UK Law

Tag: Landmark Cases

  • Gorris v Smith

    Gorris v Smith Gorris v Smith, April 23, 1874 Statute law can only be applied to do what Parliament passed it to do. In this case, a ship owner agreed to take the claimant’s sheep from Hamburg to Newcastle, but some of them were washed overboard. The owner of the sheep sued. He argued that…

  • Gorris v Smith

    Gorris v Smith Gorris v Smith, April 23, 1874 Statute law can only be applied to do what Parliament passed it to do. In this case, a ship owner agreed to take the claimant’s sheep from Hamburg to Newcastle, but some of them were washed overboard. The owner of the sheep sued. He argued that…

  • Christie v Davey

    Christie v Davey Christie v Davey, December 7, 1892 General Overview Everybody needs good neighbours. At what point the law can intervene when neighbours are not good is a matter of some importance; this case clarified the law in a way that has settled millions of disputes since. The case concerned a property at in…

  • Dickinson v Dodds

    Dickinson v Dodds Dickinson v Dodds, April 3, 1876 This was a classic decision that informed millions of commercial and contractual negotiations since. It says that if you make an offer you can withdraw it at any time before it is accepted. The case concerned the sale of a property by the defendant, John Dodds.…

  • Dickinson v Dodds

    Dickinson v Dodds Dickinson v Dodds, April 3, 1876 This was a classic decision that informed millions of commercial and contractual negotiations since. It says that if you make an offer you can withdraw it at any time before it is accepted. The case concerned the sale of a property by the defendant, John Dodds.…

  • Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Company

    Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Company Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Company, December 8, 1892 General Overview This was a hugely influential decision that went right to the heart of contract law. It is still cited every year in law exams and essays by thousands of law students. During a flu epidemic, Elizabeth Carlill, a…

  • Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Company

    Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Company Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Company, December 8, 1892 General Overview This was a hugely influential decision that went right to the heart of contract law. It is still cited every year in law exams and essays by thousands of law students. During a flu epidemic, Elizabeth Carlill, a…

  • Wilde v John Sholto Douglas, Marquis of Queensbury

    Wilde v John Sholto Douglas, Marquis of Queensbury Wilde v John Sholto Douglas, Marquis of Queensbury, April 5, 6, 1895 General Overview In 1895, The Times reported on three trials of Oscar Wilde. It was the celebrity scandal of the century. The Marquis of Queensbury, who thought his son was being corrupted by Wilde, sent…

  • Salomon v Salomon

    Salomon v Salomon Salomon v Salomon, November 17, 1896 General Overview Salomon v Salomon was an important case in clarifying the legal definition of a company. Aron Salomon, a boot manufacturer and leather merchant, set up a company in which he held nearly all the shares and was managing director. He loaned the company his…

  • Cundy v Lindsay

    Cundy v Lindsay Cundy v Lindsay, March 4, 1878 This landmark judgment upheld the principle that you can’t pass on what you don’t own. Lindsay & Co was a linen manufacturer based in Belfast. Alfred Blenkarn, a resident of Cheapside in London, wrote to Lindsay proposing to buy a quantity of goods. He gave his…

  • Cundy v Lindsay

    Cundy v Lindsay Cundy v Lindsay, March 4, 1878 This landmark judgment upheld the principle that you can’t pass on what you don’t own. Lindsay & Co was a linen manufacturer based in Belfast. Alfred Blenkarn, a resident of Cheapside in London, wrote to Lindsay proposing to buy a quantity of goods. He gave his…

  • Sturges v Bridgman

    Sturges v Bridgman Sturges v Bridgman, July 2, 1879 In a drama that sounds more like a story from an old British film comedy, this case formulated an important principle in the law of nuisance. A confectioner and physician occupied adjoining premises in London. Dr Octavius Sturges lived at 85 Wimpole Street and Mr Bridgman…

  • Sturges v Bridgman

    Sturges v Bridgman Sturges v Bridgman, July 2, 1879 In a drama that sounds more like a story from an old British film comedy, this case formulated an important principle in the law of nuisance. A confectioner and physician occupied adjoining premises in London. Dr Octavius Sturges lived at 85 Wimpole Street and Mr Bridgman…

  • Munster v Lamb

    Munster v Lamb Munster v Lamb, May 9, 1883 For justice to be achieved, it is important that lawyers are uninhibited in their courtroom advocacy. The principle was illuminated in this case, made especially vivid by the fact that both the claimant and defendant were themselves lawyers. Munster was a barrister. During the trial of…

  • R. v Dudley and Stephens

    R. v Dudley and Stephens R. v Dudley and Stephens, November 7, 1884; December 10; 1884 This was one of the most famous and gruesome cases in English law. Can necessity ever be recognised as a reason for killing someone? The defendants, Thomas Dudley and Edward Stephens, were shipwrecked 1600 miles from the Cape of…