Is this an example of a growing compensation culture or an example of why we must ensure that health and safety regulations protecting employees must stay? I read an article in the Daily Mail online which in my opinion shows an example of why health and...
I listened with interest to a news item on BBC Radio 2 this week about plans to “overhaul” the existing Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme – due to the fact that running costs are spiralling out of control, having trebled since 1997 to...
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have published several press releases which have caught my eye this month and involve falls from roofs. The most tragic being the death of a labourer following a fall from the roof of an industrial unit, just months...
A scheme which has helped rough sleepers in London is to be launched in Liverpool and the surrounding area on 2nd February 2012. ‘No second night out’ is a government backed scheme which tries to ensure that rough sleepers spend no more than one...
My heart goes out to the family of the young girl savagely attacked whilst playing in the park last weekend. It is reported that her injuries are extremely severe, including the loss of part of an ear and that she is going to require reconstructive surgery...
It is a fresh start to the New Year and the Prime Minister, Mr David Cameron, has already outlined where he will be leading our Country over the next 12 months. One aspect of his speech yesterday particularly caught my attention; his fixation on the...
I was horrified to read in the news that a 3 year old girl had been picked up by her mother from nursery looking like she had been ‘attacked by a dog’. If you have seen the pictures on the news it is a heart wrenching sight – she...
The BBC reported on it’s website recently about a new form of fraud, which takes advantage of the fact the car insurance costs have significantly risen recently, the fact that young drivers are particularly hard hit by these costs and the “gotta...
Last week, the Government revealed proposed plans to change the inheritance rules, so that cohabiting couples may have the right to inherit from each other’s estates, if they die without making a Will. The current rules, called the ‘intestacy...
A recent study by experts from University of London and at the Anna Freud Centre suggest that children living in homes where violence takes place may actually have their brains affected by their home life situation, in a similar way to soldiers in combat....
Following the House of Lords European Union (EU) sub-committee’s report on the mobility of healthcare professionals, it appears likely that there will be some major changes in the way that EU doctors are treated while practising in the UK. Under the...
Most of us have, at some stage or another had a bad experience at the hairdressers; be it a dodgy haircut or an unflattering dye job. But what happens when the result is more extreme than simply an unfortunate haircut? What recourse do customers have when a...
Twenty years following the introduction of the Dangerous Dogs Act to the UK, Judges have now published the first-ever proposed sentencing guidelines in respect of offences committed under the 1991 Act. The move, by the Sentencing Council for England...
The cards are being written, presents wrapped, and a decorating and shopping frenzy is taking place across the country, in the run up to Christmas. However, Christmas can also be a time of hazards and accidents waiting to happen. The Royal Society for the...
It is not uncommon for victims of serious accidents to fail to report their accident or fail to secure evidence at the earliest opportunity after an accident. Here are 10 steps which should be taken when you have suffered an accident: 1. ...
According to figures published by the Office for National Statistics this week, less than half the adult population in England and Wales are now married. Cohabitation amongst couples appears to have become the norm, and I must say, also applies to...
A Scottish mother of two has had a slice of luck after being involved in a horrific crash last week, but walking away with only cuts and bruises. Liz Douglas, 51, was on her way home from a shopping trip in Glasgow when her car flipped onto its roof after...
A Court of Appeal decision in LONDON TARA HOTEL LTD v KENSINGTON CLOSE HOTEL LTD [2011] EWCA Civ 1356 confirmed that a right of way could be obtained through reliance on third parties use of the land. Clients often approach me with queries regarding rights...
The new EU Consumer Rights Directive was adopted by Member States in the Council on 10/10/11 having been approved in the EU Parliament on 23/6/11. It is required to be translated into national law by the end of 2013. With current government rhetoric...
I’ve read this week that, Mrs Brooks, a cleaner at my former high school St Josephs RC High School and Sports College, has been killed after being hit by a lorry at Armstrongs Environmental Services Ltd, Horwich. It has been reported that Mrs Brooks...
A survey by Which? has discovered that over 3 million people suffer with problem neighbours. As a solicitor specialising in neighbour disputes this comes as no big surprise to me. There are an astonishing number of issues that someone can have with their...
