Penn v Bristol and West Building Society and Others: ChD 19 Jun 1995

Solicitors acting for a vendor were liable to the buyers’ mortgagees for breach of warranty of authority for vendor. The solicitor was negligent in not having verified the instructions from the wife who was the joint tenant.

Citations:

Gazette 13-Jul-1995, Times 19-Jun-1995, [1995] FLR 938

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

Appealed toPenn v Bristol and West Building Society and Others CA 24-Apr-1997
The solicitor innocently accepted instructions to sell a property, but was misled as to the identity of the wife – one of the joint owners. Unknown to him, however, Mr Penn had forged his wife’s signature on the contract documents. He was sued by . .

Cited by:

Appeal fromPenn v Bristol and West Building Society and Others CA 24-Apr-1997
The solicitor innocently accepted instructions to sell a property, but was misled as to the identity of the wife – one of the joint owners. Unknown to him, however, Mr Penn had forged his wife’s signature on the contract documents. He was sued by . .
CitedAl-Sabah v Ali and Others ChD 22-Jan-1999
The claimant alleged the fraudulent transfer of properties by use of a forged power of attorney.
Held: The power was fraudulent. Solicitors had acted under the instructions of the agent. The court referred to the Law Society’s practice . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Legal Professions, Professional Negligence

Updated: 15 April 2022; Ref: scu.84654