Tag: Trusts

Drake v Whipp: CA 30 Nov 1995

The parties, an unmarried cohabiting couple, disputed their respective shares in a property held in the man’s sole name. Both had made direct contributions both to the purchase of a barn and to its expensive conversion into a home. The plaintiff appealed against a finding that she had only a 14.9% interest on a resulting trust, in the house she and the defendant had occupied together. The property had been purchased for andpound;61,000 of which she had contributed andpound;24,000, with later additional contributions to conversion works. She complained that working on a resulting trust, the costs of acquisition were given undue emphasis.
Held: A beneficial interest in a family home could be presumed from the intention of the parties and their acting in detriment. There was a constructive trust. There was undisputed evidence that she was to have an interest in the property, and she had acted to further that intention and to her detriment. The appeal was allowed, and her interest set at one third. ‘it is not easy to reconcile every judicial utterance in this well-travelled area of the law. A potent source of confusion, to my mind, has been suggestions that it matters not whether the terminology used is that of the constructive trust, to which the intention, actual or imputed, of the parties is crucial, or that of the resulting trust which operates on a presumed intention of the contributing party in the absence of rebutting evidence of actual intention.’

Judges:

Peter Gibson LJ, Lord Justice Hirst and Mr Justice Forbes

Citations:

Times 19-Dec-1995, [1996] 2 FCR 296, [1995] EWCA Civ 25, (1996) 28 HLR 531, [1996] CLY 5780

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

Cited – Lloyds Bank plc v Rosset HL 29-Mar-1990
The house had been bought during the marriage but in the husband’s sole name. The plaintiff’s charge secured the husband’s overdraft. The bank issued possession proceedings. Mr Rosset had left, but Mrs Rosset claimed, as against the bank an interest . .
Cited – Dyer v Dyer 27-Nov-1988
Where property is purchased by one person in the name of another there is a presumption that a resulting trust is created: ‘The clear result of all the cases, without a single exception is that the trust of a legal estate, whether freehold, copyhold . .

Cited by:

Cited – Oxley v Hiscock CA 6-May-2004
The parties were not married, but had brought together their resources to purchase a home in the name of one of them. Nothing had been said about the respective shares on which the property was to be held.
Held: The shares were to be assessed . .
Cited – Stack v Dowden HL 25-Apr-2007
The parties had cohabited for a long time, in a home bought by Ms Dowden. After the breakdown of the relationship, Mr Stack claimed an equal interest in the second family home, which they had bought in joint names. The House was asked whether, when . .
Cited – Jones v Kernott SC 9-Nov-2011
Unmarried Couple – Equal division displaced
The parties were unmarried but had lived together. They now disputed the shares in which they had held the family home. It had been bought in joint names, but after Mr Kernott (K) left in 1993, Ms Jones (J) had made all payments on the house. She . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts, Housing, Family

Updated: 09 December 2022; Ref: scu.80130

Attorney General for Hong Kong v Reid and Others: PC 24 Nov 1993

Principalhas proprietary interest in Trust assets

Bribes were taken by an employee, a crown prosecutor in Hong Kong, in a fraud on his employer. He then invested the proceeds in the purchase of property in New Zealand. The property had increased in value. The employer sought repayment of the bribes received from the properties purchased.
Held: The employer had a proprietary interest both in the bribe and in the asset substituted for it. Thus the property belonged in equity to the employer. The first stage in the analysis was the decision that the bribe itself was trust property. The second stage in the analysis was simply the application of the process of tracing the value of the bribe into the asset that had been substituted for it. A fiduciary office holder who accepted a bribe holds both the original sum, and any increase in its value, on a constructive trust for the person to whom he owed that fiduciary duty. Bribery is an evil practice which threatens the foundations of any civilised society. It corrupts not only the recipient but the giver of the bribe. ‘property acquired by a trustee innocently but in breach of trust and the property from time to time representing the same belong in equity to the cestui que trust and not to the trustee personally’:

Judges:

Lord Templeman Lrd Goff. Lord Lowry, Lord Lloyd, Sir Thomas Eichelbaum

Citations:

Gazette 26-Jan-1994, Independent 24-Nov-1993, Times 12-Nov-1993, [1994] 1 AC 324, [1993] UKPC 2, [1994] 1 All ER 1

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

Wrongly decided – Lister and Co v Stubbs CA 1890
It was alleged by the plaintiffs that their foreman had received secret commissions which he had invested in land and other investments. They sought interlocutory relief to prevent him dealing with the land and requiring him to bring the other . .

Cited by:

Cited – Tesco Stores Limited v Pook, Pook, Universal Projects (UK) Limited ChD 14-Apr-2003
A trustee in breach of his duty has a duty to disclose that breach. It was alleged that the defendants, including a director of the claimant, had submitted false invoices to the claimants, and purchased property with the resulting profits.
Cited – Ultraframe (UK) Ltd v Fielding and others ChD 27-Jul-2005
The parties had engaged in a bitter 95 day trial in which allegations of forgery, theft, false accounting, blackmail and arson. A company owning patents and other rights had become insolvent, and the real concern was the destination and ownership of . .
Cited – Islamic Republic of Pakistan v Zardari and others ComC 6-Oct-2006
The claimant alleged that the defendants had funded the purchase of various properties by secret and unlawful commissions taken by them whilst in power in Pakistan. They sought to recover the proceeds. They now sought permission to serve proceedings . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Equity, Trusts, Commonwealth

Updated: 09 December 2022; Ref: scu.77944

Re Cohen’s Will Trusts: ChD 1959

An application was made for the variation of trust provisions on behalf of a child beneficiary.
Held: Where the outcome of the arrangement cannot be predicted with certainty then the Court should be prepared to take on behalf of a minor, a risk which an adult would be prepared to take

Citations:

[1959] 1 WLR 165

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

Cited – Wright and Another v Gater and Others ChD 7-Nov-2011
The beneficiary, a child was to inherit estates of his grandparents and parents, all of which were intestate. An application was made to vary the provisions in order to reduce the liability to Inheritance Tax.
Held: A deferment of vesting . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts

Updated: 09 December 2022; Ref: scu.448127

Rowe v Prance: ChD 26 May 1999

A boat had been bought and held in one persons name, but on reassurance that it would be ‘ours.’ The share was substantial but unquantified, and so equality was assumed. An express trust of personalty need not be formal. Constructive trust rules were unhelpful.

Citations:

Gazette 26-May-1999

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Trusts

Updated: 09 December 2022; Ref: scu.88881

Prescott v Fellowes: CA 1958

The court considered whether a deed of trust created a post nuptial settlement within the 1950 Act: ‘Inasmuch as the deed vested no property in trustees and created no successive legal or beneficial interests it had none of the attributes of a settlement which are familiar to conveyancing practitioners. It has, however, long since been established by decisions which are binding on this court that a disposition of property may a ‘settlement’ for the purposes of section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1950, notwithstanding that it would not be regarded as a settlement of property for any other purpose. The liberality with which this legislation has been construed is sufficiently exemplified by Bosworthick v. Bosworthick. In that case a wife executed, a few years after her marriage, a bond which secured to her husband an annuity for his life. The marriage was dissolved in 1925 and the wife applied to the court for an order extinguishing her liability under the bond. This court, affirming the decision of Lord Merrivale P., held that the bond was a post-nuptial settlement for the purposes of section 5 of the Matrimonial Causes Act, 1859, and section 192 of the Supreme Court of Judicature (Consolidation) Act, 1925; and the wife’s application succeeded. In the course of his judgment Romer J., who was sitting as a member of this court, said that the authorities established ‘that where a ‘husband has made a provision for his wife, or a wife for her husband, in the nature of periodical payments, that amounts to a settlement within the meaning of the sections. That may appear to be a very liberal construction of the sections, but I think that it is no more liberal a construction than should be given to them having regard to the obvious purposes for which they were enacted by the legislature.’

Judges:

Romer LJ

Citations:

[1958] P 260

Statutes:

Matriimonial Cause Act 1950

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

Cited – Charalambous v Charalambous; C v C (Ancillary Relief: Nuptial Settlement) CA 30-Jul-2004
The parties had been wealthy. Whilst still married, substantial sums had been placed in a trust. Their business interests had crashed and both faced personal bankruptcy. The husband appealed an order setting aside the trust.
Held: A clause in . .
Cited – Ben Hashem v Ali Shayif and Another FD 22-Sep-2008
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 . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Family, Trusts

Updated: 07 December 2022; Ref: scu.199724

Saeed and Another v Ibrahim and Others: ChD 9 Jan 2018

The court considered the overlap between CPR 3.4(2)(a) and CPR 24.2

Judges:

Marsh CM

Citations:

[2018] EWHC 3 (Ch)

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

See Also – Saeed and Another v Ibrahim and Others ChD 3-Aug-2018
. .
Cited – Boyse (International) Ltd v Natwest Markets Plc and Another ChD 27-May-2020
Claim alleging misselling of interest rate hedging products. The court considered the defendants strike out application, and applications for leave to amend pleadings.
Held: it will normally be appropriate for summary judgment to be pursued on . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts, Family, Litigation Practice

Updated: 27 November 2022; Ref: scu.602625

Templeton Insurance Ltd and Another v Brunswick and Others: ChD 31 May 2012

Templeton Insurance Limited and Knox D’Arcy Operations Limited claim against the defendant for allegedly dishonest breaches of contractual obligations and of fiduciary duties, which breaches are alleged to be fraudulent or to constitute fraudulent breaches of trust on his part.

Judges:

Simon Barker C HHJ

Citations:

[2012] EWHC 1522 (Ch)

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Trusts, Contract

Updated: 09 November 2022; Ref: scu.466273

Foskett v McKeown and Others: CA 27 Jun 1997

Various people had paid money with the promise of acquiring an interest in land in Portugal. The scheme was fraudulent. The funds had been used to purchase a life/investment policy. The policy was held in trust for the fraudster’s mother but he had power to renominate himself as sole beneficiary. One or two premiums were paid by the defendant himself.
Held: The representation order was confirmed. Trust money which had been used by a trustee fraudulently to invest in a life policy, did not give the eventual beneficiaries of the trust an interest in the proceeds of that policy. Nevertheless the purchasers were entitled to be repaid out of the proceeds of the Policy such of their money as could be traced into the premiums paid under the Policy.

