Sunday, May 28, 2006

Carbolic Smoke Ball Co.

Anyone who has ever studied law will have come across the case of Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Company. I received an email from a new Carbolic Smoke Ball Co. that is selling gifts for lawyers. This post is nothing but blatant advertising for the Carbolic Smoke Ball Co., but if you are after a quirky legal gift then look no further.

4 comments:

Gavin Whenman said...

Didn't the judgment in Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Company come out AGAINST the Carbolic Smoke Ball Company? Odd choice for a name... but yes, very well known!

Anonymous said...

Yes indeed a famous case, but as so often the what happens next is usually unknown, but I have seen a scan of an advert post dating the case (where the Carbolic Somke Ball Co were genrally slated for sharp practice). The Carbolic Smoke Ball Co has now become The Carbolic Smoke Ball Co Ltd; the advert is worded in terms of how only three people claimed the £100 reward so "proving" the effectiveness of the remedy (strangely not mentioning that they fought tooth and nail in court to avoid paying the £100). They also increased the reward to £200, but attach a lot of onerous conditions in the small print, conditions which they tried to argue for in the case, but were absent from their original advert.

They also market a carbolic smoke ball aimed at dogs.

Anonymous said...

My Equity and trusts lecturer has a copy (I think it's a copy anyway) of the original advert. He has a lot of legal historical paraphenalia in his office it has kept me entertained for many a tutorial.

Love the blog by the way. I'm hoping to become a barrister but I've got a few relatives who are solictors (they do tax law though which is isn't half as much fun) Maybe I'll come acroos you someday... I'm looking to practice criminal law when I qualify

Charley

motoring solicitors said...

I just notice the Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Company case. thanks