Are we exclusive? High Court reviews key contractual principles in the context of ‘casual’ commercial relationships (Zymurgorium Ltd v Hammonds of Knutsford plc) – 3PB
‘This case relates to a dispute arising in the context of a longstanding commercial arrangement, the terms of which had never been reduced to writing. The court considered whether an overriding agreement had been expressly entered into by the parties, as well as whether a number of terms formed part of the agreement between them, either by implication or subsequent variation. Such terms included an agreement on exclusivity, a duty to act in good faith, and a duty to use best endeavours, among others. The case also explores the requirements for a relational contract by reference to the overriding agreement and a number of Specific Supply Agreements (SSAs), and serves as a useful reminder for parties entering commercial arrangements of the pitfalls of failing to reduce their agreement to writing, particularly in the light of the fallible nature of oral evidence. Written by Mariya Peykova, barrister at 3PB Barristers.’
3PB, 15th October 2021
Source: www.3pb.co.uk
BAILII: Recent decisions
Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
Siddiqui v Siddiqui & Anor [2021] EWCA Civ 1572 (02 November 2021)
Disclosure and Barring Service v AB [2021] EWCA Civ 1575 (01 November 2021)
High Court (Administrative Court)
O’Connor v Crown Prosecution Service [2021] EWHC 2900 (Admin) (02 November 2021)
Essel, Review of the tariff [2021] EWHC 2920 (Admin) (02 November 2021)
High Court (Chancery Division)
Richmondshire District Council v Dealmaster Ltd & Anor [2021] EWHC 2892 (Ch) (01 November 2021)
High Court (Commercial Court)
ECU Group PLC v HSBC Bank PLC & Ors [2021] EWHC 2875 (Comm) (01 November 2021)
High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)
Mann v Towarzystwo Ubezpieczen Inter Polska SA & Ors [2021] EWHC 2913 (QB) (01 November 2021)
Source: www.bailii.org
Met police officers plead guilty over photos taken at scene of sisters’ deaths – The Guardian
‘A police officer made degrading and sexist insults about two murdered women as he shared pictures from the scene where they were found with a colleague photographing their bodies and also sharing the images via WhatsApp.’
The Guardian, 2nd November 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
There’s a cheque on the table – s.21 and return of deposit – Nearly Legal
‘A County Court decision on a landlord’s application which adds to the not uncomplicated history of decisions on when a tenancy deposit counts as returned to the tenant for the purposes of s.215(2A) Housing Act 2004. (Previous cases here, here, and here). As a County Court decision, this is not binding, of course.’
Nearly Legal, 2nd November 2021
Source: nearlylegal.co.uk
Bankruptcy Petitions – Petitioner Substitution r.10.27 and Change of Carriage r.10.29 – 33 Bedford Row
‘In England and Wales, there should only be one bankruptcy petition against a debtor at any one time. As stated in Re Maud [2020] EWHC 1469 (also known as Edgeworth Capital (Luxembourg) Sarl v Maud)(‘Re Maud’), by Snowden J, at paragraph 98:
“Consistent with the principle that a bankruptcy petition is a class remedy, the legislation, rules and court practice are generally based upon the notion that there should only be one petition against a debtor at any one time.”‘
33 Bedford Row, 14th October 2021
Source: www.33bedfordrow.co.uk
Pro bono services “cannot keep up” with post-Covid demand – Legal Futures
‘Demand for pro bono legal assistance has accelerated dramatically since the pandemic started and providers cannot keep up, leading lawyers said this week.’
Legal Futures, 3rd November 2021
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Capita pays compensation to family of woman who died after benefits cut – The Guardian
‘A government contractor has paid out “substantial” compensation following the death of a young mother who took an overdose after her disability benefits were removed.’
The Guardian, 3rd November 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
The (Rebuttable) Presumption of Honesty – Hailsham Chambers
‘The claim related to an opportunity to develop a Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) dealership in Wolverhampton (the Wolverhampton Opportunity), which the claimants alleged was lost due to the negligence of the defendant solicitors.’