Judges:

Hobhouse LJ

Citations:

Times 27-Jun-1997, [1997] EWCA Civ 1747, [1998] Ch 265

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

Cited – In re Leslie; Leslie v French ChD 1883
The court gave guidance as to the circumstances in which an individual who had paid a premium on a policy belonging to someone else could claim an interest in the policy: ‘In my opinion a lien may be created upon the moneys secured by a policy by . .
Cited – Falcke v Scottish Imperial Insurance Co CA 1886
The owner of a policy of life assurance mortgaged the policy to secure repayment of a loan. Subsequently the owner, now the owner of an equity of redemption in the policy, paid two annual premiums which became due under the policy. The policy was . .
Cited – Re a Policy No 6402 of the Scottish Equitable Life Assurance Society 1902
Mr Sanderson effected insurance on his own life ‘for the behoof’ of his sister-in-law, Miss Stiles. The policy moneys were payable to Miss Stiles or her personal representatives but the premiums were paid throughout by Mr Sanderson. The personal . .
Cited – Sinclair v Brougham HL 1914
An insolvent building society had, outside its powers, run a banking business. The House considered the competing claims of the unadvanced shareholders of the building society’s intra vires business, members of the society who had not been granted . .
Cited – In re Diplock’s estate CA 1948
After considering a situation in which trust money had been applied in making alterations to the property of an innocent third party but had not added to the value of the property,
Held: The origin of the equitable rules of tracing were . .
Cited – In re Tilley’s Will Trusts ChD 1967
The court considered the rights of a beneficiary to participate in any profit which resulted where a trustee mixed trust money with his own money and then used it to purchase other property. . .
Cited – Boscawen and Others v Bajwa and Others; Abbey National Plc v Boscawen and Others CA 10-Apr-1995
The defendant had charged his property to the Halifax. Abbey supplied funds to secure its discharge, but its own charge was not registered. It sought to take advantage of the Halifax’s charge which had still not been removed.
Held: A mortgagee . .
Cited – The Venture CA 1908
Contributions were made to the purchase price of a yacht.
Held: The court concluded that the contributor was entitled under a resulting trust to a pro rata equitable interest in the yacht. The payments were made at the time the yacht was . .
Cited – Rosco v Winder 1915
. .
Cited – Goldcorp Exchange Ltd and others v Liggett and others PC 25-May-1994
(New Zealand) The non allocated claimants purchased gold bullion from a company for future delivery on a non allocated basis. The company stored and insured the metal, but the claimants had a right to call for delivery of their part within 7-days. . .
Cited – Re Maxwell Communications Corporation Plc: Bishopsgate Investment Management Ltd v Homan CA 26-Sep-1994
The remedy of tracing is not available through a bank account which was subsequently overdrawn. Nor does the doctrine of tracing extend to following value into a previously acquired asset: ‘there can be no equitable remedy against an asset acquired . .
Cited – Gissing v Gissing HL 7-Jul-1970
Evidence Needed to Share Benefical Inerests
The family home had been purchased during the marriage in the name of the husband only. The wife asserted that she had a beneficial interest in it.
Held: The principles apply to any case where a beneficial interest in land is claimed by a . .
Cited – Strutt v Tippett CA 1890
The list set out in re Leslie for the ways in which one person might claim an interest in an insurance policy in another’s name, was not exhaustive. . .
Cited – Dyer v Dyer 27-Nov-1988
Where property is purchased by one person in the name of another there is a presumption that a resulting trust is created: ‘The clear result of all the cases, without a single exception is that the trust of a legal estate, whether freehold, copyhold . .
Cited – In re Hallett’s Estate; Knatchbull v Hallett CA 1880
Where a trustee of a policy used money received from others to make payment of premiums on an insurance policy, they would be entitled to a lien on the policy. Where an asset was acquired exclusively with trust money, the beneficiary could either . .
Cited – Gravesend Corporation v Kent County Council KBD 1935
A school vested in the Corporation had been built with the assistance of financial contributions from the County Council. As a result of various legislative changes the County Council replaced the Corporation as the education authority and as the . .
Cited – Re Roberts 1946
. .
Appealed to – Foskett v McKeown and Others HL 18-May-2000
A property developer using monies which he held on trust to carry out a development instead had mixed those monies with his own in his bank account, and subsequently used those mixed monies to pay premiums on a life assurance policy on his own life, . .

Cited by:

Cited – Allen and Another v Rochdale Borough Council CA 23-Mar-1999
Land was sold. It had been used as playing fields. The freehold and leasehold interests in the land were held by the respondent, and the claimants asserted it was held as bare trustees for them as charitable trustees for the school foundation. The . .
Appeal from – Foskett v McKeown and Others HL 18-May-2000
A property developer using monies which he held on trust to carry out a development instead had mixed those monies with his own in his bank account, and subsequently used those mixed monies to pay premiums on a life assurance policy on his own life, . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts, Financial Services

Updated: 05 November 2022; Ref: scu.80647

Hughes and Others v Bourne and Others: ChD 27 Jul 2012

A trust owned a majority shareholding in a family firm. A purchaser wished to buy a substantial interest. Differing sections of the beneficiaries wanted either to sell or not. The trustees sought advance approval for a planned use of their powers to sel.
Held: For their part, the Trustees have made it clear . . that they do not wish to surrender their discretion to the court, but are instead asking the court to give its blessing to their proposed course of action. The application therefore falls within the second category identified by Robert Walker J (as he then was) in a judgment given in chambers in 1995 and cited by Hart J in The Public Trustee v Cooper [2001] WTLR 922 at 923:
The second category is where the issue is whether the proposed course of action is a proper exercise of the trustees’ powers where there is no real doubt as to the nature of the trustees’ powers and the trustees have decided how they want to exercise them but, because the decision is particularly momentous, the trustees wish to obtain the blessing of the court for the action on which they have resolved and which is within their powers. Obvious examples of that, which are very familiar in the Chancery Division, are a decision by trustees to sell a family estate or to sell a controlling holding in a family company. In such circumstances there is no doubt at all as to the extent of the trustees’ powers nor is there any doubt as to what the trustees want to do but they think it prudent and the court will give them their costs of doing so to obtain the court’s blessing on a momentous decision. . . ‘

Judges:

Henderson J

Citations:

[2012] EWHC 2232 (Ch)

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

Cited – Re JS (Disposal of Body) FD 10-Nov-2016
Child’s Wish for post-mortem cryonic Preservation
JS, a child of 14, anticipating her death from cancer expressed the desire that her body should receive cryonic preservation in the hope that one day a treatment might be available to allow her to be revived, and proceedings were issued. Her parents . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts

Updated: 04 November 2022; Ref: scu.463320

In Re Duxbury’s Settlement Trusts: CA 21 Nov 1994

The Public trustee appealed against an order which had recognised his appointment under the 1959 trust, but had held that because of the explicit prohibition in the trust instrument against a trustee acting alone, he could not act.
Held: Powers under a trust deed were satisfactorily exerciseable by the Public Trustee acting alone despite the trust deed’s express requirement that no trustee shall act alone. The powers given under the Act inevitably included this power: ‘It would be idle to appoint a trustee who was unable to act. Appointment and action were for this purpose inseparable.’ It was futile to distinguish between a power to appoint a sole trustee and the power of that trustee to act alone.

Judges:

Nourse LJ, Henry LJ, Sir John Megaw

Citations:

Times 19-Dec-1994, Gazette 16-Dec-1994, Ind Summary 06-Feb-1995, [1995] 1 WLR 425, [1994] EWCA Civ 21

Links:

Bailii

Statutes:

Public Trustee Act 1906 5(1)

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

Cited – In re Moxon 1916
Under the statutory power of appointing new trustees out of court, the public trustee could be appointed and act even though the instrument might require a minimum of two trustees to act. The section was ‘not merely by way of addition o the . .
Cited – Mettoy Pension Trustees v Evans 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 . .
Cited – Re Hastings-Bass; Hastings v Inland Revenue CA 14-Mar-1974
Trustees of a settlement had exercised their power of advancement under the section, in order to save estate duty by transferring investments to be held on the trusts of a later settlement. However the actual effect of the advancement was that the . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Equity, Trusts

Updated: 27 October 2022; Ref: scu.81858

Saville v Goodall: CA 1993

The court considered the requirements to establish that property purchased in one name but for an unmarried couple were to be held on trust: ‘[Counsel] referred us to a recent decision of this court in Springette v Defoe [1992] 2 FLR 388, which recognises that the common intention must be communicated between the parties. I think all the authorities on first category cases will be found to be consistent with that proposition.’

Judges:

Lord Justice Nourse and Lord Justice Evans

Citations:

[1993] 1 FLR 755

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

Cited – Springette v Defoe CA 1-Mar-1992
Property was purchased in joint names, but with no express declaration of the beneficial interests. The couple had lived together for a short time as joint tenants of the local authority. They were able to purchase at a substantial discount from the . .

Cited by:

Cited – Oxley v Hiscock CA 6-May-2004
The parties were not married, but had brought together their resources to purchase a home in the name of one of them. Nothing had been said about the respective shares on which the property was to be held.
Held: The shares were to be assessed . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts

Updated: 27 October 2022; Ref: scu.199952

Henry Wedderburn, Esq, Second Son of Charles Wedderburn of Gosford v Sir Peter Halket of Pitfirran, Bart, Alexander Hart, His Curator Ad Litem, and John Wedderburn of Gosford, Repondents: HL 19 Mar 1770

Entail – Power to Alter Order of Succession.-
Entail taken to the makers and longest liver in liferent, and to their eldest son in fee, whom failing his second son, andc., with a prohibition against altering the order of succession; but no restraint against selling or charging the estate with debt. The eldest son, who succeeded after the maker, finding his own eldest son an idiot, altered the order of succession, and gave the estate to his second son, and the heirs precisely marked out by the original entail. Held, that as he was fiar of the estate, he could exercise this power, more especially seeing that the deed so executed had not in view fraudulently to alter the order of succession, but merely to provide for a contingency that had not been contemplated by the maker.

