Dependent spouses are entitled to have their reasonable financial needs met if their marriages end in divorce – but what happens if those needs are increased by their own unwise investment choices? The Supreme Court addressed that issue in an important test case. Following the
Buying a home abroad can be a risky busines,s and that is why it is wise to instruct a UK-based solicitor with expertise in the legal system of the country concerned to oversee the transaction. In one case exactly on point, 16 British would-be purchasers
Buildings in the Green Belt that do not have a significant visual impact or materially harm the character and appearance of the area can be acceptable in planning terms. The High Court made that point in a case concerning the unauthorised extension of a petrol
The law requires that commercial contracts are interpreted on the basis of the words actually used and it is illegitimate to apply hindsight in order to achieve what might be viewed as a fair outcome. In an important decision in an employment case, the Court
Hoteliers who put guests’ lives at risk by playing fast and loose with fire regulations can expect severe punishment. In one case, the owner of a newly refurbished bed and breakfast who persisted in a series of flagrant breaches despite a number of warnings received
Official surveillance of private citizens is sometimes necessary, but is subject to tight legal restraints to guard against unwarranted invasions of privacy. In one recent case, a man who was, without authority, kept under police observation whilst commuting on a train to work was awarded
It is only too easy for lonely people to give their hearts away to unworthy partners and to fall victim to their deceit. However, as one case involving a divorcee who lavished six-figure sums on a lying spendaholic showed, a good lawyer can give irreplaceable
Many employees, particularly in the care industry, are required to sleep in overnight at or near their workplaces in order to provide assistance if needed – but are they entitled to receive the National Minimum Wage (NMW) for hours spent in slumber? The Court of
It is very nearly always unfair to dismiss employees without affording them a right of appeal. The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) made that point in the case of a pizza restaurant employee who was sacked in the mistaken belief that his right to work in
You are entitled to object to your neighbours’ building plans, but wise homeowners always seek professional legal advice before doing so. In one case, which a homeowner who opposed construction of an extension next door ended up being ordered to pay his neighbours more than
