Smith v Inner London Education Authority: CA 1978

Lord Denning MR doubted the applicability of the criteria in American Cynamid to public law proceedings. It is appropriate at the interface of public law and private law for the public interest to be taken into account as one of the factors in the balance of convenience.
Browne LJ said: ‘where a defendant is a public authority performing duties to the public one must look at the balance of convenience more widely, and take into account the interests of the public in general to whom these duties are owed. I think this is an example of the ‘special factors’ affecting the balance of convenience which are referred to by Lord Diplock in American Cynamid Co v. Ethicon Ltd [1975] 1 All ER 504 at 511, [1975] AC 396 at 408.’

Judges:

Lord Denning MR, Browne LJ

Citations:

[1978] 1 All ER 411

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

CitedAmerican Cyanamid Co v Ethicon Ltd HL 5-Feb-1975
Interim Injunctions in Patents Cases
The plaintiffs brought proceedings for infringement of their patent. The proceedings were defended. The plaintiffs obtained an interim injunction to prevent the defendants infringing their patent, but they now appealed its discharge by the Court of . .

Cited by:

CitedCoventry City Council v PGO and Others CA 22-Jun-2011
The children had been placed with short term fosterers. On adopters being found, the fosterers themselves applied to adopt the children. The court was asked whether a county court judge had power to injunct the authority not to remove the children . .
CitedHussain, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Admn 21-May-2020
No interim relief for Mosque Services
The claimant Chairman of a mosque challenged the Regulations in so far as they prohibited communal prayers. He now sought interim relief so as to allow Friday prayers. Social distancing was proposed, and a contrast was made with other activities . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Litigation Practice

Updated: 27 November 2022; Ref: scu.441202