Product Description

Known for its clarity and ease of use, "McGregor on Damages" remains one of the most authoritative texts on common law damages. The work encompasses both a thorough review of the general principles involved and detailed consideration of damages in relation to particular contracts and torts. This edition considers the many changes in this area of law since publication of the previous edition in 1988, such as: the decisions of the Court of Appeal and House of Lords in Banque Bruxelles Lambert; developments in exemplary damages; and the appropriate discount rate for multipliers in personal injury cases.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3256567 in Books
• Published on: 2001-11-29
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback

Review
The most authoritative text on common law damages. The Law Society's Gazette, on a previous edition

Customer Reviews

The primary reference tool for all aspects of damages
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R2TN00ZVGKV326 THE PRIMARY REFERENCE TOOL FOR ALL ASPECTS OF DAMAGES

An appreciation by Phillip Taylor MBE and Elizabeth Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers

The sole author of this work for over 50 years, Harvey McGregor QC is widely regarded as the leading authority on damages in the UK, the Commonwealth and beyond -- which is why you cannot afford not to have this the latest 18th edition of this primary reference tool to hand, on the general principles and the particular aspects of common law damages. We are very fortunate to have a man with his knowledge and experience sharing it with us.

Note that it's 6 years since the last edition of "McGregor" was published and as the author points out, 'change has been rife in the interim,' alluding to, for example, certain unattractive rules having been abandoned by the House of Lords, while at the same time, `brakes have been applied to expanding areas.'

As for what exactly constitutes `damages', it's the author's assertion that arriving at a definition of the term has become more and more difficult as time has moved on and that therefore `the search for a clear cut comprehensive definition is therefore abandoned'. He does add that there is a definition which applies generally but not invariably and, in case you're curious, it can be expressed as:

`Damages in the vast majority of cases are the pecuniary compensation, obtainable by success in an action, for a wrong which is either a tort or a breach of contract, the compensation being in the form of a lump sum awarded at one time, unconditionally and in sterling.'

Incorporating and encompassing all the new complexities of an already complex area of law, the new edition of McGregor contains a wealth of new material too extensive to list here, although, in the current political climate, it is irresistible not to mention the new and very topical damages chapter on Invasion of Privacy and Misfeasance in Public Office.

This carefully structured and meticulously compiled work of reference is split into 4 book parts with 46 chapters in about 2000 pages - it's big, heavy and authoritative, and states the law as at the beginning of 2009, although reference to case reports appearing afterwards and before final proof stage of cases included in the text have been added, together with other pertinent addenda. However, if in these competitive times, you need to stay completely up to date to keep on top of your game in an ever changing legal landscape, don't forget those further updates which are produced regularly from Sweet and Maxwell!

To end where McGregor begins, his Preface states "life for the legal author is not as easy as it used to be" (weight of authorities/lengthy judgments). However, Harvey McGregor has made life easy for us as the users, finding our way out of the myriad complexities of the law of damages...and we are all the better for his shared expertise as another cornerstone of the Common Law Library.

ISBN: 978-1-847-03498-4