Personal Dispute Resolution

The government has extended the ban on evicting commercial tenants until 30th June 2021. Natalie Tatton Solicitor in our Dispute Resolution team provides an update. The move is designed to help those worst affected by the pandemic, such as bars and restaurants, get back to business when doors fully reopen for hospitality no earlier than 17th May. Residential tenants will also be supported as the ban on bailiff-enforced evictions in…

The Court of Appeal has ruled that a travel agency was wrong to take client contact information disclosed by its competitor’s former employees and add it to its own computer database. Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution reports. The issue arose after the agency, Trailfinders, hired some employees from a rival agency, Travel Counsellors Ltd (TCL). Trailfinders expected new employees to bring their own customers and encouraged them…

A commercial tenant has been refused permission to re-amend its defence to a service charge claim four weeks before trial. Stephanie Johnson Associate Solicitor reports. The court ruled that although the new defences had reasonable prospects of success, they could have been pleaded earlier and there was no good reason for the delay. The issue arose because the tenant refused to pay certain elements of the service charge relating to the…

Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution provides an update. Since last May, we’ve been following the proceedings launched by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to add some clarity to the availability of “Business Interruption” (BI) insurance as a result of business closures as a result of the pandemic.  Last September the High Court came to its conclusions, and as the national press has now reported the Supreme Court…

Personal Dispute: How long do I have to make a Professional Negligence Claim? The usual limitation period and starting point in most professional negligence cases is six years from the date of the negligence.However, if you only became aware of the loss and damage at a later date this could be extended. In those cases the limitation period is three years from the date of knowledge of the facts which…

What do I have to prove when making a Professional Negligence Claim? In order to bring a successful Professional Negligence Claim you will need to demonstrate the following:- Duty of CareThat the professional had a Duty of Care. If there is a contract or retainer between you and the professional this is often easy to prove. Even if there is no contract it is still often easy to demonstrate that…

Personal Dispute: Will I have to go to Court for my Professional Negligence claim? The majority of professional negligence claims can be resolved directly with professionals or their insurers without the need to issue Court proceedings. Even when proceedings are issued the majority of claims settle before the matter reaches a trial.

Landlord and Tenant: How can I get a tenant out of my property? This will depend on whether or not the tenant has breached any of the terms of the Tenancy Agreement. If the tenant is in breach of the Tenancy Agreement then we can consider serving a Section 8 Notice in accordance with the Housing Act 1988. If the tenant has not breached any of the terms of the…

Landlord and Tenant: How long will it before I can obtain a Court Order for possession of my property? Due to the pandemic, the Coronavirus Act 2020 has been implemented and the rules as to when we can issue court proceedings for possession differ depending on how and if the Tenancy Agreement has been breached. Once proceedings have been issued the claim will first be listed for a review hearing…

Landlord and Tenant: Can I re-enter my property without an Order for Possession? If you re-enter the property without obtaining an Order for Possession, then the tenant can pursue you for unlawful eviction and claim compensation even if they are in breach of the Tenancy Agreement. It is not wise to re-enter a property without a Possession Order. There is no limitation deadline as to when the tenant might pursue…