schedule, namely suspected dishonesty. They appointed a solicitor (Mr H) to take control of the practice, and … Continue reading Pine v the Law Society: SCCO 20 Feb 2002
An option was to be exercised ‘by notice in writing’ before a certain date. The solicitors’ letter doing so was addressed to the defendant at his residence and place of work, the house which was the subject of the option to purchase, was posted by ordinary post and enclosed a copy of the letter of … Continue reading Holwell Securities Ltd v Hughes: CA 5 Nov 1973
The plaintiff was one of many female employees who complained to the industrial tribunal that she was paid less by the defendant than her male counterparts. Sample cases were selected for trial and the others stayed pending a decision. It was an express term that the other cases were not bound by the test cases. … Continue reading Ashmore v British Coal Corporation: CA 1990
The proposed tenant wanted to get into possession, and was given a key and paid a quarter’s rent to the lessor’s solicitors to be held as stakeholders, before the lease had been formally granted. An undated lease and counterpart were executed and exchanged, but said to be sent in escrow until certain conditions were fulfilled. … Continue reading Alan Estates Ltd v WG Stores Ltd and Another: CA 1 Jul 1981
The issues addressed in this reserved judgment are the following:- i) Is the Claimant (‘AG’) entitled to an order for a payment by the Defendants (‘the Administrators’) in the sum of pounds 12,663,822.95 for fees earned under a Contentious Business Agreement (‘CBA’) dated 26 October 2010? ii) Is AG entitled to a declaration under Section … Continue reading Addleshaw Goddard Llp v Wood and Another: SCCO 8 Apr 2015
The claimant, former chairman of the Thailand Football Association, claimed in defamation against the defendant who had been chairman of the English Football Association. The defendant asked the court to strike out the claim, saying that some of the claims were based on privileged evidence given to a parliamentary committee, and associated publications, and the … Continue reading Makudi v Baron Triesman of Tottenham In London Borough of Haringey: QBD 1 Feb 2013
Rebalancing of Enhanced Disclosure Requirements The Court was asked as to the practice of supplying enhanced criminal record certificates under the 1997 Act. It was said that the release of reports of suspicions was a disproportionate interference in the claimants article 8 rights to a private life. The enhanced record revealed that the claimant’s son … Continue reading L, Regina (On the Application of) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis: SC 29 Oct 2009
The Court was asked whether the justices had had power under section 4(2) to impose reporting restrictions on committal proceedings pending the trial to which they related.. Held: They had. A premature publication in contravention of a postponement order under section 4(2) of which the publisher was aware is a contempt of court notwithstanding section … Continue reading Regina v Horsham Justices ex parte Farquharson: CA 1982
Ms Gillick had made an application based on sex discrimination in the first place against an agency which had contracted out her services to various divisions of BP Chemicals Ltd. The Respondents were the Company which had done that and in their Notice of Appearance they disputed that there had been an employment relationship between … Continue reading Gillick v BP Chemicals: EAT 1993
The respondent intervened in the claimant’s legal practice. He claimed a duty on the Law Society to administer his former practice in such a way as to maximize recovery of outstanding fees and disbursements. Held: The Law Society had no duty to pursue such matters. Its duties could be satisfied by allowing him supervised access … Continue reading Dooley v Law Society (2): ChD 23 Nov 2001
Roth J [2014] EWHC 3389 (Ch), [2014] WLR(D) 456, [2015] 1 Costs LO 1, [2015] WLR 4621 Bailii, WLRD Solicitors Act 1974 70 England and Wales Costs Updated: 22 December 2021; Ref: scu.538033
The court considered the management of the statutory Solicitors Compensation Fund: ‘Given, however, what I have already said about the statutory purpose of the compensation fund, it seems to me that it is appropriate to say that the clearest case in which a grant will be made, pursuant to an application for compensation, will be … Continue reading Regina v Law Society, ex parte Matthews: 17 Mar 1994
