Updated: Jul 23, 2021 02:23 PM Tinee Furbert, the Minister of Social Development and Seniors (Photograph by Akil Simmons) A review of the island’s litigation guardian system – to represent children in court – has begun in collaboration with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Tinee Furbert, the Minister of Social Development and Seniors, told the House of Assembly today that stakeholder consultation had already begun, and a training course would be provided for those interested. She said: “To assist us in reviewing the litigation guardian service and any improvements that can be made, two highly experienced court professionals will […]

Like almost every other profession, discipline and walk of life, clinical negligence practitioners have seen a huge transformation wrought by the pandemic.  By all accounts, the sector coped remarkably well under the restrictions that were so hastily introduced, last year. A lot of credit has rightly been given to the engineers of the COVID-19 Clinical Negligence Protocol agreed between NHS Resolution the Society of Clinical Injury Lawyers (SCIL) and Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA). The protocol, however, was not formally introduced until August, by which time solicitors, barristers, judges and numerous other professionals had already found new ways to progress […]

© Jonathan Goldberg/Shutterstock Lucy Scott-Moncrieff – Jonathan Goldberg/Shutterstock As a human rights lawyer and former commissioner for standards at the House of Lords, Lucy Scott-Moncrieff no doubt will have the highest moral integrity. It was therefore a surprise when some peers recently accused her of using “bullying” letters to persuade them to attend a course designed to combat bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment. But, The Telegraph can reveal Ms Scott-Moncrieff has herself been locked in a lengthy and bitter legal battle with the freeholder at her Victorian home in northwest London after she built a large wild swimming pond. Christine […]

It’s no secret that good self-esteem fosters a happier, healthier life. But what happens when you find your self-esteem temporarily suffering as a result of someone or something negative or difficult going on in your life? That negativity or difficulty could be a divorce. While it’s normal to have lower self-esteem during and sometimes after a divorce, it’s important to get it back as you move on and transition to a better, happier life. But how to get your self-esteem back after divorce is something many women (and men) going through a divorce need help with.   Here are 10 […]

Fraser: The parties must engage constructively A High Court judge has warned against “litigation warfare” as he pleaded with the parties in a construction dispute to co-operate in the face of spiralling costs. Mr Justice Fraser stressed that co-operation by parties was “expressly required by the CPR” and there was “nothing to be gained by endless interlocutory strife”. The only consequence of this was “vast expense and difficulty”. He made the remarks in Standard Life Assurance Ltd v Gleeds (UK) (a firm) & Ors [2021] EWHC 2081 (TCC), a ruling on an application by the claimant for permission to amend […]

I can’t speak for every divorce, but almost always, what I see and hear about when it comes to newly separated couples is that the ex-husband has a girlfriend fairly quickly after the couple decides to get divorced. Regardless of who wanted the divorce, for a variety of reasons, the guy usually ends up in a relationship right away, leaving his soon-to-be ex wife infuriated. You might be wondering, ‘Why would the wife be infuriated (or even care at all) if she is the one who decided she wanted the divorce?’ This can best be explained by describing the feelings […]

The government could face legal and strike action over its decision to resurrect extended court operating hours as part of the widely-trailled ‘Beating Crime Plan’ unveiled today. In February the Criminal Bar Association – which instructed heavyweight firm Mishcon de Reya to fight ‘Covid operating hours’ – claimed the controversial scheme had been abandoned for the ‘foreseeable future’ – although the Ministry of Justice said the scheme continued to be under review by the lord chancellor following last year’s consultation. Today, the Ministry of Justice announced that judges will have the option to open courtrooms for longer under new ‘temporary […]

Royal Philips NV updates Sign up to myFT Daily Digest to be the first to know about Royal Philips NV news. The head of Royal Philips has played down the litigation risk over the discovery of a defective component in some of the medical technology company’s sleep and respiratory devices. The fault has shaved almost €10bn off the Dutch group’s market capitalisation as shares have plunged more than 20 per cent since April, when the defective part was discovered. Shares fell a further 4 per cent to €39.06 on Monday. Although investors feared hefty litigation charges would follow a string […]

With companies increasingly taking on cross-jurisdictional patent litigation, it’s more important than ever to understand how the courts work and what remedies are available in different countries, according to counsel at Johnson & Johnson, Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Dentons. Speaking at the Managing IP Life Sciences Forum last Wednesday, June 16, panellists during the session on global protection and enforcement strategies said counsel should be aware of whether injunctive relief is available and what needs to go into evidence gathering, among other things. “A key thing you have to remember in the US, for example, is of course that defendants have […]