EHRC consultation: Updated guidance on sexual harassment – Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog

‘The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has today launched a consultation on its long awaited updated technical guidance on sexual harassment and harassment at work.’

Full Story

Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog, 9th July 2024

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

MoD to compensate thousands of veterans over hearing loss – BBC News

‘Thousands more ex-servicemen and women will receive compensation for hearing loss suffered during training or combat, the BBC has learned.’

Full Story

BBC News, 8th July 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Did you miss? Davies v Bridgend County Borough Council [2024] UKSC 15 – Gatehouse Chambers

‘The claim arose from the encroachment of Japanese knotweed from the appellant local authority’s (“LA”) land into the respondent’s garden. The respondent had purchased his property in 2004, after the encroachment of Japanese knotweed had begun. It was held that the LA could not be blamed for the encroachment at this time. An actionable tort of private nuisance however arose in 2013, when the local authority should have become aware of the risk of damage and loss of amenity to the respondent’s land as a result of information about Japanese knotweed which became publicly available at that time. The LA was held liable in private nuisance for having failed to prevent the encroachment between 2013 to 2018 when the LA implemented a reasonable and effective treatment programme.’

Full Story

Gatehouse Chambers, 28th May 2024

Source: gatehouselaw.co.uk

JCT DB 2024 – a bit of ‘give and take’ on contractor design liability – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 14th, 2024 in building law, construction industry, contracts, duty of care, news by tracey

‘The standard of care to be expected of a contractor in terms of design liability has been toughened up in the updated Design and Build contract by the Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT), but the latest version has also made clear that contractors will not have fitness for purpose obligations imposed on them.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 14th May 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

High Court throws out £110m claim against law firms – Legal Futures

Posted April 11th, 2024 in abuse of process, duty of care, law firms, news, striking out by sally

‘A businessman who brought a claim against two leading law firms, and also reported them and those representing them to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), has seen his case struck out.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 11th April 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Miller v Irwin Mitchell LLP – Hailsham Chambers

Posted March 20th, 2024 in appeals, chambers articles, duty of care, law firms, news, solicitors by sally

‘The Court of Appeal handed down judgment in Miller v Irwin Mitchell on 1 February 2024, just 9 days after hearing argument. The Court (Phillips, Andrews and Falk LJJ) upheld the decision of HHJ Cadwallader at first instance ([2022] EWHC 2252 (Ch)), in which he dismissed Mrs Miller’s claim after a trial of various preliminary issues. The decision gives useful guidance to practitoners considering whether a duty of care is owed by a solicitor prior to the parties agreeing a retainer.’

Full Story

Hailsham Chambers, 5th February 2024

Source: www.hailshamchambers.com

Asylum seeker with home-made boat sentenced after four migrants die in Channel – The Independent

‘An asylum seeker has been detained for nine years and six months for the manslaughter of fellow migrants who drowned trying to cross the English Channel.’

Full Story

The Independent, 23rd February 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Royal Marines to fight MoD in court in asbestos claim – BBC News

‘A group of 260 Royal Marines have issued proceedings against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) amid claims they were “knowingly” exposed to asbestos.’

Full Story

BBC News, 12th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Housing and Children Act – homeless 17 year olds – Nearly Legal

Posted January 15th, 2024 in children, duty of care, families, homelessness, housing, local government, news by tracey

‘A couple of brief notes on two judicial reviews on housing, the Children Act 1989 and “looked-after children”.’

Full Story

Nearly Legal, 14th January 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

We all die: what are doctors’ duties to shield families from the sight of death? – Mental Capacity Law and Policy

‘In Paul and another v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust [2024] UKSC 1, the Supreme Court had to decide whether (and, if so, when) an individual can make a claim for psychiatric injury caused by witnessing the death or other horrifying event of a close relative as a result of earlier clinical negligence. In dismissing the three conjoined appeals, a majority of the Supreme Court held that, while doctors owe a duty of care to protect the health of their patients, they do not owe a duty of care to members of the patient’s close family to protect them against the risk of illness from the experience of witnessing the death or medical crisis of their relative from a condition which the doctor has negligently failed to diagnose or treat.’

