The parties negotiated for a lease, but never signed a contract. The plaintiff expended considerable sums to try to get planning, and once acquired it sought to buy the land, and claimed that Mr Broadhead had taken an unconscionable advantage, entitling the plaintiff to relief in equity. The defendant had repeatedly assured the plaintiffs that … Continue reading Holiday Inns Inc v Broadhead: 1974
The lender took a charge over a property held by a company which subsequently became void because it was not registered within the required period at Companies House. Held: A voidable charge is a valid charge unless and until set aside: ‘[W]here A’s money is used to pay off the claim of B, who is … Continue reading Burston Finance Ltd v Spierway Ltd: ChD 1974
A company was not entitled to legal aid unless it was clearly acting in a fiduciary capacity; that the assignment of an action is invalid is insufficient to warrant a grant. Citations: Times 26-Dec-1997, Gazette 28-Jan-1998, [1997] EWCA Civ 3043 Statutes: Legal Aid Act 1974 2(10) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Appeal from – Regina … Continue reading Regina v Chester and North Wales Legal Aid Area Office (No 12) ex parte Floods of Queensferry Limited: CA 18 Dec 1997
Courts should be careful before allowing unqualified persons to represent other parties at court. Pleadings and similar documents must be signed by the party or their qualified legal representative. Others signing them may be in contempt of court and committing criminal offences. A McKenzie friend had no right to act as such, only the right … Continue reading Noueiri v Paragon Finance Plc (Practice Note): CA 19 Sep 2001
Citations: [2002] EWCA Civ 490 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Legal Professions, Legal Aid Updated: 13 October 2022; Ref: scu.216958
Lord Reid said that that statutory provisions for claims for unfair dismissal ‘must be construed in a broad and reasonable way so that legal technicalities shall not prevail against industrial realities and common sense’The idea of discrimination connotes a comparison. Judges: Lord Reid Citations: [1974] 1 WLR 89, [1974] 1 All ER 229 Jurisdiction: England … Continue reading Post Office v Crouch: 1974
Appeal from condition attached to practising certificate that the solicitor may not act under Legal Aid pending hearing at SDT. Citations: [2001] EWCA Civ 518 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Legal Professions Updated: 06 September 2022; Ref: scu.218135
Appeal against the decision of a Law Society Appeal Adjudicator, upholding a decision of first instance Adjudicator, that, among other matters, Mr Farrelly is not of suitable character to become a solicitor and that his student membership be revoked. He was said to have falsified his curriculum vitae. Judges: Lord Phillips MR Citations: [2001] EWCA … Continue reading Farrelly, Re Solicitor’s Act 1974, No 14 of 2001: CA 7 Nov 2001
The trainee appealed against the decision of the Law Society to cancel his student membership on the basis that he was not a fit and proper person to become a solicitor. He had been convicted of criminal damage, but had not notified the Law Society of that conviction. He was convicted of further offences and … Continue reading Onwuka, Re Solicitors Act 1974 No 3 of 2002: CA 2 Jul 2002
The defendant had been accused of conspiracy to produce pirate copies of films obtained by purchasing copies from cinema owners without the knowledge or consent of the copyright owners. Held: To establish a conspiracy to defraud, it was not necessary to prove a deceit by the defendant of the person who would end up being … Continue reading Scott v Metropolitan Police Commissioner; Regina v Scott: HL 20 Nov 1974
Preliminary Questions – The Brussels Tribunal de premiere instance referred a questions in proceedings relating to the enforceability of contracts between an authors’ royalties collecting society and its members who had assigned their copyrights to the society. It was said that the contracts imposed unfair trading conditions contrary to Article 86. A preliminary point arose … Continue reading Belgische Radio En Televisie v Sv Sabam And Nv Fonior: ECJ 30 Jan 1974