The legal world has now had time to reflect on the Judgment in Jones v Kernott which was handed down by the Supreme Court on 9 November 2011. I found the 30 page judgment a little repetitive in that a large portion of it set out the facts and findings of...
Last month, multinational cement firm CEMEX Operations UK Ltd was fined £200,000 after one of its workers died in an explosion at its premises in Rugby. 28-year old Peter Reynolds died in January 2008. He had been treating waste cement dust and whilst...
In Great Britain, on average 50 people are killed every year as a result of a fall from height, with almost 9,000 seriously injured. The roofing industry is one particular sector in which falls from height are prevalent. In Oldham, shocking images emerged...
The plight of first time buyers is back in the news as the Government has launched yet another new initiative aimed at helping them get onto the ladder. The Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a scheme that is aimed at helping around 100,000 first...
Last year, a BBC2 programme uncovered a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 which has led to a Cambridgeshire company recently being prosecuted over failure to prevent exposure to dust in the workplace. Mastercrafts, presented by Monty Don,...
Last Friday, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) welcomed a Tribunal's decision to strike out appeals submitted by the UK's biggest logbook loan business, Nine Regions Limited and Log Book Loans Limited, who trade under the name Log Book Loans. In...
Over the last couple of weeks there have featured in the news, tragic stories about women who have either died, or been left fighting for their lives as a result of doing what so many of us do on a regular basis and that is dying our hair. Tabatha McCourt,...
Most of us would know Kris Marshall better from the BT advertising campaign that he has long been the star of, yet on this occasion the news has featured Mr Marshall for an appearance at the Magistrates Court theatre. The actor was charged and bailed to...
According to a study by consumer champions Which? this week, high street stores are dismissing customers who have legitimate complaints and denying them their legal statutory rights’ to have faulty goods fixed. Its researchers apparently visited 60...
It pays to recruit good staff but what happens if things go wrong? How would you manage a sickness absence? How effective is your performance management? How would you respond to a grievance or a claim? These are some of the challenges you could face as an...
Back in July we discussed a case in one of our blogs which involved an employee pursuing her employer for £1 million after she suffered a serious fall at work which left her facing a future confined to a wheelchair. Sylvia Cheung experienced spinal...
When a motorcyclist takes a pillion passenger on a journey, he has certain responsibilities. First and foremost, he must be legally permitted to travel with a pillion passenger. Motorcyclists who do not possess a full licence or do not have a vehicle with a...
There has been a development in the law following the Supreme Court Judgment delivered yesterday in the case of Kernott v Jones. The judgment has clarified the previous case of Stack v Dowden and has provided assistance in clarifying ambiguous terms from...
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 call for any electrical equipment with the potential to cause injury to be safely maintained. Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is the name given to the testing and visual examination of electrical equipment and...
After reading a parliamentary report released today, I was astonished at figures that show that British consumers are being conned out of nearly £7 billion a year. The report claimed that consumer law is being abused regionally and nationally, while...
Over the five year period between 2004 and 2009, according to the European Commission, the number of products notified to the EU Recall Registration System (RAPEX) increased from 468 to 1,993. 60 per cent of products recalled in 2009 originated from China...
Most people will be aware of the fact it is possible to make a claim against a previous employer for asbestos related illness compensation, where it can be proved that the employer was at fault. But fewer know it is possible to claim against more than one...
Accidents on demolition sites are common; these are hazardous places to work or to be in the vicinity of, and for this reason the Health and Safety Executive dedicates an entire section of their website to the laws surrounding demolition, dismantling and...
I was travelling down to the West Country with my family on the M5 on the evening of 4th November and we count ourselves extremely lucky to have missed one of the worst crashes in UK motorway history by about 30 minutes. If we had been half an hour earlier...
The whole idea of a beauty treatment is to make you look and feel better and I myself am not adverse to the odd trip to the beauty salon for a treatment or two, and love a manicure, or even a pedicure. But so far I’ve never been brave enough to try a...
Much is being said and written in the media about the outcome of the Family Justice Review. However there is a greater problem on the horizon for parents who fall into disputes about their children which they are unable to resolve between themselves. That is...
