Dispute Resolution News

Health and Safety Consultation on Regulations for Self-Employed

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have opened a three-month consultation on possible changes in Health and Safety regulations for self-employed people. Read more

Court of Session Case Decided Under Romanian Law

An Aberdonian man has been awarded more than £50,000 by the Court of Session after suffering a spinal injury in a car accident. However, somewhat unusually, the award was assessed under Romanian law. Read more

Consultation on the Discount Rates for Personal Injury Awards

The UK Government has opened a consultation on the discount rate to be applied to personal injury awards, following a fall in the yield from Gilts. Personal Injury compensation payments are normally paid in a lump sum. Read more

Woman Injured Climbing Stairs Backwards Sues

A woman has sued her Landlord in the English High Court for a six figure sum after falling down a set of outside stairs. Gillian Drysdale fell whilst walking backwards up the stairs, in the rain, carrying a heavy load. Read more

Worrying Statistics Released by the Accountancy in Bankruptcy

Quarterly figures released by the Accountancy in Bankruptcy (AiB) show a further increase in the number of personal insolvencies, with 3,310 awards of bankruptcy being made in the 3 month period to 31 May. Read more

The Changing Face of Debt Recovery

The procedures for enforcing Court Awards, known in Scotland as ‘Diligence’, were largely reformed by the Bankruptcy and Diligence (Scotland) Act 2007. Read more

Courts have power to strike out claims where there has been an abuse of process

The Supreme Court has recently held that Courts have the power to strike-out claims which are tainted by dishonesty. In the case of Fairclough Homes Limited [FHL] v Summers, Mr Summers had raised a claim against FHL following an accident he suffered at work. Read more

Jury Awards

Traditionally, damages awards made by juries have tended to be significantly larger than those made by a Judge. Over the last 18 months, there has been a series of very large jury awards in fatal injury cases which widened that gap even further. Read more

Disclosure of Confidential Information from Arbitration

The Court of Session Outer House has held that the public interest in the administration of justice “can override the obligation of confidentiality”. Read more

Sporting Chance? Injured Umpire Sues

On 18 April 2009, Edwin Hickox was umpire for the New York Yankees v Clevland Indians baseball match. Read more