Category: fire

Appealing findings made by the TCC: guidance from the Court of Appeal – Practical Law: Construction Blog

Posted November 22nd, 2018 in appeals, civil procedure rules, fire, indemnities, insurance, news by sally

‘In 2014, a waste plant owned by Wheeldon Brothers Waste Ltd was damaged by fire. Its insurer, Millennium Insurance Company Ltd, declined to indemnify the company in relation to the fire, citing alleged breaches of a variety of policy terms. At first instance, Mr Jonathan Acton Davis QC, sitting as Deputy High Court judge, ruled that Wheeldon was entitled to the indemnity.’

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Practical Law: Construction Blog, 19th November 2018

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com

Grenfell Tower: Fraudster who claimed more than £100,000 meant for survivors jailed for six years – The Independent

Posted November 22nd, 2018 in fire, fraud, guilty pleas, news, sentencing, victims by sally

‘A fraudster who claimed more than £100,000 meant for Grenfell Tower victims has been jailed for six years.’

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The Independent, 21st November 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Grenfell fire: When does causing offence become a crime? – BBC News

Posted November 7th, 2018 in fire, freedom of expression, news, public order by sally

‘A video shared on social media of a cardboard model of Grenfell Tower being set alight by a laughing crowd has prompted outrage, condemnation and some difficult questions.’

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BBC News, 6th November 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Council ends PFI deal, takes legal action over tower block cladding – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 30th, 2018 in contracting out, fire, health & safety, housing, local government, news, private finance initiative by sally

‘Camden Council is to end a private finance initiative deal and take legal action against contractors in a dispute over the recladding of tower blocks.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 30th October 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Planning reforms to give councils more flexibility to dispose of surplus land – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 3rd, 2018 in building law, consultations, fire, health & safety, housing, local government, news, ombudsmen, planning by sally

‘The government has announced plans to consult on further reforms to the planning system, including giving local authorities more flexibility to dispose of surplus land that could instead accommodate new homes.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 2nd October 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Combustible cladding ban set to be announced – BBC News

Posted October 1st, 2018 in construction industry, fire, health & safety, news by sally

‘Combustible cladding is to be banned for all new schools, hospitals, care homes, student accommodation and residential buildings in England above 18m (60ft).’

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BBC News, 30th September 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Grenfell fund fraudster’s shopping spree with victims’ cash – BBC News

Posted September 28th, 2018 in fire, fraud, guilty pleas, news, sentencing, theft by sally

‘A fraudster who stole tens of thousands of pounds from the NHS and a Grenfell Tower victim fund has been jailed for five-and-a-half years.’

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BBC News, 28th September 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Landlords told to remove Grenfell-style cladding or face action – The Guardian

Posted September 10th, 2018 in fire, health & safety, landlord & tenant, news by sally

‘Landlords must remove dangerous, Grenfell Tower-style cladding from their buildings or face enforcement action, the government has warned. The communities secretary, James Brokenshire, has written to about 60 building owners and developers, including some of the UK’s biggest property firms, explaining the actions they must take to avoid penalties.’

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The Guardian, 14th September 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Grenfell Tower: Man jailed for stealing £50,000-worth of emergency relief – The Independent

Posted September 7th, 2018 in fire, fraud, news, sentencing by sally

‘A cleaner who stole £53,000-worth of emergency relief intended for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire has been jailed.’

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The Independent, 6th September 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Grenfell Tower: Kensington and Chelsea Council worker admits fraud – BBC News

Posted August 31st, 2018 in bereavement, fire, fraud, guilty pleas, health & safety, local government, news, theft, victims by sally

‘A council worker has admitted defrauding around £60,000 from the Grenfell Tower victim fund.’

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BBC News, 30th August 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Government’s Response To Grenfell ‘Breaches Human Rights’ – Rights Info

Posted August 22nd, 2018 in fire, health & safety, housing, human rights, news by sally

‘The government’s failure to adequately respond to the Grenfell tragedy may breach human rights legislation, according to the UK’s human rights watchdog.’

