Summary An order made without notice providing for the disclosure of documents after exchange of witness statements gave one party an unjustified procedural advantage. Facts Appeal by Interoil ('IT') from an order of Lloyd J of 1 April 2003, allowing Watford Petroleum Ltd ('WPL') to delay the provision of certain documents until...

Summary T served notice claiming a new lease pursuant to the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993. At that time, the tenants were only entitled to a new tenancy if they had been occupying the flat as their only or principal home for at least 3 years out of the...

Summary Six sisters were not partners in a family business and only the surviving brothers or their representatives were entitled to the winding up of the partnership and realisation of the business assets. Facts Action by the claimant ('S') concerning the ownership of a family business and certain properties. CB...

Summary A claim for breach of an alleged sponsorship contract was dismissed as no binding agreement existed, contrary to the claimant's allegation that one of the defendant's employees had orally notified the claimant of a sponsorship deal. Facts Action by the claimant ('Jordan') for damages for breach by the defendant ...

Summary The court refused to order security for costs against the defendants where the defendants had been unable to put full financial affairs before the court due to circumstances that may have been caused by the claimants. Facts Two applications for security for costs by Interoil Trading SA ('Interoil'): (i)...

Summary Tax accountants were negligent in failing to advise a client who was resident, but not ordinarily resident, in the UK for tax purposes of the obvious tax mitigation solution of having his employment earnings paid into a Channel Island bank account. Facts Claim for professional negligence arising out of...

Summary A finding in previous proceedings that the defendant had obtained a loan by fraudulent misrepresentation by him and his solicitor did not prevent him from suing his solicitor for negligence and the judge had been wrong to strike out his claim against his solicitor's partners on grounds of issue...

Summary On a true construction of a lease, the "open market value" of assets of a business was the value of the assets as at the date of expiry of the lease. Facts Determination of an issue of construction of a lease of 29 June 1993 between the defendant landlord ('L') and...

Summary Construction of will; doctrine of conditional wills