<P> The floodgates principle is by no means a principle of universal application . </P> <P> The courts have, on occasion, been prepared to uphold claims notwithstanding that they recognise that the effect of a decision will most likely result in a large amount of subsequent litigation . In the case of Hazell v Hammersmith and Fulham LBC the House of Lords upheld a claim that interest rate swaps entered into with local authorities in the United Kingdom were void although they knew that large numbers of such contracts had been entered into, and that unwinding the swaps would result in a large amount of litigation . In the event, over 200 separate sets of legal proceedings were launched, several of which were litigated to the Court of Appeal and three of which reached the House of Lords . </P>

Hill v chief constable of west yorkshire wikipedia