Businesses urge new government to tackle late payment abuse
January 9th 2020Businesses across different sectors are urging the new government to end late payment practices that are crippling many small companies. They say the existing Prompt Payment Code isn’t working and fear a surge in company insolvencies if no action is taken. David Frise, CEO of the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), said repeated failures by previous governments to deal with late payment culture meant company failures were almost inevitable. He…
Nurse wins discrimination claim but loses over harassment
January 7th 2020A mental health nurse who was subjected to abuse by patients has won a claim of indirect race discrimination by his employer. However, his claim for harassment was rejected by the Employment Tribunal. Colleridge Bessong, from Africa, worked for Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust (2019) at a secure residential unit. In 2017 he was seriously assaulted by a patient who also racially abused him. The patient had a history of…
Cartmell Shepherd Commercial Team Ready for Take Off…
January 7th 2020CARLISLE Airport was the setting as Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors’ expanded 12-strong business team met to plan how they can best support companies to expand their horizons in 2020. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors’ business team now includes three corporate lawyers, six commercial property lawyers, and three in its commercial employment team, delivering advice to businesses of all sizes across Cumbria, Northumberland and beyond. With commercial lawyers with a wealth of experience available…
New legal recruit loving life in the north-east
January 3rd 2020LIFE in the north-east is proving just the ticket for solicitor Alice Whittome who has just landed her dream job. Alice, a Newcastle United season ticket holder, has joined leading legal firm Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors as a private client solicitor in Haltwhistle. Alice is now preparing for her first Christmas as a homeowner with fiance Robbie, a trainee GP at Hexham General Hospital, and their two miniature dachshunds Evie and…
Bella Italia loses dispute over terminating lease
January 3rd 2020The restaurant chain Bella Italia has lost a dispute about terminating a commercial lease. The property in question was a new development of retail premises on a site owned by two groups of trustees. In November 2014, Bella signed the agreement for lease, with the trustees as the named freeholder and landlord. The other parties to the agreement were the developer and a company which guaranteed Bella’s obligations under the…
Chronic fatigue sufferer wins unfair dismissal claim
December 23rd 2019An occupational therapist who lost her job after years of suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome has won her claim of discrimination and unfair dismissal. Ms D Ward had worked for Northumberland Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust since 2000. The trust operated a sickness and absence management policy under which employees faced disciplinary action if they had more than three absences from work in a 12-month period. In 2009, Ward…
Winter Solstice Wild Swimming Adventure Attracts Cumbria Legal Executive
December 19th 2019WILD swimming meets the Winter Solstice in the English Lake District this weekend and Laura Clarke wouldn’t miss it for the world. Laura, whose outdoor adventures include trekking to Everest Base Camp, loves nothing more than an early morning dip in the tranquil waters of the Lake District. “There’s just you and the water surrounded by amazing scenery at the first light of day,” said Laura. “It takes your mind…
Tenants win enfranchisement appeal over freehold of flats
December 18th 2019A group of tenants have won their appeal to exercise the right of collective enfranchisement and acquire the freehold of their flats. The properties were owned by Grosvenor (Mayfair) Estate and held on a long lease by K Group Holdings Inc (2019). The issue arose after Aldford House Freehold Ltd, the nominee purchaser for 17 lessees, served an initial notice claiming to exercise the right of collective enfranchisement on the…
Ryanair discriminated against flight attendant over brain tumour
December 16th 2019The Employment Tribunal has ruled that the airline Ryanair discriminated against a flight attendant when she returned to work after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. Margita Dworak had worked for Ryanair from 2004-2018 and was a senior flight attendant at the time she resigned. In 2015, she began to experience severe headaches. These lasted for years and in 2017 she visited a specialist in Poland. She was later hospitalised…
Leasing firm wins claim over outstanding invoices worth £560k
December 11th 2019A vehicle leasing company has won its claim to recover more than £560,000 in unpaid invoices following a dispute with a customer. The case involved Venson Automotive Solutions Ltd v Morrisons Facilities Services Ltd. The two companies had entered into a contract in which Venson leased a fleet of 1,014 vehicles to Morrisons. The hire agreement contained a clause stipulating that if Morrisons disputed any of the invoices, it needed…
