Case Summaries
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Rudge v Richens
Example case summary. Last modified: June 24, 2019
The plaintiff lender took possession of mortgaged premises and sold them after a default in mortgage payments. The defendant borrower pleaded……
Rodway v Landy
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
Two doctors jointly purchased a property for the purposes of running a medical practice from it. The doctors contributed to the purchase……
St Martins Property Corporation v Sir Robert McAlpine
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
St Martins, the first plaintiff, began working on a development which included shops, offices and flats. A 150-year leasehold was granted……
Scott v Shepherd – 1773 (Famous Squib)
Example case summary. Last modified: September 29, 2021
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….
Theaker v Richardson
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
The defendant (R) wrote to the plaintiff (T) accusing her of, amongst other things, being “a very dirty whore.” T’s husband opened the letter thinking……
Raffles v Wichelhaus – 1864
Example case summary. Last modified: September 28, 2021
There had been no consensus ad idem or meeting of the minds between the parties to form a binding contract. The objective test made it clear that a reasonable person would not have been able to identify with certainty what ship had been agreed on….
Saadi v Italy and Chahal v UK
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
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…
R v Wenton
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
A window was smashed by a brick at a property which was occupied by a family with three children. Shortly afterwards, a canister……
Smith v Hughes
Example case summary. Last modified: September 28, 2021
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. …
Shogun Finance Ltd v Hudson [2003] UKHL 62
Example case summary. Last modified: October 1, 2021
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. …
Thomas Witter Ltd v TBP Industries Ltd
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
The defendant was a conglomerate organisation that negotiated to sell a carpet company to the plaintiff. During the negotiation of the sale of the company……
Speight v Gosnay
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
The defendant uttered certain words creating a false (unfavourable) impression regarding the claimant’s virginity when the claimant’s mother was present….
Sayers v Harlow Urban DC
Example case summary. Last modified: October 4, 2021
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….
Thomas v Thomas – 1842
Example case summary. Last modified: September 28, 2021
Consideration need only be legally not economically adequate.. A valid contract must be supported by consideration. That is, the promisee must promise to do something in return for the promise of the other party….
Rickards v Lothian – 1913
Example case summary. Last modified: October 28, 2021
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….
Re Ransomes Plc [1999] 2 BCLC 591 CA Case Summary
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
A Case Summary of Re Ransomes Plc [1999] 2 BCLC 591 CA. Cancellation of share premium account during the reduction of capital process….
Smith v Land and House Property Corp
Example case summary. Last modified: October 4, 2021
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. …
R v Watson – 1989
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
Mr Watson and another person threw a brick through the elderly and seriously ill victim’s house. Unaware of the victim’s condition and age, they……
Shaw v DPP – 1962
Example case summary. Last modified: September 28, 2021
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….
Reffel v Surrey County Council
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
A 12-year-old female student at a grammar school was injured while, walking down a corridor towards the cloakroom, the cloakroom’s glass doors swung……
Shell UK v Lostock Garage Ltd
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
The defendant was a small garage which was tied to Shell along with two other neighbouring garages, by way of a solus agreement….
Roe v Kingerlee
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
Kingerlee was charged with criminal damage having placed mud graffiti on the wall of a police cell. The graffiti cost £7 to clean away….
Taylor v Laird
Example case summary. Last modified: October 5, 2021
The claimant was employed as the captain of a ship which was owned by the defendants. Whilst in a foreign port during the course of the voyage, he voluntarily gave up his position as captain, and worked as an ordinary crew member during his passage back to Britain….
Salmon v Seafarer Restaurants – Summary
Example case summary. Last modified: June 27, 2019
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……
Sirros v Moore – 1975
Example case summary. Last modified: June 24, 2019
Sirros, the plaintiff, was an alien, who visited the UK, who was fined and recommended for deportation for breach of Aliens Order 1953……
Re Mahmoud and Ispahani
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
Under the Defence of the Realm Act 1914 an Order was made, titled the Seeds, Oils and Fats Order 1919 that said “a person shall not… buy or sell or……
Theft of property and fraud by misrepresentation
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
Theft of property and fraud by misrepresentation. According to the facts of the case study, it is apparent that the legal issues concerning Kezia's case are in relation to the Theft Act and Fraud, Kazia has been charged with Theft of the death certificate and with Fraud by misrepresentation….
