June 21, 2026
Mr Braganza, BP's Chief Engineer, disappeared at sea. BP concluded he had committed suicide, denying his widow death-in-service benefits. The Supreme Court held that BP's contractual discretion required a rational decision-making process, and the evidence was insufficient to overcome the inherent improbability of suicide. Facts Mr Renford Braganza, Chief Engineer...
June 21, 2026
Lone mothers challenged the benefit cap introduced under the Welfare Reform Act 2012, arguing it indirectly discriminated against women and victims of domestic violence, contrary to Article 14 ECHR read with A1P1. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal by majority, holding the cap was justified. Facts The Secretary of State...
June 21, 2026
A disabled tenant resisted possession proceedings brought by a social landlord, raising a disability discrimination defence under the Equality Act 2010. The Supreme Court held that such defences require a different, more rigorous approach than Article 8 defences, but dismissed his appeal on the facts. Facts The appellant, a 47-year-old...
June 21, 2026
Kathleen Wyatt sought financial provision from her ex-husband Dale Vince, now a wealthy green energy entrepreneur, 19 years after their divorce following a brief, impoverished marriage. The Supreme Court reinstated her application, holding it should not have been struck out under Rule 4.4. Facts The parties married in December 1981...
June 21, 2026
A property developer secured oral assurances from his bank to fund both the purchase and development of a Gleneagles plot subject to a buy-back clause. The bank later refused development funding. The Supreme Court restored the Lord Ordinary's finding that a binding promise existed. Facts Mr Carlyle, a property developer,...
June 21, 2026
Tael transferred part of its participation in a syndicated loan to Morgan Stanley under LMA standard terms. When the loan was later repaid with a payment premium, Tael claimed the portion attributable to the pre-transfer period. The Supreme Court dismissed Tael's appeal, holding the premium did not accrue by reference...
June 21, 2026
Sea Shepherd UK was sued as joint tortfeasor after its US parent's vessel allegedly attacked a Maltese fish farm's tuna cage during Operation Bluerage. The Supreme Court, by majority, held SSUK's contribution (a small mailshot raising £1,730 and recruiting two volunteers) was de minimis and insufficient for accessory liability. Facts...
June 21, 2026
The Supreme Court considered whether police retention of personal data on databases—records of Mr Catt's attendance at political protests and a harassment warning letter concerning Ms T—violated article 8 ECHR. The Court allowed both appeals, finding retention proportionate and lawful. Facts Two conjoined appeals concerned the systematic collection and retention...
June 21, 2026
A Jamaican homosexual challenged the designation of Jamaica as a safe state under section 94(4) of the 2002 Act. The Supreme Court held that a state with systematic persecution of LGBT people, a substantial identifiable section of the community, could not be designated as having 'in general' no serious risk...
June 21, 2026
Newhaven Port challenged East Sussex County Council's decision to register West Beach as a village green under the Commons Act 2006. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, holding harbour byelaws gave implied permission for recreational use, and registration was statutorily incompatible with operating a working harbour. Facts West Beach at...
June 21, 2026
Sustainable Shetland challenged Scottish Ministers' consent for a 103-turbine windfarm in Shetland, arguing inadequate consideration of obligations under the EU Birds Directive regarding the protected whimbrel. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, upholding the Inner House's decision that ministers had lawfully considered the directive. Facts Sustainable Shetland, an unincorporated environmental...
June 21, 2026
The Welsh Assembly's Bill sought to require those liable for asbestos-related diseases, and their insurers, to reimburse the Welsh NHS for treatment costs. The Supreme Court held the Bill fell outside the Assembly's legislative competence and breached A1P1 of the ECHR. Facts The Counsel General for Wales referred to the...
June 21, 2026
A father successfully recovered a house bought by his son with £285,000 he had provided. After winning in the Supreme Court against legally aided defenders, he sought costs including an ATE insurance premium. The Court held the premium was not recoverable as expenses. Facts In February 2007, the pursuer (father)...
