The first compensation order case under sections 15A and 15B of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986. Mr Eagling, sole director of Noble Vintners Ltd, misappropriated £559,484 to his own company. He was disqualified for 15 years and ordered to pay compensation to creditors who suffered direct losses from his misconduct.
A mother witnessed her ten-month-old baby have a fit in hospital due to negligent treatment, was given incorrect reassurances, then learned of severe brain damage, and held her son as he died 36 hours later. The court held this constituted a single horrifying event permitting recovery for psychiatric injury as a secondary victim.
The Attorney General for Northern Ireland sought to refer a devolution issue concerning whether the Department for Communities' provision of postcode lists to implement Universal Credit breached ECHR rights. The Supreme Court refused to accept the reference, finding the act too remote from the alleged incompatibility.
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.
An NHS Foundation Trust sought VAT exemption for car parking services at its hospitals, arguing it acted as a public authority under a special legal regime. The Supreme Court held that external guidance combined with a general public law duty to follow it does not constitute a special legal regime for VAT purposes, and allowed HMRC's appeal.
Nottingham City Council challenged HMO licence conditions allowing undersized attic bedrooms to be occupied by full-time students living cohesively. The Supreme Court held that licensing conditions under the Housing Act 2004 may lawfully restrict occupation to a particular class of person, dismissing the appeal save for deleting an irrational ten-month occupancy limit.
Shareholders in a cryptocurrency wallet company disputed whether unfair prejudice petition claims seeking relief for the company (compensation and constructive trust declarations) could proceed without derivative claim permission. The Court of Appeal held such claims are not barred by s.260 Companies Act 2006 and need not satisfy derivative claim requirements when pursued within genuine unfair prejudice proceedings.
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority wrongly awarded a Magnox decommissioning contract to CFP rather than the RSS consortium including ATK. The Supreme Court held damages under the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 require a 'sufficiently serious' breach, mirroring Francovich conditions, but rejected NDA's mitigation argument.
A bulk cement vessel was arrested in Nigeria due to a demurrage dispute between sub-contractors. The Supreme Court held the arrest was not occasioned by the charterer's 'agents' within clause 49, so the vessel was off-hire during the arrest period.
A homeless single mother of five with serious health conditions was offered temporary accommodation in Bletchley by Westminster City Council, far from her London home. The Supreme Court allowed her appeal, holding the council had failed to evidence and justify the out-of-borough placement under the Housing Act 1996.
A retired recorder claimed a judicial pension pro rata. Following a CJEU ruling, the Supreme Court held that fee-paid part-time judges are in an "employment relationship" and so are workers under the Part-time Workers Regulations 2000, and that denying them pensions was not objectively justified. Appeal allowed.
A black barrister brought a Human Rights Act claim against the Bar Standards Board, alleging racially discriminatory disciplinary proceedings. The Supreme Court held the prosecution constituted a single continuing act lasting until her successful appeal, meaning her claim was brought in time under section 7(5)(a).
A client sought assessment of his solicitor's bill after they deducted fees from his damages. The Supreme Court held that 'payment' under section 70 of the Solicitors Act 1974 requires agreement to the specific amount to be paid, not merely prior authorisation to deduct fees. Delivery of a bill alone does not constitute payment.
Three appeals concerning economic torts. OBG involved receivers invalidly appointed who took control of company assets. Douglas v Hello! concerned publication of surreptitiously taken celebrity wedding photographs. Mainstream involved directors diverting a development opportunity. The House clarified the distinct torts of inducing breach of contract and causing loss by unlawful means.
Nigerian communities sued Royal Dutch Shell (RDS) and its subsidiary SPDC for oil spill pollution. The Supreme Court held that the claimants had an arguable case that RDS owed them a duty of care due to its control over SPDC's operations, allowing the case to proceed to trial on jurisdiction grounds.
Jane Oliver challenged her late father William's 2015 will, which disinherited four of five children in favour of her brother Rodney. The court found William lacked testamentary capacity and was unduly influenced by Rodney, admitting the 2009 will to probate instead.
The plaintiff was held in prison 81 days beyond the custody time limit prescribed by regulations. She sued the Home Office for false imprisonment and the Crown Prosecution Service for breach of statutory duty. The Court of Appeal struck out both claims, holding the prison governor was bound by the warrant and the CPS owed no private law duty.
Trustees of Olympic Airlines' UK pension scheme sought a winding-up order in England to qualify for the Pension Protection Fund. The Supreme Court held that Olympic had no 'establishment' in the UK under EU Regulation 1346/2000, as only internal wind-down activities were occurring at its London office.
Shipowners claimed wasted expenditure following charterers' repudiation of a five-year charterparty, despite earning more at higher market rates afterwards. The Commercial Court held reliance damages are governed by Robinson v Harman, so benefits from mitigation must be set off, leaving no recoverable loss.
Optimares contracted with Qatar Airways to design and manufacture aircraft seats. Qatar Airways terminated for convenience under clause 12.2.3 after Optimares invoked excusable delay due to Covid-19. The High Court held the termination was lawful, dismissing Optimares' claims and largely upholding Qatar Airways' counterclaim for repayment of non-recurring costs.
Orsted claimed capital allowances for expenditure on environmental surveys and studies conducted when planning offshore windfarms. The Supreme Court held that such expenditure was not 'on the provision of plant' under section 11(4) of the Capital Allowances Act 2001, as the phrase requires a close connection between expenditure and the plant itself.
A motor dealer bought a Morris car described as a 1948 model based on the registration book, but it was actually a 1939 model. The Court of Appeal held the seller's statement was an innocent misrepresentation, not a contractual warranty, as neither party had special knowledge of the car's true age.
Oil negligently discharged from the appellants' ship spread across Sydney Harbour and ignited, destroying the respondents' wharf. The Privy Council held that liability in negligence depends on whether the damage was reasonably foreseeable, overruling the 'direct consequences' test in Re Polemis. This established foreseeability as the test for remoteness of damage.
Overseas Tankship’s ship Wagon Mound leaked furnace oil in Sydney harbour. Welding sparks ignited it, destroying nearby repair ships. The Privy Council held that even a very small but serious risk must be guarded against if reasonably foreseeable, shaping negligence breach analysis.
Alcohol wholesalers refused HMRC approval under the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme sought to continue trading pending their appeals to the First-tier Tribunal. The Supreme Court held HMRC had no power to grant temporary approval under section 88C ALDA or section 9 of the 2005 Act.
October 4, 2026
National Case Law Archive
October 4, 2026
National Case Law Archive
October 4, 2026
National Case Law Archive