June 19, 2026
MB, a transsexual woman who remained married to her wife, was refused a state pension at age 60 because UK law required her marriage to be annulled before her acquired female gender could be legally recognised. The Supreme Court, being divided, referred the compatibility question to the CJEU. Facts MB...
June 19, 2026
A UK resident severely injured by an uninsured Greek driver in Greece sued the UK Motor Insurers' Bureau. The Supreme Court held that the scope of compensation must be determined by Greek law, the law of the place of the accident, overruling Jacobs and Bloy. Facts On 17 May 2011,...
June 19, 2026
Hastings Borough Council closed Hastings Pier under emergency powers in 2006 due to structural concerns. Stylus, a tenant operating businesses on the pier, claimed compensation under section 106 of the Building Act 1984. The Supreme Court dismissed the council's appeal, holding Stylus was not 'in default'. Facts Hastings Pier, originally...
June 19, 2026
An Italian national living in the UK since 1985 killed his flatmate in 2001 and was imprisoned. The Secretary of State sought to deport him. The Supreme Court referred questions to the CJEU regarding whether enhanced protection from expulsion under Directive 2004/38 requires permanent residence. Facts Franco Vomero, an Italian...
June 19, 2026
Mr Hayward dishonestly exaggerated a workplace injury claim, which Zurich settled for £134,973 despite suspicions of fraud. After new evidence emerged, Zurich sued to set aside the settlement. The Supreme Court held the settlement could be rescinded for fraudulent misrepresentation. Facts Mr Colin Hayward suffered a workplace injury in June...
June 19, 2026
Australian winemaker Angove's terminated its UK agent D&D's authority to collect customer payments after D&D entered administration. The Supreme Court held the termination was effective, the agent's authority was not irrevocable, and no constructive trust arose over funds received by the insolvent agent. Facts Angove’s Pty Ltd, an Australian winemaker,...
June 19, 2026
Mr Lee-Hirons, a restricted mental health patient conditionally discharged, was recalled to hospital by the Minister but only told his mental health had deteriorated. Full reasons came 15 days later, breaching policy and Article 5(2) ECHR. The Supreme Court held the breaches did not render his detention unlawful. Facts The...
June 19, 2026
The insured ship owners made a valid €3.2m marine insurance claim after engine room flooding, but recklessly lied about a bilge alarm to speed up payment. The Supreme Court held that such collateral lies, irrelevant to the claim's validity, do not forfeit recovery. Facts On the night of 28/29 January...
June 17, 2026
The Supreme Court clarified the status of Privy Council decisions in English courts. It held that domestic courts must follow binding House of Lords or Supreme Court precedent over conflicting JCPC decisions, but introduced a mechanism allowing the JCPC to expressly direct that its decision represents English law. Facts The...
June 16, 2026
Mr Patel paid £620,000 to Mr Mirza for betting on RBS shares using insider information. The scheme failed and Mr Mirza refused to repay. The Supreme Court allowed recovery in unjust enrichment, fundamentally reshaping the illegality doctrine by replacing the rigid reliance test with a flexible public policy approach. Facts...
June 16, 2026
Amoena imported a Carmen mastectomy bra designed to hold silicone breast forms for post-mastectomy women. The Supreme Court held it should be classified as an 'accessory' to an artificial body part under chapter 90, attracting zero duty rather than 6.5% as a brassière. Facts The appellant, Amoena (UK) Ltd, imported...
June 16, 2026
A subtenant tripped on an uneven paving stone on a path between the block of flats and the car park, suing his immediate landlord (a headlessee of one flat) under section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. The Supreme Court held the landlord was not liable. Facts By...
June 16, 2026
The Supreme Court held that the Lord Chancellor's proposed statutory instrument introducing a residence test for civil legal aid was ultra vires the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. The draft order exceeded the delegated powers in section 9(2)(b). Facts In September 2013, the Lord Chancellor proposed...
June 16, 2026
An apprentice joiner injured by a circular saw sought to hold a company director personally liable for the company's failure to maintain adequate employers' liability insurance under the 1969 Act. The Supreme Court held by majority that no civil liability attached to the director. Facts The appellant, Mr Campbell, was...
June 16, 2026
An Egyptian national convicted in absentia of manslaughter following a ferry disaster challenged the Home Secretary's decision to serve the Egyptian judgment on him in the UK under section 1 of the Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003. The Supreme Court held article 6 was not engaged. Facts Mr Mamdouh Ismail,...
June 16, 2026
Two Polish nationals challenged European Arrest Warrants seeking their extradition to serve sentences in Poland, arguing the warrants failed to particularise domestic warrants and activation decisions. The Supreme Court dismissed both appeals, clarifying EAW content requirements under section 2(6) of the Extradition Act 2003. Facts The appellants, Maciej Goluchowski and...
June 16, 2026
The Chagossians sought to set aside the House of Lords' 2008 decision upholding the validity of section 9 of the BIOT Constitution Order 2004, which denied them right of abode. They relied on late-disclosed documents (the Rashid documents) said to undermine the feasibility study justifying the Order. The Supreme Court...
June 15, 2026
For more than forty years it was an article of faith among company law practitioners that no statutory limitation period applies to a petition for relief from unfairly prejudicial conduct, now found in sections 994 and 996 of the Companies Act 2006. That orthodoxy was abruptly dismantled by the Court...
June 6, 2026
A Romanian father sought to enforce a Romanian custody order in England under Brussels IIR. After the Court of Appeal refused enforcement, the Supreme Court held it had no jurisdiction to hear a further appeal, as the UK's notification under article 34 limited appeals to the Court of Appeal only....
June 6, 2026
A Ugandan student whose asylum claim was refused, leaving him with 11 weeks of student leave, sought to appeal under section 83 NIAA 2002. The Supreme Court held he was outside the section, clarifying it requires over 12 months' leave from the date of refusal. Facts The appellant, a Ugandan...
June 6, 2026
A Sri Lankan former LTTE member, tortured by state forces, suffered severe PTSD and suicidality. The UK Supreme Court considered whether his risk on return engaged subsidiary protection under the Qualification Directive and referred the question to the CJEU. Facts The appellant, a Sri Lankan national, arrived in the UK...
June 6, 2026
Two Nigerian migrant domestic workers were severely mistreated by their employers who exploited their precarious immigration status. The Supreme Court held that discrimination because of immigration status is not the same as discrimination because of nationality under the Equality Act 2010. Facts Ms Taiwo and Ms Onu were Nigerian nationals...
June 6, 2026
Companies controlled by Mr Pelosi senior transferred four properties to entities connected with his son after misleading their bank into discharging securities using sale proceeds from a fifth property. The Supreme Court held these were gratuitous alienations challengeable under section 242 of the Insolvency Act 1986. Facts The case concerned...
June 6, 2026
Lloyds Banking Group sought to redeem £3.3 billion of high-interest contingent convertible loan notes (ECNs), arguing regulatory changes had triggered a Capital Disqualification Event. The Supreme Court held by majority that LBG was entitled to redeem, as the ECNs could no longer perform their intended capital function. Facts In November...
June 3, 2026
This decision overrules Cheshire West and rejected the acid test as a complete test for deprivation of liberty. It outlines the restored multifactorial Article 5 approach, including the renewed importance of valid consent, wishes and feelings.
August 25, 2026
National Case Law Archive
August 25, 2026
National Case Law Archive
August 25, 2026
National Case Law Archive