Economic abuse, the bank, and the devil in the detail: One Savings Bank plc v Catherine Waller-Edwards [2024] EWCA Civ 302 – Legal Studies

Posted March 26th, 2025 in banking, mortgages, news, surety, undue influence by sally

‘In One Savings Bank plc v Catherine Waller-Edwards,1 the Court of Appeal considered – for the first time – whether banks are put on constructive notice to potential undue influence in joint benefit remortgage/suretyship hybrid transactions. At a time where there is an increasing awareness of economic abuse as a form of domestic abuse,2 this appeal offered an important opportunity to reassess banks’ responsibilities in assisting potential victim-survivors. Unfortunately, that opportunity was not seized. In this case comment, I set out the negative impacts the Court of Appeal judgment could have on victim-survivors of economic abuse going forward, and how these concerns could – since this case has now been given leave to appeal – be addressed by the Supreme Court.’

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Legal Studies, 7th February 2025

Source: www.cambridge.org

The Mental Element of Accessory Liability in Tort – Cambridge Law Journal

Posted March 26th, 2025 in joint liability, news, strict liability, trade marks by sally

‘Hornby Street Ltd. (“Hornby”) infringed the registered trademarks of Lifestyle. Hornby was therefore strictly liable in tort ([2017] EWHC 3313 (Ch), [2018] F.S.R. 15). However, Hornby went into administration. Lifestyle therefore sued two directors of Hornby, the Ahmeds, claiming that they were jointly and severally liable with Hornby for the infringements, and sought an account of profits from them. Lifestyle was successful both at first instance ([2020] EWHC 688 (Ch), [2020] F.S.R. 29) and in the Court of Appeal ([2021] EWCA Civ 675, [2021] Bus. L.R. 1020). The Supreme Court rightly allowed the Ahmeds’ appeal: Lifestyle Equities CV v Ahmed [2024] UKSC 17, [2024] 2 W.L.R. 1297. In a compelling and comprehensive judgment, Lord Leggatt held that the Ahmeds could not be primarily liable for the infringement, and nor could they be liable as accessories since there was no finding that they knew of the unlawful infringement of Lifestyle’s rights. This latter point is likely to be of wider importance: the Supreme Court recognised a general principle of accessory liability in private law, and that accessory liability is never strict but depends upon the accessory’s knowledge of the primary wrong.’

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Cambridge Law Journal, January 2025

Source: www.cambridge.org

“Outrageous” delays persist for complex probate matters – Legal Futures

Posted March 26th, 2025 in complaints, delay, news, probate by sally

‘Improvements in the probate system are not filtering through to complex cases, according to a specialist solicitor who has lodged a complaint over “outrageous” delays she has suffered.’

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Legal Futures, 26th March 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Some water boss bonuses in England could be banned, says Ofwat – The Guardian

‘Bonuses for water bosses in England could be banned this year for companies that spill sewage, break the law or mismanage their finances, Ofwat has announced.’

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The Guardian, 25th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Windrush victims could have compensation reconsidered after ruling – The Guardian

‘Windrush scandal victims who were denied compensation could have their cases reconsidered after a landmark ruling against the Home Office.’

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The Guardian, 25th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Access to Family Court documents under the open justice principle – Transparency Project

Posted March 26th, 2025 in appeals, BBC, disclosure, family courts, news, reporting restrictions by sally

‘Journalists and legal bloggers (reporters) are normally allowed to see certain types of documents under the Reporting Provisions that came in this year, and earlier during the Reporting Pilot. Sometimes reporters ask to see other relevant documents, and there’s a process for applying to do this. This blog post is about a case where the BBC have been following a case in the family courts in which they asked for, and were given permission to see, certain extra documents. However, other parties in the case weren’t happy about this and applied for permission to appeal (PTA) against that order for disclosure of the documents.’

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Transparency Project, 24th March 2025

Source: transparencyproject.org.uk

Joey Barton handed 12-week suspended prison sentence for assaulting his wife – The Guardian

‘The former footballer Joey Barton has been handed a 12-week suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of assaulting his wife at their family home in south-west London in June 2021.’

