Case Summaries

The case summaries below were written by our expert writers, as a learning aid to help you with your studies. If you are looking for help with your case summary then we offer a comprehensive writing service provided by fully qualified academics in your field of study.

Law Essay Writing Service

Case Summaries & Related Services

Title: Leakey v National Trust
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: The claimant built two houses at the foot of a large hill on the defendant’s land. Over a long period of time, soil and rubble had continuously, but slowly, fallen from the mound onto the claimant’s properties, and onto their land, as a result of the natural process of erosion....

Title: Miller v Prime Minister 2019
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: This case concerns the conglomeration of two appeals, one from the High Court of England and Wales and one from the Inner House of the Court of Session in Scotland. ...

Title: Wooldridge v Sumner
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: The claimant was a photographer working at a horse show. He was situated within the ring where the horse show took place (rather than behind the spectator barriers) when one of the horses galloped towards him at a significant speed after the rider lost control of it, knocking him down....

Title: Felthouse v Bindley - (1862)
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: The complainant, Paul Felthouse, had a conversation with his nephew, John Felthouse, about buying his horse. After their discussion, the uncle replied by letter stating that if he didn’t hear anymore from his nephew concerning the horse, he would consider acceptance of the order done and he would own the horse....

Title: Costello v Chief Constable of Northumbria
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: The claimant was taking a prisoner to a cell and was, at the time accompanied by a police inspector. When the prisoner attacked the claimant, the accompanying officer did nothing to assist her. The result was that the claimant was injured. ...

Title: Dann v Hamilton - 1939
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: The plaintiff, knowing that the defendant was drunk and that a road traffic accident was highly likely as a result, chose to travel by the car despite being under no compulsion to do that driven either by necessity or something else....

Title: Liverpool City Council v Irwin
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: LCC v Irwin - The Irwins were council tenants of a flat in a high rise building owned by Liverpool City Council (LCC). They withheld their rent in protest regarding conditions in the common parts and in their maisonette. ...

Title: Swain v Natui Ram Puri
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: The defendant’s owned a defunct factory, around which they had erected a seven foot-fence topped with barbed wire. There was however a small section of the fence at which the barbed wire was missing....

Title: R v G (2003) - Recklessness in Criminal Law
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: Prior to the case of R v G, there were two main approaches to recklessness. The first was derived from the case of R v Cunningham were the interpretation of recklessness was when the defendant foresees the risk of harm yet does the act anyway....

Title: R v Clouden - 1987
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: The defendant approached the victim from behind whilst she was carrying a shopping basket in her left hand. He wrenched the basket down from her grasp and ran off with it....

Title: Stilk v Myrick 1809 - Case Summary
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: Performance of an existing duty is no consideration. Stilk v Myrick is a case that was decided over 200 years ago but nonetheless the principle that it developed remains a core feature of the law of contract and more particularly that of consideration....

Title: Williams v Roffey Bros - 1991
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: Whether performance of an existing duty can amount to consideration. The appellants Roffey Bros, were builders who were contracted to refurbish 27 flats belonging to a housing corporation....

Title: Attorney General v PYA Quarries
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: AG v PYA. The defendants operated a quarry and used a blasting technique which emitted large quantities of dust and noise, as well as causing vibrations which interfered with the enjoyment of land for many individuals in the area....

Title: Jackson v Attorney General 2006
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: Jackson v AG - Upholds the legality of the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949, limiting the House of Lords’ legislative powers.. In November 2004, the British Government enacted the Hunting Act which prohibited fox hunting, inter alia....

Title: DHN Food v Tower Hamlets
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: Piercing the corporate veil – groups of companies. DHN Food Distributors Ltd v Tower Hamlets London Borough Council [1976] 1 WLR 852 Case Summary. An example of piercing the corporate veil....

Title: R v Conway - 1989
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: Conway was arrested for driving recklessly in contradiction of the Road Traffic Act 1972, section 2. Conway had driven away from plain-clothed police officers in a reckless manner. ...

Title: R v Rimmington and R v Goldstein
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: Rimmington sent hundreds of letters containing racial offensive material to several people. Goldstein sent some salt and a cheque in repayment of a debt to a friend; he intended the inclusion of salt to be a joke but a post worker mistook it for anthrax...

Title: R v Valderamma-Vega - 1985
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: Valderamma-Vega was a retired police officer who arrived at Gatwick Airport from Colombia when he was stopped by customs officers. They searched his suitcase and found almost two kilograms of cocaine hidden in a concealed compartment in his luggage....

Title: Cooper v Phibbs - 1867
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: It was held that the contract and lease that existed between the complainant and the defendant was voidable, rather than void. This was due to the claim being in equity, as Mr Cooper had beneficial ownership of the salmon fishery and not legal ownership....

Title: R v Smith - 2011
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: S, P and H challenged their conviction on the basis that the alleged offence was not known to the law because the heroin in question was unlawfully in the possession of the victim....

Title: Prest v Petrodel
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: 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....

Title: Smith v Superintendent of Woking Police
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: The defendant entered the grounds of a private enclosed garden at 11 pm. He stood and looked through the window of Miss M’s bedroom. Miss M saw the defendant staring at her through the window while she was in her night closes, causing her to jump and scream in fright....

Title: Overseas Tankship v Morts Dock - 1961
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: 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....

Title: Overseas Tankship v Miller Steamship (Wagon Mound Case)
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: 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....

Title: Smith v Leech Brain & Co Ltd
Example case summary. Last modified: 5th Oct 2021
Introduction: 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....