Case Summaries
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Thompson v Bridges – 1925
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
The appellant was a high school teacher and principal of his school. In 1922, a bitter campaign was fought for trusteeships……
Selmouni v France (2000) 29 EHRR 403
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
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)….
Sudbrook Trading Estate Ltd v Eggleton – 1983
Example case summary. Last modified: June 27, 2019
Four separate leases were made in relation to adjacent industrial premises. Each lease expired on 24 December 1997….
R v Woollin
Example case summary. Last modified: March 13, 2026
Case Summary of R v Woollin [1999] AC 82. The facts of Woollin comprised of the defendant throwing his three month old baby to the ground in frustration when it would not stop crying, leading to the baby dying from a fractured skull….
Swedish Central Railway Co Ltd v Thompson [1925]
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
A Case Summary of Swedish Central Railway Co Ltd v Thompson [1925] AC 495 (HL)….
Thompson v Foy
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
Thompson permitted her daughter, Foy, to build an extension to Thompson’s home. According to their informal agreement, the……
Richmond Adult Community College v McDougall
Example case summary. Last modified: June 27, 2019
Case Summary of Richmond Adult Community College v McDougall [2008] EWCA Civ 4 Disability discrimination. The assessment of disability and recurring disabilities…
Shanklin Pier v Detel Products – 1951
Example case summary. Last modified: October 28, 2021
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….
Strickland v Turner – 1852
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
In this case, Strickland, the complainant, entered into a contract for annuity and life assurance on the life of Turner, with an insurance company….
Rice v Great Yarmouth Borough Council
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
A contractor concluded two contracts with a local council for leisure management and maintenance of sports facilities, parks, gardens, playgrounds and other……
R v White – 1910
Example case summary. Last modified: September 28, 2021
The defendant put poison into the evening drink of the victim, his mother, with the intention of killing her. The victim drank a few sips of the drink and then fell asleep. …
R (on the application of Ricketts) v Basildon Magistrates’ Court
Example case summary. Last modified: June 27, 2019
The defendant, Ricketts, was arrested after taking bags from outside a charity shop and from the bins at the rear of the shop and……
Thompson v London, Midland and Scottish Railway
Example case summary. Last modified: October 28, 2021
Thompson was unable to read and she travelled on a train with her daughter and niece. On the back of her ticket it was printed that the tickets were issued subject to the terms outlined in the company’s time tables. …
Smith v Baker – 1891
Example case summary. Last modified: September 30, 2021
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. …
Rose and Frank v Crompton – 1923
Example case summary. Last modified: September 28, 2021
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….
Sutton v Mishcon de Reya
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
The plaintiff, Sutton, was a male prostitute who entered into a sado-masochistic relationship with Staal, a wealthy Swedish businessman….
Thoburn v Sunderland City Council
Example case summary. Last modified: September 30, 2021
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW – DELEGATED LEGISLATION – DIRECTIVES – EC LEGISLATION – WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. The Units of Measurement Regulations 1994, which were brought into force pursuant to the exercise of powers conferred by section 2(2) and (4) of the European Communities Act 1972….
Robert Addie v Dumbreck
Example case summary. Last modified: October 21, 2021
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…
Ramsgate Victoria Hotel v Montefiore – 1866
Example case summary. Last modified: September 29, 2021
The defendant, Mr Montefiore, wanted to purchase shares in the complainant’s hotel. He put in his offer to the complainant and paid a deposit to his bank account to buy them in June….
Sterling Hydraulics v Dichtomatik
Example case summary. Last modified: June 27, 2019
DL contended the acknowledgement of order documentation amounted to a counter-offer incorporating their own terms into the contract….
Thompson v Lohan – Case Summary
Example case summary. Last modified: June 26, 2019
The defendant was a company which hired plant and machinery with operators if necessary. The claimant hired some machinery with two of……
Samarenko v Dawn Hill House Ltd – 2011
Example case summary. Last modified: June 27, 2019
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….
Spring v Guardian Assurance plc – 1994
Example case summary. Last modified: June 27, 2019
The plaintiff was dismissed from his job as a company sales representative for the first defendant. Upon seeking employment with another company……
Shadwell v Shadwell
Example case summary. Last modified: October 28, 2021
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….
Target Home Loans Ltd v Clothier – 1994
Example case summary. Last modified: June 24, 2019
The respondents took a mortgage on their home. The appellant lender sought an order for possession after repayments were not made….
R v Valderamma-Vega – 1985
Example case summary. Last modified: October 5, 2021
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….
Robshaw v United Lincolnshire Hospitals
Example case summary. Last modified: June 21, 2019
The claimant suffered from severe cerebral palsy due to mismanagement of his birth. He required full time care for the remainder of his life….
Scriven Bros v Hindley – 1913 3 KB 564
Example case summary. Last modified: October 28, 2021
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….
Re McArdle – 1951
Example case summary. Last modified: September 28, 2021
Past consideration is no consideration.. Mrs McArdle had already performed the work before she asked for payment. Her consideration was in the past. Past consideration is not good consideration….
Shaw v Director of Public Prosecutions – 1962
Example case summary. Last modified: June 24, 2019
Shaw published a booklet containing (mostly) the names and addresses of prostitutes, indicating that such ladies were open to being……
R v Watson – 2015
Example case summary. Last modified: June 27, 2019
The defendant was convicted of two counts of rape and two counts of assault by penetration. The defendant fathered a child……
Sim v Stretch – 1936
Example case summary. Last modified: October 1, 2021
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:…
Re Polemis and Furness, Withy & Co
Example case summary. Last modified: October 28, 2021
The extent of liability where the injuries resultant from tortious negligence are entirely unforeseeable. Employees of the defendant had been loading cargo into the underhold of a ship when they negligently dropped a large plank of wood….
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. …
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