Citations:

[1770] UKHL 2 – Paton – 231, (1770) 2 Paton 231

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

Scotland

Trusts

Updated: 26 October 2022; Ref: scu.561669

Spencer and Others v Fielder: ChD 15 Jul 2014

Beddoe proceedings by the present trustees of the Airways Pension Scheme for directions of the court in relation to their conduct of proceedings brought against them by British Airways plc.
Held: The Chancellor authorised the Trustee to defend the claim (down to and including the completion of disclosure and inspection) and ordered that the Trustee’s costs be paid out of the Scheme assets

Judges:

Sir Terence Etherton CH

Citations:

[2014] EWHC 2768 (Ch), [2015] 1 WLR 2786

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

Cited – In Re Beddoe, Downes v Cottam CA 1893
A trustee had unsuccessfully defended an action against the trust in detinue for the return of deeds. He now sought protection against a costs order. Costs having been awarded against a trustee in proceeding A, the trustee sought to be indemnified . .

Cited by:

See Also – Airways Pension Scheme Trustee Ltd v Fielder and Another (3032) ChD 11-Nov-2019
. .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Costs, Trusts

Updated: 07 October 2022; Ref: scu.550161

D’Abo v Paget and Others (No 2): ChD 10 Aug 2000

Where a beneficiary having brought successful action against the trust fund, the rule in In re Buckton should still apply, but where the trustees could have brought the same action themselves, and had been ready and willing to do so, the beneficiary should not be awarded costs out of the trust fund. Under the new procedure, the court should take a more robust attitude to such claims. In effect the sole reason for the claimant’s participation was to make a claim for costs if the trustees failed.

Citations:

Gazette 05-Oct-2000, Times 10-Aug-2000

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Trusts, Wills and Probate, Costs

Updated: 06 September 2022; Ref: scu.79774

Southampton City Council v Southampton Medina Mosque Trust Ltd and Others: ChD 5 Oct 2010

The court considered competing claims for the ownership of a newly built mosque. The Council had agreed to it being built on its land and now sought a direction as to its future ownership. The first named defendant charity disputed ownership with a father and son as trustees of a different mosque. An original constitution appeared to have been adopted but then another was proposed. When a trustee dies, one of the defendants was appointed temprarily, but there was a dispute as to the confirmation of that appointment.
Held: The building agreement was in favour of named individuals as trustees of the unincorporated trust. However at a properly constituted meeting, the benefit of the agreement had been assigned to the newl formed charitable company. There should be a transfer accordingly.

Judges:

David J

Citations:

[2010] EWHC 2376 (Ch)

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Trusts, Charity

Updated: 25 August 2022; Ref: scu.424869

In re Dartnall: CA 1895

Citations:

[1895] 1 Ch 474

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

Cited – Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Others v Headley and Another ChD 28-Jul-2016
Beneficiaries’ right to information from estate
The claimant charities sought payment of interests under the will following the dropping of two life interests. They now requested various documents forming accounts of the estate.
Held: The charities were entitled to some but not to all of . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts

Updated: 22 August 2022; Ref: scu.567853

Vatcher v Pault: PC 17 Dec 2014

(Jersey) A fraudulent exercise of a trust power is constituted if it is exercised for a purpose or with an intention beyond the scope of the power. It was said that ‘it is not enough that an appointor or some person not an object of power may conceivably derive some benefit’: ‘The general presumption which the law makes is in favour of the good faith and validity of transactions which have long stood unchallenged, and if the known facts and existing documents are, though such as to give rise to suspicion, nevertheless capable of a reasonable explanation, the Court ought not to draw inferences against the integrity of persons who have long been dead and cannot therefore defend themselves.’
Lord Parker went on: ‘The term fraud in connection with frauds on a power does not necessarily denote any conduct on the part of the appointor amounting to fraud in the common law meaning of the term or any conduct which could be properly termed dishonest or immoral. It merely means that the power has been exercised for a purpose, or with an intention, beyond the scope of or not justified by the instrument creating the power.’

Judges:

Lord Parker of Waddington

Citations:

[1915] AC 372, [1914] UKPC 100

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

Cited – Futter and Another v Futter and Others ChD 11-Mar-2010
Various family settlements had been created. The trustees wished to use the rule in Hastings-Bass to re-open decisions they had made after receiving incorrect advice.
Held: The deeds were set aside as void. The Rule in Hastings-Bass derives . .
Cited – Eclairs Group Ltd and Glengary Overseas Ltd v JKX Oil and Gas Plc SC 2-Dec-2015
Company Director not Trustee but is Fiduciary
The Court was asked about an alleged ‘corporate raid’, an attempt to exploit a minority shareholding in a company to obtain effective management or voting control without paying what other shareholders would regard as a proper price.
Held: The . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts, Torts – Other

Updated: 17 August 2022; Ref: scu.408859

Mcvey and Others, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Health: Admn 5 Mar 2010

The respondent had set up a trust providing for compensation for the victims of variant CJD. The claimants challenged a variation of the trust scheme which did not proceed on the basis of a recommendation made for this purpose.

Judges:

Silber J

Citations:

[2010] EWHC 437 (Admin)

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Trusts

Updated: 14 August 2022; Ref: scu.402538

Hambro and Others v The Duke of Marlborough and Others: ChD 25 Mar 1994

A scheme to transfer benefits without consent of the beneficiary was approved. The court may vary trusts against the wishes of a beneficiary even of full age and capacity.

Citations:

Gazette 22-Jun-1994, Independent 15-Apr-1994, Times 25-Mar-1994

Statutes:

Settled Land Act 1925 64

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Trusts

Updated: 05 August 2022; Ref: scu.81188

Random House UK Ltd v Allason and others: ChD 11 Dec 2008

The now defendants had lost their action for copyright infringement, and the now claimant sought to enforce the costs order made in their favour. The defendant denied ownership of any assets, but the claimant said that various properties were held in trust for him.

Judges:

David Richards J

Citations:

[2008] EWHC 2854 (Ch)

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Costs, Trusts, Insolvency

Updated: 21 July 2022; Ref: scu.278968

Dexter Ltd (In Administrative Receivership) v Harley: ChD 2 Apr 2001

Money was transferred wrongfully out of the company, and then on again into the hands of the respondent. She received the money, and knew of its fraudulent provenance, but all her acts were committed outside the jurisdiction.
Held: It was not sufficient that the original act in breach of trust occurred within the jurisdiction, the claimant had to show that some act of the defendant had occurred here, if she was to be sued here.

Citations:

Times 02-Apr-2001

Statutes:

Convention on Jurisdiction and the Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters (1968) (Cmnd 7395)

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Trusts, Banking, Jurisdiction

Updated: 19 July 2022; Ref: scu.79951

Burnden Holdings (UK) Ltd v Fielding and Another: ChD 5 Sep 2014

The company sought to recover from the defendants, two former directors.
Held: The claim was statute barred.
Hodge QC dealt with the claimant’s reliance on section 32: ‘That leaves the claimant’s reliance upon section 32. There the difficulties that the claimant faces are that there are no facts sufficiently asserted to give rise, in my judgment, to any realistic prospect of relying upon either limb of section 32 of the 1980 Act. Given the knowledge and involvement on the part, in particular of the company’s auditors, I fail to see how it can be asserted either (1) that there was any deliberate commission of a breach of duty on the part of the defendants; or (2) that there had been any deliberate concealment from the claimant company of facts relevant to the claimant’s alleged right of action. I am afraid, from Mr Latimer’s point of view, that I just do not see how the claimant company can begin to get home in relation to either of those matters. In view of the involvement of the accountants and solicitors, there is no realistic prospect of establishing either the deliberate commission of a breach of duty or the deliberate concealment of any fact relevant to the claimant’s right of action.’

Judges:

Hodge QC HHJ

Citations:

[2014] EWHC 3356 (Ch)

Links:

Bailii

Statutes:

Companies Act 2006, Limitation Act 1980 2(1)(b) 32

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

Appeal from – Burnden Holdings (UK) Ltd v Fielding and Another CA 17-Jun-2016
The company, now in liquidation sought to claim for the alledged misapplication by former directors of its funds in 2007. It now appealed against a summary rejection of its claim as time barred.
Held: The appeal succeeded. Section 21(1)(b) . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Company, Trusts, Limitation

Updated: 18 July 2022; Ref: scu.538050

In Re Estate of Monica Dale Dec, Proctor v Dale: ChD 11 Feb 1993

The claimant’s parents had made mutual wills dividing their estates equally between the claimant and her brother. After the father’s death the mother chaged her will to give the biggest benefit to the brother.
Held: The mother could change her will, but was under a binding trust to deal with the assets subject to the mutuality trust in accordance with that trust. With the rules on mutual wills, the element of mutuality operates to extend the enforceability to allow others beyond the couple making the wills to enforce the gifts agreed to be made. The aim of the principle was to prevent one party who transferred assets relying upon the mutuality of the wills to protect them, from being defrauded. The doctrine did not depend upon the second testator having received a benefit under the first will. To be enforceable there had to be a legally binding contract to make and not to revoke wills and one testator had had to have died having performed his or her part of that bargain.

