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United Kingdom disclosureimplied undertakingcontempt of court

Harman v Home Office

[1983] 1 AC 280
JurisdictionUnited Kingdom
CourtHouse of Lords
Year1983
StatusBinding authority

Key Principle

A litigant, and the solicitor acting, who obtains documents from the opposing party on discovery is subject to an implied undertaking to the court to use them only for the purposes of the litigation, and (on the view of the majority) that undertaking is not discharged merely because the documents have been read out or referred to in open court.

Area of Law

General

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