Misrepresentation and Misstatement Flashcards
Smith v Land and House Property Corporation
Although prima facie the plaintiffs’ statements concerning a tenant appeared to be an opinion, their expression involved the implied assertion of a factual basis for its making [of the contract]
Bisset v Wilkinson
Statements of opinion or belief - expressing an opinion or belief can not be actionable as misrep, it must have purported to be fact
Edgington v Fitzmaurice
Statements of future intention - this was fraudulent when claiming to do one thing with the money when it was actually used to pay creditor’s, however, it is difficult to extend this ratio beyond wilful lies, i.e. fraudulent misrep – generally statements of future conduct are not misrep
Pankhania v Hackney Borough Council
The HL in Kleinwort abolished the rule that a mistake of law is not actionable - applied here - difficult to distinguish though between misrep of law and misrep of fact cf. Solle v Butcher
Hands v Simpson Fawcett
Generally, silence cannot amount to misrep
Tapp v Lee
A statement which is half true may be actionable for misrep
Keates v The Earl of Cadogan
The D had not given any warranty or representation concerning the habitability of the house and it therefore did not amount to deceit - this fits well with Smith v Hughes and the oats
With v O’Flanagan
Where the D has done something that creates a positive impression in the mind of the other, and it is later rendered misleading in changing circumstances, this will amount to misrep - a representation continues until the conclusion of the contract
Dimmock v Hallett
Statements that are technically true can be misrep if they withhold information, or, what they imply is false
Spice Girls v Aprilia World Service
Conduct can have the same effect as Dimmock, even though what was represented was technically true, there was an implied assumption that all 5 members of the Spice Girls would be present and withholding Geri’s departure amounted to misrep
Museprime Properties v Adhill Properties
Where a representation is not material, it is suggested that the probative burden lies on the representee to show that he did in fact rely on it
Attwood v Small
Reliance - The buyers had relied on the statements made by their advisors, not the contracting party’s and it was therefore not actionable — materiality and reliance is the reasonable man test
Redgrave v Hurd
Even though documents were shown proving the P’s misrep, the D was under not duty to inspect them and was free to instead rely on the P’s representations, which were false - the rep were material and the D had relied upon it - NB contributory negligence now, however
Smith v Chadwick
If C was unaware of the misrep at the time of the contract or was aware but it can be proved that it clearly did not affect his judgment then no liability
Hedley Byrne & Co v Heller & Partners
Enlarged a duty of care when providing advice, which a party relies upon to its subsequent detriment, when a ‘special relationship’ occurs - unlike misrep statements of opinion, belief, etc can be negligent misstatements
