Case Summaries

Nordenfelt v Maxim Nordenfelt Guns and Ammunition Co Ltd

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Whether restraint of trade clauses are unlawful. The appellant, Thorsten Nordenfelt, was a Swedish gun manufacturer with a valuable, world-wide business. ...

Norfolk Constabulary v Seekings

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The defendants, Seekings and Gould, were convicted of attempted burglary of two articulated lorry trailers that were being used… ...

North Ocean Shipping v Hyundai

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Duress; contract validity; economic pressure. Shipbuilders Hyundai Construction (HC) agreed to build a tanker for North Ocean Shipping (NOS) for a fixed price, which was to be paid in five instalments, in US dollars. ...

Northern Ireland v Lynch – 1975

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The defendant was charged with aiding and abetting a second degree murder. He drove members of the Irish terrorist group the IRA into town where they had… ...

Notting Hill Housing Trust v Brackley

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

A married couple held a periodic tenancy on a property as joint tenants, which could be terminated with the provision of four months notice. ...

Notting Hill Housing Trust v Brackley

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

A married couple held a periodic tenancy on a property as joint tenants, which could be terminated with the provision… ...

Nottingham Patent Brick v Butler – 1886

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The owner of land divided it into thirteen plots and sold these to various buyers over a period of three years. The conveyances all contained covenants… ...

Nunn v Dalrymple

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The Dalyrymples contended they were protected tenants of the lodge. They argued they were paying rent, and held exclusive possession… ...

O’Brien v MGN Ltd – Case Summary

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Mr O’Brien’s claim was unsuccessful. The contractual rules had been successfully incorporated into the agreement by reference on the day… ...

O’Neill vs Dominick Healy & Sons

Example case summary. Last modified: 11th Jan 2024

A legal discourse on the liability of an employer for psychological injuries suffered by an employee due to work-related stress. ...

O’Connell v Jackson

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

The plaintiff was an experienced motorist, travelling to work at 20 mph on a major road in a busy traffic area. Contrary to the… ...

Oakley v Walker – 1977

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The plaintiff suffered severe personal injuries, including a change of personality, as a result of the defendant’s negligence. His injuries and in… ...

OBG v Allan [2007] UKHL 21

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

OBC got into financial difficulties. The defendants were appointed as joint receivers. The receivers took control of the… ...

Obtaining Property By Deception Cases

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Obtaining Property By Deception. The defendant had ordered a meal in a restaurant and had consumed it with an honest state of mind… ...

Ocean Chemical Transport Inc v Exnor Craggs – 2000

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

OCT claimed EC had breached the implied term to provide quiet and unencumbered possession of the bunkers contrary to s12 Sale of Goods Act 1972. ...

Odey v Barber [2006]

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

The claimant – Odey, was a landowner. He sought a declaration that he had a right of way over a track which belonged ...

Offer-Hoar v Larkstore Ltd – 2006

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Larkstore purchased a site for development. The seller of the land had commissioned a soil inspection report from Technotrade… ...

Offord v Davies – 1862

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The defendant, in this case, agreed to secure money to advance to a third party on discount for the space of twelve calendar months. ...

Ogwo v Taylor – Case Brief

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The defendant had negligently started a fire at his home by using a blow torch on the fascia boards whilst attempting DIY home improvements. ...

Oh Hiam v Tham Kong

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

The appellants owned land in Malaysia. Six plots were in rubber growing land, while another in a village contained… ...

Old Gate Estates Ltd v Toplis

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

A block of flats was to be purchased by the promoters of the claimant’s company. During the promotion of the company and… ...

Olley v Marlborough Court Hotel

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Validity of notice in hotel room purporting to exclude liability for lost or stolen articles. Olley contended the hotel were negligent in failing to appropriately safeguard the keys to guest rooms. ...

Orchard v Lee – 2009

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The claimant was a school dinner lady acting as a supervisor in a children’s playground. She sustained injuries when a 13-year-old boy ran backwards… ...

Orgee v Orgee [1997]

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

The defendant agreed to farm the claimant’s land on the understanding that he would be given an agricultural tenancy… ...

Oscar Chess v Williams – 1957

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The steps to be taken in identifying a warranty. The defendants sold a Morris car to the claimants, who were motor traders, for £290. The defendants provided a copy of the vehicles first registration indicating that the car was first registered in 1948. ...

Osman v Ferguson – 1993

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

P, a school teacher, formed an unhealthy attachment to a 15-year-old male pupil. P repeatedly harassed the pupil. In May 1987, P changed his surname… ...