My family and I braved the wet weather on Friday evening and thoroughly enjoyed the fantastic firework display put on by Bolton Council at Leverhulme Park. However, I read today that emergency crews in our region have worked tremendously hard over the...
After a hard day at work, there is always an urge to get home as quickly as possible so we can put our feet up. It is something we are all guilty of, particularly as the evenings get colder and the nights longer. With this in mind, it is also important to...
It was in the press this week that mobile disco owners have to pay the highest amount for their car insurance compared to a worker in any other profession, according to research. Comparison site confused.com found that mobile disco owners will pay a huge...
This weekend I managed to spend some time in the newly extended local Tesco (Middlebrook) and was amazed to see the extent of goods and services they are now offering. There is a hairdressing salon in there – offering not just cuts, but tans and...
We all go to bars, pubs and nightclubs to have a good time and let go of our inhibitions. We fully expect them to be busy and the atmosphere to be somewhat boisterous but, whilst we are busy having a good time, do we ever stop to think about the safety of...
The Family Justice Review has recently published its final report making a range of recommendations aimed at improving the family justice system and minimising delay. The Review says "no legislation should be introduced that creates, or risks creating,...
A Wigan factory worker has lost two of her fingers following an accident at work involving a machine used to punch handles in plastic bags. 53 year old Karen Schoelzel from Golborne was working for Arrow Flexible Packaging Ltd when the accident took place...
My last blog was about legal aid reform and without wishing to be repetitive I feel the need to blog again on the same subject as I feel so strongly in my opposition to the proposals for legal aid cuts. The Law Society called for a pause in the passage...
How many of you remember the road safety advertisement with the little girl who comes back to life after she's been knocked down and killed? Road safety laws are there for a good reason, yet at least eight children are killed every day as a result of...
Last year, a one-year old child was injured when part of a streetlight was dropped onto her pram from above, striking her head. The incident, which happened in Hackney, east London, was recently the subject of a prosecution by the Health and Safety...
More than five incidents involving falls from height in the construction industry are recorded every day, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). During 2010-2011, 50 construction workers died in accidents at work. Because this industry...
When we select food from shops or supermarkets, we immediately put our faith in the labelling. We trust that it will give us a true statement of the ingredients and nutritional information of what we’re about to eat. One vitally important piece of...
Albeit it’s only November, I have already seen the beginning of the inevitable Christmas shopping promotions. As everyone is supposed to know, Christmas is all about spending time with one another’s families, however that can be a particularly...
My commute to work is very tame compared to that endured by a number of commuters on a double decker-bus in Bristol during morning rush hour last week. Six of the passengers suffered head injuries when the top of the double-decker bus they were travelling in...
Research has shown that the number of people killed or seriously injured on Wigan roads has dropped by 36% in 2010. Figures released by the Department for Transport has shown that there were 62 people killed or seriously injured on the boroughs roads in...
England footballers are never too far away from the news and it would appear that this observation applies equally to former players as it does to current ones. Mr Paul Merson has again made the news recently with a serious incident that occurred on the M40...
This case has caught my eye this week as the Court of Appeal has been asked to reconsider the decision of the High Court earlier this year, which resulted in Terry Marley losing any inheritance from his parent’s estate. Terry Marley was...
An Aberdeenshire woman has been charged with dangerous driving after driving the wrong way down the slip road of a busy dual carriageway and crashing head on into two lorries. Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard how Shazida Begum admitted causing the crashes by...
As we approach Road Safety Week (21 – 27 November) I was interested to read the Justice Secretary’s recent announcement of a new criminal offence to be introduced in respect of seriously injured victims of dangerous drivers. Kenneth Clarke has...
When people divorce, the biggest animosity often surrounds the division of the assets. Following many landmark cases over the years, the court is required to consider the needs of the couple, sharing and compensation alongside issues of fairness and...
We are often approached with potential claimants who have been injured participating in some form of sporting activity, and we approach such cases with great caution, as they are extremely difficult to win. Many sports are dangerous, and it is an accepted...
It’s only two months until Christmas and already some people have thought in advance: they’ve purchased all their gifts and planned how they’ll spend the festive occasion. But for others, they may be worrying about how they are going to...
