Potter v Canada Square Operations Ltd

Subject Matter

LIMITATION OF ACTION — Breach of duty — Concealment of facts — Loan agreement and related payment protection insurance policy — Lender receiving secret commission — Whether duty to disclose — Whether deliberate concealment — Consumer Credit Act 1974 (c 39), s 140A (as inserted) — Limitation Act 1980 (c 58), s 32(1)(2)

[2020] EWHC 672 (QB); [2020] 4 All ER 1114; [2020] 2 All ER (Comm) 984, QBD

LIMITATION OF ACTION — Breach of duty — Concealment of facts — Credit relationship between claimant and defendant unfair because of defendant’s failure to disclose fact and extent of commission payment — Claimant becoming aware of commission more than six years after end of credit relationship — Whether claimant’s claim for statutory remedy time-barred — Whether commencement of limitation period postponed on basis facts “deliberately concealed” by defendant — Whether non-disclosure of commission amounting to concealment — Whether defendant deliberately committing “breach of duty” so as to give rise to concealment — Whether recklessness sufficient to establish requisite mental element for deliberateness — Consumer Credit Act 1974 (c 39), s 140A — Limitation Act 1980 (c 58), s 32(1)(2)

[2021] EWCA Civ 339; [2022] QB 1; [2021] 3 WLR 777; [2021] 4 All ER 1036; [2021] 2 All ER (Comm) 1319, CA

LIMITATION OF ACTION — Breach of duty — Concealment of facts — Credit relationship between claimant and defendant unfair because of defendant’s failure to disclose fact and extent of commission payment — Claimant becoming aware of commission payment more than six years after end of credit relationship — Whether claimant’s claim for statutory remedy time-barred — Whether commencement of limitation period postponed on basis that facts “deliberately concealed” by defendant — Whether non-disclosure of commission amounting to concealment — Whether defendant deliberately committing “breach of duty” so as to give rise to concealment — Whether recklessness sufficient to establish requisite mental element of deliberateness — Consumer Credit Act 1974 (c 39), s 140A — Limitation Act 1980 (c 58), s 32(1)(2)

[2023] UKSC 41; [2024] AC 679; [2023] 3 WLR 963; [2024] 1 All ER 843; [2024] 2 All ER (Comm) 203, SC(E)

Appellate History

Commentary

Nearly Legal
A bundle of case notes Case comment

RPC Perspectives
When can "deliberate concealment" postpone limitation periods? Case comment

New Square Chambers
Supreme Court clarified the meaning of a relevant fact being “deliberately concealed”, with reference to the postponement of limitation by s.32 Limitation Act 1980. Case comment

Henderson Chambers
In upholding the Court of Appeal’s outcome, the Supreme Court has fundamentally reformulated the approach to s.32 of the Limitation Act 1980. Case comment

Blackstones Civil Practice 2023
Fraud, Concealment and Mistake - Concealment 10.57

Unfair Relationships - Concept of unfair relationship 90.19