It is a fundamental principle of law that anyone of sound mind has the right to make a will, leaving their worldly wealth to whomever they wish – but there are exceptions. A case on point concerned a farmer’s son who was cut out of
Professional people spend years establishing their reputations, but it is only too easy for them to be smeared in a few seconds on the Internet. However, a case in which a consultant dermatologist won libel damages from a former patient showed that, with the right
The clear public interest in effectively fighting crime sometimes requires police forces to share personal details of offenders with those at risk of becoming their victims. As a High Court case showed, however, the right of individuals not to have their data disseminated to all
Where children suffer unexplained injuries, parents frequently come under suspicion. However, a case in which a loving couple were cleared of all blame for a grave head injury suffered by their baby boy showed that judges will leave no stone unturned in uncovering the truth.
Most residential leases contain a standard covenant which requires tenants to give their landlords access to their homes for reasonable purposes, including repair and maintenance. As a matter of good manners, tenants are often asked to confirm that the date and time of such visits
Even the most carefully drafted contractual clauses may be capable of bearing more than one meaning. However, as a Court of Appeal ruling showed, the intention of the parties and business common sense are the touchstones to which judges turn. A mining company had agreed
Workplace social events are a time-honoured means of rewarding staff and boosting morale, but the presence of alcohol means that they are not without risk. The High Court’s ruling in the case of a woman who was seriously injured on the dancefloor showed, however, that
If others’ building proposals threaten to harm your enjoyment of your home, you should not delay in consulting a solicitor. In a case on point, a householder did just that and successfully blocked her neighbour’s plans for a roof terrace. The woman objected after her
Pre-nuptial agreements are a useful and entirely legitimate means of dealing with situations where one prospective spouse is much richer than the other, whether as a result of inherited wealth or otherwise. However, as a High Court case showed, if such agreements lead to unfair
When people are declared bankrupt, all of their ‘property’ passes automatically to a trustee so that it can be used to pay off their creditors. In a guideline case of great interest to insolvency practitioners, the Court of Appeal has ruled that that word embraces