As the parent of a teenage boy about to begin to learn to drive I thought I would arm myself with a few statistics to try and impress upon him the dangers that being a driver can entail, after all male drivers aged under the age of 21 are 10 times more...
The Care Quality Commission has recently considered whether nutrition and dignity standards were being adhered to at 100 hospitals. The CQC spent a day on two wards at each site and concerns were identified in 55 cases. Both the James Paget Hospital in Great...
When 37-year old Michael Benn, an industrial cleaner contracted to work at E.On power station Connah’s Quay, went to investigate a poorly functioning pump he and two colleagues were using to clear away silt and sludge, he fell into a water cooling tank...
A 78-year old woman injured when her husband lost control of the car she was travelling in and collided with another vehicle has been awarded £34,000 in compensation from his insurance company. The woman suffered a head injury leading to a brain...
It was reported in the media last week that Sian Thomas, a 38-year-old old pub landlady had died in an extremely rare accident after falling over in high heeled shoes. The inquest heard that she stumbled after catching her heel in the hem of her dress,...
The High Court at the end of yesterday confirmed that Geoffrey Boycott’s case against his solicitors for professional negligence could not continue and was struck out. According to the Daily Mail, he was reportedly criticised by a judge for giving...
JustRights and Sound Off For Justice have published a joint report, Not Seen And Not Heard: how children and young people will lose out from cuts to civil legal aid. The report has found that 6,000 children under the age of 18 and 69,000 vulnerable young...
This case has caught my eye this week, after being reported in the news. Earlier this year, a claim was issued in the Royal Court of Guernsey by Patricia Assersohn, against the estate of her late father Patrick Edge, and against her sister Angela Herst. ...
I was horrified to read about a three-year-old boy losing his arm after becoming trapped in a washing machine while at home. Lewis Wrench, from Crewe, in our neighbouring county of Cheshire, was found by his mum, covered in blood, with his arm detached and...
According to a survey undertaken by Young Marmalade (who are an insurer specialising in young motorists), one in five young motorists have considered breaking the law by driving without insurance to avoid having to pay increasingly higher motor insurance...
51 year old electrician Henry Truszkowski suffered serious burns when he was hit by a 33,000 volt electric shock whilst carrying out maintenance work in 2008. He was working for steel company Celsa Manufacturing (UK) Ltd at the time, who was later fined...
In one of the first cases of its kind, a 13 year old schoolboy has been awarded compensation topping a four figure sum after suffering at the hands of a classroom bully. Jed Winfindale was attacked with a wooden drawing board and suffered arm and shoulder...
According to the Health and Safety Executive, slips and trips are the most common cause of major injuries at work and approximately 90 per cent of these injuries involve broken bones. These accidents cost businesses over £500 million per year but the...
£280,000 in compensation has been awarded to a cyclist who was left with a deformed leg after she was crushed by a lorry in a road traffic accident . Three years after 31 year old student Doris Barrera Torrico first started proceedings against the...
According to the National Statistics Annual Business Inquiry 2006, the dry cleaning and laundry industry employs around 39,000 people. This covers everything from independent dry cleaners to industrial laundries and onsite laundering facilities in the health...
Concern has recently been raised that healthcare assistants, in many hospitals and care homes within the UK, are undertaking tasks without sufficient training. Healthcare assistants clearly have an important role assisting nurses with basic tasks like...
The Royal College of Surgeons have raised concerns that the lives of thousands of NHS emergency surgery patients are being risked by poor care and delays in treatment. A recent report indicates that approximately 170,000 patients undergo non-cardiac...
The latest views on proposals to change the current Northern Ireland drink driving laws have come from the Environment Minister Mr Alex Attwood. He has confirmed that he wishes to push through proposals to reduce the current legal blood...
Public playgrounds are popular places for families, especially during the school holidays. But sometimes, if playgrounds are poorly maintained, they can potentially be extremely dangerous places. Basildon Council in Essex is set to be sued by a parent whose...
Farms can be dangerous places to work. Heavy duty machinery can pose many risks if there are failures in the training and supervision of operators, or if equipment is not adequately maintained. Vehicles are also responsible for many accidents on farms....
