The Court of Appeal held that Williams v Roffey does not apply to part payment of existing debts, where the rule in Pinnel's Case still governs.

Directives can be vertically directly effective against the State after deadline has passed

House of Lords case on international child abduction establishing when courts have jurisdiction under the Hague Convention. Clarified the meaning of 'custody rights' and wrongful removal.

Linden Gardens concerned building contracts that prohibited assignment without consent. The House of Lords held that where a contract prohibits assignment, the purported assignment is ineffective. However, the court recognized an exception where the original contracting party can sue as trustee for the assignee's loss, and endorsed the 'narrow ground' from Dunlop v Lambert allowing recovery of a third party's loss in property contexts.

Discretionary trusts valid if clear cases identifiable despite uncertain borderline cases.

R v Martin established that the defence of self-defence is not available to defendants who use excessive force against burglars, even when acting under psychiatric conditions. The case clarified that duress of circumstances cannot excuse disproportionate defensive action in one's home.

Ratification of Maastricht Treaty a non-justiciable matter of high policy.

The defendant offered to purchase the claimant's house and gave six weeks for acceptance. Before the six weeks expired, the defendant withdrew the offer. The court held that an offer can be withdrawn at any time before acceptance, even if the offeror promised to keep it open for a specified period, unless supported by consideration.

House of Lords clarifies when appeals courts can overturn family judges' discretionary decisions

The House of Lords established modern principles of contractual interpretation, emphasizing that meaning should be determined by what a reasonable person would understand rather than technical linguistic analysis.

A couple underwent a vasectomy that was negligently performed. The wife subsequently became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy child. The House of Lords held that while damages for pain and suffering of pregnancy were recoverable, the costs of raising a healthy child were not recoverable as a matter of public policy.

EU directives cannot create horizontal direct effect between private parties

Court of Appeal established the fundamental principle that justice must not only be done but must manifestly be seen to be done.

Austrian authorities allowed environmental protestors to block the Brenner motorway for 30 hours, disrupting trade. The ECJ held that the blocking of a major transit route could be justified where it balanced free movement of goods against fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly, provided the restriction was proportionate.

Judges must be independent and appear independent; undisclosed interests invalidate judicial decisions.

Court of Appeal established that actions for personal injury must be brought in negligence, not trespass, when the injury is unintentional.

Challenges to public law decisions must generally be brought by judicial review, not private action

The claimant mortgaged property with a 40-year postponement of the right to redeem. The court held that equity's doctrine against clogs on the equity of redemption does not invalidate all postponements of redemption; such terms are valid unless oppressive, unconscionable, or amount to a clog. A lengthy postponement is not automatically void if freely negotiated.

Judges cannot decide cases where they have any financial interest whatsoever.

A young Oxford student heavily in debt sought advice from his financial agent about selling his estate. The agent purchased the estate himself at undervalue without disclosing its true worth or advising independent counsel. The court held the transaction voidable due to breach of fiduciary duty arising from the confidential relationship.

Threat of strike action constituting intimidation is actionable tort even without actual violence

National courts must interpret national law consistently with EU directives wherever possible.

House of Lords allows courts to consult Hansard for statutory interpretation

House of Lords confirms EU law supremacy over UK Acts of Parliament

Contribution arguments rarely justify departure from equality principle in financial provision.

National courts must immediately disapply conflicting national law to give effect to EU law.

Court establishes landmark test for challenging unreasonable government decisions

Threshold criteria must be assessed at the time proceedings are commenced.

Majority shareholders' votes are subject to equitable considerations protecting the minority

Forbearance to sue can constitute consideration even if claim would fail

Courts can review admin decisions despite ouster clauses if jurisdictional error found

Separated spouses' agreements presumed legally binding unlike harmonious domestic arrangements

Gillick-competent children cannot make binding refusals of life-saving medical treatment.

Courts cannot review validity of Acts of Parliament; UK constitutional arrangements justiciable