Giving financial assistance to a cause close to your heart or a loved one embroiled in litigation may be viewed as a selfless act. However, as a High Court case showed, such generosity can have unforeseen consequences and that is why such a step should
Those who lack the mental capacity to make important decisions for themselves still have the right to express their wishes and feelings if they are able to do so – and judges must listen to them. The Court of Appeal powerfully made that point in
Only liquidated debts, for specific amounts which have been ascertained fully and finally, can form the basis of bankruptcy petitions. As a High Court case showed, however, discerning which debts fall into that category can be far from easy. The case concerned a businesswoman who
The threat of climate change is playing an ever more important part in the formation of planning policy. A High Court case on point concerned a householder’s fear that his neighbour’s extension plans would block light from his domestic array of solar panels. In direct
Social housing is strictly for those in need and tenants who abuse their position by subletting their homes will be dealt with severely by the courts. In one case, the head of a local authority housing department who did just that was hit hard in
Some employers treat their staff disgracefully but, no matter how bad their conduct may be, the objective of the tribunal system is not to punish them but to compensate those who suffer at their hands. A case on point concerned an immigrant worker who was
Sovereign powers are not like ordinary commercial partners and dealings with them are complicated by considerations of diplomacy and state immunity. A landmark Court of Appeal ruling will, however, make it much easier to enforce judgments against them. A defence contractor had obtained an award
There can be few greater shocks to any child than discovering that their real father is not the same man who they love as a parent. In a guideline case, the High Court had to balance concerns about the impact such a revelation might have
Pedestrians who are injured whilst crossing the road often assume they cannot win compensation if they were partly to blame for their own misfortune. However, a case in which a woman won six-figure damages despite failing to take proper care for her own safety shows
The English landscape is replete with heritage assets and it is a central objective of the planning system to ensure their preservation. However, as a High Court case showed, that aim has to be balanced against the pressing need for more new homes. The case
