Case Summaries
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Blackburn v Attorney General - 1971
Example case summary. Last modified: 25th Oct 2021
The claimant, Blackburn, asserted that the decision by Parliament to allow Britain to join the Economic Community and sign the Maastricht Treaty was illegal as it diminished their own sovereignty, and violated the theoretical conception of the ‘Queen in Parliament’...
Van Gend en Loos Case Summary
Example case summary. Last modified: 25th Oct 2021
Established that EEC’s treaties were legitimate grounds for the recognition of legal rights and thus famously recognised the principle of direct effect. The claimants, van Gend en Loos, imported chemicals from Western Germany to the Netherlands where they were asked to pay import taxes....
R v SS Home Department, ex parte Fire Brigades Union
Example case summary. Last modified: 25th Oct 2021
A House of Lords case concerning how compensation is awarded under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. The case is considered a very important ruling on the extent of the Ministerial prerogative powers....
R v Cunningham - 1957
Example case summary. Last modified: 25th Oct 2021
Intention and the meaning of malice in s.23 OAPA 1861. The appellant removed a gas meter in order to steal the money inside. The meter however was connected to the neighbouring house which was occupied by the appellant’s future mother-in-law....
Involuntary Manslaughter Case Summaries
Example case summary. Last modified: 25th Oct 2021
Legal cases on involuntary manslaughter - 1. An unlawful act. 2. The act must be dangerous. 3. Substantial cause of death. 4. Mens Rea....
R v Adomako - 1995
Example case summary. Last modified: 25th Oct 2021
Dismissing Mr Adomako’s appeal, it was held that in cases of manslaughter by criminal negligence involving a breach of duty the ordinary principles of the law of negligence applied to ascertain whether the defendant had been in breach of a duty of care to the victim....
R v Blaue - 1975
Example case summary. Last modified: 25th Oct 2021
After the victim refused the defendant’s sexual advances the defendant stabbed the victim four times. Whist the victim was admitted to hospital she required medical treatment which involved a blood transfusion....
South Wales Miners Federation v Glamorgan Coal Company
Example case summary. Last modified: 22nd Oct 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....
Corporation v Skibs A/S Avanti
Example case summary. Last modified: 22nd Oct 2021
The Defendant owned two tankers that were charted to the Plaintiff for three years. The Plaintiff’s financial situation began to deteriorate, so they approached the Defendant requesting that the rates for the charter were reduced as the company had suffered massive losses...
The Calgarth [1927]
Example case summary. Last modified: 22nd Oct 2021
The Calgarth was the stern tug of a large steam ship, the Otarama, which was assisting the larger vessel in entering onto the Manchester Ship Canal. Whilst manoeuvring, the Calgarth ran aground on the bank of the entrance channel to the canal which was constructed and maintained by the Canal Company. ...
R v Jones and Smith - 1976
Example case summary. Last modified: 22nd Oct 2021
The defendants, Jones and Smith, entered Smith’s father’s house and stole two television sets. At his trial, Smith said that his father had given him unreserved permission to enter the house. They were convicted of burglary and subsequently appealed....
R v Flattery - 1877
Example case summary. Last modified: 22nd Oct 2021
The defendant, John Flattery (JF) posed as a medical doctor and surgeon. The complainant, a young woman aged 19, consulted JF with respect to an illness she was suffering, accompanied by her mother....
R v Lamb 1967
Example case summary. Last modified: 22nd Oct 2021
Case Summary of R v Lamb 1967 2 QB 981. Involuntary Manslaughter. The appellate judgment of R v Lamb 1967 2 QB 981 (Lamb) clarifies the requisite elements required to satisfy any of the forms of involuntary manslaughter....
Mehra v Shah
Example case summary. Last modified: 22nd Oct 2021
Mr Shah and his wife had 12 children together. He ran a successful drapery business in Nairobi, which soon expanded to two shops. Some of the children helped out with the business and when they were older, they worked for the shops without receiving pay....
Fisher v Bell - 1961
Example case summary. Last modified: 22nd Oct 2021
The defendant shopkeeper displayed in his shop window a flick knife accompanied by a price ticket displayed just behind it. He was charged with offering for sale a flick knife, contrary to s. 1 (1) of the Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959....
Williams v Hensman
Example case summary. Last modified: 22nd Oct 2021
Co-Ownership – Severance – Modes of Severance of Joint Tenancy. A fund of money had been bequeathed by a mother, on trust for eight children to be invested in order to create an income that would then be payable to her children on the mother’s death....
Davis v Smith [2011]
Example case summary. Last modified: 22nd Oct 2021
A husband and wife married in 1988, after which they moved into a property which Mrs Smith had already been a tenant of for some time. In 1989, they purchased the property as joint tenants. ...
Re Page's Application
Example case summary. Last modified: 21st Oct 2021
The applicant sought to convert a stable into a dwelling to allow her to live near to her horses. The applicant had acquired planning permission, but was restrained from starting work by a restrictive covenant....
AG for Northern Ireland v Gallagher
Example case summary. Last modified: 21st Oct 2021
Whether Gallagher was insane at the time of killing or was incapable of forming an intent necessary to constitute murder as he was drunk. Secondly, whether the M’Naughten test had been correctly applied....
Robert Addie v Dumbreck
Example case summary. Last modified: 21st Oct 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...
Exchange Telegraph v Gregory
Example case summary. Last modified: 21st Oct 2021
Exchange Telegraph (ET) was a news agency that sent telegraph messages. It transmitted the latest stock exchange updates, had them typed up and made into a newspaper. It contracted subscribers to sell the newspaper....
Peffer v Rigg
Example case summary. Last modified: 21st Oct 2021
The plaintiff, Peffer, and his brother, Rigg, purchased a property that was registered in Rigg’s sole name but was actually held on trust for them both. They both contributed to the purchase price in equal shares....
Gravy Solutions Ltd v Xyzmo Software
Example case summary. Last modified: 21st Oct 2021
Gravy sought to impose a freezing injunction against a company related to Xyzmo (called Z), after commission Gravy alleged to have earned was not paid and neither was the principal sum....
Felthouse v Bindley - (1862)
Example case summary. Last modified: 21st Oct 2021
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....
Nickerson v Barraclough [1981]
Example case summary. Last modified: 21st Oct 2021
Nickerson purchased a land locked field that had a lane running down the side of it for access to the main road. Barraclough owned the lane....
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