We are thrilled to announce that our personal injury and clinical negligence teams have been short listed for a 2011 Proclaim Personal Injury Award, in the ‘Claimant team of the year’ category. These awards are the highlight of the personal...
Whilst repetitive strain injury (RSI) is most commonly associated with computer users who suffer wrist and arm problems due to prolonged use of a keyboard and mouse, the condition can, in reality, be suffered by anyone who carries out repetitive actions as...
It has been leaked today that the maximum speed limit on motorways is likely to increase in 2013, to 80mph, following a consultation. The Government’s reasoning behind this is that the number of drivers breaking the law is undermining the principle of...
The High Street giant, Marks & Spencer was this week found guilty of two charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, following a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive. They were found to have failed to protect customers, staff...
Local councils have a duty to maintain public footpaths so that they are safe for pedestrians to use and pose no risk of accident. In an ideal situation, footpaths would be regularly inspected and action taken where repairs are necessary, and reported...
The hazards associated with working in a factory environment are widely reported. Because of the high risk of injury to employees operating, servicing, cleaning or working near machinery, it is crucial for employers to conduct a thorough risk assessment so...
The risks faced by those employed in the woodworking and furniture industries are to be investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). It is thought that around 50 people are diagnosed with nasal cancer every year, which is likely to have been...
55 year old Keith Rowley has been awarded a £10,000 out of court settlement by his employer, General Kinematics Ltd, after his hands were left permanently damaged by his use of vibrating tools in his work as a fitter. Mr Rowley suffered the...
Tuffnells Parcels Express Ltd was fined £150,000 after one of their employees was seriously injured in an accident at their Essex depot. 22 year old warehouse porter Simon Mason suffered serious head injuries when his skull was crushed by a...
A young woman has received £5,250 in an out of court settlement against a hairdressing salon in Nottingham, following treatment which left her looking like a “scarecrow”. Charlotte Jones paid £60 to have the salon change her from...
Autumn - the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness when parents across the country breathe a sigh of relief that their little darlings are back at school and into a new routine. Autumn of course, brings its own delights for children, such as the...
I read with interest today in the Times, that the Dowler family have written a letter to David Cameron making it clear that without the existence of the no-win, no-fee arrangement and the insurance which backs such an agreement, they “…would not...
The summer holidays are over, and parents have bought uniforms and supplies, preparing their children for another academic year, safe in the knowledge that they will come to no harm whilst in the care of their school or college. Not so,...
Wigan Council has paid out nearly £3.5 million in compensation to members of the public and employees in the past three years, according to a report in the Wigan Evening Post this week. Personal injury claims brought against Wigan council include...
A 30 year old plant operator was lucky to survive when he fell onto machinery at his place of work. He now faces the possibility of being dependent on a wheelchair later in life because of his injuries. Simon Lowe fell onto spikes and suffered internal...
Machine operators can face many hazards in their work, particularly if the correct training is not given, safety guards are not in place, protective wear is not provided or there is a lack of supervision. Many machine related accidents occur when operators...
Eight workers at a Job Centre in Harrow, Middlesex were awarded compensation after they were exposed to potentially lethal fumes in their workplace and suffered ill effects as a result. The employees endured headaches and nausea for several months after a...
The disaster at the Pukkelpop music festival in Belgium, where five people died and fifty were injured after a severe storm caused a stage to collapse, came as shocking news, especially so soon after another similar storm-related disaster in the United...
Road traffic accidents often have very serious consequences for those involved and when a negligent driver causes devastating, life changing brain injuries, the repercussions are felt throughout the victim’s family emotionally, and financially. ...
A new regulation which requires septic tanks to be registered will come into force from January 1st 2012. This new law will means that under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010, householders with existing or new septic tanks...
Provisions effecting an overhaul of ‘pre-pack administrations’, which allow struggling businesses to be marketed prior to entering into administration and sold shortly thereafter, have been delayed. Pre-pack administrations have proven...
We often highlight the dangers of using unregulated Will writers when making arrangements to deal with your assets after death. But an article in the Law Gazette this week made the dangers all the more significant, after it was reported that an...
