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Rossetti Marketing Ltd v Diamond Sofa Company Ltd and Another: QBD 3 Oct 2011

The claimants sought compensation under the 1993 Rules. The defendants denied that the claimants were agents within the rules, since they also acted as agents for other furniture makers. Held: Whether a party is a commercial agent within the meaning of the Directive or the Regulations is a straightforward matter, to be determined by reference … Continue reading Rossetti Marketing Ltd v Diamond Sofa Company Ltd and Another: QBD 3 Oct 2011

AMB Imballaggi Plastici Srl v Pacflex Ltd: CA 18 Jun 1999

A party who chose to contract as principal for the purpose of reselling the goods of the vendor on a speculative basis and for a profit, was not to be deemed to be a commercial agent of the first vendor, and so was not entitled to compensation on the breakdown of the relationship. Judges: Peter … Continue reading AMB Imballaggi Plastici Srl v Pacflex Ltd: CA 18 Jun 1999

Claramoda Ltd v Zoomphase Ltd (T/A Jenny Packham): ComC 13 Nov 2009

The former distribution agent sought to claim under the Regulations. The defendant said that the claim had not been notified as it should, within one year. The agency was for the sale of fashion items. Termination had been informal, stating that it would take place at the end of the season. The defendant argued that … Continue reading Claramoda Ltd v Zoomphase Ltd (T/A Jenny Packham): ComC 13 Nov 2009

Shearman (T/A Charles Shearman Agencies) v Hunter Boot Ltd: QBD 22 Jan 2014

Termination of Commercial agency agreement – term contradicting rights under regulations ineffective Judges: Judge Mackie QC sitting as a High Court judge Citations: [2014] EWHC 47 (QB), [2014] WLR(D) 32 Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes: Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Agency Updated: 26 November 2022; Ref: scu.520133

Ingmar GB Limited v Eaton Leonard Technologies Inc: CA 31 Jul 1998

Case referred to ECJ. Judges: Peter Gibson, Aldous, Potter LJJ Citations: [1998] EWCA Civ 1366 Statutes: Council Directive 86/653/EEC of 18 December 1986 on the coordination of the laws of the Member States relating to self-employed commercial agents 17, Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Moore v Piretta … Continue reading Ingmar GB Limited v Eaton Leonard Technologies Inc: CA 31 Jul 1998

Lonsdale (T/A Lonsdale Agencies) v Howard and Hallam Ltd: HL 4 Jul 2007

The claimant sought compensation after his commercial agency was terminated. The court had found that the agency was declining in turnover, and reduced the compensation accordingly. There had been no written agreement for the agency, and six months’ notice was given. Held: The agent’s appeal failed. The UK had chosen to implement both the allowed … Continue reading Lonsdale (T/A Lonsdale Agencies) v Howard and Hallam Ltd: HL 4 Jul 2007

Lonsdale v Howard and Hallam Ltd: CA 8 Feb 2006

The claimant sought damages after his agency with the defendants was terminated. The central issue was whether compensation was to be calculated at two years commission as derived from French practice or otherwise. Held: ‘there is no clear agreement on the principles governing the assessment of compensation under regulation 17(6) . . . the common … Continue reading Lonsdale v Howard and Hallam Ltd: CA 8 Feb 2006

Tigana Ltd v Decoro Ltd: QBD 3 Feb 2003

The claimant sought compensation after its sales agency agreement with the defendant was terminated. He had opened up several substantial sales channels for the respondent’s products within the UK. There were difficulties in the products (leather furniture) meeting UK fire safety standards, and with which the claimant gave assistance. The defendants did not renew the … Continue reading Tigana Ltd v Decoro Ltd: QBD 3 Feb 2003

Page v Combined Shipping and Trading Co Ltd: CA 24 May 1996

Mr Page was taken on to trade in commodities for the defendant for a minimum period of four years. Six months later the defendant’s parent company decided to cease trading activities, and he began proceedings claiming compensation under regulation 17 and applied for an injunction to prevent the defendant from moving its assets abroad. The … Continue reading Page v Combined Shipping and Trading Co Ltd: CA 24 May 1996

Ingmar GB Ltd v Eaton Leonard Inc: QBD 31 Jul 2001

The applicants sought damages as commercial agents following the termination of their exclusive agency for the sale of the respondents goods in the UK. The defendants claimed the contract was governed exclusively by Californian law. The European Court had decided that the compensation could not be excluded by contract. The court had to assess damages. … Continue reading Ingmar GB Ltd v Eaton Leonard Inc: QBD 31 Jul 2001

Accentuate Ltd v Asigra Inc (A Company Incorporated In Canada): QBD 30 Oct 2009

The court considered questions as to the relationship between EU law and the law of arbitration. The parties disputed the compensation payable on the termination of an agency distributorship agreement. The distributor said that the agreement purported to contract out of the Regulations and that any such contract, and any arbitration pursuant to it were … Continue reading Accentuate Ltd v Asigra Inc (A Company Incorporated In Canada): QBD 30 Oct 2009