Osman v UK

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Case Summary of Osman v United Kingdom (UK) Case No: 87/1997/871/1083. Mrs Mulkiye Osman was born in Cyprus in 1948 and her son, Ahmet Osman, was born in England in 1972. ...

Othman v UK 2012 Case Summary | Abu Qatada

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Othman (Abu Qatada) v United Kingdom (UK) (2012) 55 EHRR 1, 189. Deportation and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). ...

Overseas Tankship v Miller Steamship (Wagon Mound Case)

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The defendant’s ship, ‘The Wagon Mound’, negligently released oil into the sea near a wharf close to Sydney Harbour. An unfortunate chain of events led to the oil becoming mixed with cotton debris, which was subsequently ignited by the sparks coming off some nearby welding works. ...

Overseas Tankship v Morts Dock – 1961

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The court held that Overseas Tankship (UK) Ltd could not be held liable to pay compensation for the damage to the wharf. This case disapproved the direct consequence test in Re Polemis and established the test of remoteness of damage. ...

Overstone v Shipway

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

A hirer of a vehicle paid no monthly rental fee as agreed by the parties, after having paid the deposit and taken delivery of the motor vehicle. ...

Owens v Brimmell – 1977

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The plaintiff and the defendant were friends and the defendant often gave a lift to the plaintiff. One night, they bought went out… ...

Oxford v Moss – 1979

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The defendant (M) was a civil engineering student who dishonestly obtained the proof of an examination paper. After he had read… ...

Oxley v Hiscock

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

Ms Oxley and Mr Hiscock were in a relationship, but not married. They decided to purchase a house together… ...

P & S Platt Ltd v Crouch

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

Crouch owned three pieces of land, including a hotel, house and bungalow built on an island in the river… ...

P&A Swift Investments v Combined English Stores Group

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

The landlord designated specific business premises to a subsidiary company, which was owned by the defendant. ...

Paddington Building Society v Mendelsohn

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

The defendants, a mother and her son, agreed to buy the leasehold of the mother’s flat. The mother contributed… ...

Page v Smith – 1996

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The House of Lords found in favour of C, albeit by a bare majority (Lords Keith and Jauncey dissenting) and held that, provided it was reasonably foreseeable that C would suffer some physical injury as a result of D’s negligence, it was not necessary that the type of harm caused was itself reasonably foreseeable ...

Pagnan SpA v Feed Products Ltd

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Pagnan SpA were an Italian company seeking to buy corn pellets to feed chickens with from Feed Products, an American company. ...

Palk v Mortgage Services Funding – 1993

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

In 1990 A borrowed £300,000, secured by a mortgage over the house he owned jointly with his wife, B. A’s company then went into insolvent liquidation. ...

Palk v Mortgage Services Funding plc

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

In 1990 A borrowed £300,000, secured by a mortgage over the house he owned jointly with his wife… ...

Palsgraf v Long Island Railroad – Case Brief

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The elements that must be satisfied in order to bring a claim in negligence (note that this is a US case). The claimant was standing on a station platform purchasing a ticket. Whilst she was doing so a train stopped in the station and two men ran to catch it. ...

Pankhania v Hackney LBC

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

P brought a claim for damages for the misrepresentation at the point of sale by H, of commercial property that was used as a car park by NCP. ...

Pao On v Lau Yiu Long – Past Consideration

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The plaintiffs (P) owned the shares of a private company which owned a building that the defendants (D) wanted to buy. The defendants were majority shareholders in a public company. P agreed to sell their shares in the private company to D so that D could acquire the building ...

Pape v Cumbria County Council

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Ms Pape was employed as a part-time cleaner by the defendant council. The council had provided their employees with rubber gloves, but the employees were… ...

Paradine v Jane [1647]

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

The plaintiff, Paradine, brought an action against the defendant, Jane, for the rent arrears for the lands that Paradine had leased to Jane. The defendant acknowledge that he owed the money for the rent. ...

Paragon Finance v Nash – Summary

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Mr and Mrs Nash obtained a mortgage from Paragon Finance for their matrimonial home. The mortgage agreement allowed Paragon to vary the rate… ...

Parents and Children Case Notes | Family Law Study Area | Law Teacher

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Parents and Children Case Notes. The relationships between children and parents are complex. In different contexts, the word ‘parent’ can include biological parents (married or unmarried), step-parents, adoptive parents, foster… ...

Paris v Stepney Borough Council

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Paris v Stepney BC. Because the claimant had sight only in one eye, there was a strong potential that the harm would be particular great: more so than would be inflicted on a normally-sighted person. This meant that a reasonable person would take greater steps than usual to protect him. ...

