Dolphin Drilling Ltd leased a tender support vessel (Borgsten) from a connected party to provide drilling support services and accommodation to offshore workers. HMRC applied a hire cap restricting tax deductions for the lease payments. The Supreme Court held that providing accommodation was an independent use, not incidental to other services, upholding the hire cap.
Police forced entry into Mr Robinson-Pierre’s home, releasing his pit bull which attacked officers in the street. Convicted under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, he appealed. The Court of Appeal held section 3(1) creates strict but not absolute liability, requiring some causal act or omission by the owner, and quashed the convictions.
The Royal College of Nursing sought clarification on whether nurses could lawfully participate in pregnancy terminations using prostaglandin induction under the Abortion Act 1967. The House of Lords (3-2) held that such terminations were lawful when carried out under a doctor's control, even if nurses performed abortifacient acts, as the Act contemplated treatment as a team effort.
A property sale contract was purportedly made with a company that had not yet been incorporated. The claimant sought to hold the defendants personally liable under Section 36C of the Companies Act 1985. The defendants argued the contract contained an 'agreement to the contrary' excluding the statutory effect. The court dismissed the summary judgment application, holding no contrary agreement existed.
Miss Sweet, a teacher who let out her farmhouse to students, was convicted under section 5(b) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1965 after tenants smoked cannabis without her knowledge. The House of Lords held that mens rea was required, quashed her conviction, and reaffirmed the strong presumption against strict liability for truly criminal offences.
A printing company sued a trade union for conspiracy and libel. The House of Lords held that section 4(1) of the Trade Disputes Act 1906 granted trade unions complete immunity from tortious actions, regardless of whether the tort was committed in contemplation or furtherance of a trade dispute.
A Dutch national was refused entry to the UK to work for the Church of Scientology, which the UK government considered socially harmful. The ECJ ruled that Article 48 EEC Treaty and Directive 64/221 have direct effect, allowing individuals to rely on them in national courts, while Member States retain discretion on public policy grounds.
A shop manager refused to honour a price-matching notice displayed outside Dixon's store. The House of Lords held the notice became misleading when not honoured, but the manager could not be prosecuted under section 20(1) Consumer Protection Act 1987 as he was not conducting 'any business of his' - only business owners could be liable.
The appeal concerned the meaning of "crematorium" in section 2 of the Cremation Act 1902 for the purpose of the "radius clause" in section 5, which prohibits siting a crematorium within 200 yards of a dwelling house or 50 yards of a public highway. The central question was the point from which those distances fall to be measured. Three different interpretations had been advanced in the courts below. The Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the appeal, holding that "crematorium" in section 5 means the building fitted with appliances for burning human remains — the crematory building itself — and that the…
Barratt obtained planning permission for a housing development and had a statutory right under section 106 Water Industry Act 1991 to connect its drains to Welsh Water’s sewer. Welsh Water blocked the connection with concrete. The Court of Appeal held Barratt could not recover damages in nuisance, trespass or negligence for economic loss, leaving only a limited claim for physical pipe damage.
September 13, 2026
National Case Law Archive
September 3, 2026
National Case Law Archive
September 3, 2026
National Case Law Archive