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Parker v Clark

Parker v Clark 1960 1 WLR 286 is an English contract law case concerning reliance and creation of legal relations in a social type of agreement. It is cited frequently in horn books, case books, and Cliff Notes-type of l

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152
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1055 characters
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84%
Revision
1326757180 · 2025-12-10T18:26:33Z
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their6 uses in this article would5 uses in this article contract3 uses in this article house3 uses in this article daughter2 uses in this article reliance2 uses in this article English2 uses in this article Parker2 uses in this article books2 uses in this article leave2 uses in this article Quasi-contract1 uses in this article Detrimental1 uses in this article concerning1 uses in this article frequently1 uses in this article agreement1 uses in this article assurance1 uses in this article detriment1 uses in this article creation1 uses in this article assured1 uses in this article balance1 uses in this article

Overview

Parker v Clark 1960 1 WLR 286 is an English contract law case concerning reliance and creation of legal relations in a social type of agreement. It is cited frequently in horn books, case books, and Cliff Notes-type of law school study guides.

Facts

The Clarks, an elderly couple, invited their niece and her husband, the Parkers to live with them. The Parkers said they would like to, but it would mean they would have to sell their own house. The Clarks assured the Parkers that in doing so they would leave a share of the Clark house to Mrs Parker, and her daughter, in their will. The Parkers sold their house, lent the balance of the money to their daughter, who in turn bought a flat. Then the Parkers moved in. But they fell out. The Clarks asked them to leave, and the Parkers sued for breach of contract.

Judgment

Devlin J held that the Clarks were liable for damages to the Parkers given that the Parkers had relied to their detriment on the assurance of the Clarks that they would have a place to stay.

See also

*Detrimental reliance *English contract law *Quasi-contract

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