Judges:

Morritt J

Citations:

Gazette 07-Apr-1993, Times 16-Feb-1993, Independent 14-Apr-1993, [1993] 4 All ER 129

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

Cited – Dufour v Pereira 1769
Nature of Joint and Mutual Wills
The court was asked as to the validity and effect of a single joint will.
Held: Lord Camden considered the nature of joint or mutual wills. Lord Camden LC said: ‘The parties by mutual will do each of them devise, upon the engagement of the . .
Cited – Lord Walpole v Lord Orford HL 1797
The court considered the difference between an obligation accepted in law, and what was described as ‘an honourable engagement’. . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Wills and Probate, Trusts

Updated: 18 July 2022; Ref: scu.81867

El Ajou v Dollar Land Holdings Ltd: CA 2 Dec 1993

The court was asked whether, for the purposes of establishing a company’s liability under the knowing receipt head of constructive trust, the knowledge of one of its directors can be treated as having been the knowledge of the company.
Held: The company was fixed with the knowledge of its part-time chairman and a non-executive director, because he had acted as its directing mind and will for the particular purpose of arranging its receipt of the tainted funds. It was sufficient that the director had management and control so far as the receipt of the fraud was concerned, having made arrangements for the receipt and disposal of the money, even though he had no general managerial responsibility in the company.
Hoffmann LJ set out the ingredients of knowing receipt: ‘For this purpose the plaintiff must show, first a disposal of his assets in breach of fiduciary duty; secondly, the beneficial receipt by the defendant of assets which are traceable as representing the assets of the plaintiff; and thirdly, knowledge on the part of the defendant that the assets are traceable to a breach of fiduciary duty.’
When asking who was the controlling mind of a company, the relevant test is to find the person who had management and control in relation to the act or omission in point. The formal position or status as a director is relevant but not decisive. A ‘pragmatic’ approach is necessary: ‘Decided cases show that, in regard to the requisite status and authority, the formal position, as regulated by the company’s articles of association, service contracts and so forth, though highly relevant, may not be decisive. Here Millett J adopted a pragmatic approach. In my view he was right to do so, although it has led me, with diffidence, to a conclusion different from his own’ and ‘ . . different persons may for different purposes satisfy the requirements of being the company’s directing mind and will. ‘ The court considered the ingredients of the tort of ‘knowing receipt’: ‘For this purpose the plaintiff must show, first, a disposal of his assets in breach of fiduciary duty; secondly, the beneficial receipt by the defendant of assets which are traceable as representing the assets of the plaintiff; and thirdly, knowledge on the part of the defendant that the assets he received are traceable to a breach of fiduciary duty.’ (Hoffmann LJ)
Nourse LJ said: ‘The doctrine attributes to the company the mind and will of the natural person or persons who manage and control its actions. At that point, in the words of Millett J ([1993] 3 ALL ER 717 at 740): ‘Their minds are its mind; their intention its intention; their knowledge its knowledge.’ It is important to emphasise that management and control is not something to be considered generally or in the round. It is necessary to identify the natural person or persons having management and control in relation to the act or omission in point. This was well put by Eveleigh J in . . R v Andrews Weatherfoil Ltd . .
Decided cases show that, in regard to the requisite status and authority, the formal position, as regulated by the company’s articles of association, service contracts and so forth, though highly relevant, may not be decisive. Here Millett J adopted a pragmatic approach. In my view he was right to do so, although it has led me, with diffidence, to a conclusion different from his own.’

Judges:

Nourse, Rose, Hoffmann LJJ

Citations:

Times 03-Jan-1994, [1994] 2 All ER 685, [1993] EWCA Civ 4, [1994] BCC 143, [1994] 1 BCLC 464

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

Appeal from – El Ajou v Dollar Land Holdings Plc and Another ChD 3-Jan-1993
A non active director may still be company’s ‘directing mind’. The doctrine of attributing the actions of individuals to a company is that ‘Their minds are its mind; their intention its intention; their knowledge its knowledge.’
Tracing was no . .
Cited – Lennard’s Carrying Company Limited v Asiatic Petroleum Company Limited HL 1915
The House was asked as to when the acts of an individual became those of his employer under section 502 (‘any loss or damage happening without (the ship owner’s) actual fault or privity’).
Held: Viscount Haldane LC said: ‘It must be upon the . .
Cited – Regina v Andrews-Weatherfoil Ltd CACD 1972
For so long as it is possible for persons concerned in a single offence to be tried separately, it is inevitable that the verdicts returned by the two juries will on occasion appear to be inconsistent with one another. Eveleigh J: ‘It is necessary . .

Cited by:

Applied – Bank of Credit and Commerce International (Overseas) Ltd and Another v Akindele CA 22-Jun-2000
The test of whether a person who received funds held them on constructive trust, was not whether he himself was dishonest, but rather whether he had knowledge of circumstances which made it unconscionable to hold on to the money received. In respect . .
Cited – Crown Dilmun, Dilmun Investments Limited v Nicholas Sutton, Fulham River Projects Limited ChD 23-Jan-2004
There was a contract for the sale of Craven Cottage football stadium, conditional upon the grant of non-onerous planning permissions. It was claimed that the contract had been obtained by the defendant employee in breach of his fiduciary duties to . .
Cited – Mahonia Limited v JP Morgan Chase Bankwest Lb Ag QBD 3-Aug-2004
The Claimant claimed on a letter of credit issued by the Defendant on behalf of Enron Ltd, who asserted it was not liable to pay there having been unlawful behaviour by Enron Ltd. Swap agreements had been entered into, and the defendant said the . .
Cited – Fassihim, Liddiardrams, International Ltd, Isograph Ltd v Item Software (UK) Ltd CA 30-Sep-2004
The first defendant (F) had been employed by a company involved in a distribution agreement. He had sought to set up a competing arrangement whilst a director of the claimant, and diverted a contract to his new company.
Held: A company . .
See Also – El Ajou v Dollar Land Holdings Plc ChD 1995
The tracing of assets into the hands of a third party depends upon a notional charge. There are no inflexible rules. The essential elements of ‘knowing receipt’ are: ‘For this purpose the plaintiff must show, first, a disposal of his assets in . .
Cited – Ultraframe (UK) Ltd v Fielding and others ChD 27-Jul-2005
The parties had engaged in a bitter 95 day trial in which allegations of forgery, theft, false accounting, blackmail and arson. A company owning patents and other rights had become insolvent, and the real concern was the destination and ownership of . .
Cited – KR and others v Royal and Sun Alliance Plc CA 3-Nov-2006
The insurer appealed findings of liability under the 1930 Act. Claims had been made for damages for child abuse in a residential home, whom they insured. The home had become insolvent, and the claimants had pursued the insurer.
Held: The . .
Cited – Charter Plc and Another v City Index Ltd and others ChD 12-Oct-2006
An employee of the claimant had fraudulently spent several million pounds of the claimant’s money on personal bets through the defendant company. The claimant said that the defendants knew the origin of the funds and were liable to repay them. . .
Cited – Jetivia Sa and Another v Bilta (UK) Ltd and Others SC 22-Apr-2015
The liquidators of Bilta had brought proceedings against former directors and the appellant alleging that they were party to an unlawful means conspiracy which had damaged the company by engaging in a carousel fraud with carbon credits. On the . .
Cited – Akers and Others v Samba Financial Group SC 1-Feb-2017
Saad Investments was a Cayman Islands company in liquidation. The liquidator brought an action here, but the defendant sought a stay saying that another forum was clearly more appropriate. Shares in Saudi banks were said to be held in trust for the . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Company, Equity, Torts – Other, Trusts

Updated: 17 July 2022; Ref: scu.262615

IBM United Kingdom Pensions Trust Ltd v IBM United Kingdom Holdings Ltd and Others: ChD 12 Oct 2012

Application for further amendment of deed of amendment relating to company pension scheme.

Judges:

Warren J

Citations:

[2012] EWHC 2766 (Ch)

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

See Also – Re IBM Pension Plan ChD 2012
The court considered an application to rectify a pension scheme.
Held: Warren J said: ‘There needs to be cogent evidence of the intentions of both the trustee and the employer where the power of amendment requires the consent of both. . . In a . .
See Also – IBM United Kingdom Pensions Trust Ltd v Metcalfe and Others ChD 1-Feb-2012
. .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts

Updated: 17 July 2022; Ref: scu.464907

Berezovsky v Abramovich: ComC 22 May 2008

Applications were made to amend pleadings and for consequential orders. The claimant sought damages of $4.3 billion alleging breach of trust. The claimant sought to add claims which the defendant said were out of time.
Held: The proposed amendment was refused. ‘It is open to the Claimant to bring claims for breach of trust or of fiduciary duty more than six years after the causes of action arose but only for those explicitly based on and limited to fraud. The current proposed amendment is not explicit about fraud.’

Judges:

Mackie J QC

Citations:

[2008] EWHC 1138 (Comm)

Links:

Bailii

Statutes:

Limitation Act 1980 21(1)(a)

Citing:

Cited – Cobbold v London Borough of Greenwich CA 9-Aug-1999
The tenant had sought an order against the council landlord for failure to repair her dwelling. The defendant appealed refusal of leave to amend the pleadings in anticipation of the trial, now due to start on the following day.
Held: Leave was . .
Cited – Armitage v Nurse; etc CA 19-Mar-1997
A clause in a trust deed may validly excuse trustees from personal liability for even gross negligence. The trustee was exempted from liability for loss or damage ‘unless such loss or damage shall be caused by his own actual fraud’.
Held: The . .
Cited – Paragon v Thakerer 1993
A claim for fraudulent or intentional breach of trust/fiduciary duty is a different cause of action from a claim for breach of trust/fiduciary duty generally and must be separately and distinctly pleaded. . .
Cited – Giles v Rhind CA 28-Feb-2008
. .
Cited – DEG-Deutsche Investitions und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH v Koshy and Other (No 3); Gwembe Valley Development Co Ltd (in receivership) v Same (No 3) CA 28-Jul-2003
The company sought to recover damages from a director who had acted dishonestly, by concealing a financial interest in a different company which had made loans to the claimant company. He replied that the claim was out of time. At first instance the . .
Cited – Goode v Martin CA 13-Dec-2001
The claimant had sought to amend her claim for damages for personal injuries. The application had been rejected as introducing a claim not based on the same facts. She had suffered severe head injuries, and had no memory of the accident. She served . .
Cited – Welsh Development Agency v Redpath Dorman Long Ltd CA 4-Apr-1994
A new claim was not deemed to have been made until the pleading was actually amended for limitation purposes, and should not be allowed after the limitation period had expired. The date of the application for leave to amend was not at issue. The . .
Cited – The Convergence Group Plc and Another v Chantrey Vellacott (a Firm) CA 16-Mar-2005
An accountant sought payment of his professional fees. The defendants had sought to re-amend their defence and counterclaim. Appeals had variously been allowed to go ahead or denied after the master had not been able to deal with all of them for . .
Cited – Nomura International Plc v Granada Group Ltd and others ComC 23-Mar-2007
To fulfil the requirement in CPR Part 16.2.1(a) ‘it is necessary at least to give some idea or indication of the duty which it is alleged the defendant has failed to perform.’ . .
Cited – P and O Nedloyd BV v Arab Metals Co and Others (‘The UB Tiger’) QBD 22-Jun-2005
The claimants sought to amend their particulars of claim to add a request for declarations with regard to a bill of lading and contract for carriage.
Held: The application to amend was made more than six years after the cause of action . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Litigation Practice, Trusts, Limitation

Updated: 15 July 2022; Ref: scu.268005

Baker v Baker: CA 19 Feb 1993

The measure of damages for an excluded equitable owner is loss of occupation not the loss of his contribution. A father moved in with his family and contributed money in the expectation that he would have the right to occupy the house rent free and for life.
Held: His loss was properly measured as the loss of that right, not of his contribution. He failed to establish a resulting trust, but succeeded in establishing an equitable estoppel.

