April 27, 2026
Lehman Brothers International (Europe)'s administration generated an unprecedented £7 billion surplus, with around £5 billion payable as statutory interest to creditors. The Supreme Court held that this statutory interest qualified as 'yearly interest' under section 874 of the Income Tax Act 2007, requiring administrators to deduct income tax at source....
April 27, 2026
A Jamaican national facing deportation made further human rights submissions after his appeal rights were exhausted. The Supreme Court held that such submissions must first be accepted as a fresh claim under rule 353 of the Immigration Rules before any right of appeal arises under section 82. Facts The appellant,...
April 27, 2026
KV, a Sri Lankan Tamil, claimed asylum alleging torture evidenced by burn scars from hot metal rods. The tribunal found his scars were self-inflicted by proxy. The Supreme Court allowed his appeal, holding the tribunal's reasoning flawed and clarifying medical experts' proper role. Facts KV, a Sri Lankan national of...
April 27, 2026
Hugh Jordan's son was shot by an RUC officer in 1992. After decades of delayed inquests, Jordan sought damages under the Human Rights Act for Article 2 breaches. The Supreme Court held the Court of Appeal wrongly imposed a near-automatic stay on such claims pending inquest conclusion. Facts Pearse Jordan...
April 27, 2026
A Czech national convicted in absentia of fraud challenged his extradition under an EAW, arguing he should be treated as 'accused' rather than 'convicted' because he had an unqualified right to retrial. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, holding he was properly categorised as convicted. Facts The appellant, Mr Karel...
April 27, 2026
Patrick Finucane, a Belfast solicitor, was murdered in 1989 by loyalist paramilitaries with state collusion. His widow challenged the government's refusal to hold a promised public inquiry. The Supreme Court declared no Article 2 compliant investigation had occurred but refused to order a public inquiry. Facts On 12 February 1989,...
April 27, 2026
Ms Cameron was injured by a hit-and-run driver of an insured Nissan Micra. She sought to sue the unidentified driver and have the insurer satisfy any judgment. The Supreme Court held an unidentifiable defendant cannot generally be sued where service cannot meaningfully be effected. Facts On 26 May 2013, Ms...
April 27, 2026
A retired miner with Vibration White Finger sued his former solicitors for negligently failing to advise him to claim a Services Award. The Supreme Court restored the trial judge's decision, holding the claimant had failed to prove he would have made an honest claim. Facts Mr Frank Perry, a retired...
April 27, 2026
An estate agent orally agreed commission terms with a vendor but never specified the triggering event for payment. The Supreme Court held a binding contract existed, with payment due on completion, and upheld partial enforcement despite breach of section 18 of the Estate Agents Act 1979. Facts Mr Wells, having...
April 27, 2026
Four individuals with minor or historic convictions, cautions or reprimands challenged statutory schemes requiring disclosure of their criminal records to potential employers as incompatible with Article 8 ECHR. The Supreme Court upheld the schemes broadly, but found the multiple conviction rule and disclosure of youth warnings/reprimands disproportionate. Facts The case...
April 27, 2026
Hallam and Nealon had their convictions quashed following fresh evidence but were refused compensation under section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (as amended), which requires proof beyond reasonable doubt that the applicant did not commit the offence. The Supreme Court held, by majority, that this was compatible with...
April 27, 2026
The Attorney General for Northern Ireland referred five questions about the functioning of Northern Ireland departments in the absence of ministers. The Supreme Court adjourned the reference, holding that the issues should be determined against a clear factual matrix in pending interconnector litigation. Facts The Attorney General for Northern Ireland...
April 27, 2026
A Jamaican mother of a British child challenged her deportation, arguing her derivative Zambrano right of residence meant she could only be deported in 'exceptional circumstances'. The Supreme Court dismissed her appeal, holding no additional exceptionality hurdle applies beyond the established proportionality test. Facts The appellant, a Jamaican national born...
April 27, 2026
The Supreme Court unanimously allowed Heathrow Airport Ltd's appeal, overturning the Court of Appeal and holding that the Secretary of State lawfully designated the Airports National Policy Statement supporting a third runway at Heathrow, having adequately considered climate change obligations including the Paris Agreement. Facts Following recommendations from the Airports...
April 27, 2026
Walter Merricks sought to bring collective proceedings against Mastercard on behalf of 46.2 million UK consumers, alleging unlawful interchange fees were passed on through higher retail prices. The Supreme Court dismissed Mastercard's appeal, holding the Competition Appeal Tribunal had applied too strict a certification test. Facts Following a 2007 European...
April 26, 2026
A life prisoner successfully challenged a Parole Board decision refusing transfer to open conditions but was denied costs. The Supreme Court dismissed his appeal, holding that costs principles are matters of practice for the Court of Appeal, and the established Davies practice applied to the Board. Facts The appellant, Mr...
April 26, 2026
London Clubs Management provided free non-negotiable chips and vouchers to gamblers as promotions. The Supreme Court held these 'Non-Negs' were not 'stakes staked' with any value in money or money's worth for gaming duty purposes, dismissing HMRC's appeal. Facts London Clubs Management Ltd (LCM) operates casinos offering games such as...
April 26, 2026
Halliburton sought removal of an arbitrator, Mr Rokison QC, who accepted multiple appointments in related Deepwater Horizon arbitrations involving Chubb without disclosure to Halliburton. The Supreme Court held there is a legal duty of disclosure but dismissed the appeal on the facts. Facts Halliburton held a Bermuda Form liability policy...
April 26, 2026
UK-resident companies challenged the tax treatment of dividends from foreign subsidiaries as contrary to EU law, seeking restitution of tax paid under mistake of law dating back to 1973. The Supreme Court departed from Deutsche Morgan Grenfell on when limitation runs under section 32(1)(c) of the Limitation Act 1980. Facts...
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...
July 5, 2026
National Case Law Archive
July 1, 2026
National Case Law Archive
July 1, 2026
National Case Law Archive