Reviewed case brief

Bell v. Lever Bros Ltd

[1932] AC 161

[1932] AC 161 · House of Lords (UK)

common-mistakefundamental-mistakequality-of-subject-matter
Court
House of Lords (UK)
Year
1932
Subjects
Law of Contract I
Reviewed
2026-08-02

Rule established

A common mistake as to a quality of the subject matter of a contract renders the contract void only if the mistake is so fundamental as to make the subject matter essentially different from what the parties believed it to be.

Facts

    Issues

      Held

        Ratio decidendi

        How to use it in an exam

        Editorial source

        [1932] AC 161

        Educational summary only. Read the reported judgment or an authorised law report before relying on the case professionally.