1. No new element has been adduced capable of casting doubt on the court’s decision in its judgments of 24 october 1973 in cases 5, 9 and 10/73, according to which examination of questions referred had not revealed any elements capable of affecting the validity of regulation no 974/71. 2. Article 2 of regulation no … Continue reading Kurt A Becher v Hauptzollamt Emden: ECJ 15 Jan 1974
ECJ The practice of sport is subject to community law only in so far as it constitutes an economic activity within the meaning of article 2 of the Treaty. The prohibition of discrimination based on nationality in the sphere of economic activities which have the character of gainful employment or remunerated service covers all work … Continue reading B N O Walrave And L J N Koch v Association Union Cycliste Internationale, Koninklijke Nederlandsche Wielren Unie Et Federacion Espanola Ciclismo: ECJ 12 Dec 1974
Judges: Mr Justice Fordham Citations: [2022] EWHC 1258 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Solicitors Act 1974 43 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Legal Professiomns Updated: 07 June 2022; Ref: scu.678271
Europa The commission, in the exercise of the powers which it has under articles 155 and 169 of the treaty, does not have to show the existence of a legal interest, since, in the general interest of the community, its function is to ensure that the provisions of the treaty are applied by the member … Continue reading Commission v France (Judgment): ECJ 4 Apr 1974
Europa The rule on equal treatment with nationals is one of the fundamental legal provisions of the community. As a reference to a set of legislative provisions effectively applied by the country of establishment to its own nationals, this rule is, by its essence, capable of being directly invoked by nationals of all the other … Continue reading Jean Reyners v Belgian State: ECJ 21 Jun 1974
The House rejected the submission of counsel that the Court of Appeal had asked the wrong question by taking as the test the effect of the fresh evidence on their mind and not the effect that the evidence would have had on the mind of the jury. It would be anomalous for the court to … Continue reading Stafford v Director of Public Prosecutions: HL 1974
It was possible for a body to apply for legal aid but only if it was genuinely acting in a fiduciary capacity as trustee, not mere contractual representative. Citations: Times 07-Nov-1997, [1997] EWHC Admin 883 Links: Bailii Statutes: Legal Aid Act 1974 2(10), Legal Aid Act 1988 2(10) Cited by: Appeal from – Regina v … Continue reading Regina v Chester and North Wales Legal Aid Area Office Ex Parte Floods of Queensbury Ltd: QBD 7 Nov 1997
An application was made to inspect documents held by the Customs and Excise Commissioners. The plaintiff sought to inspect the documents to discover whether calculations of taxes were correct. The Commissioners swore an affidavit identifying documents supplied to them by others containing confidential information about the affairs of persons other than the plaintiff who were … Continue reading Alfred Crompton Amusement Machines Ltd v Customs and Excise Commissioners: HL 1974
The plaintiff argued that no costs had been incurred by the successful defendant, as he was insured, and the insurance company was bound to pay his costs. Held: ‘In this case the solicitors, no doubt first instructed by the insurance company, were the solicitors on the record as the solicitors for the respondent. They acted … Continue reading Davies v Taylor (No 2): HL 2 Jan 1974
When considering the granting of legal aid for a solicitor to be appointed to represent a child’s guardian ad litem in proceedings under section 34, the Board had failed to acknowledge the requirement under the Rules placed upon a guardian to be represented. There was no choice about the appointment. The power to reject an … Continue reading Regina v Legal Aid Board, Ex Parte W and Others (Minors): CA 19 Sep 2000
Lord Denning MR discussed the immunity of judges from suit: ‘Ever since the year 1613, if not before, it has been accepted in our law that no action is maintainable against a judge for anything said or done by him in the exercise of a jurisdiction which belongs to him. The words which he speaks … Continue reading Sirros v Moore: CA 1974