Judges:

Dillon, Beldam, Roch LJJ

Citations:

Gazette 07-Apr-1993, Independent 06-Apr-1993, Times 23-Feb-1993, [1993] EWCA Civ 17, [1993] 2 FLR 247

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Equity, Housing, Estoppel, Trusts

Updated: 12 July 2022; Ref: scu.262595

Paul v Constance: CA 8 Jul 1976

Judges:

Scarman LJ

Citations:

[1976] EWCA Civ 2, [1977] 1 WLR 527

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

Cited – Legg and Another v Burton and Others ChD 11-Aug-2017
Testing for Mutual Wills
The parties disputed whether wills were mutual. The claimants challenged the probate granted to a later will of their deceased mother, saying that her earlier will had been mutual and irrevocable after the death of their father.
Held: The . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts, Wills and Probate

Updated: 12 July 2022; Ref: scu.262712

3 Individual Present Professional Trustees of 2 Trusts v an Infant Prospective Beneficiary of One Trust and others: ChD 25 Jul 2007

The parties challenged under the 198 Act the right of trustees to seek a Beddoe order protecting themselves against an award of costs.

Citations:

[2007] EWHC 1922 (Ch)

Links:

Bailii

Statutes:

Human Rights Act 1998 Part 1

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

Cited – In Re Beddoe, Downes v Cottam CA 1893
A trustee had unsuccessfully defended an action against the trust in detinue for the return of deeds. He now sought protection against a costs order. Costs having been awarded against a trustee in proceeding A, the trustee sought to be indemnified . .
Cited – In re Moritz CA 1960
Trustees had denied the defendants a sight of the exhibits to affidavits. Their’ counsel argued for a settled practice that where an application is made by trustees for directions of the Beddoe kind, then the proposed defendant beneficiaries should . .
Cited – McDonald and Others v Horn and Others CA 8-Aug-1994
A court may make a pre-emptive award of costs to pension fund members who wished to sue the trustees. Hoffmann LJ said: ‘if one looks at the economic relationships involved, there does seem to me to be a compelling analogy between a minority . .
Cited – Re Evans 1986
. .
Cited – Marley and 11 Others v Mutual Security Merchant Bank and Trust Co Ltd Co PC 15-Oct-1990
BANKING – EQUITY, TRUSTS, PROBATE ADMINISTRATOR’S POWERS OF INVESTMENT Bank as sole administrator cannot invest estate funds in its own deposits in the absence of express sanction in the trust instrument.
Lord Oliver of Aylmerton said: ‘A . .
Cited – McDonald and Others v Horn and Others ChD 12-Oct-1993
A pre-emptive costs order is possible where Plaintiffs are impecunious but the case is very strong. . .
Cited – In re Trusts of X Charity ChD 2003
If a hearing is heard in private, then it is open to the court to rule that its judgment should be maintained in private. Sir Andrew Morritt said: ‘This, essentially administrative, jurisdiction is designed to provide guidance to the fiduciary as to . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts, Human Rights, Costs

Updated: 12 July 2022; Ref: scu.259656

Harris v Kent and Another: ChD 14 Mar 2007

The claimant said the defendant had failed to complete his promise to arrange for the issue of shares in a company in return for a loan. The defendant denied the contract.
Held: It had been agreed to treat the claimant as a fifty per cent participant, and an estoppel had been created as against the defendants.
As to damages: ‘The ‘but for the breach’ analysis called for by the application of the basic equitable principle requires the court to decide what would hypothetically have happened if, instead of committing the breach of trust, the Kents as trustees had in all respects complied with their fiduciary obligations. In this respect equity follows the law, in which for example damages are quantified by reference to the difference between the effect of the breach and the position which the claimant would have been in, had the defendant complied with his contract. ‘ Damages were awarded accordingly.

Judges:

Briggs J

Citations:

[2007] EWHC 463 (Ch)

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

Cited – Walsh v Lonsdale CA 1882
Lonsdale purported to grant to Walsh a seven year lease with rent payable in advance. The lease was not embodied in a deed, and when Walsh went into possession, an annual tenancy with rent payable in arrear was created. Walsh did not pay in advance, . .
Cited – Target Holdings Ltd v Redferns (A Firm) and Another HL 21-Jul-1995
The defendant solicitors had acted for a purchaser, Crowngate, which had agreed to buy a property from a company called Mirage for andpound;775,000. Crowngate had arranged however that the property would first be passed through a chain of two . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Estoppel, Trusts

Updated: 10 July 2022; Ref: scu.250019

Glenn v Watson and Others: ChD 31 Jul 2018

In the context of a claim in which there were substantial disagreements as to the underlying facts. Nugee J said: ”Despite the primacy which our trial system has long given to oral evidence, it is by now a commonplace that the memory even of witnesses who are doing their honest best is often unreliable . . and in cases of fraud when the credibility of witnesses is in issue, it has long been recognised to be essential to test their veracity by reference to the objective facts proved independently of their testimony, in particular by reference to the documents in the case, and also to pay particular regard to their motives and to the overall probabilities . .’

Judges:

Nugee J

Citations:

[2018] EWHC 2016 (Ch)

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

Cited – Walsh v Greystone Financial Services Ltd ChD 4-Jul-2019
The parties disputed a long history of allegations and denials of involvement in fraud. . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Contract, Trusts

Updated: 10 July 2022; Ref: scu.621072

Jasmine Trustees Ltd and others v Wells and Hind (A Firm) and Another: ChD 19 Jan 2007

The original trustees had puported to appoint to act in their stead a company and an individual. The beneficiaries said that the trust deed required two individuals, and a trust corporation was not such.
Held: The word ‘individuals’ in section 37(1)(c) of the 1925 Act had to be given its natural meaning, within its legislative context. The original trustees were not discharged, and actions taken by the invalidly appointed trustees were ineffective, the purported trustees being merely trustees de son tort.

Judges:

Mann J

Citations:

[2007] EWHC 38 (Ch), Times 12-Feb-2007

Links:

Bailii

Statutes:

Trustee Act 1925 37(1)(c)

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Trusts

Updated: 09 July 2022; Ref: scu.247967

Donohoe v Ingram: ChD 20 Jan 2006

The appellant had lived with the bankrupt for several years, and sought an order delayng sale of the house they had lived in until their children had grown up. She said the circumstances were exceptional.
Held: The fact that the delay might put at risk the payment of the creditors in full and with interest made it not sufficient to require them to wait. There was no human right violated.

Citations:

[2006] EWHC 282 (Ch)

Links:

Bailii

Statutes:

Insolvency Act 1986 335A

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

Cited – Harman v Glencross 1986
On the divorce, the wife applied for a property transfer order in relation to the jointly owned matrimonial home. A creditor of her husband then obtained a charging order on H’s interest. She sought its varation. The creditor said that there was . .
Cited – In re Holliday CA 1981
A property adjustment order cannot be made against a bankrupt former spouse because the property of the bankrupt vests in the trustee in bankruptcy against whom an order under section 24 cannot be made. It was highly unlikely that postponement of . .
Cited – Claughton v Charalambous 1998
What is required of the court in applying section 335A(3) is, in effect, a value judgment. The court must look at all the circumstances and conclude whether or not they are exceptional. That process, he considered, left ‘very little scope for the . .
Cited – Re Citro, Lloyds Bank plc v Byrne and Byrne, Abbey National plc v Moss and others and Barclays Bank plc v Hendricks CA 1991
Trustees in bankruptcy of bankrupt husbands successfully appealed for the removal of provisos delaying the operation of orders for sale made under s30 in respect of each husband’s matrimonial home for the benefit of that husband’s wife who had been . .
Cited – Barca v Mears ChD 2005
While the categories of exceptional case which might allow delay in the sale of a bankrupt’s property are not circumscribed by the previous case-law, the only cases subsequent to In Re Citro in which orders for possession and sale have been withheld . .
Cited – London Borough of Harrow v Qazi HL 31-Jul-2003
The applicant had held a joint tenancy of the respondent. His partner gave notice and left, and the property was taken into possession. The claimant claimed restoration of his tenancy saying the order did not respect his right to a private life and . .
Cited – Price and others v Leeds City Council CA 16-Mar-2005
The defendant gypsies had moved their caravans onto land belonging to the respondents without planning permission. They appealed an order to leave saying that the order infringed their rights to respect for family life.
Held: There had been . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Insolvency, Trusts

Updated: 05 July 2022; Ref: scu.238692

Scott v The National Trust: ChD 12 Nov 1998

The Trust applied to be joined in an application by the plaintiffs.

Judges:

Neuberger J

Citations:

[1998] EWHC 318 (Ch)

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

Appeal from – Scott v The National Trust CA 1998
Trustees, in the exercise of their fiduciary discretions, are under constraints which do not apply to adult individuals disposing of their own property. Walker LJ said: ‘Certain points are clear beyond argument. Trustees must act in good faith, . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts

Updated: 04 July 2022; Ref: scu.263756

Singh v Bhasin and Others: ChD 21 Aug 1998

A trustee who defended a claim would always be at risk of an order to pay the costs personally even if advised by counsel to defend if he did not seek a protective Beddoe order before defending.

