Tradesmen who work in people’s homes are often unaware of the potential liabilities to which they are exposed. In one case that proved the point, a pest controller was sued for almost £700,000 following a fire at a listed mansion but managed to defeat the
In a test case of importance to those involved in the international trade in perishable goods, the Court of Appeal has given guidance on the correct interpretation of the Hague Rules – the international convention which for almost 100 years has regulated liabilities in respect
The idea that an Englishman’s home is his castle implies almost limitless freedom to do with your property as you wish. However, the reality is that restrictions often lurk in title deeds and, without legal advice, there is a real risk that you may not
In a case that broke new legal ground, a former company director has been granted permission to pursue a wrongful dismissal claim in conjunction with unfair prejudice proceedings under Section 994 of the Companies Act 2006. The man was sole director of a restaurant bookings
Local authorities are under a duty to make plans to meet the need for new homes in their areas and if they fail to do so, their ability to resist developments that they view as inappropriate can be seriously compromised. A council refused to grant
Workplace disciplinary processes often have a number of distinct phases and legal errors in any one of them can be enough to infect the whole. That point was made in the case of a BBC producer who was summarily dismissed after being issued with a
The process of negotiation and give-and-take involved in finalising contracts can be demanding and time-consuming – but one High Court case, involving a £40 million claim in respect of an allegedly defective car park, showed that it is well worth the effort to achieve certainty.
Company directors have a duty to carry out their functions responsibly and honestly and, when they do not, the courts have broad powers to bring them to book. In one case exactly on point, an alcohol wholesaler was banned from acting as a director for
Allotments are immensely precious to those who tend them. However, one High Court case showed that the special protection that they enjoy against development must sometimes give way under the relentless pressure for new housing. Allotments covering 2.6 hectares and dating back to 1882 had
Lengthy hiatuses are often the unfortunate result of disputes over the award of public contracts, but some of them are simply too important to be delayed. That was so in one case concerning a major research project to find out why stillbirths and deaths of