The Legal Aid Board is entitled to a charge over property which is ‘recovered or preserved’ in proceedings in which the party is legally aided. Nevertheless, the charge could not be applied to property merely because it had been included within assets dealt with by a consent order. The property over which a charge is … Continue reading Morgan and Others v Legal Aid Board: ChD 24 Apr 2000
When considering a request for a quia timet injunction, Russell LJ said: ‘In different cases, differing phrases have been used in describing circumstances in which mandatory injunctions and quia timet injunctions will be granted. In truth, it seems to me that the degree of probability of future injury is not an absolute standard: what is … Continue reading Hooper v Rogers: CA 1974
An application for payment of a successful party’s costs out of the Legal Aid Fund should normally be made at the end of a trial, but it might well be made later when it proved impossible to recover costs against other parties to the action. In this case the delay did prevent it being just … Continue reading In the Matter of an Application for Costs Against Legal Aid Board; Lancashire Fires Ltd v S A Lyons and Co Ltd and Others (No 2): CA 23 Jul 1999
Aspect had claimed the return of funds paid by it to the appellant Higgins under an adjudication award in a construction contract disute. The claimant had been asked to prpare asbestos surveys and reports on maisonettes which Higgins was to acquire and redevlop. Higgins now appealed againt a decision overturning a high court judgment in … Continue reading Aspect Contracts (Asbetos) Ltd v Higgins Construction Plc: SC 17 Jun 2015
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 plaintiff’s husband was killed in a road accident caused by the defendant’s negligence. They were childless. She had deserted him five weeks before his death and thereafter, he learned about her adultery with a fellow employee. He tried to effect reconciliation with her but she refused. Shortly before his death, he had instructed his … Continue reading Davies v Taylor: HL 1974
Whether a contract has been made A newly elected city Council refused to proceed with the sale of a dwelling and premises to a sitting tenant, the plaintiff. The sale had been arranged by the previous Council. The plaintiff had signed the form sent to him by the council, and only the date when lease … Continue reading Storer v Manchester City Council: CA 1974
The making of a declaration is a judicial act. A shareholder is entitled to bring a derivative action on behalf of the company when it is controlled by persons alleged to have injured the company who refuse to allow the company to sue. It is an abuse of process where a Plaintiff issues a Writ … Continue reading Wallersteiner v Moir: CA 1974
The plaintiff complained of an alleged slander spoken at a meeting of the Town Council. The council meeting was an occasion attracting qualified privilege. The judge at trial found that the councillor honestly believed that what he had said in the meeting was true but he had become so anxious to have the other councillor … Continue reading Horrocks v Lowe: HL 1974
The victim died on a farm when his dumper truck overturned burying him in its load. Held: The prosecutor needed to establish a prima facie case that the results required by the Act had not been achieved. He need only establish that a risk of injury arose out of the state of affairs at the … Continue reading Chargot Limited (T/A Contract Services) and Others, Regina v: HL 10 Dec 2008
Lord Denning MR described the modern practice concerning pleadings: ‘It is sufficient for the pleader to state the material facts. He need not state the legal result. If, for convenience, he does so, he is not bound by, or limited to, what he has . .
The government planned to promote a large scale rail development (HS2), announcing this in a command paper. The main issues, in summary, were, first, whether it should have been preceded by strategic environmental assessment, under the relevant . .