June 21, 2026
Guraj pleaded guilty to drug supply and money laundering. The judge sentenced him, made forfeiture orders, then postponed confiscation. After prosecution delays and procedural breaches, a confiscation order was made. The Supreme Court held jurisdiction survived absent unfairness to the defendant. Facts The respondent, Lodvik Guraj, pleaded guilty on 11...
June 21, 2026
A pharmacist convicted of domestic violence offences was removed from the register by the General Pharmaceutical Council. The Supreme Court held there is no 'middle way' between suspension and removal via review extensions, but found removal disproportionate and substituted suspension. Facts Mr Khan, a pharmacist registered in 2002 and practising...
June 19, 2026
Three migrants made in-time applications to extend leave to remain but each was procedurally defective – two for non-payment of correct fees, one for failure to provide biometrics. The Supreme Court held section 3C did not extend leave where applications were invalidly made. Facts The three appellants each held limited...
June 19, 2026
Shaun Docherty, a violent repeat offender, was convicted of wounding with intent before LASPO 2012 commenced but sentenced afterwards to imprisonment for public protection (IPP). He challenged the transitional provisions preserving IPP, arguing lex mitior, ultra vires and discrimination. The Supreme Court unanimously dismissed his appeal. Facts The appellant, Shaun...
June 19, 2026
Mark Golds killed his partner with a knife and admitted the killing, raising diminished responsibility. The Supreme Court considered the meaning of 'substantially impaired' under section 2 Homicide Act 1957 (as amended), holding it requires significant impairment, not merely more than trivial. Facts The appellant, Mark Golds, was convicted of...
June 19, 2026
An Iraqi national with a four-year drug conviction resisted deportation on Article 8 grounds, citing his UK relationship. The Supreme Court dismissed his appeal, clarifying the weight tribunals must give to the Immigration Rules and Parliament's public interest assessment in foreign criminal deportations. Facts The appellant, an Iraqi national, left...
June 19, 2026
A Tunisian national convicted of grievous bodily harm challenged his deportation from the UK, arguing insufficient consideration of his two children's best interests under article 8 ECHR. The Supreme Court dismissed his appeal, finding the Secretary of State had adequate information and no further enquiries were required. Facts Mr Makhlouf,...
June 19, 2026
Disabled tenants and a domestic violence victim in a sanctuary scheme challenged the social sector housing benefit cap (the 'bedroom tax') as discriminatory under Article 14 ECHR. The Supreme Court upheld claims by Carmichael and the Rutherfords but rejected the others, including A's sanctuary scheme claim. Facts These conjoined appeals...
June 19, 2026
Solicitors Barrington breached warranties to litigation funder Impact under a disbursements funding agreement. When Barrington became insolvent, Impact sought to recover from its professional indemnity insurer AIG. The Supreme Court held the claim fell within the policy's exclusion for breaches of contracts supplying services to solicitors. Facts Impact Funding Solutions...
June 19, 2026
Mr Johnson, born in Jamaica to a British father and Jamaican mother who were unmarried, was denied automatic British citizenship and faced deportation as a foreign criminal. The Supreme Court held this discrimination based on birth status violated Articles 8 and 14 ECHR. Facts The appellant was born in Jamaica...
June 19, 2026
Angeline Mitchell was convicted of murdering her partner Anthony Robin by stabbing. The Supreme Court considered whether non-conviction bad character evidence relied on to establish propensity must be proved beyond reasonable doubt incident by incident, holding that propensity itself must be proved, not each underlying fact. Facts On 11 May...
June 19, 2026
HMRC's Permanent Secretary for Tax discussed Mr McKenna's tax affairs with Times journalists in an 'off the record' interview. The Supreme Court held this breached HMRC's statutory duty of confidentiality under section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005. Facts Mr Patrick McKenna is the founder and...
August 25, 2026
National Case Law Archive
August 25, 2026
National Case Law Archive
August 25, 2026
National Case Law Archive