Erith Holdings Ltd & Ors v Murphy

Erith Holdings Ltd & Ors v Murphy

The Works Agreement was between Erith Holdings and MWL, not Mr Murphy personally. There was no enforceable personal guarantee or indemnity by Mr Murphy, and the loan was made to MWL. No clear admission of personal liability was made by Mr Murphy or his solicitors. The existence of a contract with MWL precluded a claim for unjust enrichment against Mr Murphy.

Parties
Claimant: Erith Holdings Limited; Claimant: Erith Haulage Company Limited; Claimant: Erith Plant Services Limited; Defendant: Ronald William Murphy
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
08 June 2017
Procedural Posture
Civil / Judgment After Trial
Outcome
Claim dismissed
Legal Topics
Personal Guarantee, Indemnity, Unjust Enrichment, Oral Contracts, Company Law

Case Brief

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Parties

Erith Holdings Limited

Claimant

Erith Haulage Company Limited

Claimant

Erith Plant Services Limited

Claimant

Ronald William Murphy

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Civil / Judgment After Trial

  1. 1 Was the Works Agreement made with MWL or Mr Murphy personally?
  2. 2 Did the parties enter into a Revised Works Agreement with personal liability for Mr Murphy?
  3. 3 Did Mr Murphy give an enforceable personal indemnity or guarantee?

Ratio Decidendi

The Works Agreement was between Erith Holdings and MWL, not Mr Murphy personally. There was no enforceable personal guarantee or indemnity by Mr Murphy, and the loan was made to MWL. No clear admission of personal liability was made by Mr Murphy or his solicitors. The existence of a contract with MWL precluded a claim for unjust enrichment against Mr Murphy.

Court Disposition

Claim dismissed