Appeals And Precedent-Setting Cases
1. Donoghue v Stevenson (1932) – Duty of Care in Negligence
Court: House of Lords (UK)
Facts:
May Donoghue drank a ginger beer bought for her by a friend.
She found a decomposed snail in the bottle, leading to illness.
She sued the manufacturer, David Stevenson, for negligence.
Legal Principle (Precedent-Setting):
This case established the modern concept of duty of care.
Lord Atkin introduced the “neighbor principle”, stating:
“You must take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions which you can reasonably foresee would be likely to injure your neighbor.”
Impact:
Set precedent for tort law worldwide, especially in negligence claims.
Recognized that manufacturers owe a duty of care to ultimate consumers, even without contractual relations.
2. R v Brown (1993) – Consent and Criminal Law
Court: House of Lords (UK)
Facts:
Group of adult men engaged in consensual sado-masochistic activities.
No serious permanent injury, but injuries were inflicted.
They were prosecuted under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.
Legal Principle:
Consent cannot be a defense to actual bodily harm or more serious injuries in criminal law.
Public policy considerations override personal consent in certain cases.
Impact:
Set precedent regarding the limits of consent in criminal law.
Often cited in debates about personal autonomy versus state protection.
3. Marbury v Madison (1803) – Judicial Review
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Facts:
William Marbury was appointed justice of the peace but did not receive his commission.
He petitioned the Supreme Court to compel delivery.
Legal Principle:
Established judicial review: the power of courts to review acts of Congress and declare them unconstitutional.
Impact:
Landmark case in U.S. constitutional law.
Set precedent for the Supreme Court’s role as a check on legislative and executive powers.
4. Brown v Board of Education (1954) – Racial Segregation
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Facts:
African-American children were denied access to certain public schools based on race.
Claimed “separate but equal” schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
Legal Principle:
Declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
Overturned the precedent set in Plessy v Ferguson (1896), which allowed “separate but equal.”
Impact:
Precedent-setting in civil rights law.
Led to desegregation and inspired broader civil rights movements.
5. Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co (1893) – Contract Law
Court: Court of Appeal (UK)
Facts:
The Carbolic Smoke Ball Company advertised that anyone using their product and still contracting influenza would receive £100.
Mrs. Carlill used it as directed but still fell ill and claimed the £100.
Legal Principle:
Established key principles in contract law:
Offers can be made to the world at large.
Acceptance occurs when the conditions of the offer are performed.
Advertisements can constitute a binding unilateral contract.
Impact:
Frequently cited in contract law regarding unilateral contracts and consideration.
6. Roe v Minister of Health (1954) – Medical Negligence
Court: Court of Appeal (UK)
Facts:
Patients were injected with anesthetic contaminated with a preservative, leading to paralysis.
Contamination was unknown at the time.
Legal Principle:
Established that liability in negligence depends on foreseeability at the time of the act.
Could not hold the hospital liable for an unforeseeable risk.
Impact:
Precedent for foreseeability in negligence claims.
Reinforced that courts assess risk from the knowledge available at the time.
7. Entick v Carrington (1765) – Civil Liberties
Court: King’s Bench (UK)
Facts:
Government officials broke into Entick’s home to seize papers.
Claimed authority under a general warrant.
Legal Principle:
Established that government cannot act beyond the law.
“No one can be punished except in accordance with the law.”
Impact:
Precedent for civil liberties and protections against unlawful search and seizure.
Influenced constitutional law in the UK, US, and Commonwealth countries.
✅ Key Takeaways About Appeals and Precedents:
Appeals allow higher courts to review lower court decisions for errors in law or procedure.
Precedent-setting cases influence future cases by establishing new principles or clarifying legal interpretations.
Courts may overturn earlier precedents if social, moral, or legal standards evolve.
Understanding these cases is crucial for legal reasoning and predicting case outcomes.
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