Name the four rules
Literal rule
Golden rule
Mischief rule
Purposive approach
Define the literal rule
Judges take the literal meaning of the words
Literal rule case ‘invitation to treat’
Fisher v Bell
Define the golden rule
An extension of the literal rule
What is the narrow golden rule?
Used when a word in a statute has multiple meanings
Narrow golden rule case
R v Allen
What is the wide golden rule?
When a judge understands the literal meaning of the word, but decides not to use it as it would lead to undesirable results
Wide golden rule case
Re Sigsworth