Capacity for Litigation The claimant appealed against dismissal of his claims. He had earlier settled a claim for damages, but now sought to re-open it, and to claim in negligence against his former solicitors, saying that he had not had sufficient mental capacity at the time to accept the offer. Held: There is no definition … Continue reading Masterman-Lister v Brutton and Co, Jewell and Home Counties Dairies (No 1): CA 19 Dec 2002
A company went into liquidation, being owed substantial sums by another company in the same group, but itself insolvent. A settlement did not include accrued interest, but was claimed to be taxed as if it had, and on an accruals basis. If so, was this an expense properly arising in the insolvency, and payable as … Continue reading Kahn and Another v Commissioners of Inland Revenue; In re Toshoku Finance plc: HL 20 Feb 2002
Minor Irregularity in Break Notice Not Fatal Leases contained clauses allowing the tenant to break the lease by serving not less than six months notice to expire on the third anniversary of the commencement date of the term of the lease. The tenant gave notice to determine the leases on 12th January 1995, although the … Continue reading Mannai Investment Co Ltd v Eagle Star Assurance: HL 21 May 1997
The parties had been involved in a road traffic accident. The defendant drove into the claimant’s parked car. The claimant was unable to afford to hire a car pending repairs being completed, and arranged to hire a car on credit. He now sought payment of the cost of the credit agreement. Held: A negligent driver … Continue reading Lagden v O’Connor: HL 4 Dec 2003
The patient saw his doctor and complained about a lump under his arm. The doctor failed to diagnose cancer. It was nine months before treatment was begun. The claimant sought damages for the reduction in his prospects of disease-free survival for ten years from 42%, when he first consulted the doctor to 25%. The House … Continue reading Gregg v Scott: HL 27 Jan 2005
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
Interim Injunctions in Patents Cases The plaintiffs brought proceedings for infringement of their patent. The proceedings were defended. The plaintiffs obtained an interim injunction to prevent the defendants infringing their patent, but they now appealed its discharge by the Court of Appeal. Held: The questions which applied when looking for an interim injunction in patent … Continue reading American Cyanamid Co v Ethicon Ltd: HL 5 Feb 1975
Money had been paid into an account in the joint names of the parties’ solicitors in order to purchase the release of the applicants from an asset freezing order. The respondent company was in liquidation. It was argued that the payment of funds into the joint account made the claimant a secured creditor. The liquidators … Continue reading Flightline Ltd v Edwards and Another: ChD 2 Aug 2002
Cargo owners sought damages for their cargo which had been damaged aboard the ship. The contract had been endorsed with additional terms. That variation may have changed the contract from a charterer’s to a shipowner’s bill. Held: The specific terms added prevailed over the standard terms printed on the bill of lading. The bill was … Continue reading Homburg Houtimport BV v Agrosin Private Ltd (the ‘Starsin’): HL 13 Mar 2003
Extension of Inquiries into Jury Room Activities The defendants sought an enquiry as to events in the jury rooms on their trials. They said that the secrecy of a jury’s deliberations did not fit the human right to a fair trial. In one case, it was said that jurors believed that the defendant’s use of … Continue reading Regina v Connor and another; Regina v Mirza: HL 22 Jan 2004
The court reviewed the conflicting authorities with regard to the creation of trusts and held that the overwhelming preponderance of authority was that, in the absence of any claim for rectification or rescission, provisions in a conveyance declaring that the plaintiff and the defendant were to hold the proceeds of sale of the property ‘upon … Continue reading Goodman v Gallant: CA 30 Oct 1985
The plaintiffs had been indicted on counts alleging conspiracy to import drugs and conspiracy to forge traveller’s cheques. During the criminal trial it emerged that there had been such inadequate disclosure by the police that the proceedings were stayed as an abuse of process. The plaintiffs then instituted civil proceedings alleging conspiracy to injure and … Continue reading Darker v Chief Constable of The West Midlands Police: HL 1 Aug 2000
The court was asked whether Moir would be entitled to legal aid to bring a derivative action on behalf of a company against its majority shareholder. Held: A minority shareholder bringing a derivative action on behalf of a company could obtain the authority of the court to sue as if he were a trustee suing … Continue reading Wallersteiner v Moir (No 2): CA 1975
