Boone v Eyre

Boone v Eyre
Citation(s)	(1777) 1 H Bl 273 is
Keywords
Slavery, forced labour, contract

Boone v Eyre (1777) 1 H Bl 273 is an English contract law case, concerning the concept of a "condition precedent".

Facts

The plaintiff sued the defendant for not paying a £160 annuity (for life) for a plantation in the West Indies that came with a group of slaves, after an initial payment of £500. The defendant contended that when the plaintiff made the deed, the plaintiff did not lawfully possess the slaves, and therefore had no good title. Therefore, the defendant was arguing he had the right to terminate the agreement and cease performance.

Judgment

Lord Mansfield said the following.

The distinction is very clear. Where mutual covenants go to the whole of the consideration on both sides they are mutual conditions, the one precedent to the other. But where they go only to a part, where a breach may be paid for in damages, there the defendant has a remedy on his covenant and shall not plead it as a condition precedent. If this plea were to be allowed, any one negro not being the property of the plaintiff would bar the action.

See also

• English contract law
• UK labour law