The collection
Cases
Landmark and modern judgments, distilled to facts, issues, judgement and significance — 67 summaries across 7 pages.
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Regal (Hastings) Ltd v Gulliver [1967] 1 All ER 37
The strict “no-profit” rule — directors must account for profits made in their fiduciary capacity, even in good faith and even where the company suffered no loss.
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Austerberry v Oldham Corporation [1885] 29 Ch.D. 750
The definitive authority that the burden of a positive freehold covenant does not run with the land at law.
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Adams v Lindsell [1818] 1 B & Ald 681
The foundational authority for the postal rule — a posted acceptance is effective on posting, not on receipt.
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BP Exploration Co (Libya) Ltd v Hunt (No 2) [1979] 1 WLR 783
The leading exposition of the Law Reform (Frustrated Contracts) Act 1943 — recovering a “just sum” to prevent unjust enrichment.
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Entick v Carrington [1765] 95 ER 807
A seminal rule-of-law authority — the state may do nothing but that which is positively authorised by law.
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Entores Ltd v Miles Far East Corporation [1955] 2 QB 327
For instantaneous communications, acceptance is effective only when received by the offeror.
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Felthouse v Bindley [1862] 11 CBNS 869
The primary authority that silence does not amount to acceptance — an offeror cannot impose a contract by treating silence as consent.
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MacCormick v Lord Advocate [1953] SC 396
Choosing a monarch’s title is royal prerogative — but Lord President Cooper’s obiter questioned whether unlimited parliamentary sovereignty applies in Scotland.
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R v Wilson [1997] QB 47
Consent can be a defence to ABH for consensual body adornment between spouses — a counterpoint to R v Brown.
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Re Selectmove Ltd [1995] 1 WLR 474
The “practical benefit” rule does not extend to part-payment of debts — Foakes v Beer still governs, and silence was not acceptance.