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A local authority resisting an appeal by a legally aided plaintiff could be awarded costs. The court should be careful not to depart from the wording of the Act, and an order did not depend upon any finding of wrongful behaviour by a party. The plaintiff had sought to exercise an option in a lease … Continue reading Stretch v West Dorset District Council (2): CA 13 May 1999
There should be no legal aid for a company’s nominee to bring what were, in effect, company proceedings. Parliament had deliberately excluded such assistance, and it should not be circumvented by the company assigning its rights in action to a nominee. Citations: Ind Summary 22-Feb-1993 Statutes: Legal Aid Act 1974 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Legal … Continue reading Advanced Technology Structures Ltd v Cray Technology Ltd: CA 22 Feb 1993
The defendant sought legal aid to defend an action to abate a statutory nuisance under the 1936 Act. Held: Such an action was criminal in nature. The action had been brought under section 99, but the imposition of a penalty under s94 was a criminal sentence. ‘On analysis, the position seem to be that proceedings … Continue reading Regina v Inner London Crown Court ex parte Bentham: QBD 1989
There was an interlocutory dispute over the granting of an extension of time for service of the defence. The legally aided plaintiff challenged the costs orders made by the district registrar and the judge. Each ordered that the costs be the defendants’, ‘not to be enforced without leave of the court save by way of … Continue reading Lockley v National Blood Transfusion Service: CA 1992
The House considered the impact of the statutory charge under the 1974 Act in matrimonial proceedings. Held: The costs in respect of which the statutory charge bit were the costs of the whole divorce proceedings and not just the financial relief aspect. For property to have been ‘recovered or transferred’ for this purpose, its ownership … Continue reading Hanlon v The Law Society: HL 1981
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
When considering the resources of a legally aided person against whom a costs order is to be made, the fact that a spouse’s assets are included when calculating eligibility for legal aid does not mean that they should be included for this purpose also. Citations: Times 04-Jan-1999 Statutes: Legal Aid Act 1974 17 Jurisdiction: England … Continue reading Waterford Wedgewood plc and an v David Nagli Ltd (in liquidation) et al: ChD 4 Jan 1999
The applicant sought leave to bring judicial review of the prime minister’s decsion not to hold a referendum on the ratification of the treaty of Lisbon. Held: The claimant had arguable points under the 2000 Act and otherwise, and permission was granted for the review to be heard. Judges: Owen J Citations: [2008] EWHC 936 … Continue reading Wheeler, Regina (on the Application of) v Office of the Prime Minister and Another: Admn 2 May 2008
A notice of the Law Society’s suspicion of dishonesty founding an intervention in a solicitor’s practice, did not need to particularise the acts suspected. Sedley LJ said: ‘it is by common consent a matter for the court’s judgment [on an application under paragraph 6(4) of schedule 1] (I prefer not to use the word discretion … Continue reading Giles v The Law Society: CA 20 Oct 1995
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 claimants resisted an order to pay the VAT element awarded on the defendant’s legal costs. The revenue had been unable to state clearly whether the defendant would be able to recover VAT, in which case it would not be payable, or the reverse. It had at the same time become clear that costs had … Continue reading Miskin, Miskin v St John Vaughan: SCCO 18 Sep 2002
The claimant sought to unravel a settlement she had made as receiver for her late husband, saying that it had been made without consideration of its Inheritance Tax implications. The Revenue said that there was no operative mistake so as to allow the rule in Hastings-Bass to apply allowing the variation. Held: For the rule … Continue reading Pitt and Another v Holt and Another: ChD 18 Jan 2010
The court was asked to pierce the veil of incorporation of a company in the course of ancillary relief proceedings in a divorce. H had failed to co-operate with the court. After a comprehensive review of all the authorities, Munby J said: ‘The common theme running through all the cases in which the court has … Continue reading Ben Hashem v Ali Shayif and Another: FD 22 Sep 2008
There was a heated dispute between neighbours, culminating in some generous or perhaps over-generous pruning by the claimant of the defendant’s trees and shrubs on the boundaries. The defendants reported the matter to the police. Both Mr and Mrs Dalziel made oral complaints to the officer who attended upon them. He later returned and Mr … Continue reading Buckley v Dalziel: QBD 3 May 2007
