Equity and Law
Fusion and Fission

Leading Anglo-American scholars assess the significance of the fusion of law and equity from comparative, doctrinal, historical and theoretical perspectives.

John C. P. Goldberg (Edited by), Henry E. Smith (Edited by), P. G. Turner (Edited by)

9781108431750, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 11 November 2021

481 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.4 cm, 0.697 kg

The fusion of law and equity in common law systems was a crucial moment in the development of the modern law. Common law and equity were historically the two principal sources of rules and remedies in the judge-made law of England, and this bifurcated system travelled to other countries whose legal systems were derived from the English legal system. The division of law and equity - their fission - was a pivotal legal development and is a feature of most common law systems. The fusion of the common law and equity has brought about major structural, institutional and juridical changes within the common law tradition. In this volume, leading scholars undertake historical, comparative, doctrinal and theoretical analysis that aims to shed light on the ways in which law and equity have fused, and the ways in which they have remained distinct even in a 'post-fusion' world.

List of figures
List of tables
List of contributors
Acknowledgements
Table of cases
Table of legislation
List of abbreviations
1. Fusion and theories of equity in common law systems P. G. Turner
Part I. Jurisdictions and Their Institutions: 2. Equity: notes on the American reception Samuel L. Bray
3. The union of law and equity: the United States, 1800–1938 Kellen Funk
4. What did the makers of the judicature acts understand by 'fusion'? Michael Lobban
5. At the crossroads of fusion: British North America/Canada, 1750–2000 Philip Girard
6. Fusion – fission – fusion: pre-judicature equity jurisdiction in New South Wales, 1824–1972 Mark Leeming
7. Fusion without fission: equity and the judicature acts in colonial Victoria James Mccomish
8. Are equity and law in Scotland fused, separate or intertwined? Daniel J. Carr
Part II. Fusion and Fission in Doctrine and Practice: 9. Equity and the common counts: the development of the action for money had and received Ben Kremer
10. Mistake and unfairness in contract law Stephen Waddams
11. Lex Sequitur Equitatem: fusion and the penalty doctrine P. G. Turner
12. Rediscovering the equitable origins of discovery: the 'blending' of law and equity prior to fusion Patricia I. Mcmahon
Part III. Functional, Analytical and Theoretical Views: 13. Wrongful fusion: equity and tort John C. P. Goldberg and Henry E. Smith
14. Avoiding anarchy? Common law vs. equity and Maitland vs. Hohfeld Ben Mcfarlane
15. Equity and the modern mind Emily Sherwin
16. An argument for limited fission Matthew Harding
Conclusion
17. 'Single nature's double name': the unity of law and equity? Dennis Klinck
Index.

Subject Areas: Equity & trusts [LNL], Legal history [LAZ]