Parker v Clark – 1960

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The Clarks were an elderly married couple. Mrs Parker was Mrs Clark’s niece, and Mr Clark suggested she and her husband move into their home with them. Mr Parker supported the idea but expressed concern that it would mean their selling their own house. ...

Parker v Parker [2003]

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

The claimant occupied the defendant’s castle, and claimed a right to continue occupation. ...

Parker v South Eastern Railway

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Deposit of bag in railway cloak room; effect of exclusion clause on ticket and on notice. Parker paid to leave his bag in the cloakroom of South Eastern Railway (SER). There was a notice within the cloakroom stating that SER would not be responsible for any deposits exceeding £10. in value. ...

Parker-Tweedale v Dunbar Bank plc

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

PT brought an action challenging the sale of the property by the defendant mortgagee, DB, after his wife had missed… ...

ParkingEye v Somerfield Stores

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The appellant, Somerfield, was a supermarket who contracted for the respondent, ParkingEye, to install and operate a monitoring system in. ...

Parkinson v College of Ambulance – Case Summary

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The defendant, Harrison, was secretary of the College of Ambulance, a charity. He told the plaintiff, Colonel Parkinson, that he could procure a… ...

Parmiter v Coupland – 1840

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The claimant was the late mayor of Winchester. A series of libels were published of him in a local newspaper between November 1938 and March 1939… ...

Parsons (Livestock) v Uttley Ingham

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Parsons ordered a bulk storage hopper to store pignuts to feed their top-grade pigs from the defendants. When installing the hopper, the defendants failed… ...

Participation Case Summaries

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Cases on participation. The defendant had deliberately given false information to the book-keeper of the company for which he worked, knowing that it would be entered into the accounts. As the book-keeper had innocently entered the wrong information, the defendant was convicted as the principal on a charge of falsifying the accounts. ...

Partridge v Crittenden – 1968

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Facts in Partridge v Crittenden. The defendant advertised for sale a number of Bramblefinch cocks and hens, stating that the price was to be 25 shillings for each. Under the Protection of Birds Act 1954, it was unlawful to offer for sale any wild live bird. ...

Patel v Ali – 1984

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The first and second defendants were joint owners of a property and contracted to sell it to the plaintiffs. The husband of the first defendant was… ...

Patel v Mirza [2016]

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

Resulting trusts and illegality; insider dealing and unjust enrichment. Patel had given Mirza £620,000 to bet on shares in a company using inside information. The agreement between them amounted to a conspiracy to commit the offence of insider dealing contrary to s53 Criminal Justice Act 1993. ...

Pawlett v Attorney General

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The plaintiff (P) mortgaged his property to a man named Ludlow. P failed to make payments in terms of the mortgage due, he claimed… ...

Pay v Lancashire Probation; Pay v UK

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The claimant was involved in the sale of products connected with BDSM and performing in fetish clubs. Photographs were available on the internet of him involved in these activities. The claimant was a probation officer working with sex offenders. ...

Payne v Inwood (1996)

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

Payne and Inwood owned terrace houses 1 and 1A respectively. Prior to the partie’ acquisition, a door had… ...

Payne v Inwood 1997

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

The plaintiff and the defendant owned properties situated in a terrace of three cottages. The plaintiff purchased… ...

Pearce v Brooks – Summary

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The defendant was a prostitute who hired a carriage from the plaintiff, who was a coachbuilder, on hire purchase terms to be paid for in instalments. She wanted the carriage to attract customers. ...

Peck v UK – 2003

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Release of CCTV footage of suicidal man breached Article 8 ECHR. The applicant was captured on CCTV as he carried a large knife and was in the process of attempting suicide. ...

Peckham v Ellison (2000)

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

This case dealt with two neighbouring terrace council houses built in the 1940s. Each house was let out by the… ...

Peekay Intermark v Australia and New Zealand

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

B, the appellant, was a bank. P was a company that worked as an investment vehicle, operated by its shareholders and was the first respondent. ...

Peffer v Rigg

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

The plaintiff, Peffer, and his brother, Rigg, purchased a property that was registered in Rigg’s sole name but was actually held on trust for them both. They both contributed to the purchase price in equal shares. ...

Penfold v Westcote

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The defendant said the following about the claimant: “Why don’t you come out you blackguard rascal, scoundral, Penfold, you are a thief”. ...

Pennyfeathers Ltd v Pennyfeathers Property

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The key issues were whether the obligations of the second and third defendants as directors of the first claimant were superseded by the buy-out agreement AND… ...

Perera v Vandiyar

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

Landlord and tenant; whether cutting off gas and electricity is a breach of covenant ...

