Printer wins claim after being misled when buying a business
October 17th 2019A print firm has won its claim that it was deceived into buying a business because the seller had fraudulently misrepresented key issues and withheld damaging information. Glossop Cartons and Print Ltd had bought Contact (Print and Packaging) Ltd after lengthy negotiations. The deal meant that Glossop took on Contact’s entire business including its employees, and the leases of three commercial units. Prior to the purchase agreements, there were concerns…
The second edition of our Agricultural News is now live …
October 15th 2019“Welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter. We live in ‘interesting times’, and our job as lawyers is to guide you through them and to help you avoid the pitfalls along the way. Please excuse me for giving a huge congratulations to our whole team, including the unsung support staff, on having their skills and service recognised nationally – more on that below. I hope you will find that…
Manager unfairly dismissed after ‘seriously flawed’ investigation
October 14th 2019By Joanne Stronach Head of Employment & HR A council manager who was unfairly dismissed has been awarded £100,618 compensation and reinstated in his job. Mr J Thornhill had worked at Camden Borough Council for 37 years. In 2017, the council was ordered to pay compensation over the mishandling of the tendering process for a contract to provide street lighting. It was Thornhill’s job to assess the requirements in the…
Help to Buy scheme is not delivering expected value, say MPs
October 9th 2019By Elizabeth Crouch Head of Residential Conveyancing The value of the government’s Help to Buy scheme has been called into question by MPs on the Public Accounts Committee. They say much of the money invested could have been better spent elsewhere. The Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme was introduced in April 2013 by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (the Department) to address a fall in property…
Staffing manager unfairly dismissed for ‘pointing out problems’
October 7th 2019By Claire Davies Director A logistics manager at a transport company was unfairly dismissed after he raised concerns about the lawfulness of the company’s staffing rotas and was then made redundant. That was the ruling of the Employment Tribunal in a case involving Mr R Mott who began working for Secure Care in July 2018. The company provided transport for NHS patients with mental health problems. Mott’s duties were to…
Cumbria’s first solicitor apprentice celebrates successful year
October 4th 2019CUMBRIA’S first solicitor apprentice has urged others to consider a non-traditional route into law as she celebrates 12 successful months in the role. Holly Moxon set off on a Degree Apprenticeship with leading firm Cartmell Shepherd last year as she pursued her long-held ambition of becoming a lawyer. Now the 21-year-old says she has no regrets about leaving university in favour of a work-based path towards her ultimate career goal.…
Nearly half of letting agents surveyed ‘are breaking the law’
October 4th 2019By Natalie Tatton Solicitor Figures released by London Trading Standards (LTS) show that 46% of letting agents in the capital are breaking the law by failing to comply with new regulations. They were fined a total of £1.2m for not displaying their fees or for not being members of a redress scheme. Figures are not available for the rest of the country, but it’s thought that the problem is widespread.…
Rise in probate fees on hold after recent turmoil in parliament
October 2nd 2019By Sian Rae Solicitor The proposed increase in probate fees has been put on hold due to the recent turmoil in parliament. It’s not clear if or when the increases will take effect. Currently there is a flat fee of £215, or £155 if a solicitor is involved. The government had planned to introduce a banded system that caps the fee at 0.5% of the value of the estate, up…
Pub manager was sexually harassed by ‘jovial’ co-worker
September 30th 2019by Joanne Stronach Head of Employment & HR A pub manager has won a sexual harassment claim after a senior co-worker engaged in ‘poor taste humour’. The Employment Tribunal judge said the case showed that a person’s dignity can be violated even when there is no ‘malicious intent’ on the part of the perpetrator. Ms J Prewett had worked for Greene King for 23 years. She was manager of the Big…
NHS director ‘was not discriminated against’ over religious beliefs
September 23rd 2019by Joanne Stronach Head of Employment & HR An NHS director who was suspended after he made controversial comments based on his religious beliefs has failed with his discrimination claim. Richard Page was a non-executive director of an NHS and social care trust, and held a position as a lay magistrate in the family court. He was a practising Christian and had strong views against same-sex couples being suitable adoptive parents.…
