Surge in divorce cases as new No-Fault law takes effect
June 16th 2022There has been a surge in the number of divorce applications since the new No-Fault law came into effect in April. Julian Nelson, Director in our Family Law Team provides an update. The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 aims to reduce the potential for conflict amongst divorcing couples by removing the ability to make allegations about the conduct of a spouse and allowing couples to end their marriage jointly. Under previous…
Lake District Mighty Hike for Macmillan Cancer
June 14th 2022Our very own Carly Davies is taking on a mighty hike in aid of Macmillan Cancer on Sunday 19th June 2022. The route is just over 13 miles and has an approximate total elevation gain of 3,274 feet around the picturesque Lake Ullswater. The walk starting in the beautiful grounds at Dalemain House follows the Ullswater Way and will finish at Lowther Castle, near Penrith. Carly, Debt Recovery Manager at…
Seller of land should have pointed out defect in title
June 13th 2022A woman who bought land at auction has successfully appealed a High Court ruling that she must make up a seller’s shortfall after she refused to complete the purchase. Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution reports on this recent case. The issue arose after the buyer, Ms Mahil, had purchased the land from SPS Groundworks & Building Ltd. The catalogue had described the land as having “excellent scope for development”.…
LPAs can help protect your interests as dementia figures rise in UK
June 9th 2022The government is to launch a 10-Year Plan to tackle dementia following estimates that one million people will be living with the disease in the UK by 2025 and 1.6 million by 2040. Sharon Crisp, Probate Executive in our Wills, Probate & Inheritance provides an update. Speaking at the Alzheimer’s Society Conference 2022, Health Secretary Sajid Javid confirmed the plan will focus on how new medicines and emerging science and…
Court rules it’s unsafe to return child to violent father
June 6th 2022The High Court has ruled that a nine-year-old girl should be allowed to stay with her mother and not be returned to her violent father. Amy Fallows Senior Associate Solicitor & Head of our family law team reports on this recent case. The mother alleged that the relationship was significantly blighted by physical, emotional and sexual domestic abuse. The case involved a couple who had lived together with their daughter in…
British Gas dismissed and discriminated against mother of triplets
June 1st 2022The Employment Tribunal has ruled that British Gas discriminated against and unfairly dismissed a mother of triplets after a performance review was “stacked against” her following her return from maternity leave. Joanne Stronach Head of Employment and HR reports on this recent case. The case involved Gemma Long, who started work as an intellectual property solicitor for British Gas Trading in 2012. Long went on maternity leave on 29 May 2016…
Postman who stuck gum on customer’s property unfairly dismissed
May 30th 2022A postman has won his claim of unfair dismissal because sticking chewing gum on a customer’s property was not serious enough to be gross misconduct. Jennifer Cafferky Solicitor in our employment team, reports on this recent case. That was the decision of the Employment Tribunal in a case that involved Graham Harvey and Royal Mail. Harvey had worked as a postman for more than 25 years on a rural route near…
Dementia sufferer was aware of his actions so his will was valid
May 26th 2022An elderly farmer who suffered from dementia understood what he was doing when he changed his will shortly before his death and so the alterations should be accepted as representing his true wishes. David Tew, Associate Solicitor in our Will Claims team reports on this recent case. That was the decision of the Court of Appeal in a case involving a dispute between members of the same family. In 2005 the…
Insurance company wins £80m contract dispute with IBM
May 23rd 2022IBM has been ordered to pay an insurance company £80m following a contract dispute. Stephanie Johnson Senior Associate Solicitor in our dispute resolution team reports on this recent case. It had agreed to provide Soteria Insurance Ltd with an IT system over a 10-year period. After a series of delays, Soteria refused to pay a “milestone” invoice presented by IBM. Relying on the non-payment, IBM terminated the contract, and the IT system…
Care worker unfairly dismissed after becoming pregnant
May 19th 2022A personal care assistant was unfairly dismissed and discriminated against after being called “useless” when she revealed she was pregnant, a tribunal has ruled. Joanne Stronach Head of Employment and HR reports on this recent case. The case involved care assistant Sandy Croly who was employed by Kelly Ann Smith, who is paralysed from the neck down. Smith lived with her two children, aged nine and eleven, and employed four other…