Citations:

Times 21-Aug-1998, Gazette 16-Sep-1998

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

Cited – In re Beddoe, Downes v Cottam CA 1893
In case of doubt as to the desirability of the intended proceedings (whether as plaintiff or defendant), trustees may apply to the court for directions. This will protect the trustees from adverse costs orders. If given leave to sue or defend by the . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts

Updated: 03 July 2022; Ref: scu.89271

Hunt and Another v McLaren and others: ChD 4 Oct 2006

Land had been given to a football club under a trust for its exclusive use as such. That land was sold and a new ground acquired and a stadium built, but the land was subject to restrictive covenenats limiting its use to sports, which considerably reduced its value. The trustees sought clarification of their duties.
Held: A gift on trust must have a cestui que trust and must be for the benefit of individuals, unless charitable. It must have a definite object, and there must be someone in whose favour the court can enforce it. In general, in order to be valid, a non-charitable trust must have an ascertainable beneficiary in whose favour performance of the trust may be decreed.

Judges:

Lawrence Collins J

Citations:

[2006] EWHC 2386 (Ch)

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

Cited – Conservative and Unionist Central Office v Burrell (Inspector of Taxes) CA 10-Dec-1981
An unincorporated association is defined as ‘two or more persons bound together for one or more common purposes, not being business purposes, by mutual undertakings each having mutual duties and obligations, in an organisation which has rules which . .
Cited – Saunders v Vautier 7-May-1841
A direction in a will stated that the income from certain shares was to be accumulated and invested until the beneficiary attained the age of 25. On attaining his majority at 21 years, the beneficiary sought termination of the trust, and transfer of . .
Cited – Morice v Bishop of Durham HL 1805
The court was asked whether a gift of residue to be applied ‘to such objects of benevolence and liberality as the Bishop of Durham in his own discretion shall most approve of’ was valid as being confined to purposes that were charitable.
Held: . .
Cited – Neville Estates Ltd v Madden ChD 1962
A charitable trust was created for the benefit of the members of Catford Synagogue.
Held: The court considered three categories of valid non-charitable purpose gifts: (1) an absolute gift to members of an association at the date of the gift, . .
Cited – Re Nottage CA 12-Jul-1895
A testator bequeathed a fund in trust to provide annually for ever a cup to be given to the most successful yacht of the season, stating that his object in giving the cup was to encourage the sport of yacht-racing.
Held: (affirming the . .
Cited – Elvridge v Coulson ChD 15-Jul-2003
An unregistered friendly society was dissolved. The governing instrument provided that the votes should be counted according to value, and that a vote of five sixths of such members by value were need to dissolve the company. Members claimed to be . .
Cited – Re GKN Bolts and Nuts Ltd etc Works Sports and Social Club ChD 1982
There was a sports and social club associated with GKN, whose members were all employees of GKN. The main issue in the case was whether the club had ceased to exist. But one subsidiary issue was whether a meeting had been validly convened. The club . .
Cited – Re Lead Co.’s Workmen’s Fund Society 1904
. .
Cited – Leahy v Attorney-General of New South Wales PC 20-Apr-1959
leahy_agnswPC1959-4
A gift to an unincorporated association simpliciter, i.e. where neither the circumstances of the gift nor the directions given nor the object expressed impose on the donee the character of a trustee, is nothing else than a gift to its members at the . .
Cited – Re Endacott CA 12-Oct-1959
The will had left the residue to a parish council for the purpose of providing some useful memorial to myself, subject to the proviso that if my wife outlives me they must during the lifetime of my wife pay to my wife the interest which may accrue . .
Cited – Neville Estates Ltd v Madden ChD 1962
A charitable trust was created for the benefit of the members of Catford Synagogue.
Held: The court considered three categories of valid non-charitable purpose gifts: (1) an absolute gift to members of an association at the date of the gift, . .
Cited – In re Denley’s Trust Deed ChD 1969
The trustees of land in Gloucestershire were to maintain the land as a sports ground for the benefit of the employees of a company and also for ‘such other person or persons (if any) as the trustees may allow to use the same . . .’ The Deed . .
Cited – Whishaw v Stephens (on appeal from In re Gulbenkian’s Settlement) (No 1) HL 31-Oct-1968
Parties disputed the effect of clauses describing the beneficiaries of a trust.
Held: The clause did not make sense as it stood. In a fixed non-charitable trust (as opposed to a discretionary trust) the court must be able to draw up a list of . .
Cited – Re Grant’s Will Trusts ChD 1980
The deceased left property to the Labour Party property committee.
Held: A trust created by making a gift to the members of an unincorporated assoication as at the date of the gift can be wound up only if under the rules, the members could, at . .
Cited – McPhail v Doulton (on appeal from In re Baden’s Deed Trusts) HL 6-May-1970
The settlor asked whether the test for validity, in point of certainty of objects, is the same for trusts and powers, or whether the test for trusts is more demanding.
Held: The test is the same. The context was a provision, held to be a . .
Cited – In re Bucks Constabulary Widows and Orphans Fund Friendly Society (No 2) 1979
In the absence of any contractual obligation otherwise, the funds of a mutual society must be distributed equally on a dissolution. . .
Cited – Re Recher’s Will Trusts ChD 1972
The deceased gave a share of the residue, to ‘The Anti-Vivisection Society, 76 Victoria Street, London S.W.1.’ She died in 1962 and her husband died in 1968. Until the end of 1956 a non-charitable unincorporated society, known as the ‘London and . .
Cited – Re Lipinski’s Will Trusts ChD 1976
Harry Lipinski bequeathed his residuary estate on trust as to half for the Hull Judeans (Maccabi) Association to be used solely to construct and improve the new buildings for the association. The executors sought a determination whether the bequest . .
Cited – Sharab v Salfiti CA 12-Dec-1996
No amendment was to be allowed to a claim introducing an allegation of a foreign criminal offence. The claim in contract failed for insufficient certainty or on some other ground, but a claim nonetheless succeeded as a quantum meruit. . .
Cited – Way v Latilla HL 1937
Mr Way (W), the plaintiff, was employed by Ariston, which had mining operations in Africa, as a consulting engineer and manager. He met the respondent (L) in England. He was asked to seek options to acquire concessions the respondent might acquire. . .
Cited – Becerra v Close Brothers ComC 25-Jun-1999
ComC Claim for fee for introducing successful bidder at a controlled auction – no express contract – no implied contract based on City practice – claim for quantum meruit failed because no express or implied . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts, Land

Updated: 01 July 2022; Ref: scu.245176

Singh and Others v Teeng and Others: ChD 20 May 2013

Five trustees of a Gurdwara challenged the validity of the election of a new committee, saying that the election had not beenconducted properly.
Held: The trust was in fact, and by concession, entirely a charity, and therefore the chosen method of challenge was not available.

Judges:

Purle C HHJ

Citations:

[2014] EWHC 4813 (Ch)

Links:

Bailii

Statutes:

Charities Act 2011 115(2)

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Trusts, Charity

Updated: 17 June 2022; Ref: scu.537772

Darby v Darby; Rebecca Darby v Alfred Edmund William Darby, Alice Mary Darby, Alfreda Lucy Darby, Abraham Darby: 8 Mar 1856

A. and B. purchased land on a joint speculation with their joint monies for the purpose of laying it out in building plots, and reselling it at the joint profit or loss of A. and B. Held, that it was converted out and out, and the share of one of the partners deceased in part of the unrealised real estate passed to his personal representatives.

Citations:

[1856] EngR 328, (1856) 3 Drew 495, (1856) 61 ER 992

Links:

Commonlii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Land, Trusts

Updated: 05 June 2022; Ref: scu.291083

Murphy v Murphy: ChD 2 May 1998

Where a plaintiff could show that he might have some potential interest under a discretionary trust, the settlor could be obliged by the court to disclose the names and addresses of the settlement trustees.

Citations:

Times 02-May-1998, [1999] 1 WLR 282

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

Cited – Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Others v Headley and Another ChD 28-Jul-2016
Beneficiaries’ right to information from estate
The claimant charities sought payment of interests under the will following the dropping of two life interests. They now requested various documents forming accounts of the estate.
Held: The charities were entitled to some but not to all of . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts

Updated: 05 June 2022; Ref: scu.84129

Mortgage Corporation Ltd v Shaire and Another: ChD 25 Feb 2000

The claimant had an equitable charge over the property, and sought a possession order after failures to keep up repayments. The order was sought under the Act, and the claimants asserted that the conditions for the grant of possession were unchanged.
Held: Parliament had clearly intended a change. The interests of a chargee ranked alongside those of, for example, children living in the house. This might act to the detriment of banks, and the old authorities, whilst not entirely irrelevant, should be viewed with caution. Where the parties have reached a consensus on the beneficial interests in the property, the court will give effect to it, unless there is very good reason for not doing so, such as a subsequent renegotiation.

Judges:

Neuberger J

Citations:

Gazette 16-Mar-2000, Times 21-Mar-2000, [2000] 1 FLR 973, [2001] Ch 743, [2000] EWHC Ch 452

Links:

Bailii

Statutes:

Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 14 15, Law of Property Act 1925 30

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

Cited – Stack v Dowden CA 13-Jul-2005
The parties purchased a property together. The transfer contained a survivorship restriction but no declaration of the beneficial interests. The judge had held the property to be held as tenants in commn on equal shares.
Held: In a case where . .
Cited – Stack v Dowden HL 25-Apr-2007
The parties had cohabited for a long time, in a home bought by Ms Dowden. After the breakdown of the relationship, Mr Stack claimed an equal interest in the second family home, which they had bought in joint names. The House was asked whether, when . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Land, Banking, Trusts

Updated: 05 June 2022; Ref: scu.83867

Lohia and Another v Lohia: ChD 7 Sep 2000

Land was transferred from son to his father with no consideration expressed. The father died and the son claimed that the absence of consideration meant that the house was to be held upon trust for the donor and donee as beneficial joint tenants in equal shares, and that accordingly upon the death of the father he was entitled to his share.
Held: The section was clear and that a conveyance for nil value meant what it said. A person seeking to establish a resulting trust had to prove it. The voluntary conveyance was effective in the terms in which it was expressed.

