United Kingdom Leading Case uncategorized

Holman v Johnson

(1775) 1 Cowp 341; 98 ER 1120

JurisdictionUnited Kingdom

CourtCourt of King's Bench (Lord Mansfield CJ)

Year1775

StatusBinding authority

Key Principle

Ex turpi causa non oritur actio: no court will lend its aid to a man who founds his cause of action upon an immoral or illegal act; but a plaintiff who has himself done nothing unlawful may recover even though he knew of the defendant's unlawful purpose.

Area of Law

Related Cases

Statoil ASA v Louis Dreyfus Energy Services LP [2008] EWHC 2257 (Comm); [2008] 2 Lloyd's Rep 685; [2008] 2 CLC 520

Statoil ASA v Louis Dreyfus Energy Services LP (The Harriette N) [2008] EWHC 2257 (Comm); [2008] 2 Lloyd's Rep 685; [2009] 1 All ER (Comm) 1035

R v Rahman [2008] UKHL 45; [2009] 1 AC 129; [2008] 3 WLR 264; [2008] 4 All ER 351

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