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Legal News
Where the record of a property's title at the Land Registry contains a mistake, Paragraph 5(a) of Schedule 4 of the Land Registration Act 2002 allows the register to be altered to correct it. The First-tier Tribunal (FTT) recently granted a homeowner's...
Employment Rights Bill Expected to Become Law Shortly
2025-10-10 00:00
The Employment Rights Bill is expected to become law in the near future. On 15 September 2025, the House of Commons considered the amendments made to the Bill by the House of Lords. The Bill has now returned to the Lords for further consideration. The...
£45,000 Damages for Missed Infection After Breast Reconstruction
2025-10-10 00:00
A woman has obtained compensation after a delay in diagnosing an infection following a mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery. The woman had undergone an oophorectomy and then a mastectomy after she was identified as being at risk of breast and...
Court Refuses Wife's Application for Relief from Sanctions
2025-10-09 00:00
It is essential to ensure that court orders are complied with during divorce proceedings. Recently, the Family Court refused a wife's application for relief from sanctions due to her failure to file and exchange her witness statement in accordance with a...
Supreme Court Rules VAT Payable on Former Group Company's Fees
2025-10-07 00:00
Supplies between companies in the same VAT group are disregarded for VAT purposes by virtue of Section 43(1)(a) of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 . The Supreme Court has handed down its judgment in a case concerning whether this disregard applies if the...
Taxpayer Who Alleged EIS Fraud Permitted to Appeal Late
2025-10-06 00:00
The First-tier Tribunal (FTT) has come to the aid of a taxpayer who claimed that he had been a victim of fraud in relation to claims for Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) relief, granting permission for him to make a late appeal against assessments and...
HSE Publishes Asbestos-related Disease Statistics for 2025
2025-10-06 00:00
The Health and Safety Executive has published statistics on asbestos-related diseases in Great Britain for 2025 . There are currently around 5,000 deaths a year from asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis....
High Court Upholds Challenge to Will on Grounds of Fraud
2025-10-03 00:00
The High Court has upheld a woman's challenge to a will allegedly made by her late father, finding that the defendants had failed to establish on the balance of probabilities that it was genuine. The will had purportedly been executed in 2019, the year...
Contract Enforceable Where Price Not Agreed, Court of Appeal Rules
2025-10-02 00:00
The Court of Appeal has upheld a supplier's appeal against a decision that a contract to supply orange juice pulp wash was partly unenforceable because the price paid for some of the supply was to be agreed at a later date. The ruling provides useful...
Guide to the best UK legal firms once again recognises Boys & Maughan for their expertise in family law and litigation
2025-10-01 12:00
Boys & Maughan’s family and property litigation teams have again been recognised in The Legal 500 , featuring in the 2026 edition of the leading guide to the UK’s top lawyers and law firms. In family law, Jonathan da Costa continues to be...
Pub Employee's Award for Misuse of Private Information Upheld
2025-10-01 00:00
The High Court has dismissed a pub chain's appeal against an award of damages of £4,500 to a former employee after it gave out her mother's mobile phone number to her violent and abusive ex-partner. The woman had worked at one of the chain's pubs for...
Observer Granted Order for Disclosure of Position Statements
2025-09-30 00:00
In a guideline case, the Court of Protection has granted an application by an observer to a hearing for disclosure of the parties' position statements . The proceedings related to a patient who was suffering from a prolonged disorder of consciousness. The...
The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has found that, when rejecting a woman's claim because the name of the respondent on the claim form did not match the name of the employer on the early conciliation certificate, the Employment Tribunal (ET) erred in law...
Law Commission to Review Product Liability Law
2025-09-26 00:00
The Law Commission is to review the law relating to the product liability regime set out in the Consumer Protection Act 1987 . The regime was intended to give consumers a straightforward route to claiming compensation for certain harms caused by defective...
Wife Permitted to Amend Her Case to Rely on Conduct
2025-09-25 00:00
In a case relating to the division of assets under a pre-nuptial agreement (PNA), the Family Court has ruled that a wife should be allowed to amend her case to formally plead conduct under Section 25(2)(g) of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 . It was common...
UT Overturns Finding That Company Was Managing HMO
2025-09-24 00:00
The Upper Tribunal (UT) has upheld a company's appeal against a £10,000 fine for managing or being in control of a house in multiple occupation (HMO), finding that there was no evidence that it was a person managing the property. The local authority...
FTT Considers Whether Tenants Liable for Access Road Repairs
2025-09-22 00:00
It is wise to seek legal advice before making an application to the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) for a determination of liability to pay service charges. Recently, the FTT was unable to rule conclusively on whether the tenants of two flats were liable to...