The claimant asserted negligence by the defendant licensed conveyancers in not warning him of the effect of an option in the contract. He had been advised that it would allow him to choose to buy additional land, but it was in fact a put option. The court considered the calculation of damages for the loss … Continue reading Joyce v Bowman Law Ltd: ChD 18 Feb 2010
PC (Isle of Man) The petitioner sought disclosure of trust documents, as a beneficiary. Disclosure had been refused as he had not been a named beneficiary. Held: Times had moved on, and trust documents had taken more and more indirect ways of conferring benefits. The settlements were badly drafted, but that should not be used … Continue reading Vadim Schmidt v Rosewood Trust Limited: PC 27 Mar 2003
Same Sex Partner Entitled to tenancy Succession The protected tenant had died. His same-sex partner sought a statutory inheritance of the tenancy. Held: His appeal succeeded. The Fitzpatrick case referred to the position before the 1998 Act: ‘Discriminatory law undermines the rule of law because it is the antithesis of fairness. It brings the law … Continue reading Ghaidan v Godin-Mendoza: HL 21 Jun 2004
The defendants sought to set aside orders allowing the claimants to serve proceedings alleging repudiation of a charterparty in turn allowing a claim against the defendants under a guarantee. The defendant said the guarantee was unenforceable under the 1677 Act not being in writing and signed. Held: There was no limit to the number of … Continue reading Golden Ocean Group Ltd v Salgaocar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd and Another: ComC 21 Jan 2011
The defendant had been involved in price fixing arrangements, and the claimant sought damages for breach of its proprietary rights. The claimant appealed refusal of an award an account of profits for what was akin to a breach of statutory duty. Held: The appeal failed. An account of profits should be available in a cartel … Continue reading Devenish Nutrition Ltd v Sanofi-Aventis Sa (France) and others: CA 14 Oct 2008
PPI Sale – No Recovery from Remote Parties The claimant sought repayment of payment protection insurance premiums paid by her under a policy with Norwich Union. The immediate broker arranging the loan was now insolvent, and she sought repayment from the second and other level intermediaties. She said that the commission disclosure by the defendants … Continue reading Plevin v Paragon Personal Finance Ltd: SC 12 Nov 2014
The claimant asserted that the other shareholders had acted in a manner unfairly prejudicial to her within the company. Held: The claimant was allowed to bring in without prejudice correspondence to contradict evidence by the defendant which amounted to an implied waiver of the rule. Considering the evidence some elements of unfair prejudice had been … Continue reading Kohli v Lit and Others: ChD 13 Nov 2009
The plaintiff had contracted to purchase a house for 6,000 pounds but the defendant failed to complete. Damages were awarded in lieu of specific performance under a Lord Cairns’ Act provision. At the date of the repudiatory breach the value of the house was 7,500 pounds. At the date of the order the value of … Continue reading Wroth v Tyler: ChD 1973
Damages on Construction not as Agreed The appellant had contracted to build a swimming pool for the respondent, but, after agreeing to alter the specification to construct it to a certain depth, in fact built it to the original lesser depth, Damages had been awarded to the house owner against a builder at the cost … Continue reading Ruxley Electronics and Construction Ltd v Forsyth: HL 29 Jun 1995
The claimant sought damages against the Crown, having suffered asbestosis whilst in the armed forces. He challenged the denial to him of a right of action by the 1947 Act. Held: Human rights law did not create civil rights, but rather voided procedural bars to their enforcement. The issue of what is a substantive and … Continue reading Matthews v Ministry of Defence: HL 13 Feb 2003
The company borrowed money from a bank, who instructed the defendants to act in the loan. On recovering the loan, the borrowers challenged the amounts charged by the solicitors. The court was asked what were the powers for a third party paying a solicitor’s bill to challenge the amount, and how any reduction might be … Continue reading Tim Martin Interiors Ltd v Akin Gump Llp: ChD 17 Nov 2010
