case law a Flashcards
what decides if a case is binding
if the prior case is relevant (if the facts are materially/substantially the same and if the legal issue is the same the precedent is relevant) and if it comes from a hierarchically superior court in the same jurisdiction
what does cur adv vult stand for
curia advisari vult
what is a ratio decidendi
the principle of law you can take from the decided case
what are material facts
cases are alike if their material facts are alike - they’re the actual facts taken to a suitable level of abstraction that are essential to the decision
what is the issue
abstract question of law
what terms are used for a judges positive treatment of a case
followed, applied, approved, adopted
what terms are used for a judges negative treatment of a case
distinguished, not followed, overruled, doubted, disapproved, criticised
what terms are used for a judges neutral treatment of a case
considered, explained
when is the term followed used
where a court is expressing itself as bound by a previous decision of a court of coordinate or superior jurisdiction where facts are materially similar
when is the term applied used
where a court applies the principles of a previous decision to the case before it where the facts are materially different
when is the term approved used
where a court approves the decision of a previous court of inferior jurisdiction
when is the term adopted used
using a case from an overseas jurisdiction and adopting it into NZ law
when is the term distinguished used
where a court decides not to follow a previous decision, even where it would otherwise be bound by it, because there is some salient difference
when is the term not followed used
when a court has declined to follow a decision of a court of coordinate jurisdiction where the facts are similar
when is the term overruled used
when a court decides a previous decision of a court of inferior jurisdiction in unrelated proceedings is wrong
when are the terms doubted, disapproved or criticised used
where a court disagrees with a previous decision but it is either not necessary for the purpose of the case before it to overrule the decision or in the case of co-ordinate courts does not have the power to overrule
when is the term considered used
where a court considers a previous decision but does not actually follow, apply, distinguish etc.
when is the term explained used
where a court interprets and states what a previous decision means
when is analogical reasoning used
comparing similarities and differences because like cases should be treated alike
what is the IRAC structure
introduction, issue, relevant law, application of the law to the facts, conclusion
describe Armory v Delamirie
chimney sweep boy found ring on the street and carried it into the defendant jewellery shop. an apprentice in the shop took out the stones and gave him back the empty socket
what are the material facts of armory
- Lost item
- Finder
- True owner could not
be found
what is the issue of armory
Whether the finder of an item can claim it as his/her property against all others when the true owner cannot be found?
what is the ratio of armory
The finder of an item can claim it as his/her property against all others when the true owner cannot be found.
describe bridges
found banknotes on the floor of a shop and handed the notes to the shopkeeper. the shopkeeper advertised in the newspaper to try find the true owner but was unsuccessful. bridges came back 3 years later to get the notes back
what is hawkesworth’s argument in the bridges v hawkesworth case
that the lost item was in his possession at the time because it was found in his shop
what is bridges’ argument in the bridges v hawkesworth case
that ownership of the place where the item was found does not give the owner rights to the lost item. he found the money and therefore had greater finder rights
what did Patteson J in Bridges decide
if the shopkeeper had any right to the money it must have accrued prior to the finding. the money was never in the custody of protection of the shopkeeper before it was found. the steps taken by the shopkeeper to find the true owner were taken as agent of the finder
who was the judge in Armory
sir john pratt CJ
what were the material facts in bridges v hawkesworth
- a lost item has been found
- owner cannot be found
- place where the item was found was owned by a person
- owner of place did not have item in his/her protection
what was the issue in bridges v hawkesworth
Whether the owner of the place where a lost item is found acquires a better right to it than the finder (when the true owner cannot be found), when the lost item is not in his/her custody or within the protection of his/her property, before it is found?
what was the ratio in bridges v hawkesworth
The owner of the place where a lost item is found does not acquire a better right to it than the finder (when the true owner cannot be found), when the lost item is not in his/her custody or within the protection of his/her property, before it is found.
what is obiter dictum
“a statement of a judge on a point of law that is not essential to the decision of the case before him or her”
describe elwes v brigg gas company
the landlord leased to brigg gas company for 99 years. when the gas company was excavating to erect the gas holder brigg found a prehistoric boat under the surface. the existence of the boat was unknown to the landlord/owner elwes
who did the prehistoric boat in elwes v brigg gas company go to
the owner