A prospective bidder for articles about to be sold at an auction sale saw the sellers as to whether there might be difficulty in obtaining possession of the articles owing to Government impressment, and he was informed that the Government had been satisfied and the sale was to be allowed. Subsequently a subordinate Government official intimated that he wanted the articles for the Government, but his action was repudiated on application to his superior officer. This incident was not disclosed to the prospective bidder, who attended the sale, when the articles were knocked down to him. After the sale the Government intervened to prevent removal, and shortly after impressed. Held ( rev. judgment of the Second Division) that the purchaser was not entitled to rescind the contract on the ground of essential error induced by the seller, and was liable for the price, the property in the articles having passed to him on the fall of the hammer.
Citations:
[1920] UKHL 400, , 57 SLR 400
Links:
Jurisdiction:
Scotland
Contract
Updated: 09 December 2022; Ref: scu.631528
