Government policy is firmly in favour of encouraging renewable energy sources, but that did not avail the would-be developers of a solar energy plant which was planned to cover more than 22 hectares of countryside. In striking down planning permission…
The Green Belt is not as sacrosanct as some might wish it to be and must sometimes give way to the modern world’s need for essential infrastructure. The point was made when the High Court gave the green light to…
You may have seen recent media reports of an American heiress who cut her two sons out of her will so that her pet Maltese terrier to ensure that her very pampered pet would inherit her $million fortune. This reminded…
On 10 March 2015, legislation came into force making it a criminal offence to require an individual to exercise their subject access rights under Section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) to gain access to information about their…
In what some may view as a counter-intuitive decision, but one which has significant implications for employers, the Court of Appeal has ruled that a single employee was by herself capable of forming an ‘organised grouping’ within the meaning of…
A disabled IT specialist who was cut out of the communication loop by his employer whilst on long-term sick leave has triumphed in a discrimination claim and will receive thousands of pounds in compensation following a tribunal ruling. The man…
Workers tempted to use their employers’ email accounts for purposes which could cause offence should take note of a High Court case in which a senior manager at a Premiership football club lost the right to a £200,000 severance payment…
The Government is currently legislating to render the use of exclusivity clauses unenforceable in zero hours contracts. In addition, following a consultation exercise, draft regulations have been drawn up outlining proposals for secondary legislation to prevent employers from sidestepping the…
Few disputes are as bitter as family disputes and the court is not normally the best place to settle them. A recent case shows how easy it can be for relations between family members to break down. A young couple's…
The Court of Appeal has issued a judgment that will come as a shock to divorcing spouses who anticipate that their ex-spouse will be required to pay them maintenance for life. The case was brought after the ex-husband applied to…