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The Guardian, 25th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Maternity leave sex discrimination case settled for £215,000 – The Independent

‘A woman who alleged she was discriminated against for not being given the opportunity for promotion while on maternity leave has settled the case for £215,000.’

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The Independent, 26th March 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

University of Sussex fined £585,000 for failing to uphold freedom of speech – The Guardian

Posted March 26th, 2025 in fines, freedom of expression, gender, news, transgender persons, universities by sally

‘England’s university regulator has been accused of “perpetuating the culture wars” after fining the University of Sussex a record £585,000 at the conclusion of an investigation into freedom of speech on campus.’

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The Guardian, 26th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

First place in British Isles approves right to die – BBC News

Posted March 26th, 2025 in assisted suicide, bills, news by sally

‘Proposed laws to give terminally ill adults on the Isle of Man the right to choose to end their own lives have been agreed by the Manx parliament.’

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BBC News, 25th March 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Animals as Legal Subjects – Law Pod UK

Posted March 26th, 2025 in animals, chambers articles, food, news, podcasts by sally

‘Rosalind English discusses the Animal Sentience Act with Edie Bowles of the Animal Law Foundation and Dr Rachel Dunn of Leeds Beckett. We explore the extent of this and other animal welfare laws in terms of compliance and enforceability, particularly for the billions of animals kept inside and in confined quarters, in order to end up on our supermarket shelves.’

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Law Pod UK, 24th March 2025

Source: audioboom.com

Assisted dying law could take four years to implement – BBC News

Posted March 26th, 2025 in assisted suicide, bills, news, parliament, time limits by sally

‘A new assisted dying law for England and Wales could take up to four years to fully implement due to additional safeguards being adopted as the bill goes through Parliament.’

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BBC News, 25th March 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Protocol issued on disclosure of information between Coroners and Family Court in cases involving fatality – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 26th, 2025 in coroners, disclosure, family courts, news, practice directions by sally

‘The President of the Family Division and the Chief Coroner have this week (24 March) published guidance on good practice for Family Court Judges and Coroners where there are parallel proceedings in their jurisdictions.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 25th March 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Man jailed for ‘reckless’ tower block arson – BBC News

Posted March 25th, 2025 in arson, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A man has been jailed for eight years after deliberately starting a fire in the stairwell of a residential tower block.’

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BBC News, 24th March 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Boxer who fled UK after supplying drugs jailed – BBC News

Posted March 25th, 2025 in drug offences, fugitive offenders, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A former boxer who fled to Ireland, Thailand and Mexico to avoid being arrested for supplying cocaine to a dealer in Cheltenham has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 24th March 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

Posted March 25th, 2025 in domicile, legislation, news, taxation by tracey

2025 c. 8 – Finance Act 2025

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legislation.gov.uk, 20th March 2025

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

What does a recent Court of Appeal ruling on the case of a sacked Christian school worker mean for businesses? – Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog

‘Eugenie Freeman and Emily Halcrow explain how an employee’s right to their beliefs can be balanced against an employer’s duty to prevent discrimination.’

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Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog, 20th March 2025

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

UK employers should assess strategies ahead of changes to union access rules – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 25th, 2025 in bills, employment, news, trade unions by tracey

‘While many of the industrial relations provisions in the UK’s Employment Rights Bill (ERB) simplify existing industrial relations laws, a strikingly new and detailed framework will allow listed unions physical and digital access to workplaces, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 24th March 2025

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Human rights of businesses in the UK – OUT-LAW.com

‘While it is often assumed that human rights are reserved for human beings, companies are legal persons having rights in law and do enjoy the protections afforded by human rights legislation.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 24th March 2025

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Law firm avoids tribunal referral over PEP due diligence failures – Legal Futures

‘A law firm that failed to conduct proper anti-money laundering checks while acting for a politically exposed person (PEP) has been fined £25,000.’

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Legal Futures, 25th March 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk