Case Summaries

Revill v Newbery – 1996

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

William Newbery (N) slept in a shed on his allotment to protect his property at night. Mark Revill (R) and his accomplice Grainger (G) trespassed onto the allotment and attempted to break into the shed. ...

Rex v Entain Plc

Example case summary. Last modified: 19th Dec 2023

The case deals with the allegations and subsequent considerations of violations of the gambling legislations and regulations by Entain PLC and their eventual DPA with HMRC. ...

Reynolds v Times Newspapersu

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The plaintiff was a former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland. He began proceedings against a British newspaper publisher in relation… ...

Rhone v Stephens 1994

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

EQUITABLE INTERESTS IN PROPERTY, COVENANT TO REPAIR, POSITIVE COVENANT, ENFORCEABILITY, BURDEN AND BENEFIT OF COVENANTS ...

Rialas v Mitchell – 1984

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The infant plaintiff, aged 6 and a half, was crossing the road when he was struck by a van driven by a van driven by the defendant. ...

Rice v Great Yarmouth Borough Council

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

A contractor concluded two contracts with a local council for leisure management and maintenance of sports facilities, parks, gardens, playgrounds and other… ...

Richmond Adult Community College v McDougall

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Case Summary of Richmond Adult Community College v McDougall [2008] EWCA Civ 4 Disability discrimination. The assessment of disability and recurring disabilities ...

Rickards v Lothian – 1913

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Natural versus non-natural use of land, domestic water supply, malicious act of third party. The claimant rented premises on the second floor of a building which was used for commercial purposes and ran a business from the premises he was renting. ...

Robbery Case Summaries

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Robbery. A person is guilty of robbery if he steals, and immediately before or at the time of doing so, and in order to do so, he uses force on any person or puts or seeks to put any person in fear of being then and there subjected to force. ...

Robbins v Jones

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

Landlord and tenant; duty of landlord to maintain premises during the term ...

Robert Addie v Dumbreck

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

A four-year-old boy was killed as a result of being crushed by the wheel of a haulage system which belonged to a colliery company. The field in which the system was situated in was surrounded by a large hedge, which was essentially ineffective due to the large gaps in it ...

Robertson v Wait – 1853

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The plaintiffs brought a claim against the defendants for breaching their contract but did not establish the terms of the commission structure within… ...

Robinson v Balmain New Ferry Co. Ltd

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Robinson (R) paid a penny to cross on a ferry, however he narrowly missed the ferry and changed his mind about crossing. R attempted to leave through the gate he came through, however it required another penny to be paid to leave. ...

Robinson v Harman – 1848

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Agreement to grant a lease; lessor did not have good title; measure of damages. Harman wrote to Robinson offering him a 21-year lease of a dwelling house in Croydon. He subsequently changed his mind and refused to complete the lease. ...

Robinson v Kilvert – 1889

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Nuisance – Sensitivity of the Claimant. The defendants operated a factory which made paper boxes. This required the factory to be continually warm and dry to ensure that the paper boxes were in good condition. ...

Robshaw v United Lincolnshire Hospitals

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The claimant suffered from severe cerebral palsy due to mismanagement of his birth. He required full time care for the remainder of his life. ...

Robson v Hallett [1967]

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

A police sergeant and two constables went to a house where two defendants lived in order to enquire about some offences… ...

Rochefoucauld v Boustead [1898]

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

The Court of Appeal had given an initial decision that found that B had purchased an estate, the Delmar Estates… ...

Rodway v Landy

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Two doctors jointly purchased a property for the purposes of running a medical practice from it. The doctors contributed to the purchase… ...

Rodway v Landy [2001]

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

Two doctors jointly purchased a property for the purposes of running a medical practice from it. The doctors contributed… ...

Roe v Kingerlee

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Kingerlee was charged with criminal damage having placed mud graffiti on the wall of a police cell. The graffiti cost £7 to clean away. ...

Roe v Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973)

Example case summary. Last modified: 23rd Apr 2019

The case of Roe v Wade is perhaps one of the most famous US Supreme Court decisions to date. Decided in the early 70s,.. ...

Rogers v Hosegood [1900]

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

The owners of land conveyed a plot to a purchaser on the basis that no more than one dwelling should be erected… ...

Rookes v Barnard – 1964

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The claimant was a skilled draughtsman and employee of the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), resigned his membership of the Association of Engineering and Shipbuilding Draughtsmen (AESD), a registered trade union. ...

Ropaigealach v Barclays Bank

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The plaintiff was not residing in the property at the time when the defendant took possession and sold the property at auction. The plaintiff sought the determination of the court on whether the defendant had been entitled to take possession without first having sought and obtained an order of the court. ...

Roper v Knott

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Knott was a milk salesman who worked for Roper. Knott came every morning and collected four gallons of milk from Roper’s place of business. ...

Rose and Frank v Crompton – 1923

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Intention to create legal relations in the formation of contracts. An American company and English company entered into a sole agency agreement in 1913 for the sale of paper goods in the USA. ...

Routledge v Grant 1828

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The court held that the original letter did not bind the defendant to keep the offer open for a full six weeks, and as such it had been validly withdrawn by the defendant, and the claimant’s purported acceptance was ineffective. ...

Royal Bank of Scotland v Etridge (No 2)

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Undue influence; married couple; notice of risk; protection of wife and lender. The case concerned eight joined appeals in which homeowners had mortgaged their houses to secure loans used by the husbands for their respective businesses. ...

RTS Flexible Systems Ltd v Molkerei

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The claimant was a supplier of automated machines and agreed to manufacture an automated system in the defendant’s factory. Work began on the basis of a letter of intent with a long form contract to follow. ...

Rudge v Richens

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The plaintiff lender took possession of mortgaged premises and sold them after a default in mortgage payments. The defendant borrower pleaded… ...

Russel v Russel (1783)

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

Depositing title deeds raised presumption of equitable mortgage. ...

Russell v Archdale

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

A vendor company conveyed property which included barns and stables as part of the ‘Hedgerley Park estate’ ...

Ruxley v Forsyth – Case Brief

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Pool not built to specified depth; whether cost of re-instatement recoverable. Ruxley agreed to build a swimming pool at Forsyth’s home. The contract specified the depth of the pool was to be seven feet and six inches. ...

Ryan v Mutual Tontine Westminster Chambers

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

This case involved a residential flat, in which the flats were leased to several tenants. The leases contained a covenant that agreed that the premises… ...

Rylands v Fletcher – Case Summary

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Liability under Rylands v Fletcher is regarded as a specific type of nuisance, a form of strict liability, where the defendant may be liable without having been negligent. ...

S Pearson v Dublin Corporation

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The defendant provided the plaintiff with plans, drawings and specifications for the construction of work on a sewage system. ...

S.A.S. v. France [2014] ECHR 695

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Case Summary of SAS v France [2014] ECHR 695. The case concerned the rights of individuals to manifest their freedom of religion ...

Saadi v Italy and Chahal v UK

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Case Summary of Saadi v Italy (2008) 24 BHRC 123, 125 -142 and Chahal v United Kingdom (1996) 23 EHRR 413, 74. Article 3 ECHR ...

SABIC UK Petrochemicals Ltd v Punj Lloyd Ltd – 2013

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The legal relationship in this case was between SABIC and a company owned by Punj Lloyd Ltd – namely, Simon Carves Ltd. The latter had been contracted… ...

Sadler v Imperial Life Assurance of Canada

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The plaintiff was employed by the defendant for 17 years. As an insurance agent, he was reimbursed on a commission basis. When the… ...

Salmon v Seafarer Restaurants – Summary

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The plaintiff was a fireman who had attended to a fire that had broken out at the defendant’s fish and chip shop. This has been caused by the defendant… ...

Salomon v Salomon – Case Summary

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

A Case Summary of Salomon v A Salomon and Co Ltd [1897] AC 22 (Salomon v Salomon) – Separate Legal Personality (SLP) is the basic tenet on which company law is premised. ...

Samarenko v Dawn Hill House Ltd – 2011

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

A seller and buyer entered into a written contract for the sale of property, with Clause 16 of the contract requiring the payment of a deposit. ...

Sandhu v Farooqi [2003]

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

The claimant was the freeholder of a flat in which the defendant had lived for several years. ...

Sandiford v The Secretary of State For Foreign Affairs

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

This appeal is concerning a British national, aged 57, whom is imprisoned in Bali, Indonesia, awaiting execution by firing squad following her conviction for drug offences. Mrs Sandiford was arrested in May 2012 and admitted to the offences she was accused of. ...

Santley v Wilde 1899

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

Collateral advantages and presumptions about oppressive conduct. The owner of a lease of a theatre wanted to carry on a theatre business there and took out a mortgage of £20,0001 in order to do this, secured against the lease, over five years. ...

Saunders v Anglia Building Society – 1971

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

A widow was induced by a fraudster to sign her leasehold interest in her house over to him. He then mortgaged her property to the Anglia… ...

Saunders v Vautier

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

A sole beneficiary’s right to terminate a trust prior to the date stipulated in the trust. A father left in his will stock in a company for his young son, to be held by a trustee for his son as the sole beneficiary until he turns twenty-five years of age. ...

Savage and Parmenter

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The foreseeability of the level of physical harm and subjective intent required for the crime of grievous bodily harm. In the first case, Ms. Savage threw beer over her husband’s ex-girlfriend in a bar. ...

Savva and Savva v Hussein (1997)

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

In 1991, the landlords granted a twelve-year lease of commercial premises to the respondent. ...

Sayers v Harlow Urban DC

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The plaintiff visited a public lavatory, owned by the defendant – a local authority. She locked the door, but when she tried to get out, she could not as the lock was stuck. The plaintiff unsuccessfully tried to attract attention for 15 minutes. ...

Scala House and District Property Co Ltd v Forbes

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

The lessees of a property agreed not to underlet or provide possession of the premises to a third-party… ...

Schawel v Reade

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Emphasised the significance of a party’s expertise in determining whether their statements constitute representation or a contractual promise. ...

Schuler AG v Wickman Machine Tool Sales Ltd

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

In 1963, a German manufacturer entered into a distributorship agreement with an English sales company, to be in effect until 1968. ...

Scott v Avery – Arbitration

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The respondent, Avery, took out a policy of insurance on a ship from the appellant. A clause in the policy stated that in the case of any… ...

Scott v London St Katherine’s Dock

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The claimant was a dockworker who was injured when large, heavy bags of sugar fell from the defendant’s crane and hit him. The claimant sued the defendant in the tort of negligence. ...

Scott v Pauly

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

Before a mother died, she had made a will and she had also purchased some property. She had transferred this property… ...

Scott v Shepherd – 1773 (Famous Squib)

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Scott v Shepherd has become known as the Famous Squib case. The court dismissed the appeal; the injury to the complainant was the direct and unlawful act of the defendant who originally threw and intended to throw the squib. ...

Scout Association v Barnes – 2010

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The claimant was injured after chasing a block that had been accidentally kicked away by another player. The claimant sued the Scout Association. ...

Scriven Bros v Hindley – 1913 3 KB 564

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The complainants, Scriven Bros and Co, instructed an auctioneer to sell large bales of tow and hemp on behalf of them at an auction. The bales looked rather similar in the way they were packaged and the samples that were on display to potential bidders were not easily distinguishable. ...

Scruttons Ltd v Midland Silicones Ltd – 1962

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

A drum filled with chemicals was shipped from the United States to the United Kingdom, as agreed by a bill of lading which included a clause… ...

Secretary of State For The Home Department v MN and KY

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The Supreme Court in SSHD v MN and KY [2014] UKSC 30 were concerned with guidance provided in a previous case of the Upper Tribunal in RB (Somalia) v SSHD [2012] EWCA Civ 277 and how the immigration had applied the guidance in the case of MN and KY. ...

Secretary of State for the Home Department v Rehman

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The applicant was a Pakistani national who had been granted entry to the UK in order to work as a religious minister. After five years…. ...

Sekhon v Alissa [1989]

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

Presumed resulting trust of land; contribution to purchase price; equitable interests; gifts. ...

Self Defence Case Summaries

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Self Defence. At common law the defence of self-defence operates in three spheres. It allows a person to use reasonable force to: (a) Defend himself from an attack… ...

Selmouni v France (2000) 29 EHRR 403

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Case Summary of Selmouni v France (2000). European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Article 3 (Prohibition on Torture) and Article 6 (Right to a Fair Trial). ...

Sen v Headley

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

In 1986 the deceased (T) was diagnosed with terminal cancer. While in hospital the claimant (C) was told by T that his house would thereafter… ...

Shadwell v Shadwell

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Performance of a duty imposed by a contract with a Third Party. The defendant was the plaintiff’s uncle. The uncle promised to pay his nephew £150 a year until the nephew’s income reached 600 guineas provided the nephew married his fiancée. ...

Shanklin Pier v Detel Products – 1951

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The Plaintiffs were owners of a pier in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight. They entered into a contract with contractors to have the pier repaired and painted. Under the contract the plaintiff had the express right to alter the contract. ...

Shanshal v Al-Kishtaini

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The claimant transferred 700,000 DM to the defendant in connection with a proposed business venture. Around $500,000 was returned by the… ...

Sharneyford Supplies Ltd v Edge

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

In this case, the complainant had entered into a contract to purchase land from the defendant. In this contract, it was expressly stated that there… ...

Sharp v Harrison – 1922

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The plaintiff and defendant lived next door to one another and were separated by a passageway which belonged to the plaintiff. The defendant bought her… ...

Sharpe v Manchester CC (1981 – 82)

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

The availability of a claim in private nuisance against a landlord within a block of flats and whether failure… ...

Shaw v Director of Public Prosecutions – 1962

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Shaw published a booklet containing (mostly) the names and addresses of prostitutes, indicating that such ladies were open to being… ...

Shaw v DPP – 1962

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Conspiracy to Corrupt Public Morals – Prostitution – Public Morals – Court’s Ability to Create New Offence. The defendant created magazines, which contained personal adverts for prostitutes. This included their personal contact details, photographs and descriptions of their services. ...

Shell UK v Lostock Garage Ltd

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The defendant was a small garage which was tied to Shell along with two other neighbouring garages, by way of a solus agreement. ...

Shiloh Spinners Ltd v Harding

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

The claimants (S) were assignees of two long leases of adjoining mills. S assigned part of the premises to T, who in turn assigned to H. ...

Shirlaw v Southern Foundries Ltd

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Shirlaw was appointed managing director of Southern Foundries (SF) for a fixed term of ten years. SF was taken over by another company who altered the pre-existing articles of association empowering two directors and a secretary to remove a director, irrespective of the terms of his contract. ...

Shogun Finance Ltd v Hudson [2003] UKHL 62

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Contract – Hire-Purchase agreement – Title to goods. A car dealer sold a car to a fraudster, who produced a stolen license as his own. The dealer wrote out the hire-purchase contract in the name written on the license. ...

Silven Properties v RBS

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The claimant was a property company which had several mortgaged properties with the defendant bank. The claimants defaulted… ...

Silverstein v Keynetics, Inc

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

Silverstein v Keynetics, Inc., and Click Sales., Inc, No. 17-15176 (9th Cir. 2016), United States District Court, Northern California ...

Sim v Stretch – 1936

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Libel; telegram; words capable of defamatory meaning. The claimant had a housemaid for a limited period of time, who re-entered the service of the defendant. Upon the maid’s arrival, the defendant sent the following telegram to the claimant: ...

Simpkins v Pays – 1955

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Intention to create legal relations in the formation of contracts in a domestic context..Ms. Simpkins was a paying boarder at Ms. Pays house, who lived with her granddaughter. Ms. Simpkins habitually entered into newspaper competitions. ...

Sirros v Moore – 1975

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Sirros, the plaintiff, was an alien, who visited the UK, who was fined and recommended for deportation for breach of Aliens Order 1953… ...

Sky Petroleum v VIP Petroleum – 1974

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The plaintiffs, Sky Petroleum, entered into a contract with the defendant, VIP Petroleum, and agreed to purchase at a fixed price their entire order… ...

Sledmore v Dalby 1996

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

The claimant leased her house to her daughter and son-in-law (the defendant). The claimant represented to the defendant ...

Small v Oliver & Saunders (Developments) Ltd

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

The claimant owned a house next to the defendant who was a housing developer. The developer had two pieces of planning… ...

Smith & Snipes Hall Farm v River Douglas Catchment

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The defendant was a catchment board and covenanted with the owner of land, which was subject to flooding. It did so on the basis that… ...

Smith v Austin Lifts

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The plaintiff was a fitter who was employed by the first defendants, who had contracted the second defendants to maintain a lift on their premises. ...

Smith v Baker – 1891

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The plaintiff was employed by a railway company to drill holes in a rock, near a crane, operated by men employed by the railway company. The crane lifted stones and at times swung them over the plaintiff’s head without warning. ...

Smith v Brudenell-Bruce

Example case summary. Last modified: 12th Oct 2018

The defendants were trustees of an estate, part of SavernakeForest, Wiltshire, comprised within a conveyance of 1951. ...

Smith v Chadwick – 1884 – Case Summary

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The prospectus of a company, which was created for the purposes of a takeover of an ironworks enclosed the following statement… ...

Smith v Eric S Bush – 1990

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Reasonableness of exemption clauses for surveyor reports. The Defendant, Eric Bush was a surveyor who was employed by Abbey National to assess the value of a property which was to be purchased by the Claimant, Mrs Smith. ...

Smith v Hughes

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Contract – Mistake – Breach of Contract – buyer beware – Caveat Emptor. The complainant, Mr Smith, was a farmer and the defendant, Mr Hughes, was a racehorse trainer. ...

Smith v Land and House Property Corp

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

Whether a statement is one of opinion of a representation. The claimant put up a hotel for sale with the particulars stating that it was currently leased to a most desirable tenant. ...

Smith v Leech Brain & Co Ltd

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The complainant was employed as a galvaniser of steel for the defendants, Leech Brain & Co Ltd. He had been working and operating a machine in the workplace, when a piece of molten metal burnt his lip, after he stepped out from behind the protective shield. ...

Smith v Littlewoods – [1987]

Example case summary. Last modified: 7th Mar 2018

The defendant purchased a disused cinema with the intention of turning it into a supermarket. Five weeks after the defendant entered the building for the first time, it was set on fire by intruders and destroyed. As a result, the adjacent buildings were also affected and damaged. ...