April 26, 2026
Mr James Maughan was found hanged in his prison cell. At his inquest, the jury made narrative findings on the balance of probabilities that he intended to kill himself. The Supreme Court held that the civil standard applies to all short-form conclusions at inquests, including suicide and unlawful killing. Facts...
April 26, 2026
A property developer, Millgate, built 13 affordable housing units in cynical breach of a restrictive covenant benefiting a children's cancer hospice. The Supreme Court refused modification of the covenant under section 84 of the Law of Property Act 1925, dismissing the appeal. Facts The application land, near Maidenhead and in...
April 26, 2026
Servier sought to rely on findings from a General Court judgment annulling a Commission decision on market definition as binding in UK national damages proceedings. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, holding the EU principle of absolute res judicata did not apply outside the annulment context. Facts Servier developed and...
April 26, 2026
Ms Henderson, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, killed her mother during a psychotic episode and was convicted of manslaughter by diminished responsibility. She sued the NHS Trust for negligently failing to return her to hospital. The Supreme Court held her claim was barred by illegality. Facts The appellant, Ms Ecila...
April 26, 2026
Ms Grondona participated in a mortgage fraud to obtain finance for Mr Mitchell, using solicitors Stoffel & Co who negligently failed to register the property transfer. The Supreme Court held the illegality defence did not bar her negligence claim against the solicitors, applying the Patel v Mirza approach. Facts The...
April 26, 2026
Mr Pathan, an Indian national working in the UK on a Tier 2 visa, applied for further leave to remain. Unknown to him, his sponsor's licence was revoked three months before his application was refused. The Supreme Court held the Secretary of State's failure to promptly notify him was procedurally...
April 26, 2026
A single mother with four children, including two autistic sons, challenged a Jewish housing association's policy of allocating social housing primarily to Orthodox Jews. The Supreme Court unanimously dismissed her appeal, finding the policy was proportionate positive action lawful under the Equality Act 2010. Facts Agudas Israel Housing Association Ltd...
April 26, 2026
Highbury Poultry Farm Produce Ltd was charged under the WATOK Regulations 2015 after three chickens entered scalding tanks alive. The Supreme Court held that the offences, implementing an EU Regulation on animal welfare at slaughter, imposed strict liability and did not require proof of negligence or mens rea. Facts Highbury...
April 26, 2026
A Russian power plant was damaged by fire. The Russian insurer, subrogated to the owner's rights, sued Turkish contractor Enka in Russia despite an arbitration clause specifying London as the seat. The Supreme Court held English law governed the arbitration agreement and upheld an anti-suit injunction restraining the Russian proceedings....
April 26, 2026
The UK Supreme Court held that English courts have jurisdiction to determine global FRAND licence terms for Standard Essential Patents and grant injunctions restraining UK patent infringement unless implementers accept such licences. The appeals by Huawei and ZTE against Unwired Planet and Conversant were dismissed. Facts These conjoined appeals concerned...
April 26, 2026
A developer leased part of a shopping centre to Dunnes Stores, covenanting not to allow competing large units elsewhere on the site. The developer's assignee later challenged the covenant as an unreasonable restraint of trade. The Supreme Court rejected the pre-existing freedom test, adopting the trading society test instead. Facts...
April 26, 2026
Mrs Staveley transferred her pension into a personal pension plan shortly before her death and omitted to take lifetime benefits, leaving death benefits to her sons. HMRC sought inheritance tax on both. The Supreme Court held only the omission, not the transfer, was chargeable. Facts Mrs Staveley, following an acrimonious...
April 26, 2026
Shagang sued HNA under a charterparty guarantee. HNA alleged the contract was procured by bribery, relying on confessions made to Chinese police. Shagang claimed the confessions were obtained by torture. The Supreme Court restored the trial judge's finding of no bribery. Facts Shagang Shipping Company Ltd (“Shagang”) chartered a capesize...
April 26, 2026
Following marital breakdown between CIFF's founders, trustees agreed a $360m grant to resolve governance issues. The Supreme Court held that members of charitable companies owe fiduciary duties to the charity's purposes and directed the sole unconflicted member to vote in favour of the grant. Facts The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation...
April 25, 2026
Dr Eskander emailed her appeal against a GMC suspension to the Administrative Court on the final day of the 28-day period but paid no fee. The Court of Appeal held, applying Siniakovich, that her appeal was brought in time despite non-payment. Facts Dr Amy Eskander, a Specialist Registrar in Neurology,...
April 25, 2026
K1 sought permission to appeal a refusal to amend its arbitration award challenge under s.68(2)(g) of the Arbitration Act 1996. The Court of Appeal held it lacked jurisdiction under s.68(4), as the first instance judge is sole gatekeeper for permission to appeal. Facts The Applicant (K1) brought an in-time challenge...
April 25, 2026
Test cases from thousands of military noise-induced hearing loss claims against the MoD. The High Court determined generic issues including diagnostic methods, quantification, and tinnitus, preferring Prof Moore's rM-NIHL method over CLB for diagnosis. Mr Lambie succeeded; Mr Craggs largely failed on causation. Facts This litigation concerns over 10,000 claims...
April 25, 2026
Two asylum-seeking mothers challenged prolonged hotel accommodation under s.95 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. The High Court held hotel rooms were not 'dwellings' under Part X Housing Act 1985, but found the Home Secretary breached her duty to provide 'adequate' accommodation during specified periods. Facts The claimants, SH and BWO,...
April 25, 2026
The Good Law Project and three individuals challenged EHRC guidance issued after For Women Scotland concerning single-sex facilities. The High Court held the guidance was lawful, the Good Law Project lacked standing, and no Convention rights were breached. The claim was dismissed. Facts Following the Supreme Court’s judgment in For...
April 25, 2026
Martin Groom, a volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officer, was denied trade union accompaniment at a disciplinary appeal. The Court of Appeal held that CROs are 'workers' under s 230(3)(b) of the Employment Rights Act 1996 when attending remunerated activities, dismissing the MCA's appeal. Facts Martin Groom served as a Coastguard Rescue...
April 25, 2026
WH Holding challenged an expert's determination that it owed an additional £3.6m under an overage clause in a stadium concession agreement. The Court of Appeal allowed E20's appeal, holding the expert's contractual interpretation was not so obviously wrong as to constitute manifest error. Facts E20 Stadium LLP (now London Stadium...
April 25, 2026
Zaha Hadid Ltd appealed against a ruling that its trade mark licence with the Zaha Hadid Foundation, requiring a 6% royalty, was perpetual. The Court of Appeal held the contract was of indefinite duration and terminable by either party on reasonable notice. Facts The case concerned a trade mark licence...
April 25, 2026
A recovering problem gambler sued Sky Betting and Gaming, alleging its cookies, data processing and direct marketing were unlawful because he had not validly consented. The Court of Appeal held that consent under data protection law is objective, not subjective, and allowed the operator's appeal. Facts The appellants (SBG) operated...
April 24, 2026
Charedi Jewish and Evangelical Christian school communities challenged the imposition of VAT on private school fees under the Finance Act 2025, claiming it breached Convention rights. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeals, holding the measure was objectively justified and proportionate. Facts Following a 2024 Labour Party manifesto commitment, the...
April 24, 2026
Three conjoined appeals concerning men registered as 'father' on birth certificates who were not biological fathers. The Court of Appeal held 'father' in the Children Act 1989 means the genetic father only, so parental responsibility never arises from registration if the registrant is not the biological father. Facts The Court...
May 1, 2026
National Case Law Archive
May 1, 2026
National Case Law Archive
May 1, 2026
National Case Law Archive