Source: http://smartleges.com/en/law-library/torts-interference-with-goods-act-1977-1977-c-32/2018432
Timestamp: 2017-04-26 13:44:29
Document Index: 339133154

Matched Legal Cases: ['art. 2', 'art. 3', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'art. 68', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'art. 68', 'art. 2', 'art. 3']

Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977, 1977 c. 32, Version 22/04/2014
TORTS (INTERFERENCE WITH GOODS) ACT 1977UK Public General ActsVersion 22/04/20141977 CHAPTER 32
Default Geographical Extent: E+W+N.I.	Summary
Preliminary Detention of goods Damages Liability to two or more claimants Conversion and trespass to goods Uncollected goods Supplemental (E+W+S+N.I.)	Version 22/04/2014
1977 CHAPTER 32
An Act to amend the law concerning conversion and other torts affecting goods.
[22nd July 1977] Annotations:
I1 Act not in force at Royal Assent see s.17(2); Act wholly in force at 01.01.1981.
Preliminary 1 Definition of “wrongful interference with goods”.
In this Act “ wrongful interference” , or “ wrongful interference with goods” , means—
(a) conversion of goods (also called trover) ,
(b) trespass to goods,
(c) negligence so far at it results in damage to goods or to an interest in goods.
(d) subject to section 2, any other tort so far as it results in damage to goods or to an interest in goods.
[F1 and references in this Act (however worded) to proceedings for wrongful interference or to a claim or right to a claim for wrongful interference shall include references to proceedings by virtue of Part I of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 [F2 or Part II of the Consumer Protection (Northern Ireland) Order 1987] (product liability) in respect of any damage to goods or to an interest in goods or, as the case may be, to a claim or right to claim by virtue of that Part in respect of any such damage.] Annotations:
F1 Words inserted after paragraph (d) by Consumer Protection Act 1987 (c. 43, SIF 109:1), ss. 41(2), 47(1)(2), 48, Sch. 4 para. 5
F2 Words inserted by S.I. 1987/2049 (N.I. 20), arts. 1(5), 35(1), Sch. 3 para. 3
Detention of goods 2 Abolition of detinue.
(1) Detinue is abolished.
(2) An action lies in conversion for loss or destruction of goods which a bailee has allowed to happen in breach of his duty to his bailor (that is to say it lies in a case which is not otherwise conversion, but would have been detinue before detinue was abolished).
3 Form of judgment where goods are detained.
(1) In proceedings for wrongful interference against a person who is in possession or in control of the goods relief may be given in accordance with this section, so far as appropriate.
(2) The relief is—
(a) an order for delivery of the goods, and for payment of any consequential damages, or
(b) an order for delivery of the goods, but giving the defendant the alternative of paying damages by reference to the value of the goods, together in either alternative with payment of any consequential damages, or
(c) damages.
(3) Subject to rules of court—
(a) relief shall be given under only one of paragraphs (a) , (b) and (c) of subsection (2) ,
(b) relief under paragraph (a) of subsection (2) is at the discretion of the court, and the claimant may choose between the others.
(4) If it is shown to the satisfaction of the court that an order under subsection (2) (a) has not been complied with, the court may—
(a) revoke the order, or the relevant part of it, and
(b) make an order for payment of damages by reference to the value of the goods.
(5) Where an order is made under subsection (2) (b) the defendant may satisfy the order by returning the goods at any time before execution of judgment, but without prejudice to liability to pay any consequential damages.
(6) An order for delivery of the goods under subsection (2) (a) or (b) may impose such conditions as may be determined by the court, or pursuant to rules of court, and in particular, where damages by reference to the value of the goods would not be the whole of the value of the goods, may require an allowance to be made by the claimant to reflect the difference.
(7) Where under subsection (1) or subsection (2) of section 6 an allowance is to be made in respect of an improvement of the goods, and an order is made under subsection (2) (a) or (b) , the court may assess the allowance to be made in respect of the improvement, and by the order require, as a condition for delivery of the goods, that allowance to be made by the claimant.
(8) This section is without prejudice—
(a) to the remedies afforded by section 133 of the M1 Consumer Credit Act 1974, or
(b) to the remedies afforded by sections 35, 42 and 44 of the M2 Hire-Purchase Act 1965, or to those sections of the M3 Hire-Purchase Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 (so long as those sections respectively remain in force) , or
(c) to any jurisdiction to afford ancillary or incidental relief.
M1 1974 c. 39. M2 1965 c. 66. M3 1966 c. 42 (N.I.) 4 Interlocutory relief where goods are detained.
(1) In this section “proceedings” means proceedings for wrongful interference.
(2) On the application of any person in accordance with rules of court, the High Court shall, in such circumstances as may be specified in the rules, have power to make an order providing for the delivery up of any goods which are or may become the subject matter of subsequent proceedings in the court, or as to which any question may arise in proceedings.
(3) Delivery shall be, as the order may provide, to the claimant or to a person appointed by the court for the purpose, and shall be on such terms and conditions as may be specified in the order.
(4) The power to make rules of court [F3 for the High Court in England and Wales] F4 ... F5 ... or under section 7 of the M4 Northern Ireland Act 1962 shall include power to make rules of court as to the manner in which an application for such an order can be made, and as to the circumstances in which such an order can be made; and any such rules may include such incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions as the authority making the rules may consider necessary or expedient.
(5) The preceding provisions of this section shall have effect in relation to county courts[F6 in Northern Ireland] as they have effect in relation to the High Court [F7 in Northern Ireland ] , and as if in those provisions references to rules of court and to F8 ... F8 ... F8 ... F8 ... F8 ... F8 ... F8 ... section 7 of the Northern Ireland Act 1962 included references to county court rules and to F8 ...[F9 Article 47 of the County Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1980] .
[F10 (6) Subsections (1) to (4) have effect in relation to the county court in England and Wales as they have effect in relation to the High Court in England and Wales.] [F11 (6) Subsections (1) to (4) apply in relation to the family court in England and Wales as they apply in relation to the High Court in England and Wales, but as if references in those subsections to rules of court (including references to rules of court under any particular enactment) were references to Family Procedure Rules.] Annotations:
F3 Words in s. 4(4) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 133(a)(i); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
F4 Words in s. 4(4) omitted (22.4.2014) by virtue of Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 133(a)(iii); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
F5 Words in s. 4(4) omitted (22.4.2014) by virtue of Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 133(a)(ii); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
F6 Words in s. 4(5) inserted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 133(b)(i); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
F7 Words in s. 4(5) inserted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 133(b)(ii); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
F8 Words in s. 4(5) omitted (22.4.2014) by virtue of Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 133(b)(iiii); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
F9 Words substituted by S.I. 1980/397 (N.I. 3), art. 68(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II
F10 S. 4(6) inserted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 133(c); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
F11 S. 4(6) inserted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 10 para. 37; S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(d) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
M4 1962 c. 30. Damages 5 Extinction of title on satisfaction of claim for damages.
(1) Where damages for wrongful interference are, or would fall to be, assessed on the footing that the claimant is being compensated—
(a) for the whole of his interest in the goods, or
(b) for the whole of his interest in the goods subject to a reduction for contributory negligence,
payment of the assessed damages (under all heads) , or as the case may be settlement of a claim for damages for the wrong (under all heads) , extinguishes the claimant’s title to that interest.
(2) In subsection (1) the reference to the settlement of the claim includes—
(a) where the claim is made in court proceedings, and the defendant has paid a sum into court to meet the whole claim, the taking of that sum by the claimant, and
(b) where the claim is made in court proceedings, and the proceedings are settled or compromised, the payment of what is due in accordance with the settlement or compromise, and
(c) where the claim is made out of court and is settled or compromised, the payment of what is due in accordance with the settlement or compromise.
(3) It is hereby declared that subsection (1) does not apply where damages are assessed on the footing that the claimant is being compensated for the whole of his interest in the goods, but the damages paid are limited to some lesser amount by virtue of any enactment or rule of law.
(4) Where under section 7(3) the claimant accounts over to another person (the “third party”) so as to compensate (under all heads) the third party for the whole of his interest in the goods, the third party’s title to that interest is extinguished.
(5) This section has effect subject to any agreement varying the respective rights of the parties to the agreement, and where the claim is made in court proceedings has effect subject to any order of the court.
6 Allowance for improvement of the goods.
(1) If in proceedings for wrongful interference against a person (the “improver”) who has improved the goods, it is shown that the improver acted in the mistaken but honest belief that he had a good title to them, an allowance shall be made for the extent to which, at the time as at which the goods fall to be valued in assessing damages, the value of the goods is attributable to the improvement.
