Gibson v Manchester City Council
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Gibson v Manchester City Council [1979] 1 All E.R.972 is a 1978 English contract law case, heard by the House of Lords.
The plaintiff wished to purchase his council property. The defendant (Manchester City Council) provided a price of sale. The plaintiff made a counter-offer. At the time of the counter-offer, a change in political control of the council (from the Conservative Party to the Labour Party) resulted in the council's decision to take the council property off the market. The plaintiff sued, arguing that he had accepted the offer of sale and that the council had breached the contract by withdrawing the property from the market.
The plaintiff's action failed. The court held that the plaintiff's initial response was not a clear and unconditional acceptance of the defendant's offer. No contract had been formed and by extension the council had not been in breach.
[edit] References
- Gibson v Manchester City Council [1979] 1 All E.R. 972, available on Westlaw UK (requires login)
