Case Legal Principle(s) Key Facts
CONTRACT LAW
SUMMARY OF KEY CASES AND PRINCIPLES
Offer
Patridge v Crittenden [1968] 1 Advertisement generally considered an invitation to treat.
WLR 1204
Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co Advertisement can be a unilateral offer to the whole world - CSBC made a product called the “smoke ball”,
[1893] 1 QB 256 which was supposed to be a cure for influenza and
other diseases.
- Put up advertisement promising £100 if someone
used the product but contracted influenza
- Deposited £1000 in bank to show good will
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Display of goods with a ticket price is an invitation to
Britain v. Boots Cash Chemists treat and not an offer to sell (Also in Fisher v Bell [1961] 1
Ltd [1953] 1 All ER 482 QB 394)
British Steel Corp v Cleveland ‘Mirror image rule’ : Parties never agreed to the precise BSC entered negotiations to manufacture steel
Bridge and Engineering Co Ltd and necessary terms of the contract so there was no nodes for Cleveland
[1984] 1 All ER 504 contract
Even where no liability arises through contract, court can
still reverse unjust enrichment
Gibson v Manchester City Mere statement of prices are not offers - Ambiguities in written agreements.
Council [1979] 1 All ER 972 - Letter from City Council was invitation to treat
whilst Plaintiff’s application for council house just an
offer, not acceptance
Errington v Errington and Woods Revocation of unilateral offer not allowed after - Father told son and daughter-in-law that if they
[1952] 1 All ER 149 performance has begun paid weekly installments, he would give them the
house after the payment was complete.
- Court held that as long as installments were paid,
the father’s promise was irrevocable
Stevenson v McLean[1880] 5 Request for Info =/= Rejection of Offer
QBD 346
1
CONTRACT LAW
SUMMARY OF KEY CASES AND PRINCIPLES
Offer
Patridge v Crittenden [1968] 1 Advertisement generally considered an invitation to treat.
WLR 1204
Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co Advertisement can be a unilateral offer to the whole world - CSBC made a product called the “smoke ball”,
[1893] 1 QB 256 which was supposed to be a cure for influenza and
other diseases.
- Put up advertisement promising £100 if someone
used the product but contracted influenza
- Deposited £1000 in bank to show good will
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Display of goods with a ticket price is an invitation to
Britain v. Boots Cash Chemists treat and not an offer to sell (Also in Fisher v Bell [1961] 1
Ltd [1953] 1 All ER 482 QB 394)
British Steel Corp v Cleveland ‘Mirror image rule’ : Parties never agreed to the precise BSC entered negotiations to manufacture steel
Bridge and Engineering Co Ltd and necessary terms of the contract so there was no nodes for Cleveland
[1984] 1 All ER 504 contract
Even where no liability arises through contract, court can
still reverse unjust enrichment
Gibson v Manchester City Mere statement of prices are not offers - Ambiguities in written agreements.
Council [1979] 1 All ER 972 - Letter from City Council was invitation to treat
whilst Plaintiff’s application for council house just an
offer, not acceptance
Errington v Errington and Woods Revocation of unilateral offer not allowed after - Father told son and daughter-in-law that if they
[1952] 1 All ER 149 performance has begun paid weekly installments, he would give them the
house after the payment was complete.
- Court held that as long as installments were paid,
the father’s promise was irrevocable
Stevenson v McLean[1880] 5 Request for Info =/= Rejection of Offer
QBD 346
1
