Pasley v Freeman: 1789

Tort of Deceit Set Out

The court considered the tort of deceit. A representation by one person that another person was creditworthy was actionable if made fraudulently. A false affirmation made by the defendant with intent to defraud the plaintiff, whereby the plaintiff receives damage, is the ground of an action upon the case in the nature of deceit. In such an action, it is not necessary that the defendant should be benefited by the deceit, or that he should collude with the person who is.

Buller J
(1789) 3 Durn and E 51, (1789) 3 Term Rep 5F, [1789] EngR 1703, (1789) 3 TR 51, (1789) 100 ER 450
Commonlii
England and Wales
Citing:
Cited – Crosse v Gardner 1689
Holt CJ said: ‘an affirmation at the time of sale is a warranty, provided it appear on evidence to have been so intended.’ . .

Cited by:
Cited – Smith New Court Securities Ltd v Scrimgeour Vickers HL 21-Nov-1996
The defendant had made misrepresentations, inducing the claimant to enter into share transactions which he would not otherwise have entered into, and which lost money.
Held: A deceitful wrongdoer is properly liable for all actual damage . .
Cited – Hedley Byrne and Co Ltd v Heller and Partners Ltd HL 28-May-1963
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 . .
Cited – Heilbut Symons and Co v Buckleton HL 11-Nov-1912
In an action of damages for fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of warranty, the plaintiff founded on a conversation between himself and the defendants’ representative. In this conversation the plaintiff said-‘I understand that you are bringing . .
Cited – Lyde v Barnard CExC 1836
The question before the court was whether a misrepresentation, that a particular fund in which Lord Edward Thynne had a life interest was charged with only three annuities, was a representation relating to Lord Edward’s credit or ability within the . .
Cited – Lindsay v O’Loughnane QBD 18-Mar-2010
lindsay_oloughnaneQBD11
The claimant had purchased Euros through a foreign exchange dealer. The dealer company became insolvent, causing losses to the claimant, who sought to recover from the company’s managing director, the defendant, saying that he was aware of the . .
Cited – Roder UK Ltd v West and Another CA 12-Oct-2011
The claimant sought to allege that the defendant company director was personally liable after misrepresentations as to the company’s creditworthiness in ordering goods when the defendant was really insolvent.
Held: The defendant’s appeal . .

Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Torts – Other, Contract

Leading Case

Updated: 31 October 2021; Ref: scu.191183