Sagal (T/A Bunz UK) v Atelier Bunz Gmbh: CA 3 Jul 2009

The court was asked whether the the appellant was a commercial agent of the defendant within the regulations, and so would be entitled to compensation on termination of the agency.Longmore LJ said: ‘It does not follow that every agent acting on behalf of the principal is necessarily a ‘commercial agent . . ‘ Judges: Longmore … Continue reading Sagal (T/A Bunz UK) v Atelier Bunz Gmbh: CA 3 Jul 2009

Crane (T/A Indigital Satelite Services) v Sky In-Home Ltd and Another: CA 3 Jul 2008

Arden LJ considered the principles to be applied when considering whether a party to civil litigation should be allowed to appeal a trial judge’s decision on the basis that a claim, which could have been brought before him but was not, would have succeeded if it had been so brought. She concluded: ‘CPR 52.8 provides … Continue reading Crane (T/A Indigital Satelite Services) v Sky In-Home Ltd and Another: CA 3 Jul 2008

Cooper and others v Pure Fishing (UK) Ltd: CA 18 Mar 2004

Citations: [2004] EWCA Civ 375 Links: Bailii Statutes: Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993, Council Directive 86/653/EEC of 18 December 1986 on the coordination of the laws of the Member States relating to self-employed commercial agents 17 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Moore v Piretta Pta Ltd QBD 11-May-1998 M had a series … Continue reading Cooper and others v Pure Fishing (UK) Ltd: CA 18 Mar 2004

Vick v Vogle-Gapes Ltd: QBD 30 Jun 2006

Claim for damages for breach of marketing agreement and termination of commercial agency. Judges: Richard Seymour QC HHJ Citations: [2006] EWHC 1579 (QB) Links: Bailii Statutes: Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Agency, European Updated: 12 July 2022; Ref: scu.245091

PJ Pipe and Valve Co. Ltd. v Audco India Ltd: QBD 2 Sep 2005

The claimant was an agent in the petrochemical industry promoting and selling the defendant’s valves. There were two agency agreements, one relating solely to products to be supplied to a particular petro-chemical complex in Nanhai, the other being a general agency agreement under which the claimant was given exclusive rights to represent the defendant and … Continue reading PJ Pipe and Valve Co. Ltd. v Audco India Ltd: QBD 2 Sep 2005

Pure Fishing (UK) Ltd v Cooper Watkins and Bartle: CA 29 Sep 2003

The claimant sought a compensation payment under the Regulations after its sales agency for fishing tackle was terminated. The defendant argued that compensation was payable only where the agency was terminated before its term. Held: The regulations provided that compensation was payable also where the agency simply expired by effluxion. ‘termination having been given a … Continue reading Pure Fishing (UK) Ltd v Cooper Watkins and Bartle: CA 29 Sep 2003

Light and Others v Ty Europe Ltd: CA 25 Jul 2003

The claimants sought damages under the regulations. They were self employed sales agents. At first they were sub agents but upon the ceasing to trade of the main agents they had acted directly for the principal. Those agencies had been terminated. Held: In addition to the question of whether they were agents within the directive, … Continue reading Light and Others v Ty Europe Ltd: CA 25 Jul 2003

Mercantile International Group Plc v Chuan Soon Huat Industrial Group Ltd: CA 8 Mar 2002

The court was asked whether the claimants were a commercial agent of the defendants under the 1993 regulations. Held: It is common for agents acting in the sale of financial products, eg many types of insurance policies, to fix its own commission, and this arrangement can be consistent with the existence of a relationship of … Continue reading Mercantile International Group Plc v Chuan Soon Huat Industrial Group Ltd: CA 8 Mar 2002

Parks v Esso Petroleum Company Limited: CA 23 Jul 1999

The claimant sought to add a claim under the regulations for compensation after termination of his agency for the defendants. The lower court had rejected his claim saying that the petrol products he sold were at a price fixed by Esso, and that since he did not negotiate the price he fell outside the regulations. … Continue reading Parks v Esso Petroleum Company Limited: CA 23 Jul 1999

Barret Mckenzie and Co Ltd v Escada (UK) Ltd: QBD 1 Feb 2001

The court considered the method of calculation of compensation payable to a commercial agent on termination of the agency. The directive provided that the agent should be compensated, not indemnified, and the way an English court calculated compensation need not follow other European jurisdictions. A tariff system would be unfair, and the court must make … Continue reading Barret Mckenzie and Co Ltd v Escada (UK) Ltd: QBD 1 Feb 2001

