‘Knowing when and how an insurer’s rights should be reserved is a key skill for anyone involved in handling insurance claims. Listen to this podcast to hear Alison Padfield QC’s thoughts on this controversial issue, together with an outline of the new legislation on damages for late payment of claims by insurers – and why she thinks the two topics might be linked.’

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4 New Square, 14th January 2020

Source: www.4newsquare.com

‘In D (Fact-finding appeal) [2019] EWCA Civ 2302 (20 December 2019) Lord Justice Baker gives the lead judgment concerning an appeal from His Honour Judge Baker. The upshot is that, the question of the child’s injuries having been the subject of two attempts at fact finding by His Honour Judge Baker (one a re-hearing in light of fresh evidence), the matter will now have to go back to a fresh judge for a third try. The little girl at the heart of the case is now 5 years old, her injuries were sustained two years ago and, as a consequence of the need to restart the fact finding process, her future will likely remain undecided for some months yet. She has been in foster care for 2 years, as has her brother who is briefly mentioned in the judgment.’

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Transparency Project, 15th January 2020

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

‘The First Claimant (“the Owner”) owned a marine vessel damaged by fire at sea. It brought an insurance claim against the Defendants (“the Underwriters”). The Second Claimant, the mortgagee of the vessel (“the Bank”), claimed an indemnity against the Underwriters pursuant to an insurance policy for the constructive total loss of the vessel by piracy.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 8th January 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

‘The number of knife or offensive weapon offences receiving cautions or convictions in England and Wales has hit a 10-year-high.’

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The Guardian, 16th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘A council significantly delayed completing an assessment of a complainant’s social care needs, failed to complete a support plan before reducing his personal budget and failed to properly involve him in the assessment and support planning process, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th January 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Fly-tippers will face prison, the environment secretary has said, as the government announces a new “waste police” unit.f

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Daily Telegraph, 15th January 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Judges sentencing convicted offenders in high-profile criminal cases in England and Wales, including murders, rapes and other serious offences, will be televised from later this year, the Ministry of Justice has said.’

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The Guardian, 16th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘The Crown Court dismissed Vlad Luca Filat’s appeal against the decision to forfeit £500,000 held in three bank accounts in his name. The court held that the money derived from bribery and corruption offences committed by the appellant’s father, the former prime minister of Moldova, and was obtained by money laundering. The case was the National Crime Agency’s first contested account forfeiture application. James Fletcher, barrister at 5SAH Chambers, who appeared for the National Crime Agency, suggests that these types of applications are likely to be deployed more and more often.’

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5 SAH, 14th January 2020

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

‘An employment tribunal has been ordered to look again at whether a claim against a law firm should continue, after the judge’s initial decision was found to be inadequately explained.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 15th January 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk