Hugh Sims QC and Matthew Brown (instructed by Gordon Dadds ) for the claimants; Neil Hext QC and Hamid Khanbai (instructed by Smithfield Partners ) for the defendant and Part 20 defendant.
The parties were family members who became involved in a dispute over the operation of the Sherlock Holmes museum in Baker Street, London, and in particular the accounting of cash takings from admission receipts. The key issue for the court at the conclusion of the trial was whether or not a contractual settlement had been reached in four actions between the parties.
A binding settlement had been reached between the parties, which was not unenforceable by section 2 of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989. The deputy judge went on to grant the relief to which the parties were entitled on the various actions.