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United Kingdom illegalitypublic policy

Richardson v Mellish

(1824) 2 Bing 229; 130 ER 294
JurisdictionUnited Kingdom
CourtCourt of Common Pleas (England)
Year1824
StatusBinding authority

Key Principle

A contract will not be struck down as contrary to public policy unless its illegality is clear and unquestionable; public policy is 'a very unruly horse' to be invoked only with great caution, and a court should not refuse to enforce an otherwise valid agreement on speculative public-policy grounds.

Area of Law

General

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