Citations:

Gazette 07-Sep-2000

Statutes:

Law of Property Act 1925 60 (3)

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Land, Trusts

Updated: 04 June 2022; Ref: scu.83151

In Re Skinner: ChD 1904

A beneficiary of a will trust brought an action for an account, having had little or no accounting from the executors and trustees (one a professional solicitor, entitled to charge) since the testator died more than two years before the action was commenced. The court made a full administration order, and the question whether the executor trustees should pay the costs was reserved.
Held: After further argument, Farwell J held that the plaintiff was entitled to her costs. He said: ‘The gist of the complaints against the defendants . . is that they would not, and did not, render any proper accounts, though repeatedly requested to do so by the plaintiff and by . . their co-executor. Now it is clear that in the case of a small estate like this it is very hard that the plaintiff should be obliged to have recourse to proceedings of this nature in order to get an account. I am always unwilling to make trustees pay costs; but, on the other hand, beneficiaries have a right to expect the performance of their duty by executors, and not the less when one of them has power to make professional charges. In my opinion the conduct of these two defendants amounts to a gross neglect to account. ‘

Judges:

Farwell J

Citations:

[1904] 1 Ch 289

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

Applied – Heugh v Scard CA 1875
Sir George Jessel MR said: ‘In certain cases of mere neglect or refusal to furnish accounts, when the neglect is very gross or the refusal wholly indefensible, I reserve to myself the right of making the executor or trustee pay the costs of . .

Cited by:

Cited – Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Others v Headley and Another ChD 28-Jul-2016
Beneficiaries’ right to information from estate
The claimant charities sought payment of interests under the will following the dropping of two life interests. They now requested various documents forming accounts of the estate.
Held: The charities were entitled to some but not to all of . .
Cited – Blades v Isaac and Another ChD 21-Mar-2016
Claim by beneficiary under discretionary trust.
Held: A trustee’s wrongful failure to provide information does not necessarily justify an adverse costs order. . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts

Updated: 02 June 2022; Ref: scu.567857

Nestle v National Westminster Bank: ChD 1988

The plaintiff was the remainder beneficiary under the will trust of her grandfather, who died in 1922. The trust fund was then worth about andpound;50,000. The last outstanding life interest under the trust was that of her father John, who died in 1986. Thereafter she was absolutely entitled to the trust fund, by that time worth some andpound;269, 203. The plaintiff complained that, after adjusting the 1922 value for changes in the retail prices index to date, it should have been worth about andpound;1 million. She further said that, if adjusted for increases in the ordinary shares index on the stock market, that part of the fund which her grandfather had invested in ordinary shares would have been worth over andpound;1.8 million. She attributed the fact that it was not worth so much to breach of trust on the part of the bank trustee in both misinterpreting the trust investment clause and investing badly.
Held: Hoffmann J said: ‘There was a claim by Miss Nestle for income accounts for the funds since their inception. For the period during which any income might have accrued to capital, namely until John Nestle turned 25 in 1938, those accounts were delivered a long time ago. In respect of the period since that date she has as a capital beneficiary no interest in the disposal of the income and is not in my judgment entitled to accounts.’

Judges:

Hoffmann J

Citations:

[2000] WTLR 795, (1988) 10 Tru LI 112

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

Cited – Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Others v Headley and Another ChD 28-Jul-2016
Beneficiaries’ right to information from estate
The claimant charities sought payment of interests under the will following the dropping of two life interests. They now requested various documents forming accounts of the estate.
Held: The charities were entitled to some but not to all of . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts

Updated: 02 June 2022; Ref: scu.567851

Japan Leasing (Europe) Plc v Shoa Leasing (Singapore) PTE Ltd: ChD 30 Jul 1999

The court considered a hire purchase agreement for an aircraft between four leasing companies and Olympic Airways. The contract documentation provided for the payment of the price in instalments to designated accounts in various currencies of one of the lessors, Japan Leasing. Japan Leasing was to receive the money on behalf of itself and the other three lessors. Japan Leasing went into administration, and a month later received an instalment into the designated accounts. The issue was whether that money was held in trust to pay their shares to the three other lessors.
Held: The court rejected the primary argument of the three solvent lessors that there was an express trust, but held that the last instalment was held on a constructive trust for the other lessors.

Judges:

Nicholas Warren QC

Citations:

[1999] BPIR 911, [2000] WTLR 301, [1998] EWHC 322 (Ch)

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

Wrongy decided – Bailey and Another v Angove’s Pty Ltd SC 27-Jul-2016
The defendant had agreed to act as the claimant’s agent and distributor of the claimant’s wines in the UK. It acted both as agent and also bought wines on its own account. When the defendant went into litigation the parties disputed the right of the . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Insolvency, Trusts

Updated: 02 June 2022; Ref: scu.568651

In re Tillott: ChD 1892

The plaintiff was entitled under a will trust to a one twelfth share in the capital of the residue, contingently on the death of his mother, who was a life tenant. The residue included Bank of England Consols. He had already obtained from the court an order that the defendant will trustee write to the Bank of England authorising it to inform the plaintiff of the amount of such Consols and to produce all the documents relating to property in which the plaintiff was interested. He now sought an order that the defendant trustee authorise the Bank to inform him of any incumbrances on that property, such as charging orders or stop notices. The trustee objected, on the grounds that the plaintiff might thereby obtain information as to the dealings of other contingently entitled remaindermen with their own shares.
Held: The plaintiff was entitled to have the further information sought, so that he would know whether the fund in which he was interested was incumbered or not.
Speaking of the trustee’s argument, Chitty J said: ‘this may give the Plaintiff more information than he is entitled to ask, because as there are twelve shares in this fund, it may be that there are several distringases of the fund obtained by persons who have charges on the continent interest of the other persons, and it is clear that the trustee is not bound to give the cestui que trust of one share any information as to the dealings of the other cestui que trust in whose share he has no interest, shewing whether those shares are or are not incumbranced.’

Judges:

Chitty J

Citations:

[1892] 1 Ch 86

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

Cited – Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Others v Headley and Another ChD 28-Jul-2016
Beneficiaries’ right to information from estate
The claimant charities sought payment of interests under the will following the dropping of two life interests. They now requested various documents forming accounts of the estate.
Held: The charities were entitled to some but not to all of . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts

Updated: 02 June 2022; Ref: scu.567852

Polly Peck International Plc v The Marangos Hotel Company Ltd and Others: CA 7 May 1998

Leave had been given for the insolvent plaintiff company to bring proceedings. The defendant now challenged that leave.
Held: A claim that a massively insolvent company had wrongfully occupied Turkish Cypriot property would not allow a claim of remedial constructive trust against assets held by liquidator here. A so-called ‘remedial constructive trust’ is not known in English law. Mummery LJ pointed to the lack of any material distinction between compulsory winding up and administration.

Judges:

Nourse LJ, Potter LJ, Mummery LJ

Citations:

Times 18-May-1998, [1998] EWCA Civ 789, [1998] 3 All ER 812, [1998] 2 BCLC 185

Links:

Bailii

Statutes:

Insolvency Act 1986 11(3)

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

Cited – Ultraframe (UK) Ltd v Fielding and others ChD 27-Jul-2005
The parties had engaged in a bitter 95 day trial in which allegations of forgery, theft, false accounting, blackmail and arson. A company owning patents and other rights had become insolvent, and the real concern was the destination and ownership of . .
Cited – Harms Offshore AHT Taurus Gmbh and Co KG v Bloom and Others CA 26-Jun-2009
The court had granted to the liquidators of a company a mandatory injunction requiring the appellant German companies to attempt to obtain the release of assets from attachment by the court in new York.
Held: The appeal was dismissed. The . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts, Insolvency

Updated: 30 May 2022; Ref: scu.144267

Clarke (Executor of the Will of Francis Bacon, Deceased) v Marlborough Fine Art (London) Ltd and Another: ChD 5 Jul 2001

Francis Bacon sold his paintings through the defendant agents for many years. The original contractual arrangement grew into a fiduciary one. The claimants asserted that the defendants were in breach of that fiduciary duty, the defendants asserted that the relationship remained contractual, and that it was now time barred.
Held: There may be a true constructive trust which would not be time barred, rather than a remedial constructive trust. The test was whether the trustee was a true trustee, whether of a constructive or an express trust. Nor was it clear that a court of equity would have time barred a claim in undue influence.

Judges:

Patten J

Citations:

Times 05-Jul-2001

Statutes:

Limitation Act 1980 36(1)(f)

Cited by:

Cited – McLaughlin and Others v Newall QBD 31-Jul-2009
The claimant asked the court to strike out the defence that the claimant had compromised his claim by agreement. The defendant had written letters critical of the claimants who were governors of a school which had disciplined his daughter a teacher . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Agency, Trusts, Limitation

Updated: 19 May 2022; Ref: scu.79197

Bath and Wells Diocesan Board of Finance and Another v Jenkinson and Others: ChD 6 Sep 2000

Where there was a gift of land on charitable trusts, but where the gift was first expressed to be unlimited in time, but later in the deed provided powers for revocation, and conditions for defeasance, it must remain a matter of construction of the particular deed to decide whether the gift was in perpetuity. In the current cases the reversionary provisions were void for remoteness, and the trustees had acquire a possessory title for charity on the trusts of the original deeds.

Citations:

Times 06-Sep-2000, Gazette 05-Oct-2000

Land, Charity, Trusts

Updated: 18 May 2022; Ref: scu.78288

Re Cowin: 1886

Citations:

(1886) 33 ChD 179

Cited by:

Cited – Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Others v Headley and Another ChD 28-Jul-2016
Beneficiaries’ right to information from estate
The claimant charities sought payment of interests under the will following the dropping of two life interests. They now requested various documents forming accounts of the estate.
Held: The charities were entitled to some but not to all of . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts

Updated: 18 May 2022; Ref: scu.567854

Brittlebank v Goodwin: 1868

A trustee is bound to inform a beneficiary, who, on attaining majority is entitled to share in a trust fund, of that interest

Citations:

(1868) LR 5 Eq 545

Cited by:

Cited – Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Others v Headley and Another ChD 28-Jul-2016
Beneficiaries’ right to information from estate
The claimant charities sought payment of interests under the will following the dropping of two life interests. They now requested various documents forming accounts of the estate.
Held: The charities were entitled to some but not to all of . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts

Updated: 18 May 2022; Ref: scu.567856

Re Boyer’s Settled Estates: 1916

A right to reside shared by two persons was recognized as a valid and effective right. Sargant J said: ‘I think that the effect of s58 is, broadly speaking, to give to the large class of persons comprised in the nine headings of subs(1) of s58 the powers of a tenant for life, although they are not strictly tenants for life by reason of their estates not being strictly estates for life. But, apart from that, I think that the persons who are dealt with under s58 are persons who fall within the general defining provisions of s2(5), under which in determining tenancy you have to regard beneficial title to possession’.

