Sempra Metals Ltd v Inland Revenue Commissioners
[2007] UKHL 34
판결 이유
Compound interest may be awarded as a restitutionary remedy where the defendant has been unjustly enriched by the use of money over time. The previous restriction to simple interest only was overruled.
사실관계
Sempra Metals (formerly Metallgesellschaft) overpaid advance corporation tax under a regime later held to be contrary to EU law. It claimed restitution including compound interest.
판결 요약
The House of Lords held (by majority) that compound interest could be awarded as restitution for the time value of money wrongfully retained. This overruled the previous position that only simple interest was available.
주요 인용문
"In principle, where a claimant seeks a restitutionary remedy for the time value of money paid to the defendant, compound interest may be awarded."
— Lord Nicholls
후속 처리
Established the availability of compound interest as a restitutionary remedy, though some aspects were doubted in Prudential Assurance v HMRC.