Woman Secures £25,000 Damages After Wrong Mole Removed
2025-09-22 00:00
Compensation has been obtained for a woman after a dermatologist removed the wrong facial mole. The woman's GP had referred her to an in-house dermatologist after identifying a suspicious mole on her nose. The dermatologist concluded that the mole could...
ICO Guidance on the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025
2025-09-19 00:00
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has published guidance for organisations on the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 , which received Royal Assent on 19 June 2025. The Act makes changes to data protection law in order to promote innovation and...
Six-Figure Compensation for Seriously Injured Cyclist
2025-09-19 00:00
A significant compensation settlement has been negotiated for a cyclist who was seriously injured in a road traffic accident. The cyclist was on her way to work when a car travelling in the opposite direction suddenly veered into her path and collided with...
Business Investment Relief Lost Due to Director's Loan Account
2025-09-17 00:00
It is important to ensure you fully understand the rules of any tax reliefs claimed and take advice if necessary. Recently, the Upper Tribunal (UT) dismissed an entrepreneur's appeal against a decision that the provision of a Director's Loan Account (DLA)...
Man Who Worked for Membership Association Was an Employee
2025-09-16 00:00
The Employment Tribunal (ET) has ruled that a man who worked for a membership association which acted on behalf of free-range egg producers was an employee rather than a self-employed contractor ( Gooch v British Free Range Egg Producers Association and...
£9,000 for Woman Injured When Wardrobe Door Fell on Her Foot
2025-09-16 00:00
A holidaymaker who suffered a broken foot when a defective wardrobe door in her hotel room fell on her has received compensation from the tour operator. The accident happened on the last night of the young woman's holiday in Greece. She and her partner were...
High Court Dismisses Challenge to Validity of Woman's Will
2025-09-12 00:00
The High Court recently rejected a challenge to the will of a woman who had experienced memory issues prior to making it. The woman had made the will in 2008. She left her interest in her and her husband's house to her elder daughter. After bequests of...
FTT Refuses Property Companies Permission to Appeal Late
2025-09-11 00:00
A recent decision of the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) refusing permission to make late appeals against denials of 16 companies' claims for tax relief highlights the dangers of failing to appeal decisions made by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in time. A...
Woman Obtains Compensation for Fall on Steps at Work
2025-09-11 00:00
A woman in her 70s who suffered a serious shoulder injury after falling down steps at the golf club where she worked has obtained a compensation settlement. She was dazzled by lights as she was walking down the steps, which did not have a handrail. She lost...
A ‘property protection trust’ (PPT) also known as ‘asset protection trust’ are trust structures both for lifetime and Will trusts. It is quite unusual to have the circumstances that require one. Unfortunately, they are becoming more...
Court Grants Father's Application for Equal Shared Care
2025-09-09 00:00
When considering issues relating to parental responsibility for children, one of the factors the courts will have regard to under Section 1(3) of the Children Act 1989 is the children's wishes and feelings, in the light of their age and understanding....
£31,500 for Delayed Diagnosis of Ectopic Pregnancy
2025-09-08 00:00
A woman who underwent emergency surgery following delays in diagnosing an ectopic pregnancy has been compensated by the NHS trust responsible for her care. Shortly after discovering that she was pregnant, the woman went to see her GP, complaining of...
Saleswoman Wins Maternity Discrimination Claim
2025-09-08 00:00
An award-winning saleswoman who was not allowed to return to her former role after taking maternity leave, resulting in a significant reduction in her earnings, has succeeded in her maternity discrimination claim before an Employment Tribunal (ET) ( Lindup...
Homeowner's Appeal Against Rectification of Title Succeeds
2025-09-04 00:00
The register of a property's title can be rectified if it contains a mistake. The question of what constitutes proof of a mistake was the subject of a recent case in which the Upper Tribunal (UT) allowed a homeowner's appeal against a decision that title...
Cyclist Hit by Car Obtains £370,000 Compensation
2025-09-03 00:00
A cyclist who sustained a serious leg injury after she was hit by a car has secured a compensation settlement. The accident happened when the driver of the car failed to give way at a roundabout. The cyclist was knocked off her bike and fractured her right...
FTT Rules Leaseholder Must Pay Service Charges
2025-09-03 00:00
Both landlords and tenants can apply to the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) for a determination of whether a service charge is payable. Recently, a landlord was successful in applying for a determination that a leaseholder was liable to pay it £11,371 in...