(2) If, in proceedings for wrongful interference against a person (“the purchaser”) who has purported to purchase the goods—
(a) from the improver, or
(b) where after such a purported sale the goods passed by a further purported sale on one or more occasions, on any such occasion,
(3) If in a case within subsection (2) the person purporting to sell the goods acted in good faith, then in proceedings by the purchaser for recovery of the purchase price because of failure of consideration, or in any other proceedings founded on that failure of consideration, an allowance shall, where appropriate, be made on the principle set out in subsection (1).
(4) This section applies, with the necessary modifications, to a purported bailment or other disposition of goods as it applies to a purported sale of goods.
Liability to two or more claimants 7 Double liability.
(1) In this section “ double liability” means the double liability of the wrongdoer which can arise—
(a) where one of two or more rights of action for wrongful interference is founded on a possessory title, or
(b) where the measure of damages in an action for wrongful interference founded on a proprietary title is or includes the entire value of the goods, although the interest is one of two or more interests in the goods.
(2) In proceedings to which any two or more claimants are parties, the relief shall be such as to avoid double liability of the wrongdoer as between those claimants.
(3) On satisfaction, in whole or in part, of any claim for an amount exceeding that recoverable if subsection (2) applied, the claimant is liable to account over to the other person having a right to claim to such extent as will avoid double liability.
(4) Where, as the result of enforcement of a double liability, any claimant is unjustly enriched to any extent, he shall be liable to reimburse the wrongdoer to that extent.
For example, if a converter of goods pays damages first to a finder of the goods, and then to the true owner, the finder is unjustly enriched unless he accounts over to the true owner under subsection (3) ; and then the true owner is unjustly enriched and becomes liable to reimburse the converter of the goods.
8 Competing rights to the goods.
(1) The defendant in an action for wrongful interference shall be entitled to show, in accordance with rules of court, that a third party has a better right than the plaintiff as respects all or any part of the interest claimed by the plaintiff, or in right of which he sues, and any rule of law (sometimes called jus tertii) to the contrary is abolished.
(2) Rules of court relating to proceedings for wrongful interference may—
(a) require the plaintiff to give particulars of his title,
(b) require the plaintiff to identify any person who, to his knowledge, has or claims any interest in the goods,
(c) authorise the defendant to apply for directions as to whether any person should be joined with a view to establishing whether he has a better right than the plaintiff, or has a claim as a result of which the defendant might be doubly liable,
(d) where a party fails to appear on an application within paragraph (c) , or to comply with any direction given by the court on such an application, authorise the court to deprive him of any right of action against the defendant for the wrong either unconditionally, or subject to such terms or conditions as may be specified.
(3) Subsection (2) is without prejudice to any other power of making rules of court.
9 Concurrent actions.
(1) This section applies where goods are the subject of two or more claims for wrongful interference (whether or not the claims are founded on the same wrongful act, and whether or not any of the claims relates also to other goods).
(2) Where goods are the subject of two or more claims under section 6 this section shall apply as if any claim under section 6(3) were a claim for wrongful interference.
(3) If proceedings have been brought[F12 in England and Wales in the county court or in Northern Ireland] in a county court on one of those claims, [F13 rules of court or ] county court rules may waive, or allow a court to waive, any limit (financial or territorial) on the jurisdiction of county courts in [F14 the County Courts Act 1984] or the County Courts [F15 (Northern Ireland) Order 1980] so as to allow another of those claims to be brought in the [F16 same] court.
(4) If proceedings are brought on one of the claims in the High Court, and proceedings on any other are brought [F12 in England and Wales in the county court or in Northern Ireland] in a county court, whether prior to the High Court proceedings or not, the High Court may, on the application of the defendant, after notice has been given to the claimant in the county court proceedings—
(a) order that the county court proceedings be transferred to the High Court, and
(b) order security for costs or impose such other terms as the court thinks fit.
F12 S. 9(3): words inserted after "brought" (semble, where it first occurs) and s. 9(4): words inserted after "brought" (semble where it second occurs) (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 133(d); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
F13 Words in s. 9(3) inserted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 133(e)(i); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
F14 Words substituted by County Courts Act 1984 (c. 28, SIF 34), s. 148(1), Sch. 2 para. 65
F15 Words substituted by S.I. 1980/397 (N.I. 3), art. 68(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II
F16 Word in s. 9(3) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 133(e)(ii); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
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