Before undergoing surgery, patients have an absolute legal right to be fully informed of the risks involved and any alternative treatments that may be available. In a case on point, a patient who did not give informed consent to brain surgery that ended disastrously won
What is an an ‘average consumer’? That is a question regulators frequently have to ask themselves in ensuring that the public is not subjected to misleading advertising. The High Court gave invaluable guidance on the issue in a case concerning the provision of broadband to
The quality and perceived generosity of English family judges has made this country one of the world’s most popular forums for divorce. However, as a High Court ruling in a big money case showed, the jurisdictional hurdles that foreign nationals must leap before ending their
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