Government Confirms Plans to Replace Paper Share Certificates
2025-09-01 00:00
The Government has published its response to the final report of the Digitisation Taskforce . The Taskforce has been assessing how the UK can eliminate the use of paper share certificates for traded companies, which create inefficiencies and costs for...
Former Press Operator Secures Hearing Loss Damages
2025-08-29 00:00
A woman who formerly worked as a tin plate press operator has obtained damages after suffering from noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The woman had worked for her employer for six years, working five days a week. Her job involved stamping out tin lids and...
ICO Publishes New Guidance on Disclosing Documents Securely
2025-08-29 00:00
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has published new guidance to help organisations disclosing documents to the public to do so securely , minimising the risk of accidental breaches of personal information. Many organisations regularly need to...
Court Rules Man's Life-Sustaining Treatment Should Continue
2025-08-27 00:00
When deciding what is in the best interests of a patient who lacks capacity to make decisions about their care, the courts will take into account any wishes and feelings expressed by the patient as well as the medical evidence. Recently, the Court of...
£75,000 for Former Moulder Who Developed Asbestosis
2025-08-26 00:00
A man who had spent several months working in a factory where asbestos was used has obtained compensation after he later developed asbestosis. His employer manufactured a number of products made with asbestos, including heated flue pipes and roofing...
Supreme Court Rules on Car Finance Commissions
2025-08-26 00:00
The Supreme Court has allowed an appeal against a Court of Appeal ruling that commissions paid by dealers to lenders in respect of car finance should be refunded to customers, in a decision which is likely to reduce the scope for similar claims going...
ET Erred in Considering 'Last Straw' in Constructive Dismissal
2025-08-21 00:00
The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has upheld an HGV driver's appeal against the rejection of his constructive unfair dismissal claim, finding that the Employment Tribunal (ET) had misdirected itself on the proper approach to considering the 'last straw' (...
MoJ Figures Show Increase in Estates Without a Will
2025-08-21 00:00
The best way to ensure that your estate will pass to those you wish is to make a will and ensure it is kept up to date. Having a will in place will also make it easier to administer your estate. Figures from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) show that the...
Costs of NHS Maternity Care Claims Revealed
2025-08-20 00:00
Figures published in NHS Resolution's annual report for the year to 31 March 2025 show the cost of maternity-related clinical negligence claims against the NHS. Clinical negligence claims relating to maternity care totalled £3.5 billion in 2024/25,...
Failure to Disclose Assets Invalidates Pre-Nuptial Agreement
2025-08-18 00:00
The Court of Appeal has allowed a husband's appeal against a High Court decision upholding the validity of a pre-nuptial agreement (PNA), ruling that the wife's failure to disclose a significant proportion of her assets rendered the PNA invalid. The...
Racing Regulators 'Competent Authorities' for Denial of Access Cover
2025-08-18 00:00
Cases involving the extent of business interruption insurance cover for losses arising due to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to come before the courts. Recently, the High Court was called upon to determine whether the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and...
Woman Injured in Car Crash Obtains £50,000 Damages
2025-08-15 00:00
A woman has secured compensation for injuries she suffered when another car collided with hers. The accident happened when she was driving around a traffic island. The other car veered into her lane, leading to a collision. Following the accident she went...
Couple Not Entitled to Vesting Order in Property Held by Company
2025-08-15 00:00
All land in England ultimately belongs to the Crown. In a recent case which serves as something of a cautionary tale , a couple who were the directors and shareholders of a company that had owned a property when it was dissolved have been unsuccessful in...
Non-Resident Member of UK-Based LLPs Liable to Tax
2025-08-15 00:00
A man who was not resident in the UK for tax purposes has failed to persuade the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) that he was not liable to pay Income Tax on the profits of three limited liability partnerships (LLPs) of which he was a member. The LLPs would...
Five-Figure Damages for Holidaymaker's Paving Stone Fall
2025-08-13 00:00
A woman who was injured when she fell over a paving stone on the first day of her holiday has obtained compensation. The woman was on a package holiday in Turkey with her husband. They were on their way to dinner and were walking along a path consisting of...
FTT Did Not Properly Explain Decision to Vary Improvement Notice
2025-08-12 00:00
The Upper Tribunal (UT) has upheld an appeal by the landlords of a rental property against a decision of the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) to vary an improvement notice, finding that the FTT had failed to explain why the local authority was justified in...
Government Publishes Response to IHT on Pensions Consultation
2025-08-12 00:00
The Government has confirmed plans to bring most unused pension funds and death benefits within the scope of Inheritance Tax (IHT) from 6 April 2027. The plans were originally announced at the Autumn Budget 2024. This was followed by a technical...