Lost chance claim – not mere speculative claim Solicitors failed to advise the plaintiffs sufficiently in a property transaction. A warranty against liability for a former tenant’s obligations under leases had not been obtained. The trial judge held that, on a balance of probabilities, there was a real and not a merely speculative chance that … Continue reading Allied Maples Group Ltd v Simmons and Simmons: CA 12 May 1995
Swainland Builders Ltd owned the freehold of a block of flats. It had granted 99-year leases at ground rents of all the flats except numbers 11 and 18. It had intended to sell the block subject to the retention of flats 11 and 18 which it initially proposed to let on shorthold tenancies but with … Continue reading Swainland Builders Ltd v Freehold Properties Ltd: CA 2002
The solicitor who had been admitted to the Roll for two years had disbursed clients money to relatives, as part of the conveyance of property without adequate security but in the expectation that the money would be repaid. The Tribunal found that the solicitor was honest and had not stolen client money ‘in a premeditated … Continue reading Bolton v The Law Society: CA 8 Dec 1993
Account taken of circumstances wihout ambiguity The respondent gave advice on home income plans. The individual claimants had assigned their initial claims to the scheme, but later sought also to have their mortgages in favour of the respondent set aside. Held: Investors having once assigned their causes of action to the ICS, could not later … Continue reading Investors Compensation Scheme Ltd v West Bromwich Building Society: HL 19 Jun 1997
The court was asked whether it was possible to assign as a chose in action a cause of action in tort for damages for personal injury, and if so under what circumstances it was possible. Held: The appeal was dismissed. The claimant did not have an interest in the injured party’s claim of a kind … Continue reading Simpson v Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust: CA 12 Oct 2011
Two solicitors had been made bankrupt and then discharged from bankruptcy. They suffered adjudications by the SDT awarding compensation for matters occurring before the bankruptcies. They appealed, saying that the awards were bankruptcy debts from which they were discharged. The Law Society submitted that the adjudicators’ awards were discretionary, that no debt or liability arose … Continue reading Casson and Another v The Law Society: Admn 20 Oct 2009
Various family settlements had been created. The trustees wished to use the rule in Hastings-Bass to re-open decisions they had made after receiving incorrect advice. Held: The deeds were set aside as void. The Rule in Hastings-Bass derives from trust law, not the law of mistake. The principle does not exist to relieve advisors from … Continue reading Futter and Another v Futter and Others: ChD 11 Mar 2010
The House was asked whether the conduct of the defendant at a tennis match at Wimbledon amounted to using ‘insulting words or behaviour’ whereby a breach of the peace was likely to be occasioned contrary to section 5. He went onto court 2, blew a whistle and threw about leaflets. He was protesting about South … Continue reading Brutus v Cozens: HL 19 Jul 1972
Massey worked as Crown Life’s manager under 2 contracts, one a contract of employment, the other a contract of general agency. Tax and other contributions were deducted from wages paid under the former, while commission was paid under the agency contract. Under the agency contract Massey could work for other insurance brokers. Later, with Crown … Continue reading Massey v Crown Life Insurance Company: CA 4 Nov 1977
Recovery of damages after Refusal of Injunction The plaintiff appealed against the award of damages instead of an injunction aftter the County court had found the defendant to have trespassed on his land by a new building making use of a private right of way. Held: The appeal failed. A court may substitute damages for … Continue reading Jaggard v Sawyer and Another: CA 18 Jul 1994
The claimant sought to challenge the After the Event Insurance (ATE) bought by its solicitors late in the day in their claim, before then withdrawing the conditional fee agreement. The premium was over andpound;90,000. Held: The appeal failed. It had been reasonable to take out the ATE policy because of decisions made by the claimants … Continue reading Kris Motor Spares Ltd v Fox Williams Llp: QBD 12 May 2010