Burn injuries don’t just leave physical scars, they can have an effect on confidence and even acceptance in society. The connotations of serious burns can be devastating and will often change lives completely. One industry that is commonly exposed to...
A retired paramedic was left disabled and requiring 24 hour care after a surgeon removed the wrong part of his brain during a botched operation . John Tunney, from Sutton Coldfield, underwent a biopsy on a pituitary tumour but the surgeon removed healthy...
In a very interesting benchmark decision, the Court of Appeal last month confirmed that if a spouse is only left a life interest in their husband or wife’s property on their death, this is not reasonable financial provision, and they should be entitled...
Broken bones are a common result of many accidents. Some are naturally more serious than others and it’s generally broken limbs that have the most debilitating consequences. Some broken bone injuries are temporary and whilst they cause pain and loss...
Plans are currently being considered for women to win the right to force the police to confirm whether their partner has a violent history. The proposal is called ‘Clare’s Law’ and was launched on 17th July 2011 after the...
Road traffic accidents involving motorcyclists are common. They can be caused by pedestrians, motorists or other motorcyclists and can result in catastrophic injuries in some cases. Pedestrians sued for £300,000 When...
The rioting and looting which swept across many of our major cities last week has now ended but the debate about how to deal with the perpetrators is likely to be ongoing for some time. People are calling for the rioter’s benefits to be scrapped and...
Compensation of £14,000 has been awarded to a seven year old boy who was hit by a car whilst using a pedestrian crossing. Liam Brickell was only three years old when he was hit by a disqualified and uninsured driver. He sustained major cuts...
Mishaps and accidents at work in 2010 have seen teachers paid out in the region of £20 million in compensation for injuries , dispute awards and criminal damage, so says a report in the Guardian online education section. One English...
But are they really? This is the question I ask myself as the business and wider community of Manchester begin to pick up the pieces and count the cost of the rioting on Tuesday. As I sat in my comfortable home in the suburbs of Greater...
Eye injuries sustained in accidents vary enormously in severity. They can be caused by splashes or exposure to smoke, eyes can be struck directly, or problems can arise as an indirect result of a head injury. Eye injury compensation awards vary...
A question mark hangs over whether children are safe at school as tens of thousands in injury compensation was paid to pupils in one area alone. During the last financial year, Cornwall Council has paid out £47,500 to school pupils in ...
With the worrying spread of the disorder and rioting across the capital and beyond, the impact on the judicial system has been immediate, not least with the closure of London (South) Employment Tribunal. The damage caused...
There was a glimmer of good news for the property market this month with the Bank of England releasing its latest figures that show there were 2,000 more mortgage approvals in June than in the previous month. There were 48,421 approvals for...
The Daily Mirror last month reported that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been ordered to pay £1 million in total to the families of three people who died after being exposed to asbestos during their childhoods. Each of the deceased had...
Head injuries resulting from being struck by falling objects in the workplace appear to be common, with three being reported in the news in just the past few weeks. And they can lead to substantial compensation awards. British Airways face...
Jack Tweed is most famous for his marriage to the late Jade Goody rather than any other notable contributions to society, but this hasn't stopped him getting himself in front of the Magistrates for a street fight that took place earlier...
Lancashire police have announced that the factors which they believe are the four major contributors to severe road traffic crashes are to be given special attention over the next few months. The police have confirmed that the...
The use of social networking sites has become a daily issue for family lawyers . They have led to many allegations of extra marital relationships not only being formed as a result of links but also being found out by their spouse who has seen comments...
A council who failed to provide refuse collectors with ear protection has been ordered to pay one of its past workers over £8,000 in compensation, and there could be more claims from his colleagues, according to the lawyers who handled the case. ...
Slipping accidents in the workplace can often be avoided and are usually down to those responsible for the maintenance of the premises, or the health and safety of employees, failing to deal promptly with or alert people to a hazardous issue. ...
Supermarket giant Asda was recently ordered by Peterborough County Court to pay shopper Thomas Wardle a compensation award of £10,500 after he slipped on a grape in one of their stores. The same store had previously been rapped over cleanliness...