Schawel v Reade
Example case summary. Last modified: June 27, 2019
Emphasised the significance of a party’s expertise in determining whether their statements constitute representation or a contractual promise….
Redgrave v Hurd – 1881
Example case summary. Last modified: September 30, 2021
Contract law – Misrepresentation – Specific performance. The plaintiff was a solicitor who constructed an advertisement titled ‘Law Partnership’ where he sought a successor who he would take as a Partner on the basis that the individual purchased the plaintiff’s property….
R v Windle – 1952
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
The appellant (W) was convicted of murdering his wife. His wife had regularly spoke of committing suicide and doctors suggested……
Re Buchanan-Wollaston’s Conveyance – Summary
Example case summary. Last modified: June 27, 2019
Four owners of property with views of the ocean decided to jointly purchase the piece of land which was between their respective houses……
Shirlaw v Southern Foundries Ltd
Example case summary. Last modified: October 28, 2021
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….
Robinson v Kilvert – 1889
Example case summary. Last modified: October 5, 2021
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….
The Moorcock (1889)
Example case summary. Last modified: October 1, 2021
Ship damaged at defendant’s jetty; whether implied term to take reasonable care. Ship-owners contracted with the defendant wharfingers to discharge a ship at their jetty. The jetty extended into the River Thames where the ship must necessarily ground at low water. …
Re Casey’s Patents – 1892
Example case summary. Last modified: October 28, 2021
The defendant, Casey, managed some patents owned by the plaintiffs, Stewart and Charlton. The plaintiffs later signed a document that read: ‘In consideration of your services… we hereby agree to give you one-third share of the patents’….
Stevenson Jacques & Co v Mclean
Example case summary. Last modified: September 28, 2021
The defendant, Mclean, offered to sell iron to the complainant, Stevenson Jaques & Co. This was for the price of 40s and the offer would remain open until Monday….
Spicer v Smee
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
The claimant’s property was adjacent to the defendant’s land. As a result of some faulty wiring, a fire broke out on the defendant’s property……
Re A (Conjoined Twins: Medical Treatment)
Example case summary. Last modified: October 5, 2021
The parents of conjoined twins, M and J, appealed against a decision to allow an operation to surgically separate them which would result in the death of M. M had severe brain abnormalities, no lungs and was supplied with blood by her sister….
Stansbie v Troman – 1948
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
Stansbie was decorating at Troman’s home. He was alone at the property and left the house to purchase some wallpaper. He left the door unlocked and……
The Hansa Nord – 1976
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
Pursuant to a contract of sale, a German company agreed to sell a Dutch company 12,000 tons of citrus pulp pellets for use in cattle feed….
Reese v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
Example case summary. Last modified: June 27, 2019
The executrix of a deceased estate brought an action against the police following the death of a prisoner in custody. The prisoner was a known suicide risk……
Rylands v Fletcher – Case Summary
Example case summary. Last modified: August 26, 2025
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. …
Schuler AG v Wickman Machine Tool Sales Ltd
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
In 1963, a German manufacturer entered into a distributorship agreement with an English sales company, to be in effect until 1968….
Case Summary: Rothwell v Chemical and Insulating Ltd (2007)
Example case summary. Last modified: February 18, 2025
Case summary for LawTeacher.net of Rothwell V Chemical And Insulating Co [2007] covering legal matters such as Negligence, Asbestos-Related Illness, Psychiatric Damage, and Nature Of Compensatable Damage….
Southern Water Authority v Pegrum
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
The defendants were pig farmers. Waste and effluence from the pigs was stored first in tanks which drained into a lagoon which had been constructed……
Roper v Knott
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
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….
Revill v Newbery – 1996
Example case summary. Last modified: October 28, 2021
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….
Re Selectmove – 1995
Example case summary. Last modified: September 29, 2021
Whether variation of an agreement is good consideration.. The Inland Revenue petitioned the court for a winding-up order in respect of a company, Selectmove, which had accrued arrears in the tax it owed under the PAYE system of tax collection. …
R v Walkington – 1979
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
The defendant, Walkington, was in a department store when he went behind the unoccupied counter area on the shop floor and opened……
Robinson v Harman – 1848
Example case summary. Last modified: September 29, 2021
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….
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