Case Summaries
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Case Summaries & Related Services
Smith & Snipes Hall Farm v River Douglas Catchment
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
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……
Scott v London St Katherine’s Dock
Example case summary. Last modified: October 4, 2021
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….
Taylor v Bowers – 1876
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
The defendant was a creditor of the plaintiff. The plaintiff made over all his stock-in-trade to a third party on the basis of fictitious bills of……
SABIC UK Petrochemicals Ltd v Punj Lloyd Ltd – 2013
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
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……
Stabilad Ltd v Stephens & Carter Ltd
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
S and SC began negotiations for the sale of rights in a device which stabilised ladders. SC sent S a document which provided……
Re Farnol Eades Irvine & Co Ltd
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
The plaintiff was a debenture-holder who claimed, inter alia, forpayment of the amount secured, foreclosure or sale and appointment of a receiver and……
Theft Case Summaries
Example case summary. Last modified: September 7, 2021
Summaries of theft cases covering appropriation, property, belonging to another, the mens rea of theft, intention to permanently deprive, and intention to use or dispose of goods….
Scruttons Ltd v Midland Silicones Ltd – 1962
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
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……
The Post Chaser – 1982
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
The sellers agreed to sell a quantity of palm-oil to the buyers who had contracted to sell this onto sub-buyers. A clause in the contract required the……
R v Wood – 2008
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
The appellant, Woods, was an alcoholic who drank on average 4 to 5 litres of strong cider daily. After having drunk 2-3 litres of cider……
Routledge v Grant 1828
Example case summary. Last modified: September 28, 2021
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….
Shanshal v Al-Kishtaini
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
The claimant transferred 700,000 DM to the defendant in connection with a proposed business venture. Around $500,000 was returned by the……
Spartan Steel v Martin & Co
Example case summary. Last modified: October 26, 2021
The Court of Appeal held that even where a plaintiff is clearly owed a duty in respect of physical damage to property, any 'pure' economic loss suffered in addition to physical damage are unrecoverable as either too remote, or outside the scope of the duty of care….
Spurling v Bradshaw – 1956
Example case summary. Last modified: January 4, 2021
Bradshaw alleged Spurling were negligent, and in breach of an implied term to take reasonable care of the barrels because they had left them……
Damages and Remedies Case Summaries
Example case summary. Last modified: September 7, 2021
A shipowner was held liable to a charterer in damages for loss of a cargo which had been caused by a combination of perils of the sea and the unseaworthiness of the ship….
R v Turner (No 2) – 1971
Example case summary. Last modified: October 28, 2021
Theft of a car which was in the possession and control of a garage. The Defendant (T) took his car to a garage for repairs. The repairs were completed by the garage and the car was left outside the garage on the road….
Savage and Parmenter
Example case summary. Last modified: October 1, 2021
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. …
The Six Carpenters Case
Example case summary. Last modified: October 4, 2021
Trespass – Stolen goods. Six carpenters (S) were served with wine and bread at a tavern which they paid for. S requested more wine and bread afterwards, of which they were served, by this time they refused to pay….
Storer v MCC 1974
Example case summary. Last modified: September 28, 2021
In this case the defendant had made clear by their conduct and language that they intended to be bound upon the acceptance of the offer despite the fact that some terms remained to be agreed….
Robbery Case Summaries
Example case summary. Last modified: September 7, 2021
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….
Sandiford v The Secretary of State For Foreign Affairs
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
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….
Taylor v Caldwell – 1863
Example case summary. Last modified: September 30, 2021
Case Summary of Taylor V Caldwell [1863] 3 B&S 826. Contract frustrations and implied terms. The case of Taylor v Caldwell[1] is a fundamental case in the area of frustration with regards to contract law….
Tenax Steamship Co v Owners of the Motor Vessel Brimnes
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
It was held that the withdrawal was effective when it Telex message was received, not when the message was read….
Speed v Thomas Swift & Co Ltd – 1943
Example case summary. Last modified: June 27, 2019
Mr Speed was a dock labourer employed by the defendant stevedores working on the loading of a ship from an adjacent barge….