It was claimed that the defendant’s computer software infringed the copyright in software owned by the claimant. A declaration was sought beacause of allegations that assertions about infringement had been made to third parties. Held: The declaration was refused. There was no explicit provision in copyright law for a declaration of non-infringement as was available … Continue reading Point Solutions Ltd v Focus Business Solutions Ltd and Another: ChD 16 Dec 2005
The Secretary of State had appointed inspectors to investigate and report on a company takeover. In their report, which was published, the inspectors made findings which were critical of and damaging to the applicants, who relied on the civil limb of article 6(1) to complain that they had been denied effective access to the courts … Continue reading Fayed v United Kingdom: ECHR 6 Oct 1994
The deceased had come to live in the UK and obtain citizenship under somebody else’s identity. After his death his wife and children sought clearance to come to live here. Held: Her appeal failed. The residence of her late husband was unlawful, there never was a grant of citizenship to him, and therefore did not … Continue reading Bibi and others v Entry Clearance Officer, Dhaka: CA 18 Jul 2007
The taxpayer, a well known film actor, agreed to work through a company for three years being paid andpound;50 per week. The shares were transferred to his wife and accountant. His father in law set up a andpound;100 settlement for the benefit of his children of which his wife and accountant were the trustees. The … Continue reading Crossland v Hawkins: CA 1961
Fair Coment on Political Activities The defendant newspaper had published articles wrongly accusing the claimant, the former Prime Minister of Ireland of duplicity. The paper now appealed, saying that it should have had available to it a defence of qualified privilege because of the claimant’s status as a politician. Held: The appeal failed (Lords Hope … Continue reading Reynolds v Times Newspapers Ltd and others: HL 28 Oct 1999
The parties had drawn up and executed an option agreement. When a court considered an option to purchase ‘land known as . .’, it was able to consider extrinsic evidence to establish just what was included where the identification in the deed was ambiguous. No order for damages could be made, however where it was … Continue reading Rogers and Another v Freeguard and Another: CA 19 Oct 1998
The claimant gambler sought payment of his winnings. The casino said that he had operated a system called edge-sorting to achieve the winnings, and that this was a form of cheating so as to excuse their payment. The system exploited tiny variances in the appearance of the sides of playing cards, and the manipulation of … Continue reading Ivey v Genting Casinos (UK) Ltd (T/A Crockfords): SC 25 Oct 2017
The vendor had served an invalid notice to complete on the purchaser. When the purchaser did not comply with the notice the vendor purported to terminate the contract by accepting the purchaser’s alleged repudiation. Walton J held that it was in fact the vendor who had repudiated, and that the purchaser was entitled to accept … Continue reading Rightside Properties Ltd v Gray: ChD 1975
The tenants of a unit on a large shopping centre found the business losing money, and closed it in contravention of a ‘keep open’ clause in the lease. They now appealed from a mandatory injunction requiring them to keep the store open. Held: Specific performance is an exceptional remedy, as opposed to the common law … Continue reading Co-Operative Insurance Society Ltd v Argyll Stores: HL 21 May 1997
The defendant had appealed his conviction for murder to the Court of Appeal. The 1968 Act required the court to consider whether the conviction was unsafe. New evidence was before the Court of Appeal, but they had rejected the appeal. Held: The Court of Appeal should reach its own view based on the unadorned words … Continue reading Regina v Pendleton: HL 13 Dec 2001
The defendant appealed his conviction for driving with excess alcohol. He claimed to have a medical condition under which the contents of his stomach would regurgitate into his mouth, and that this could exaggerate the alcohol reading. Held: ‘although at first sight Zafar may appear harsh, this has to be seen in context. Breath specimens … Continue reading Woolfe v Director of Public Prosecutions: Admn 23 Jun 2006
The trust was created in 1948, and provided gifts over, which had now failed. The court considered the construction of the term ‘stautory next of kin’. The possible beneficiaries claimed through being adopted, arguing that at the date of the last beneficary’s death, all impediments to inheritance by adopted children had been removed by statute. … Continue reading Re Erskine 1948 Trust: ChD 29 Mar 2012
