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On appeal from: [2014] EWCA Civ 682

The issue before the Supreme Court was the quantification of riot compensation claims, including a question of statutory construction: whether persons who suffer loss when rioters destroy their property can in principle obtain compensation for consequential losses, including loss of profits and loss of rent, under Riot (Damages) Act 1886, s 2.

Held: when regard is had to the words of the 1886 Act in the context of its legislative history, there is no reason to think that Parliament ever intended that the statutory compensation scheme should mirror the rioters’ liability in tort, or should develop as the law of damages for tort developed. The Act, like its predecessors, sets out a self-contained statutory compensation scheme which does not extend to cover consequential losses.

For judgment, please download: [2015] UKSC 18
For Court’s press summary, please download: Court’s Press Summary
For a non-PDF version of the judgment, please visit: BAILII

To watch the hearing, please visit: Supreme Court website (21 Jan 2016 morning session), (21 Jan 2016 afternoon session)