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The Ratio Of A Case

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Q1. In any court case the judgement given will contain the reason that a decision has been made, this is known as the ratio decidendi. The ratio decidendi in a case is the binding part of the Judge 's decision and is to be relied upon in future. In almost all cases the Judge will also make further comment or explanation as to their decision, this is not always based on current law nor will it relate to the facts of the case and is usually part of an opinion. These additional comments that do not form part of the ratio decidendi are know as obiter dictum. The ratio decidendi is the legal rule, the obiter dictum are the judges supporting comments. In the case of Carlil -v- Carbollic Smoke Ball Co Limited (1892), the Claimant sued the …show more content…

3. Use of the smoke bomb is considered to have caused inconvience to the Claimant and can therefore deemed to be consideration to the contract. The terms of the contract were therefore met and completed by the Claimant 4. The Plaintiff argued that the advertisement was 'mere puff '. However their claims were shown to be backed by way of depositing monies in an account which they indicated would be used to provide the reward to ay such Claimant. This showed the intent to complete the contract. The ratio decidendi, or the reason for the decision therefore is that a contract was offered, entered into, complied with and the none payment of the promised £100 therefore breached the terms of the contract. One of the Judges made further comment to explain the decision that had been made further. A legal answer was given but not using the facts of this case and this was the obiter dictum. The example given related to the reasoning by forming a similar argument by example. "If I advertise to the world that my dog is lost, and that anybody who brings the dog to a particular place will be paid some money, are all the police or other persons whose business it is to find lost dogs to be expected to sit down and write me a note saying that they have accepted my proposal? Why, of course, they at once look

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