The defendant sought to assert that the agreement under which possession of her house was sought was an extortionate credit bargain. She had to obtain leave to appeal out of time. Held: The rules required an application to be supported by evidence. In this case the leave had been granted without formal consideration of the … Continue reading Southern and District Finance Plc v Turner: CA 7 Nov 2003
CS Damages of 200,000 pounds by way of exemplary damages had been awarded against the police for unlawful arrest and assault. Held: The court gave a guideline maximum pounds 50,000 award against police for wrongful arrest and wrongful imprisonment. Comparisons were proper with personal injury cases. It is important to identify and quantify the various … Continue reading Thompson v Commissioner of Police of Metropolis; Hsu v Same: CA 20 Feb 1997
The court considered the duties of the respondent in administering the Compensation Fund: ‘It seems clear from the current legislation that the history of the fund and the mode of operating it that the solicitors’ profession was never intended or required to assume an open ended liability to meet any unsatisfied loss sustained by any … Continue reading Regina v Law Society ex parte Mortgage Express Limited; Regina v Law Society ex parte Alliance and Leicester Building Society: CA 17 Dec 1996
The appellants challenged the decision of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal finding them in breach of the 1998 Rules in that they had failed to prevent a former partner making unauthorised, if small, withdrawals of residual balances from client account. No dishonesty had been suggested. Held: The tribunal had been wrong to treat the matter as … Continue reading Bass and Another v Solicitors Regulation Authority: Admn 18 Jul 2012
The client complained that he should have been advised to apply for legal aid and otherwise. The solicitor now appealed a disciplinary finding against her. Held: The court considered the purpose of Schedule 1A of the 1974 Act: ‘it is arguable that the primary purpose is to redress shoddy service and to provide a rough … Continue reading Regina v Law Society ex parte Shuttari: CA 25 Nov 1996
The appellant had been convicted at a retrial of offences of rape and robbery. He said that there had been an attempt at sexual intercourse with the consent of the complainant, but the penetration had not occurred. He denied robbery. At the time of the alleged offence he was suffering from a physical condition which … Continue reading Regina v Loughran: CACD 1999
The appellant obtained loans enabling him to buy cars by giving false information when entering into hire purchase agreements. The relevant agreement did not contain all the prescribed information and was improperly executed so that by virtue of section 65 it was only enforceable on the order of the court. The appellant had been convicted … Continue reading Regina v Modupe: CACD 1991
The claimants had sponsored tennis players to wear their logo. The respondents organised tennis tournaments whose intended rules would prevent the display of the claimant’s logos. The claimants said that the restriction interfered with their rights to trade within Europe. Held: The rules were potentially a breach of the claimants rights to trade, and an … Continue reading Adidas-Salomon Ag v Drape and others: ChD 7 Jun 2006
The claimants sought damages for damage to property alleging breach of statutory duty. The defendant said that the regulations were made under European not English law, and that the Secretary of State did not have power to make regulations under the 1974 Act which would give rise to a right to damages. The regulations had … Continue reading Vibixa Ltd, Polestar Jowetts Ltd v Komori UK Ltd and Another, Spectral Technology Ltd: CA 9 May 2006
The defendant had been wrongly convicted of IRA bombings. She said that the prosecution had failed to disclose evidence. Held: The prosecution’s forensic scientists are under a common law duty to disclose to the defence anything they may discover which may assist the defendant. ‘Non-disclosure is a potent source of injustice and even with the … Continue reading Regina v Ward (Judith): CACD 15 Jul 1992
(Belize) The Criminal Code of Belize provided that any murder by shooting was to be treated as Class A Murder, and be subject to the mandatory death penalty. The applicant having been convicted, appealed saying this was inhuman or degrading treatment, and infringed his human rights under the constitution. Held: The crime of murder embraced … Continue reading Reyes v The Queen: PC 11 Mar 2002
The court upheld the refusal of the master to allow the claimant solicitors to submit an amended bill: ‘In his oral submissions, Mr Stockler . . frankly acknowledged that he had been in error in supposing that it was possible to charge an uplift for contentious work, and said that he tried to make the … Continue reading Bilkus v Stockler Brunton (A Firm): ChD 30 Jul 2009