Moore v Piretta Pta Ltd: QBD 11 May 1998

M had a series of agency contracts selling women’s clothing. The last contract was in 1994, and on termination, M claimed an indemnity under the contract which itself applied the regulations. Reg 17(3) gave an indemnity for new customers, where the principal continued to derive benefit. Held: The agency contract was to be interpreted to … Continue reading Moore v Piretta Pta Ltd: QBD 11 May 1998

Computer Associates UK Ltd v The Software Incubator Ltd: CA 19 Mar 2018

Appeal from award following termination of commercial agency, asking whether a licence to use electronically supplied software amounts to the ‘sale of goods’ under the Regulations. Citations: [2018] EWCA Civ 518 Links: Bailii Statutes: Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Agency Updated: 06 April 2022; Ref: scu.606471

Henderson v Merrett Syndicates Ltd: HL 25 Jul 1994

Lloyds Agents Owe Care Duty to Member; no Contract Managing agents conducted the financial affairs of the Lloyds Names belonging to the syndicates under their charge. It was alleged that they managed these affairs with a lack of due careleading to enormous losses. Held: The assumption of responsibility principle enunciated in Hedley is not confined … Continue reading Henderson v Merrett Syndicates Ltd: HL 25 Jul 1994

Tamarind International Ltd and others v Eastern Natural Gas (Retail) Ltd and Another: QBD 27 Jun 2000

Where self employed agents had been taken on to market the respondent’s services, and those agencies were terminated, such activities were those of commercial agents within the Directive, and they were entitled to compensation. Whether he was a secondary agent or not was a question foreign to English law, and not to be gleaned other … Continue reading Tamarind International Ltd and others v Eastern Natural Gas (Retail) Ltd and Another: QBD 27 Jun 2000

The Software Incubator Ltd v Computer Associates UK Ltd: QBD 1 Jul 2016

Claim for damages for repudiatory breach of agency agreement,and for damages for termination of sales agency agreement. The defendant argued that the 1993 Regulations did not apply since the supply of computer software under the contract was not a supply of goods as required by the Regulations.As to whether the software was goods: ‘The Product … Continue reading The Software Incubator Ltd v Computer Associates UK Ltd: QBD 1 Jul 2016

Warren v Drukkerij Flach BV: CA 18 Jul 2014

The claimant said that he had been an agent of the defendant within the 1993 Regulations, and entitled to compensation on termination of that contract. Longmore, Tomlinson, Fulford LJJ [2014] EWCA Civ 993 Bailii Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993 17 18 England and Wales Agency Updated: 17 December 2021; Ref: scu.534638

Office of Fair Trading v Abbey National Plc and seven Others: ComC 24 Apr 2008

The Office sought a declaration that the respondent and other banks were subject to the provisions of the Regulations in their imposition of bank charges to customer accounts, and in particular as to the imposition of penalties or charges for the breach of the overdraft limits. Held: The relevant terms were not exempt from assessment … Continue reading Office of Fair Trading v Abbey National Plc and seven Others: ComC 24 Apr 2008

Regina v Secretary of State for Education and Employment and others ex parte Williamson and others: HL 24 Feb 2005

The appellants were teachers in Christian schools who said that the blanket ban on corporal punishment interfered with their religious freedom. They saw moderate physical discipline as an essential part of educating children in a Christian manner. Held: The appeal was dismissed. For Article 9 to be engaged (aside from certain other threshold conditions) the … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Education and Employment and others ex parte Williamson and others: HL 24 Feb 2005

Revenue and Customs v Secret Hotels2 Ltd: SC 5 Mar 2014

The Court was asked as to: ‘the liability for Value Added Tax of a company which markets and arranges holiday accommodation through an on-line website. The outcome turns on the appropriate characterisation of the relationship between the company, the operators of the hotels, and the holiday-makers or their travel agents (which is an English law … Continue reading Revenue and Customs v Secret Hotels2 Ltd: SC 5 Mar 2014

Investors Compensation Scheme Ltd v West Bromwich Building Society: HL 19 Jun 1997

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

Director General of Fair Trading v First National Bank: HL 25 Oct 2001

The House was asked whether a contractual provision for interest to run after judgment as well as before in a consumer credit contract led to an unfair relationship. Held: The term was not covered by the Act, and was not unfair under the Regulations. It was by way of a default condition, rather than a … Continue reading Director General of Fair Trading v First National Bank: HL 25 Oct 2001

Marleasing SA v La Comercial Internacional de Alimentacion SA: ECJ 13 Nov 1990

Sympathetic construction of national legislation LMA OVIEDO sought a declaration that the contracts setting up Commercial International were void (a nullity) since they had been drawn up in order to defraud creditors. Commercial International relied on an EC Directive designed to protect companies and third parties from the adverse effects of the doctrine of nullity. … Continue reading Marleasing SA v La Comercial Internacional de Alimentacion SA: ECJ 13 Nov 1990

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