R v Williams; R v Davis
Example case summary. Last modified: June 27, 2019
The victim was a hitchhiker picked up by Mr Williams; Mr Davis and Mr Bobat were passengers in the car. After a few miles, the victim jumped out……
Self Defence Case Summaries
Example case summary. Last modified: September 6, 2021
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……
Sharp v Harrison – 1922
Example case summary. Last modified: June 27, 2019
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……
Equitable Remedies Case Summaries
Example case summary. Last modified: September 6, 2021
The court refused specific performance to a buyer of a set of Hepplewhite chairs saying that they were 'ordinary articles of commerce and of no special value or interest'. Note: the buyer was contracting with a view to resale and for personal use….
South Wales Miners Federation v Glamorgan Coal Company
Example case summary. Last modified: October 22, 2021
The federation was a trade union, formed to consider trade and wages, to protect the workmen and regulate relations. The wages were paid on a sliding scale agreement in accordance with the rising and falling price of coal….
Sumpter v Hedges – 1898
Example case summary. Last modified: October 28, 2021
A builder contracted to build two houses and stables for the lump sum of £565. The builder only completed part of the work, after which he abandoned the contract. The completed works amounted to a value of £333….
Robinson v Balmain New Ferry Co. Ltd
Example case summary. Last modified: October 21, 2021
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….
Re Bond Worth Ltd – 1980
Example case summary. Last modified: October 21, 2021
The case of Re Bond Worth Ltd should be considered in the context of the law relating to the passing of property, and also in relation to the pari passu principles of recovery in insolvency….
St John Shipping v Joseph Rank Ltd – Summary
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
The plaintiff, St John Shipping Corporation, owned a ship that was to sail from a port in the United States to the United Kingdom….
Royal Bank of Scotland v Etridge (No 2)
Example case summary. Last modified: September 28, 2021
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. …
Strict Liability Case Summaries
Example case summary. Last modified: September 7, 2021
Cases on Strict Liability. The defendant ran off with an under-age girl. He was charged with an offence of taking a girl under the age of 16 out of the possession of her parents contrary to s55 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (now s20 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956)….
Ready Mixed Concrete v Minister of Pensions
Example case summary. Last modified: September 28, 2021
A driver contracted with a mixed concrete company for the delivery of concrete. The contract declared him an “independent contractor” and set out wages and expenses….
Simpkins v Pays – 1955
Example case summary. Last modified: October 1, 2021
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….
Raja v Lloyds TSB Bank plc
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
In 1986 the Appellant (R) was granted overdraft facilities which were secured by legal charges over four properties he owned….
Rahman v Arearose Ltd – 2001
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
Mr Rahman was a manager of a fast food restaurant when he was violently assaulted at work. His employer, the first defendant……
The Mahkutai – 1996
Example case summary. Last modified: June 25, 2019
A cargo owner contracted with a charterer to organize for the transportation and delivery of their cargo with a bills of lading which contained a……
Ryan v Mutual Tontine Westminster Chambers
Example case summary. Last modified: June 27, 2019
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……
Sharneyford Supplies Ltd v Edge
Example case summary. Last modified: June 27, 2019
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……
Smith v Mawhood – 1845
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
The plaintiff, a London tobacconist entered into a contract to sell a quantity of tobacco to the defendant. Under the relevant Excise Act any……
Smith v Chadwick – 1884 – Case Summary
Example case summary. Last modified: December 29, 2020
The prospectus of a company, which was created for the purposes of a takeover of an ironworks enclosed the following statement……
Saunders v Anglia Building Society – 1971
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
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……
R v Wilson 1984
Example case summary. Last modified: June 27, 2019
The defendant nearly hit a pedestrian, the victim, with their vehicle and an altercation between the two subsequently ensued….
Thomas v National Union of Mineworkers
Example case summary. Last modified: June 27, 2019
During a set of strikes organised by the National Union of Miners (NUM – the Defendant), the Claimant, who was a miner, wanted to continue working in……
Breach of Statutory Duty Cases
Example case summary. Last modified: June 25, 2019
Breach of Statutory Duties. A motor lorry, being a light locomotive within the meaning of the Locomotives on Highways Act 1896 and a motor car within the meaning of the Motor Cars……
Tarleton v McGawley
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
Tarleton was a ship trading off the coast of West Africa with Cameroon locals. The Bannister ship, directed by M’Gawley, shot a cannon from the water……
Re Hackney Pavilion Ltd – 1924
Example case summary. Last modified: October 21, 2021
The case addresses the transfer of shares in situations where the board fails to reach a consensus in passing a resolution and where the articles state that board approval is required….
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