Performance Cars v Abraham

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Here, the defendant, Abraham, had caused a motor accident with the claimant as a result of his own breach of reasonable duty. ...

Perrett v Collins – 1998

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The plaintiff sustained personal injuries when the light aircraft in which he was travelling during the test flight. The first defendant was the pilot of… ...

Perry v Suffields – 1916

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The seller offered to sell a house with vacant possession for a price of £7,000. This offer was accepted by the buyer immediately… ...

Pettitt v Pettitt

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

The equitable interest of a spouse in a matrimonial home.. A woman purchased a matrimonial home for herself and her husband to live in out of her own sums and conveyed the home into her name. ...

PGA Tour v Martin – Case Summary

Example case summary. Last modified: 9th Jan 2024

PGA Tour, Inc. v. Martin was a significant case in the realm of sports law and disability rights. Casey Martin, a professional golfer, suffered from a degenerative circulatory disorder that impeded his ability to walk golf courses. ...

Pharmaceutical Society v Boots – 1953

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The defendant ran a self-service shop in which non-prescription drugs and medicines, many of which were listed in the Poisons List provided in the Pharmacy and Poisons Act 1933, were sold. ...

Philipp v Barclays – Case Summary

Example case summary. Last modified: 11th Sep 2024

Case summary of Philipp vs Barclays concerning Quincecare duty and economic losses due to forex manipulation. ...

Phillips v Brooks Ltd – 1919

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Phillips was a jeweller. The fraudster purchased a ring from the jeweller with a cheque and signed his name “Sir George Bullough” and provided this person’s address. ...

Phipps v Pears – 1965

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The plaintiff and defendant both owned houses which were adjacent to one another, on Market Street, Warwick. Phipps did not insulate his house… ...

Phipps v Pears 1965

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

Negative easement of protection against the weather by a neighbour’s house ...

Phipps v Rochester Corporation – 1955

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Two children passed across grassland which was part of a building site located on a housing estate that was in the process… ...

Photo Production v Securicor – 1980

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Due diligence, negligence and exclusion clauses in contracts. The issue in this case was whether the doctrine of fundamental breach applied and was relevant, and whether an exclusion clause could be effective. ...

Pickstone v Freemans plc

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The claimant, Ms Pickstone, was an employee of the defendants, Freemans, where she worked as a warehouse operative and received a salary… ...

Pigott v Thompson

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The plaintiff was a treasurer to the commissioners of the tolls and as such, earned an annual salary and was employed by way of an act of Parliament. ...

Pilcher v Rawlins

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

A father settled real estate on trust for his children. One of the trustees, P, was the uncle of the beneficiaries. The trustees advanced money… ...

Pinnel’s Case – 1602

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Whether part payment of a debt can be good consideration. The defendant, Cole, owed the plaintiff, Pinnel, the sum of £8 10s. Pinnel sued Cole for recovery of the debt. ...

Pioneer Container Case

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The claimant was a cargo owner who contracted with a carrier to ship the cargo. Per the bills of lading, the claimant granted the carrier authority to… ...

Pitts v Hunt – 1991

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The plaintiff was the pillion passenger on a motor cycle, involved in a collision with a vehicle driven by the second defendant… ...

Platform Funding Ltd v Bank of Scotland

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

A surveyor was instructed by a mortgage lender to inspect and value property on 1 Bakers Yard offered by a borrower as the security for a loan. ...

Poland v Parr & Sons – 1927

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

A contractor’s employee was, in the course of his employment, following close behind his employer’s waggon carrying sugar bags. Seeing a boy with a… ...

Popiw v Popiw

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Mr Popiw contended the arrangement was a domestic agreement between husband and wife and there had been no intention to create legal relations and… ...

Port Jackson Stevedoring v Salmond & Spraggon

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Goods were unloaded from a ship at a wharf and stored in a near shed which was under the control of the wharf’s stevedore. Thieves dishonestly claimed that… ...

Potton Developments v Thompson

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The claimants acted as distributors for a company which produced individual box units. The units were designed to be used by public houses… ...

Poussard v Spiers

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Breach of condition of a contract. The Claimant (Poussard) was an opera singer. She was contracted by the defendant to perform in that capacity for a duration of three months. The issue in this case was whether failing to turn up to the first day of performance amounted to a breach of a condition of the contract. ...

Prest v Petrodel

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Since Salomon v Salomon,1 it has been well established in UK law that a company has a separate personality to that of its members, and that such members cannot be liable for the debts of a company beyond their initial financial contribution to it. ...

Price v Easton – 1883 – Case Summary

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

A declaration between the parties stated that X owed the plaintiff £3. As such, X agreed to complete work for the defendant in exchange for payment… ...