The Daily Mail has this week highlighted the shocking case of a former ward sister who was dismissed by doctors as being ‘hysterical’ when she requested that a breast lump be removed. In December 2005 Miss Catherine Calland, 65, had a...
In some industries where employees are subject to working in confined spaces, there is a high risk of accidents, many of which can be fatal. Pipelines, silos, pits and underground storage tanks all pose a high risk to those workers having to...
A teenager has filled for legal action against her GP on the grounds of clinical negligence after contracting a rare bone disease which was not properly diagnosed . Gaynor Salmons is claiming close to £200,000 in compensation after...
Linford Christie has now been sentenced for a road traffic collision that he was involved in after crashing his black Audi head on into a silver Mercedes taxi that was in the opposing lane. The crash happened in Buckinghamshire and the case was...
ThyssenKrupp Tallent Ltd, a global car components manufacturer, was recently fined because one of its workers was left with lasting numbness in her finger after a welding machine accident. The 43-year old female suffered a fracture and a severe...
This case that has just started in the High Court in London this week has caught my eye. Wealthy businessman George Wharton proposed to Maureen, his former mistress, as soon as he was diagnosed as terminally ill. They married in their sitting...
For anyone who saw this Sunday’s episode of Law and Order UK, I’m sure you’d agree that it was packed full of tension, emotion and suspense. The episode revolved around an apparent abduction of a young child as his mother enjoyed a morning...
This very unusual case has caught my eye this week. The High Court has this week confirmed that the children of a bigamous aristocrat, and cousin to Princess Diana, can inherit his huge estate and fortune. Alexander Montagu, the 13th Duke of...
The summer campaign to combat drink driving and drug driving by Cheshire police has got off to a fast start with 70 people having been arrested within the borders of Cheshire within the last two weeks. A month long campaign in June last year...
It was reported late last month that a postman who was left completely paralysed after an incident in his garden has been awarded £2.5 million in compensation in London’s High Court. The 38 year old suffered catastrophic fractures...
A friend of mine has just had an awful experience. Her Mum is very ill, and sensibly went to make a Will . Unfortunately she went to a high street bank. Without explaining the situation, the bank put themselves as executors and trustees on the...
The Foreign Office recently announced that there had been a 10% rise in the number of children abducted by a parent and taken to a country that was not signed up to a global child abduction treaty. The common abduction destinations are Pakistan,...
Barnardo’s relies on voluntary funding for its mission work but there seems to be a knowledge gap in awareness in terms of just how extensive the charity’s work is. Stephensons works in Partnership with Barnardo’s through its...
Studies have shown that “silver surgery” is booming as the older generation prove that looking good is not just for the young. Rather than the usual image we associate with an OAP of grey hair, twin set and pearls or a flat cap,...
Hospitals and GPs in Essex are being criticised for failing to identify a tumour the size of an orange despite repeated attendances by the patient. Mr Purkiss attended his GP practice on three occasions in January 2011 and February 2011...
Dr Mark Potter, Chairman of the British Medical Association's Consultants Committee, has raised concerns about increased NHS waiting lists for tests and treatments. His comments will no doubt add pressure to David Cameron who has stressed that patients...
When a guest died in a Devon hotel swimming pool back in 2008, the hotel was found liable for the death and was met with a £35,000 fine. The guest, a 28 year old man, was a non swimmer. He got into difficulties in the pool at the Rainbow...
In the UK, the rate of fatal injuries at work is on the rise and the most recent figures show 0.6 in 100,000 workers die in workplace accidents . This translates to 171 deaths in the year up to March 2011. 50 deaths occurred in the construction industry;...
A dispute between two neighbours over the boundary line separating their properties went up to the Court of Appeal last year and the dispute only ended when one of the parties were refused permission to appeal to the Supreme Court in November 2010. ...
For those employed as commercial divers, their work naturally carries a high risk. Recently, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has undertaken investigations into two separate incidents involving diving for shellfish. In both cases, there were...
In mid June, three men were injured in an explosion at a North Lincolnshire leisure centre. The blast at the newly built Pods Leisure Centre in Scunthorpe, due to open on 4th July 2011, left two contractors in hospital suffering from cuts and...
