Sir George Brian Hugh Dillon (2 October 1925 – 22 June 2003) was a British lawyer and judge who served as a

Lord Justice of Appeal A Lord Justice of Appeal or Lady Justice of Appeal is a judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, the court that hears appeals from the High Court of Justice, the Crown Court and other courts and tribunals. A Lord (or Lady) Justice ...

from 1982 to 1994.

Biography

Dillon was born in a naval family, the son of Captain George Crozier Dillon, RN, and the grandson of an admiral. He was educated at

Winchester College Winchester College is a public school (fee-charging independent day and boarding school) in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It was founded by William of Wykeham in 1382 and has existed in its present location ever since. It is the oldest of ...

, where he was a scholar, before proceeding to

New College, Oxford New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1379 by William of Wykeham in conjunction with Winchester College as its feeder school, New College is one of the oldest colleges at ...

, also as a scholar. Initially reading Classics, he switched to law, before joining the

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, ...

in 1943, training at HMS ''Ganges'' before serving in the Far East abroad the destroyer HMS ''Tyrian''. Returning to Oxford after the war, he was called to the bar by Lincoln's Inn in 1948, and acquired a "huge practice" at the Chancery bar. He

took silk In the United Kingdom and in some Commonwealth countries, a King's Counsel (post-nominal initials KC) during the reign of a king, or Queen's Counsel (post-nominal initials QC) during the reign of a queen, is a lawyer (usually a barrister or ...

in 1965 and became head of chambers. He was appointed a judge of the

High Court of Justice The High Court of Justice in London, known properly as His Majesty's High Court of Justice in England, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, are the Senior Courts of England and Wales. Its name is abbreviated as EWHC (Englan ...

, in 1979, assigned to the

Chancery Division The High Court of Justice in London, known properly as His Majesty's High Court of Justice in England, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, are the Senior Courts of England and Wales. Its name is abbreviated as EWHC (Englan ...

and received the customary knighthood. He was promoted to the Court of Appeal in 1982, and was sworn of the Privy Council. He retired in 1994.

Family

Dillon married Alison Lane in 1954; they had two sons and two daughters.

Selected judgments

Lord Justice Dillon's reported cases include: *''

Notcutt v Universal Equipment Co (London) Ltd ''Notcutt v Universal Equipment Co (London) Ltd'' 986ICR 414 is an English contract law and UK labour law case, concerning the frustration of an agreement. Facts Mr Notcutt had a heart attack. The doctor said it was unlikely he would ever work ...

986 Year 986 ( CMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * August 17 – Battle of the Gates of Trajan: Emperor Basil II leads a By ...

ICR 414 *'' R & B Customs Brokers Co Ltd v United Dominions Trust Ltd''

988 Year 988 (Roman numerals, CMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * Fall – Emperor Basil II, supported by a contingent of 6, ...

1 WLR 321 *'' Interfoto Picture Library Ltd v Stiletto Visual Programmes Ltd'' 989QB 433 *''

Hunter v Moss ''Hunter v Moss'' 994 1 WLR 452 is an English trusts law case from the Court of Appeal concerning the certainty of subject matter necessary to form a trust. Moss promised Hunter 50 shares in his company as part of an employment contract, but fa ...

994 Year 994 ( CMXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * September 15 – Battle of the Orontes: Fatimid forces, under Turkish gener ...

1 WLR 452 *''

Vaughan v Barlow Clowes International Ltd ''Vaughan v Barlow Clowes International Ltd'' tracing. Facts The receivers of Barlow Clowes, a failed investment management firm, applied to determine in what order they should distribute assets to the creditors in Portfolios 28 and 68. Contribu ...

991 Year 991 ( CMXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events * March 1: In Rouen, Pope John XV ratifies the first Truce of God, between Æthelred the Unready and Richard I o ...

EWCA Civ 11 -

English trusts law English trust law concerns the protection of assets, usually when they are held by one party for another's benefit. Trusts were a creation of the English law of property and obligations, and share a subsequent history with countries across ...

, concerning tracing *'' Powdrill v Watson'' *''

Re Sevenoaks Stationers (Retail) Ltd ''Re Sevenoaks Stationers (Retail) Ltd'' 991Ch 164 is a UK company law case concerning the test of being unfit to run a company under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 section 6. Facts Mr Cruddas was a chartered accountant and dire ...

'' *'' Harris v Goddard'' *'' Bishopsgate Investment Management Ltd v Homan''

EWCA Civ 33 -

, whether a beneficiary whose fiduciary breaches trust, may trace assets through an overdrawn account to its destination. *'' Abbey National Building Society v Cann'' *''

Multinational Gas and Petrochemical Co v Multinational Gas and Petrochemical Services Ltd ''Multinational Gas and Petrochemical Co v Multinational Gas and Petrochemical Services Ltd'' 983Ch 258 is a leading United Kingdom company law case relating to directors' liability. The case is the principal authority for the proposition that ...

'' *''

Alec Lobb (Garages) Ltd v Total Oil (GB) Ltd is an English contract law case relating to undue influence. Facts Mr. Lobb was the managing director of a small petrol station in South Street, Braintree, Essex. It had to buy petrol only from British branch of French oil company Total S.A. ...

'' *'' Fitzpatrick v British Railways Board''

992 Year 992 ( CMXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Worldwide * Winter – A superflare from the sun causes an Aurora Borealis, with visibility as fa ...

ICR 221,

IRLR 376 -

UK labour law United Kingdom labour law regulates the relations between workers, employers and trade unions. People at work in the UK can rely upon a minimum charter of employment rights, which are found in Acts of Parliament, Regulations, common law and equit ...

, concerning

collective bargaining Collective bargaining is a process of negotiation between employers and a group of employees aimed at agreements to regulate working salaries, working conditions, benefits, and other aspects of workers' compensation and rights for workers. The ...

*''

Nestle v National Westminster Bank plc ''Nestle v National Westminster Bank plc'' 992EWCA Civ 12is an English trusts law case concerning the duty of care when a trustee is making an investment. Facts A testator died in 1922 and named his widow, two sons and wives and one grandchild ...

EWCA Civ 12,

993 Year 993 ( CMXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Spring – The 12-year-old King Otto III gives the Sword of Saints Cosmas and Damian ...

1 WLR 1260 -

case concerning the

duty of care In tort law, a duty of care is a legal obligation that is imposed on an individual, requiring adherence to a standard of reasonable care while performing any acts that could foreseeably harm others. It is the first element that must be establ ...

when a trustee is making an investment.

Footnotes

References

Obituary - ''Daily Telegraph''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dillon, Brian 20th-century English judges 1925 births 2003 deaths Alumni of New College, Oxford People educated at Sandroyd School People educated at Winchester College Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom Knights Bachelor Lords Justices of Appeal Chancery Division judges Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II