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OU – gender critical beliefs

April 2024 | Employment

In a case which has hit the headlines, the ET considered a number of claims against the OU (including discrimination and harassment) from a professor who stated her gender critical beliefs. This is a controversial topic and one which all employers should consider carefully. The press summary is as follows: ‘1. The Claimant was employed …

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Redundancy – comparison to others

April 2024 | Employment

The EAT has heard a case involving an appeal against a finding of redundancy. The claimant scored the lowest result in comparison to colleagues and was made redundant. The claimant appealed his dismissal, asserting that the score was too low as the criteria used were completely subjective which rendered the dismissal procedurally unfair. The EAT …

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EAT – state immunity

April 2024 | Employment

The EAT has heard an interesting case in which it allowed an appeal against a decision that the ET had jurisdiction to hear the claimant’s claim despite the respondent claiming state immunity. The case summary is as follows: ‘Jurisdictional points – state immunity Having (through its then solicitors) accepted the jurisdiction of the Employment Tribunal …

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Leading counsel – costs not allowed

April 2024 | Professional

Firms instructing counsel should take heed from a recent HC case involving an appeal against a costs judge to disallow leading counsel’s fees when determining the appellant’s recoverable costs on detailed assessment. The underlying claim arose out of the appellant’s mother’s death from mesothelioma. Her late husband, the appellant’s father, predeceased her. He also died …

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Mediation – costs; court expectations

April 2024 | Family

The court expects those involved in family proceedings, whether the case concerns money or children, to make a ‘serious effort’ to resolve their differences before proceedings are issued. In a case involving assets valued at up to £29m, Knowles J also made clear in her ruling that this expectation continues ‘at any stage of the …

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Adoption – care orders

April 2024 | Family

The judge made a care order – an order which was not open to her in law. It had been made applying the wrong statutory principles and without carrying out the proportionality assessment stipulated by case law. M had five children and appealed the care order in respect of her baby (J). This is a …

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Findings of fact – clarification of reasons

April 2024 | Family

The procedure for requests for clarification following a ruling is being misused – it is intended only to avoid unnecessary appeals being launched on grounds of absence of reasons. In this case, the LA appealed findings made in care proceedings. The LA had raised several requests for clarification, the scale of which the CA described …

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Right of first refusal – notices

April 2024 | Landlord and tenant – residential

The CA has heard a case regarding the interpretation of the notice requirements regarding the right of first refusal under LTA 1987. Section 5 provides: ‘5. Landlord required to serve offer notice on tenants. (1) Where the landlord proposes to make a relevant disposal affecting premises to which this Part applies, he shall serve a …

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