Judges:

Sargant J

Citations:

[1916] 2 Ch 404

Statutes:

Settled Land Act 1882 2(5) 58

Cited by:

Cited – Binions v Evans CA 27-Jan-1972
The plaintiffs had bought a cottage subjecty to a tenancy to the defendant. They sought possession saying that she held under a tenancy at will. It was a renancy for her life but described as a tenancy at will. The judge had held that the other . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts, Landlord and Tenant

Updated: 18 May 2022; Ref: scu.450173

Whitmarsh v Robertson: 25 Jan 1845

By a marriage settlement certain stock in the funds was settled upon the intended husband and wife for their joint lives and the life of the survivor, and then upon the children of the marriage, with a power to the trustees, with the consent of the wife, to advance part of the fund for the benefit of the children in her lifetime. were four children of the marriage. The husband died. The wife married again. The second husband assigned the wife’s life interest for value. After the assignment the trustees, with the consent of the wife, exercised the power of advancement in favour of the children of the first marriage. Held, that the power was well executed as against the assignee of the second husband.

Citations:

[1845] EngR 416, (1845) 1 Coll 570, (1845) 63 ER 548

Links:

Commonlii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Trusts

Updated: 18 May 2022; Ref: scu.303558

Chamberlain v Hutchinson: 9 Jul 1856

A lady had a general power of appointing a trust fund by deed or will, and in default, half was limited to A. arid the other to B. By her will, she appointed the fund to her executor arid made it chargeable with her debts and some legacies, and she gave half the residue, composed of the appointed fund and her own property, to A. Held, that the moiety of the fund subject to the power thus appointed in favour of A. passed to the appointor’s next of kin, as part of her estate undisposed of, and not to the executors of A. as in default of appointment.

Citations:

[1856] EngR 762, (1856) 22 Beav 444, (1856) 52 ER 1179

Links:

Commonlii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Trusts

Updated: 18 May 2022; Ref: scu.291517

Pryor v Pryor: CA 29 Apr 1864

Parents having a power of appointing an estate to all or any of their children appointed it absolutely to two of their sons, upon the understanding that the appointments should resettle the estate upon certain trusts for the benefit of all the children then living during their respective lives, and subject thereto for the benefit of the children of the sons. This resettlement was made by a contemporaneous deed. Held, that the transaction could not be supported by analogy to the common case of an appointment to a daughter in contemplation of her marriage, accompanied by a contemporaneous settlement of the appointed fund, but that the appointment was void in equity, as made upon a bargain for the benefit of persons not objects of the power,

Judges:

Knight Bruce LJ

Citations:

[1864] EngR 412, (1864) 3 De G J and S 205, (1864) 46 ER 353

Links:

Commonlii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

Cited – Eclairs Group Ltd and Glengary Overseas Ltd v JKX Oil and Gas Plc SC 2-Dec-2015
Company Director not Trustee but is Fiduciary
The Court was asked about an alleged ‘corporate raid’, an attempt to exploit a minority shareholding in a company to obtain effective management or voting control without paying what other shareholders would regard as a proper price.
Held: The . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts, Equity

Updated: 18 May 2022; Ref: scu.282126

Mussumat Thukrain Sookraj Koowar v Government, Baboo Ajeet Sing, And Others: PC 3 Jul 1871

In Oude, before its annexation to the British rule, a Rajah was a TaIookdar of a large Talook. A younger branch of his family had a separate Mehal in the possession of A., wholly distinct from and independent of the Talook the Rajah possessed as representing the elder branch of the family. The Oude Government, for fiscal purposes, included A’s Mehal with the Rajah’s Talook so that the Rajah as the elder branch of the family represented A.’s Mehal at the Court at Lucknow, notwithstanding that A. remained in undisturbed possession as absolute Owner, paying through the Rajah for his Mehal a proportion of the jumma fixed on the Talook. This relation between the Rajah and A. subsisted up to the time of the annexation of Oude by the British Government. While the Government was making a settlement with the Landowners, and A. was about to apply for a distinct settlement of his Mehal, he, and after him his Widow was, induced by the Rajah not to do so, the Rajah in Letters fully recognizing As absolute right to the Mehal. After the suppression of the rebellion in Oude, and the Government had recognized the Talookdary tenure with its rights, a provisional settlement of the Talook including A.’s Mehal, was made with the Rajah ; but before a Sunnud was granted to him, Government confiscated half his estate for concealment of Arms. The Rajah suppressed the fact of the trust relation of the Mehal of A., and contrived that it should be included in the half part of the estate the Government had confiscated ; which Mehal the Government as a reward granted to Oude loyalists. A.’s Widow brought a suit against the Government and the Grantees for the restoration of the Mehal and a settlement, The Financial Commissioner held that as the Rajah was the registered Owner of the Mehal of A., included in his Talook, it had been properly forfeited. Such finding reversed on appeal, on the ground that A. was the acknowledged cestui que trust of the Rajah, and that A.’s Widow, as equitable Owner was not affected as between her and the Government by the act of confiscation of half the Rajah’s Talook.

Citations:

[1871] EngR 27, (1871) 14 Moo Ind App 112, (1871) 20 ER 728

Links:

Commonlii

Trusts, Commonwealth

Updated: 18 May 2022; Ref: scu.280208

Rochdale Canal Company v King: 1853

Sir John Romilly MR said: ‘The principle on which the Defendants rely is one often recognised by this Court, namely, that if one man stand by and encourage another, though but passively, to lay out money, under an erroneous opinion of title, or under the obvious expectation that no obstacle will afterwards be interposed in the way of his enjoyment, the Court will not permit any subsequent interference with it, by him who formally promoted and encouraged those acts of which he now either complains or seeks to take advantage. This is the rule laid down in Dann v Spurrier (7 Ves 231), Powell v Thomas (6 Hare 300), and many other cases, to which it is unnecessary to refer, because the principle is clear.’

Judges:

Sir John Romilly MR

Citations:

(1853) 16 Beav 630

Citing:

Cited – Dann v Spurrier 1802
The tenant had carried out improvements to the property. It was uncertain whether the length of the term (7, 14 or 21 years) was at the option of the lessee alone.
Held: The case was decided on construction of the lease. Lord Eldon made it . .

Cited by:

Cited – Yeoman’s Row Management Ltd and Another v Cobbe HL 30-Jul-2008
The parties agreed in principle for the sale of land with potential development value. Considerable sums were spent, and permission achieved, but the owner then sought to renegotiate the deal.
Held: The appeal succeeded in part. The finding . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Land, Trusts

Updated: 18 May 2022; Ref: scu.276430

Re Smith: 1880

Once an estate has been administered, the personal representative becomes a trustee; and at that stage the court’s inherent jurisdiction to control trusts arises allowing if necessary an order for his removal.

Citations:

(1880) 42 Ch D 302

Cited by:

Cited – The Thomas and Agnes Carvel Foundation v Carvel and Another ChD 11-Jun-2007
The husband and wife had made mutual wills in the US with an express agreement not to make later alterations or dispositions without the agreement of the other or at all after the first death. The wife survived, but having lost the first will made a . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Wills and Probate, Trusts

Updated: 18 May 2022; Ref: scu.267735

Alsop Wilkinson v Neary and Others: ChD 4 Nov 1994

The second defendant, a solicitor, had fraudulently taken money from trusts, and paid money into trusts for his own family. It was claimed that the payments were intended to defeat the recovery of the funds. The trustees sought protection on costs through a Beddoe application.
Held: Trustees who sought directions from the court on whether to defend an action, should ask that question in separate proceedings begun for that purpose. By applying within the proceedings, they exposed the strengths and weaknesses of the trustees’ case: ‘it would be quite inappropriate for all this to be revealed to the court which has to try the case or the other parties to the litigation.’ Nor did the application bring the necessary parties before the court. A trustee has a duty to remain neutral when the trust faces hostile litigation regarding the validity of trust itself.

Judges:

Lightman J

Citations:

Independent 03-Nov-1994, Times 04-Nov-1994, [1995] 1 All ER 431

Statutes:

Insolvency Act 1986 423

Citing:

Cited – Fearns v Young 1804
A trustees’ duty may extend to taking or defending proceedings to protect the assets of the trust. . .
Cited – In re Beddoe, Downes v Cottam CA 1893
In case of doubt as to the desirability of the intended proceedings (whether as plaintiff or defendant), trustees may apply to the court for directions. This will protect the trustees from adverse costs orders. If given leave to sue or defend by the . .
Cited – Jenour v Jenour 1804
A trustee taking legal action properly to defend the assets of the trust can expect to be indemnified from those assets. . .
Cited – Re Biddencare Ltd ChD 1994
The court set out the principles applicable on making a Beddoe application. The court should consider the strength of the case, the likely costs order in the eventual proceedings, and the justice of the application itself. . .
Doubted – Ideal Bedding Company Ltd v Holland 1907
The plaintiffs had obtained against the trustees an order that the settlement was void as against the plaintiffs and other creditors. The court considered the trustees’ position on costs.
Held: A trustee has a duty to defend the trust, and . .
Cited – McDonald and Others v Horn and Others CA 8-Aug-1994
A court may make a pre-emptive award of costs to pension fund members who wished to sue the trustees. Hoffmann LJ said: ‘if one looks at the economic relationships involved, there does seem to me to be a compelling analogy between a minority . .
Cited – National Anti-Vivisection Society Ltd v Duddington 23-Nov-1998
The trustee of the Society had actively defended a trust action but failed. He sought an indemnity for his costs.
Held: He was not entitled to an indemnity for costs out of the trust assets. His acts had preferred one group of beneficiaries . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Trusts

Updated: 17 May 2022; Ref: scu.77770