A homeless person’s locked bedroom in a hostel is subject to the same rights against trespassers as anyone else’s property. That was the conclusion of the Divisional Court in a recent case when a complaint against the police was made following...

A schoolgirl who suffered severe brain damage at birth has been awarded a compensation package worth £6.5 million. Rhiannon Hayman, 15, was starved of oxygen during her birth at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend and now has severe cerebral...

Until the recent publicity afforded by television shows on the subject, many people might not have realised that ‘heir tracing’ companies exist, let alone that they research ‘promising’ estates by looking at public records and then...

A police civilian worker who was shot during a firearms safety demonstration has won a six-figure sum in compensation. Keith Tilbury, 56, a 999 control room operator at the Thames Valley Police Headquarters in Oxfordshire, was attending a demonstration by a...

It is a cardinal rule in court proceedings in the UK that both parties to a disagreement must have a fair chance to state their side of the argument. This is particularly important in family cases, which are often complex and invariably emotionally charged. ...

The Government has announced that victims of thalidomide, a drug that was prescribed to pregnant women in the 1950s and ‘60s, will share a £20 million compensation package to assist with their health needs as they get older. Thalidomide was...

A man who suffered severe brain damage when he slipped and fell on an uneven public road in North London has received an interim payment of £75,000. Kyle Bullock, 33, was walking with friends down a steep and poorly maintained road when the accident...

Getting your tax right can sometimes be complex and it is often the case that when HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigate a taxpayer, they find that there are irregularities. When these result in an underpayment of tax, HMRC will normally levy interest...

Under the Children Act 1989 , a court may only make a care order or a supervision order if it is satisfied that the child concerned is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm. In a recent case, the Court of Appeal overturned the decision of a...

A gardener who developed a deadly asbestos-related disease has won £205,000 in compensation from his former employers. Mr Gaffney, 57, worked for the University of Liverpool during the 1980s looking after the grounds. He used to take his lunch breaks...

Retaining records after a person has died is essential in order to be able to demonstrate the amount of Inheritance Tax (IHT) ‘nil rate band’ that is available on the death of a surviving spouse or civil partner. It might easily be thought that...

The parents of an independent school pupil have lost their appeal against a judge’s decision to dismiss their claim that their son’s expulsion from the school amounted to a breach of contract and warranted injunctive relief and the payment of...

An experienced scaffolder who sustained severe injuries in a 40-foot fall has won a £90,000 compensation settlement. Trevor Cox, 43, had worked as a scaffolder for 20 years and had never had an accident before. He had just started dismantling...

Family break-up is always complicated and when there is a property involved, things can get very complex indeed. In principle, when a couple are cohabiting (not married or in a civil partnership) the property belongs as of right to whoever is shown on the...

Owners of properties used for furnished holiday lettings (FHLs) are reminded that the tax regime relating to these is set to change significantly (for the worse) next April. Under the current tax regime, such businesses have advantages for both Income Tax...

A student who was badly injured by a late tackle while playing football has won £25,000 in compensation. Jonny Craig, 29, was studying for a doctorate in educational psychology at the University of Nottingham. He was taking part in a Sunday League...

The Supreme Court has recently ruled to give the grandmother of a child custody over him despite the opposition of the boy’s father, who applied to have custody himself. In the view of the Court, acting in the child’s best interests means that...

A road worker from Tyneside who was knocked down by a driver who was over the limit has won £1.1 million in compensation for his injuries. William Kane, 55, had been sent by his employer to work on a highways contract for the Irish Government. He had...

It is widely thought that once a conviction is ‘spent’, it is erased from ‘the system’ and simply ceases to exist. Regrettably for those who may have a youthful indiscretion or two on their record, this is not so, as is illustrated by...

The trial of an unqualified will writer took place in Bristol recently when a 45-year-old man was charged with the theft of £800,000 from a succession of elderly clients. The man had duped childless elderly people into inserting a clause into their...

The family of an elderly patient who died of an insulin overdose administered by a hospital nurse has been awarded almost £50,000 in compensation. Doris Ludlam, 80, was one of four elderly patients who were given lethal injections of insulin by nurse...

When dividing family assets on separation or divorce, judges sometimes make some surprising decisions. Where these are erroneous or unfair, they can be overturned. In a recent case, a judge ruled that in order to achieve a ‘clean break’ between...

The widow of a scientist who died after suffering an allergic reaction to eating eggs has been awarded £415,000 in damages. Kuldip Singh Bhamra, 49, was attending a wedding banquet held at a Sikh temple in Forest Gate, London. Mr Bhamra knew of his...

The ‘Doorstep Selling’ regulations ( The Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer’s Home or Place of Work etc. Regulations 2008 ) came into effect on 1 October 2008 and bring new rights to consumers who make contracts with traders in...

A boy who was left with severe brain damage after he was injured in a fall at a children’s nursery has been awarded a sizeable settlement in compensation. The accident happened when James Pitcher was just nine months old. He fell off a changing table...