In CF Capital plc v Willoughby [2011] EWCA Civ 1115 CA, the Court of Appeal held that a letter of dismissal was effective notice to terminate the employee’s contract, even though it was based on a mistaken understanding that the employee had agreed to the termination. The “special circumstances” exception to the normal operation of such a notice did not apply, so attempts to retract the dismissal did not alter the position.