A firm providing storage and distribution services has failed to prove that a commercial client was in breach of contract by not granting it exclusive rights as discussed during negotiations. The firm had nothing in writing to prove its claim and had to rely on oral agreements which were far from conclusive. The court heard
A cafe bar has won damages from a rival firm that set up using a similar name. Bocacina Ltd had operated a successful bar, restaurant and gallery inBristolsince 2005. It was sometimes referred to locally as the Bocabar or just Boca, and some of its meals and services were provided under the mark of ‘boca’.
More than 15,000 people have signed up to buy a home under the government’s Help to Buy: equity loan scheme. Housing Minister Kris Hopkins said the figures showed there was a renewed confidence in the housing market. The scheme came into effect on 1 April 2013 and applies to new build properties only. To qualify,
The divorce rate may be set to rise as the recession ends and the economy recovers, according to a survey of family lawyers. The survey, carried out by accountancy firm Grant Thornton, found that eight out of 10 lawyers felt that the recession had led to married couples delaying divorce proceedings. The reason is thought
A father has won his appeal against a judge’s decision that his daughter should be sent back toSpainto live with her mother. The case involved a couple with four children. The father was British and the mother was Spanish. The family had spent most of their time living in theUK, but when the couple’s relationship
Under the Companies Act 2006, a company shareholder can petition the Court where the conduct of the company’s affairs have been unfairly prejudicial to that shareholder. It is not necessary to show that the persons controlling the company’s affairs have acted deliberately or in bad faith towards that shareholder, although it helps. It should be
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An amendment to the Employment Rights Act introduced on 29th July 2013 allows employers and employees to keep certain negotiations regarding termination of employment confidential. This means, subject to certain rules and exceptions any negotiations and offers cannot be used as evidence in subsequent unfair dismissal claims. Previously, such negotiations and offers could have been
A group of female nursing assistants who were paid less than male maintenance workers have won an equal pay claim against an NHS Trust. The pay of the two groups was based on wage structures established in 1987. More than 9 out of 10 maintenance workers were men and 8 out of 10 nursing assistants
Employers need to show they have been fair and that they have investigated all the issues thoroughly when dismissing an employee for alleged misconduct. Failure to do so could result in the dismissal being ruled unfair, as illustrated in a recent case involving a bookmakers and one of its cashiers. The cashier was accused of