In last month’s newsletter (“Software: goods or services?”) we discussed the recent court decision of Fern Computer Consultancy Ltd v Intergraph Cadworx & Analysis Solutions Inc. and the court’s confirmation of the distinction between agents who sell “goods” as opposed to agents who only sell “services”. The court considered that the Commercial Agents Regulations 1993 (“the Regulations”) – which afford important protections to agents who sell goods but not services in the EU – may apply to the supply of software but only if it is accompanied by some form of physical delivery (i.e. through a dongle, with documentation, or on a CD). ...
The case of Sugar Hut Group v AJ Insurance put an interesting slant on the question of how loss of profits should be calculated. A nightclub in Essex was damaged by a serious fire. Its owner (Sugar Hut) failed in its claim under its insurance policy because its insurance brokers (AJ Insurance) had negligently failed...
A significant feature of the Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993 (the "Regulations") is that they only apply to agents who sell "goods". Agents who sell services are excluded and do not enjoy any protection....
The Defamation Act 2013 (the "2013 Act") introduced a requirement that a statement must have caused (or be likely to cause) serious harm to the Claimant`s reputation for that statement to be defamatory. In order to show serious harm, a business (defined as a body that trades for profit in the 2013 Act) has to show that it had suffered, or was likely to suffer, significant financial loss as a result of the publication of the defamatory material. The relevant section of the 2013 Act came into force on 1 January 2014 and only applies to allegedly defamatory statements made since that date...
As the commercial world becomes increasingly international, the English Courts are called upon more and more often to rule on cases involving litigants that are not based in this country. In cases between litigants of different nationalities, the English Court may also need to determine which country`s law will apply to the dispute. This article looks at the peculiar circumstances where the separate questions of whether the English Courts have jurisdiction and what the is the law applicable to the dispute become intertwined...
For many years after the Commercial Agents Regulations came into force in 1994, there was uncertainty over how a commercial agent should calculate the value of the "compensation" they were owed under Regulation 17 following the termination of their agency agreement...
The recent Judgment in the Court of Appeal case of Kotonou v National Westminster Bank plc [2014] raises a number of interesting issues for litigation practitioners...
Disputes are an unhelpful distraction to any business. They are costly and divert attention and resources away from the business`s main activities. Unfortunately, we must all accept that there will be situations where parties end up in dispute and may need to consider Court action. There are a number of dispute resolution mechanisms that can be used to chase debtors, such as issuing statutory demands. However, this article is focused on advising businesses that are considering commencing a claim through the small claims track. It is intended that this will be the first is a series of articles about the small claims track...
Most agents are aware that if their agency agreement is terminated by the principal they are entitled under the Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993 to payment of either compensation or an indemnity, depending on what their agency agreement says...
The rule of thumb in English litigation is that the loser pays the winner`s costs. There are three occasions where the Court might depart from this presumption...
The recent case of Axel Threlfall -v- ECD Insight Limited and Another has opened the door to claims that directors may be responsible for paying Costs Orders of litigation that would more commonly be met by the company. The facts in the case are quite unusual and are therefore worth reciting...
For many years the rules governing civil claims have provided that money claims (except personal injury claims) can be started in either the High Court or the County Court, but that claims could be issued in the High Court only if they are greater than £25,000...
It is a fundamental principle of the English legal system that certain documents recording legal advice or prepared for the purpose of anticipated legal proceedings are inadmissible as evidence in Court proceedings. Such communications are protected by what is known as legal privilege...
A recent decision of the Supreme Court has confirmed that the courts will now take a more flexible approach to the rules which apply to the signing of wills...
Under the Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993 (the "Regulations"), an agent is usually entitled to a payment when his agency agreement is terminated by the principal (unless the agreement is being terminated as a result of the agent`s own breach). The Regulations provide for two different payment regimes: compensation and indemnity. It is not possible for the parties to contract out of these provisions of the Regulations...
It is common for tenants of multiple occupancy buildings to complain about the level of their service charges. Some are lucky enough to have been able to negotiate a fixed or capped service charge, but in many cases tenants feel they are at the mercy of their landlord or managing agent when it comes to service charges. In modern buildings these can often constitute a significant proportion of the costs of occupation...
A recent decision of the European Court of Justice (United Antwerp Maritime Agencies (Unamar) NV v Navigation Maritime Bulgare) has cast doubt on the law which will be applicable to commercial agency agreements where the parties are located in separate EU member states. This has potentially significant implications for the freedom of principals and agents to choose the law which will apply to their agreements, in circumstances where some EU member states grant greater protection to agents than others....
In many disputes between parties based in different jurisdictions, one of the key battles will be over the place in which a dispute should be heard. This tactical battle will involve pragmatic considerations, such as convenience, cost and the presence of assets in a particular jurisdiction against which any subsequent judgment can be enforced. There may also be concerns about whether both parties will receive a fair hearing...
Most companies in the business of selling physical goods of any sort will include a retention of title clause in their terms of business. The purpose of such a clause is to prevent title in the goods passing to the buyer unless and until payment has been received, and to enable the seller to recover the goods if payment is not made...
For over 10 years a succession of cases has made it clear that a failure to engage in alternative dispute resolution, including mediation, might lead to negative costs consequences in litigation...