Lewison LJ said: ‘Appellate courts have been repeatedly warned, by recent cases at the highest level, not to interfere with findings of fact by trial judges, unless compelled to do so. This applies not only to findings of primary fact, but also to the evaluation of those facts and to inferences to be drawn from … Continue reading Fage UK Ltd and Another v Chobani UK Ltd and Another: CA 28 Jan 2014
(St Christopher and Nevis) The appellant had been convicted of murder whilst still a youth. He had accordingly been sentenced to be detained ‘during [the Governor-General’s] pleasure; and if so sentenced he shall be liable to be detained in such place and under such conditions as the Administrator in Council may direct and, while so … Continue reading Browne v The Queen: PC 6 May 1999
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
The defendant had intervened in a solicitors’ firm insured by the claimants. The claimants sought access to files and accounting records so that it could defend insurance claims. The defendant denied access to files other than those on which claims had been made. Held: The claim failed. The claimant put two arguments.Q said they were … Continue reading Quinn Direct Insurance Ltd v The Law Society of England and Wales: ChD 23 Oct 2009
The landlord granted the tenant a licence to make alterations to the property, but imposed conditions on the use to be made of the resulting premises. The tenant objected. Held: The landlord was entitled when granting consent to take into account possible adverse effects on his own business interests and was therefore able to impose … Continue reading Sargeant, and Sargeant v Macepark (Whittlebury) Limited: ChD 8 Jun 2004
The claimant brought defamation proceedings after she had found and returned a valuable necklace belonging to the first respondent. The claim had been dismissed as an abuse of process. Held: The claimant’s appeal failed: ‘there is such a formidable range of problems with the appellant’s claims that the judge was cumulatively correct to strike them … Continue reading Khader v Aziz and Others: CA 23 Jun 2010
The claimant complained of the reporting of a sexual encounter which he said was private. Held: The reporting of ‘tawdry allegations about an individual’s private life’ does not attract the robust protection under Article 10 afforded to more serious journalism. In such cases, ‘freedom of expression requires a more narrow interpretation’ and ‘The Court observes … Continue reading Mosley v The United Kingdom: ECHR 10 May 2011
A six year old injured his leg in a road accident, and needed daily attention. His mother gave up her job to look after him. The claim for damages on behalf of he boy included the mother’s loss of earnings. This was objected to on the grounds that the boy had incurred no obligation to … Continue reading Donnelly v Joyce: CA 18 May 1973
G executed a deed surrendering his life interest in a trust fund in order to vest the property in his two children: the deed did not have that effect because of two errors (one of which was ignoring the fact that his life interest was subject to protective trusts), with the result that the fund … Continue reading Gibbon v Mitchell: ChD 1990
Where a trustee acts under a discretion given to him by the terms of the trust the court will interfere with his action if it is clear that he would not have so acted as he did had he not failed to take into account considerations which he ought to have taken into account. The … Continue reading Mettoy Pension Trustees v Evans: ChD 1990
The five applicants had lived in the UK for at least three years while attending school or college. All five were subject to immigration control, four had entered as students with limited leave to remain for the duration of their studies, and the fifth had entered with his parents for settlement and had indefinite leave … Continue reading Regina v Barnet London Borough Council, Ex parte Shah: HL 16 Dec 1982
All information available to an employer at the date of the termination of the employment relationship is relevant when considering the fairness of dismissal, and also any information becoming available during the course of, for example, an internal appeal, even post-termination, is relevant. An employer may be considered to have acted unfairly if he refuses … Continue reading West Midlands Co-operative Society v Tipton: HL 1986
The department complained that the defendants had entered into a transaction with their farm at an undervalue so as to defeat its claim for recovery of sums due. The transaction used the grant of a tenancy by the first chargee. Held: The farmers’ appeal as to the farm transaction failed: ‘beyond argument that DEFRA was … Continue reading Feakins and Another v Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Civ 1513): CA 9 Dec 2005
Solicitor firms had been made bankrupt leaving a shortfall after thefts from client accounts of over 12 million pounds. The thief had diappeared, and the other partners were now discharged form bankruptcy. The Law Society accepted that it could not proceed to claim against the discharged bankrupts, but now sought recovery from their insurers. Held: … Continue reading Law Society of England and Wales and others v Shah and others: ChD 30 Nov 2007
