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Mistaken gifts after Pitt v Holt

Abstract:
In Pitt v Holt [2013] UKSC 26, the Supreme Court ruled on the conditions under which a voluntary deed can be set aside for spontaneous mistake. This article explores the ramifications of the decision for the law of mistaken gifts more generally. It examines the suggestion that Pitt v Holt establishes (or confirms the existence of) a special restitutionary regime for all gift transactions, as well as the alternative interpretation which regards Pitt v Holt as concerning only the equitable remedy of rescission, leaving common law claims unaffected. Drawing on the experience of other legal systems, the article argues that English law should not develop a special law of gifts nor cement the historical dividing line between common law and equity, but should instead use Pitt v Holt as a trigger and catalyst for rationalizing the evolving ordinary law of unjust enrichment.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Files:
Publisher copy:
10.1093/clp/cuu010

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
Social Sciences Division
Department:
Law
Role:
Author


Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Journal:
Current Legal Problems More from this journal
Volume:
67
Issue:
1
Pages:
333-372
Publication date:
2014-08-20
Acceptance date:
2014-06-11
DOI:
EISSN:
2044-8422
ISSN:
0070-1998


Keywords:
Pubs id:
pubs:724384
UUID:
uuid:c73ac70b-5edb-41c3-ad00-604bdac66871
Local pid:
pubs:724384
Source identifiers:
724384
Deposit date:
2017-08-28

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