Johnson and Anor v Agnew

[1980] A.C. 367
[1979] 1 All ER 883

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(Judgment by: Lord Scarman)

Between: Johnson and Anor - Respondents
And: Agnew - Appellant

Court:

Judges: Lord Wilberforce
Lord Salmon
Lord Fraser of Tullybelton
Lord Keith of Kinkel

Lord Scarman

Subject References:
VENDOR AND PURCHASER
Specific performance
Alternative remedies
Purchaser's failure to comply with order for specific performance
Sale by mortgagees
Vendors claiming difference between purchase price and sum realised by mortgagees
Alternative claim by vendors for damages

Legislative References:
Chancery Amendment Act 1858 (21 & 22 Vict. c. 27) - s. 2 1

Case References:
Austins of East Ham Ltd v Macey - [1941] Ch 338; 110 LJ Ch 159; 165 LT 47, CA
Barber v Wolfe - [1945] 1 All ER 399; [1945] Ch 187; 114, LJ Ch 149; 172 LT 384, CA
Barker (John) & Co Ltd v Littman - [1941] 2 All ER 537; [1941] Ch 405; 165 LT 340, CA
Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd v Ansell - (1888) 39 Ch D 339; [1886-90] All ER Rep 65; 59 LT 345, CA
Buckland v Farmer & Moody (a firm) - [1978] 3 All ER 929; [1979] 1 WLR 221, CA
Capital and Suburban Properties Ltd v Swycher - [1976] 1 All ER 881; [1976] Ch 319; [1976] 2 WLR 822, CA
Clough v London & North Western Railway Co - (1871) LR 7 Exch 26; [1861-73] All ER Rep 646; 41 LJ Ex 17; 25 LT 708
Ferguson v Wilson - (1866) LR 2 Ch App 77
Grant v Dawkins - [1973] 3 All ER 897; [1973] 1 WLR 1406
Hall v Burnell - [1911] 2 Ch 551
Henty v Schroder - (1879) 12 Ch D 666
Heyman v Darwins Ltd - [1942] 1 All ER 337; [1942] AC 356
Hickman v Haynes - (1875) LR 10 CP 598
Holland v Wiltshire - (1954) 90 CLR 409
Horsler v Zorro - [1975] 1 All ER 584; [1975] Ch 302; [1975] 2 WLR 183
Hutchings v Humphreys - (1885) 54 LJ Ch 650
Hythe Corpn v East - (1866) LR 1 Eq 620
Jackson v De Kadich - [1904] WN 168
Leeds Industrial Co-operative Society Ltd v Slack - [1924] AC 851; [1924] All ER Rep 259
Malhotra v Choudhury p 186, ante - [1978] 3 WLR 825, CA
Mayson v Clouet - [1924] AC 980
McDonald v Dennys Lascelles Ltd - (1933) 48 CLR 457; [1933] ALR 381
McKenna v Richey - [1950] VLR 360
Morel Brothers & Co Ltd v Earl of Westmoreland - [1904] AC 11; [1900-3] All ER Rep 397
Moschi v Lep Air Services Ltd - [1972] 2 All ER 393; [1973] AC 331; [1972] 2 WLR 1175, HL; affg sub nom Lep Air Services Ltd v Rolloswin Investments Ltd [1971] 3 All ER 45; [1971] 1 WLR 934, CA
Ogle v Earl Vane - (1868) LR 3 QB 272
Radford v De Froberville - [1978] 1 All ER 33; [1977] 1 WLR 1262
Rock Portland Cement Co v Wilson - (1882) 52 LJ Ch 214
Scarf v Jardine - (1882) 7 App Cas 345; [1881-5] All ER Rep 651
Sudagar Singh v Nazeer - [1978] 3 All ER 817; [1978] 3 WLR 785
Sweet v Meredith - (1863) 4 Giff 207
United Australia Ltd v Barclays Bank Ltd - [1940] 4 All ER 20; [1941] AC 1
Watson v Cox - (1873) LR 15 Eq 219
Wood (Harold) Brick Co Ltd v Ferris - [1935] 1 KB 613; on appeal [1935] 2 KB 198
Wroth v Tyler - [1973] 1 All ER 897; [1974] Ch 30; [1973] 2 WLR 405

Hearing date: 11-14, 18-20 December 1978
Judgment date: 8 March 1979

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Judgment by:
Lord Scarman

My Lords, I have had the advantage of reading in draft the speech of my noble and learned friend Lord Wilberforce. I agree entirely with his reasoning and conclusions. I agree that the appeal should be dismissed, subject to the variation proposed by Lord Wilberforce in the order of the Court of Appeal.

Appeal dismissed subject to variation of order of Court of Appeal by the substitution of 3 April 1975 for 26 November 1974 as the date by reference to which damages should be assessed.

Appeal dismissed.

Solicitors:  Bircham & Co (for the purchaser); Ward Bowie (for the vendors).

Christine Ivamy, Barrister.