Driving whilst disqualified – ban expired but no test taken – burden of evidence Citations: [2004] EWHC 2502 (Admin) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Sheldrake v Director of Public Prosecutions; Attorney General’s Reference No 4 of 2002 HL 14-Oct-2004 Appeals were brought complaining as to the apparent reversal of the burden … Continue reading Director of Public Prosecutions v Barker: Admn 19 Oct 2004
The claimant had applied to the Child Support Agncy for maintenance. They failed utterly to obtain payment, and she complained now that she was denied the opportunity by the 1991 Act to take court proceedings herself. Held: The denial of access to the courts under section 8 did not engage her civil rights. The Act … Continue reading Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Kehoe: CA 5 Mar 2004
The solicitor appealed against an order of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Held: Cranston J summarised the legal principles that apply on an appeal under section 49 of the 1974 Act: ‘An appeal lies to this court from the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal as of right, pursuant to section 49 of the Solicitors Act 1974. By section … Continue reading Levy v Solicitors Regulation Authority: Admn 25 Mar 2011
G was a prisoner who was refused permission by the Home Secretary to consult a solicitor with a view to bringing libel proceedings against a prison officer. The court construed article 6 of ECHR, which provides that ‘in the determination of his civil rights . . everyone is entitled to a fair . . hearing’, … Continue reading Golder v The United Kingdom: ECHR 21 Feb 1975
The claimant solicitors sought their costs from the defendant former clients. They now applied for orders under section 73 of the 1974 Act to have them settled from the proceeds of their litigation now held by another firm of solicitors now acting for the defendants. Judges: Mr Justice Richards Citations: [2004] EWHC 2488 (Ch) Links: … Continue reading Clifford Harris and Co v Solland International Ltd and others: ChD 3 Nov 2004
The appellants challenged their convictions for murder. The convictions had been based substantially upon the evidence of a co-accused who had admitted his part. They now challenged the admission by way of support of the evidence of the co-defendant of medical opinion as to his reliability, where the doctor had not physically examined the witness. … Continue reading Pinfold, Mackenney v Regina: CACD 15 Dec 2003
The claimant faced removal and return to Palestine, but he said that he would not be accepted if returned. He had no ID card, birth certificate or living parents. He appealed against the decision of the IAT and now again from the Court of Appeal which said that there was no immigration decision within section … Continue reading MS (Palestinian Territories) v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 16 Jun 2010
ECJ The concept of pay as defined in article 119 of the EEC Treaty does not include social security schemes or benefits directly governed by legislation without any element of agreement within the undertaking or the occupational branch concerned, which are obligatorily applicable to general categories of workers or which, within the framework of such … Continue reading Gabrielle Defrenne v Belgian State: ECJ 25 May 1971
The ship owners wrongfully repudiated a charterparty in March 1973, 14 months after its inception. The charterers did not hire a substitute but claimed damages for the loss of profits they would have made between January and April 1974, during which period there was a substantial rise in market rates. Held: The standard measure in … Continue reading Koch Marine Inc v D’Amica Societa Di Navigazione ARL (The Elena d’Amico): QBD 1980
The applicants were detained at Rampton. The form of detention denied the access to space in which they would be able to smoke cigarettes to comply with the law. Held: The claim failed. The legislative objectives were sufficiently serious to support as rational the imposition of the rules. Having a mental illness is not a … Continue reading G, Regina (on the Application of) v Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust: Admn 20 May 2008
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 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
Solicitors sought to challenge an order disallowing a costs item for the administration of an estate which included a percentage of the estate. Held: Despite advances in time recording, ‘we see no reason to say that it is no longer appropriate for solicitors to make a separate charge based on value, provided always that one … Continue reading Jemma Trust Company Ltd v Liptrott, Forrester, Kippax Beaumont Lewis: CA 24 Oct 2003