Hailsham Chambers, 8th October 2021
Source: www.hailshamchambers.com
Does Qualified One-way Costs Shifting (“QOCS”) constrain a defendant’s liberty to seek, or the court’s discretionary power to permit, a set-off between opposing costs orders? – Lamb Chambers
‘QOCS applies to most personal injury (“PI”) claims. It usually limits the ability of a successful defendant to recover its costs against an unsuccessful claimant.’
Lamb Chambers, October 2021
Source: www.lambchambers.co.uk
The Prerogative Rules, Not the Statute: How to Place Children under Sixteen in Unregulated Placements – St Ives Chambers
‘On 9 September 2021, the law changed prohibiting local authorities from placing a child under the age of sixteen in an unregulated placement (The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021).’
St Ives Chambers, 12th October 2021
Source: www.stiveschambers.co.uk
Remote Hearings and the Future of the Financial Remedy Court: What We Learned from the Farquhar Report – Parts 1 and 2 – Parklane Plowden
‘The Farquhar report, authored by His Honour Judge Stuart Farquhar, was commissioned by Mostyn J (the National Lead of the Financial Remedies Court) to consider the future of the FRC and the role that remote hearings should play.’
Parklane Plowden Chambers, 1st November 2021
Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk
Court of Appeal decision in Griffiths v TUI UK Ltd [2021] EWCA Civ 1442: judicial evaluation of ‘uncontroverted’ expert evidence – St John’s Chambers
‘Jimmy Barber of our Personal Injury team summarises the Court of Appeal’s decision in the case of Griffiths v TUI UK Ltd [2021] EWCA Civ 1442, which was handed down on 7th October 2021.’
St John's Chambers, 18th October 2021
Source: www.stjohnschambers.co.uk
Family Law Newsletter – Spire Barristers
‘Issue #53 of Spire Barristers’ Family Law Newsletter: edited by Chloe Lee and Philippa Pudney; news and Case Reviews by Francesca Massarella. Francesca began pupillage at Spire Barristers in September 2021.’
Spire Barristers, 27th October 2021
Source: spirebarristers.co.uk
Controlling Noise at Work: New HSE Guidance on Regulations – Ropewalk Chambers
‘The first edition of Controlling Noise at Work was published in 1998, and was founded on the earlier Noise at Work Regulations 1989. It was comprehensively revised in 2005 in advance of the enactment of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 from 6 April 2006. Minor amendments to the Regulations, and the passage of time, have generated the need for a third edition, which offers an opportunity to reconsider the Guidance itself, which contains a plethora of detail beyond the Regulations, and fertile material for cross-examination and submissions at trial.’
Ropewalk Chambers, 2nd November 2021
Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk
When Civil met Family: how to deal with TOLATA claims in Financial Provision cases – Becket Chambers
‘The Family Court is seeing an increasing number of cases where property is (or is asserted to be) owned by a third party. As more parents assist children with purchasing a home or friends buy with friends, it is ever more likely that a financial provision case will involve consideration of who owns what. Here are some tips on how to approach such a case.’
Becket Chambers, 19th October 2021
Source: becket-chambers.co.uk
Alleged extremist to face trial for law firm terror attack – Legal Futures
‘An alleged far-right extremist accused of attempting to launch a terror attack at a solicitors’ firm will stand trial next March, a judge decided last week.’
Legal Futures, 2nd November 2021
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Prisoner sentenced for further death threats to MP Jess Phillips – BBC News
‘A prisoner already convicted for sending death threats to MPs has been further sentenced for sending more to Jess Phillips.’
BBC News, 1st November 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
E v L [2021] EWFC 60 (Fam): Short Marriages, Section 25 Criteria and White Leopards Reconsidered – Becket Chambers
‘The purpose of this article, is to consider the application of the section 25 criteria and in particular the issue of company valuation in the case of E v L [2021] EWFC 60, as decided by Mostyn J.’
Becket Chambers, 29th October 2021
Source: becket-chambers.co.uk