The Schoolmaster's Case

Court of Common Pleas of England

Y.B. Hilary 11 Hen. 4 (1410)

Relevant factsFree

A grammar-school teacher (defendant) opened a competing school in Gloucester without obtaining a grant from the Prior, charging students 12 pence compared to the established Grammar School's 40-pence fee. Employees of the Grammar School (plaintiffs), which held a franchise from the Prior, sued the new teacher for trespassing on that franchise.

IssueFree

Whether a franchise holder may recover compensation from a new competing business solely because the competitor charges lower fees for the same services.

Holding & reasoning

The court resolved the question by applying the controlling rule to the facts and explaining precisely why the outcome followed. Its reasoning ties the doctrine to the record so you can reproduce the analysis on an exam.

Procedural history, concurrence & dissent

This section traces the case from the trial court through appeal and lays out how each opinion lands. Separate writings sharpen the majority's limits and flag the arguments most likely to resurface in class.

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