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Rights Info, 21st August 2018

Source: rightsinfo.org

Britain flouting human rights over Grenfell-style cladding – The Guardian

Posted August 20th, 2018 in fire, health & safety, housing, human rights, news by sally

‘The government is breaching fundamental obligations to protect its citizens’ right to life by failing to address the systemic problems that led to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the UK’s human rights watchdog has warned.’

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The Guardian, 19th August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fire safety duties for insolvency practitioners – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 7th, 2018 in fire, health & safety, insolvency, news by sally

‘When a business goes into insolvency, insolvency practitioners may become responsible for fire safety. Those responsibilities will change if the Hackitt Review’s post-Grenfell recommendations are implemented, particularly if the insolvency involves buildings where people sleep.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 7th August 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Environmental Law News Update – Six Pump Court

Posted August 6th, 2018 in brexit, EC law, environmental protection, fire, health & safety, news, sentencing by sally

‘In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Laura Phillips, Mark Davies and Angelica Rokad consider a parliamentary report on the Government’s 25 year plan for the environment, the Brexit White Paper and a recent Court of Appeal case clarifying sentencing in fire safety cases.’

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Six Pump Court, 30th July 2018

Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk

Grenfell Tower: Sentences for gross negligence manslaughter could increase after investigation into deadly fire – The Independent

Posted July 31st, 2018 in corporate manslaughter, fire, health & safety, homicide, housing, negligence, news, sentencing by sally

‘Sentences for gross negligence manslaughter, which is being considered by investigators looking into the Grenfell Tower fire, could be increased under new advice given to judges.’

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The Independent, 31st July 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Court of Appeal upholds ‘reasonable’ widely-drafted exclusion clause – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 20th, 2018 in contracts, exclusion clauses, fire, news, unfair contract terms by sally

‘A widely-drafted exclusion clause in the standard terms of a fire protection system provider was not unreasonable, and therefore should be upheld, the Court of Appeal has confirmed.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 19th June 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

What is the price of safety? And who pays the price? – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted June 18th, 2018 in fire, health & safety, inquiries, leases, news, repairs by sally

‘On 14 June 2017, 72 people were killed when a huge fire engulfed the Grenfell Tower Block in West London. As we approach the anniversary of that appalling disaster, the inquiry into what happened has only just begun, with harrowing accounts from witnesses and survivors. One thing that does seem clear however, is that the retro-fitted cladding which was applied to the outside of the tower was entirely useless in slowing the blaze. Indeed, it seems that the cladding was itself flammable, feeding the flames, and was fitted in such a way as to aid the spread of the blaze.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 12th June 2018

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

‘Grenfell’ cladding: couple could sue after £600,000 flat now worth £90,000 – The Guardian

Posted June 18th, 2018 in fire, health & safety, housing, mortgages, news, valuation by sally

‘A family who have seen the value of their London flat slashed from £600,000 to just £90,000 because of Grenfell-style cladding could sue a government agency that helped them buy their home.’

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The Guardian, 18th June 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Pair face jail after posing as Grenfell victims to claim £125,000 – The Guardian

Posted May 31st, 2018 in fire, fraud, immigration, news by sally

‘Two illegal immigrants who falsely claimed more than £100,000 in accommodation and pre-paid credit cards by posing as victims of the Grenfell Tower fire are facing jail.’

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The Guardian, 30th May 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Can the Grenfell Inquiry be a truly modern public inquiry? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted May 23rd, 2018 in diversity, fire, health & safety, housing, human rights, inquiries, judiciary, news by sally

‘Is there any hope that the Grenfell Inquiry will finally gain legitimacy? As with the successful McPherson Inquiry following the Stephen Lawrence murder, recognition of diversity and inclusivity are essential.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 23rd May 2018

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com