Recent statutes had given redress to anyone suffering unlawful discrimination on account of race sex or trade union activities. An employee sought discovery of documents from his employer which might reveal such discrimination. Held: The court ought not to order breach of properly given confidences unless it is necessary in the interests of justice. Lord … Continue reading Science Research Council v Nasse; BL Cars Ltd (formerly Leyland Cars) v Voias: HL 1 Nov 1979
Q had provided professional indemnity insurance to a firm of solicitors in which the Law Society had intervened. Claims were made against the firm, but Q declined to pay, saying that the apparently fraudulent activities of the firm fell outside the terms of the policy. Q sought access to the firm’s files and accounting records. … Continue reading Quinn Direct Insurance Ltd v The Law Society of England and Wales: CA 14 Jul 2010
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
Evidence allowed – Care Application after Abuse Children had made allegations of serious sexual abuse against their step-father. He was acquitted at trial, but the local authority went ahead with care proceedings. The parents appealed against a finding that a likely risk to the children had still been been found. Held: A care order could … Continue reading In re H and R (Minors) (Child Sexual Abuse: Standard of Proof): HL 14 Dec 1995
Restitutionary Claim against Pofits from Breach The author had written his book in breach of his duty of confidence. Having signed the Official Secrets Act, he accepted a contractual private law duty. After conviction as a spy, the publication of the book was in breach of the undertaking by not first seeking authority to publish. … Continue reading HM Attorney General v Blake (Jonathan Cape Ltd third Party intervening): HL 3 Aug 2000
LRA Costs : Parties Without Representation – Litigants in person – entitlement to costs and expenses; Litigants in Person (Costs and Expenses) Act 1975, s 1(1), (2); Civil Procedure Rules: CPR 2.3(3), 48.6(1) – . .
The Chagos Islands had been a British dependent territory since 1814. The British government repatriated the islanders in the 1960s, and the Ilois now sought damages for their wrongful displacement, misfeasance, deceit, negligence and to establish a . .
The appellants appealed an order that property be part of the estate of the deceased. There had been an agreement to assign the reversion of the lease to the claimant. That was not completed, but he later acquired the freehold reversion. No written . .
Certain investment trust companies (ITCs) sought refunds of VAT paid on the supply of investment management services. EU law however clarified that they were not due. Refunds were restricted by the Commissioners both as to the amounts and limitation . .
The parties had engaged in a bitter 95 day trial in which allegations of forgery, theft, false accounting, blackmail and arson. A company owning patents and other rights had become insolvent, and the real concern was the destination and ownership of . .
The defendant had requested the Isle of Man authorities to investigate the part if any taken by the plaintiff in a major fraud. No charges were brought against the plaintiff, but the documents showing suspicion came to be disclosed in the later . .
References: Unreported, 20 December 1999 The Law Society intervened in the solicitor’s practice where there were considerable grounds to suspect that the solicitor was knowingly allowing his firm to be used in connection with a large fraud, even if he was not a participant in the fraud himself. Statutes: Solicitors Act 1974 This case is … Continue reading Potter v Law Society; 20 Dec 1999
References: Unreported, 17 March 1994 Coram: Latham J The court considered the management of the statutory Solicitors Compensation Fund: ‘Given, however, what I have already said about the statutory purpose of the compensation fund, it seems to me that it is appropriate to say that the clearest case in which a grant will be made, … Continue reading Regina v Law Society, ex parte Matthews; 17 Mar 1994
This is an incomplete list of the senior judicial appointment holders for England and Wales. See also more generally: http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/about-the-judiciary/the-judiciary-in-detail http://www.supremecourt.gov.uk/about/biographies-of-the-justices.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Chief_Justice_of_England_and_Wales#Lord_Chief_Justices_of_England_.28later_England_and_Wales29.2C_1875.E2.80.93present http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_Family_Division https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senior_President_of_Tribunals
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