Full Story

Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 11th January 2024

Source: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk

High Court allows judicial review against council over failure to support child trafficking victim – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has ruled that the London Borough of Barnet failed to meet its duties towards a victim of child trafficking after he received no specialist support from either the council or the Home Office for several years.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 21st December 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘The law needs to catch up on student mental health’ Published 8 hours ago – BBC News

Posted December 11th, 2023 in bereavement, duty of care, families, mental health, news, suicide, universities by tracey

‘A court case this week could change the way universities are expected to look after their students – including their mental health.’

Full Story

BBC News, 11th December 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lord Sales, Exploring the Interface Between the Common Law of Tort and Statute Law – Supreme Court

Posted December 4th, 2023 in duty of care, judges, news, personal injuries, Supreme Court by tracey

‘Annual Richard Davies Lecture for the Personal Injuries Bar Association, 29 November 2023.’

Full speech

Full Story

Supreme Court, 29th November 2023

Source: www.supremecourt.uk

Court awards £50,000 in damages against council over home that was unfit for human habitation – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 4th, 2023 in damages, duty of care, housing, landlord & tenant, local government, news, repairs by tracey

‘A judge at Central London County Court has awarded a claimant more than £50,000 in damages after her council property was found to be unfit for human habitation.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 4th December 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High court to consider whether universities owe students legal duty of care – The Guardian

‘The high court is to consider for the first time whether universities owe a legal duty of care to their students, which campaigners argue would save lives and bring England and Wales in line with other countries.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 20th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

BBC reaches settlement with murdered girl’s mother over clothes lost by Martin Bashir – BBC News

Posted October 9th, 2023 in BBC, bereavement, children, DNA, duty of care, families, forensic science, media, murder, news by sally

‘The BBC has reached a settlement with a woman who said Martin Bashir had borrowed but failed to return her murdered daughter’s clothes.’

Full Story

BBC News, 6th October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Measured duty of care – St John’s Chambers

Posted October 4th, 2023 in boundaries, chambers articles, duty of care, news, party walls by sally

‘Brittany Pearce, Real Estate barrister was recently involved in a dispute between neighbours concerning her client’s retaining wall, which was in disrepair and required replacement. The cost of replacing the wall with a stronger wall which didn’t encroach further on to either party’s driveway was estimated to be £25,000. The parties couldn’t agree why the wall required replacement or who should bear the cost and litigation ensued. By the end of proceedings, the parties had spent around £160,000 on legal fees and disbursements. In this article Brittany will discuss the measured duty of care as well as her thoughts on dealing with these claims in a proportionate manner.’

Full Story

St John's Chambers, 5th September 2023

Source: www.stjohnschambers.co.uk

R (on the application of Maguire) v HM Senior Coroner for Blackpool & Fylde and another – Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog

‘In this post, Alex Carington considers the Supreme Court’s decision in an appeal by the family of the Deceased who sought to challenge the Coroner’s decision that Art. 2 of the Human Rights Act 1998 did not require an expanded conclusion having heard all of the evidence at the inquest such that the jury were requested to return a short form conclusion only. The appeal also raised issues about the boundary of the systems duty and operational duty (and the content of both) as well as the boundary between the enhanced procedural obligation on one hand and basic procedural obligation together with the redress procedural obligation on the other.’

Full Story

Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog, 18th July 2023

Source: inquestsandinquirieslawblog.com

Case Note on the Supreme Court case of R (Maguire) v The Coroner for Blackpool & Fylde [2023] UKSC 20 – 2 Hare Court

‘The long running case of Maguire has finally been concluded in a Supreme Court judgment handed down last week. The bottom line is and remains that the threshold for Article 2 remains high in cases involving health and social care. The case is particularly helpful for its detailed and comprehensive analysis of the authorities and the relevant legal principles in relation to the application of Article 2 and is a must read for those practising in the coronial area.’

Full Story

2 Hare Court, 30th June 2023

Source: www.2harecourt.com

Do the police owe potential victims a duty to warn? – Law Pod UK

Posted July 5th, 2023 in crime prevention, duty of care, news, podcasts, police, victims by sally

‘Traditionally, courts have declined to impose this liability, believing it would lead to defensive policing. A recent High Court ruling appears to have changed all that. Listen to Rosalind English in discussion with Conor Monaghan of 5 Essex Court on this decision with serious implications for all public authorities.’

Full Story

Law Pod UK, 5th July 2023

Source: audioboom.com