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Home Office v Harman

Hearings

England & Wales

27 Nov 1980 [1981] QB 534; [1981] 2 WLR 310; The Times, 28 November 1980, QBD (Park J)

06 Feb 1981 [1981] QB 534; [1981] 2 WLR 310; [1981] 2 All ER 349, CA (Lord Denning M.R., Templeman and Dunn L.JJ)

09 Apr 1981 (appn all) [1981] 1 WLR 529, HL(E)

28 Jan 1981 [1983] 1 AC 280; [1982] 2 WLR 338; [1982] 1 All ER 532, HL(E)

Additional names

Harman v Secretary of State for the Home Department

Subject Matter

CONTEMPT OF COURT — Solicitor — Disclosure of documents — Solicitor's implied undertaking not to use documents disclosed on discovery except for purposes of litigation — Confidential documents disclosed and read in court at trial — Solicitor allowing journalist access to documents after trial for purpose of writing feature article — Whether breach of implied undertaking

[1981] QB 534; [1981] 2 WLR 310; [1981] 2 All ER 349, CA

[1983] 1 AC 280; [1982] 2 WLR 338; [1982] 1 All ER 532, HL(E)

Appellate History

Home Office v Harman [1981] QB 534; [1981] 2 WLR 310; The Times, 28 November 1980, QBD

Decision of Park J affirmed

Home Office v Harman [1981] QB 534; [1981] 2 WLR 310; [1981] 2 All ER 349, CA

Decision of the Court of Appeal affirmed

Home Office v Harman [1983] 1 AC 280; [1982] 2 WLR 338; [1982] 1 All ER 532, HL(E)

Commentary

Blackstones Criminal Practice 2025
Contempt of Court in Respect of Criminal Proceedings - Nature of Contempt B14.85

Blackstones Civil Practice 2023
Waiver of Privilege 50.122

Waiver of Privilege - Injunctions to restrain use of privileged material 50.125

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