Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Judge throws cold water on “insignificant” data breach claims
The burgeoning field of data breach claims has taken a blow with a High Court judge saying the disclosure of a person’s name, gender and date of birth is not serious enough.
MPs lament “missed opportunities” of court reform programme
The Ministry of Justice and courts service have “missed opportunities to swiftly deliver an ambitious court reform programme”, MPs on the justice select committee said today.
Judge could hand down judgment despite settlement
A deputy master could hand down her judgment on a case that had been heard but settled the day before she was due to circulate a draft striking out the claims, the High Court has ruled.
Court slams “reprehensible” firm for trying to shift blame for failings
The senior Queen’s Bench master has strongly criticised a Liverpool law firm over its approach to the Volkswagen emissions case and trying to blame other solicitors for its failings.
Ince Group granted injunction after ransomware attack
Listed law firm The Ince Group has been granted an interim injunction to stop hackers from releasing confidential data on the dark web if it does not pay a ransom.
SRA rebukes leading class action firm over conduct of struck-out claim
Class action firm Hausfeld has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for allowing its independence to be compromised in the conduct of a massive group claim.
Client suing law firm ordered to pay security for costs
A businessman whose property company is suing a law firm for damages cannot provide security for costs in the form of an indemnity backed by legal charges and must provide cash.
Class action firm allowed to terminate retainer, leaving 183 LiPs behind
The High Court has approved class action firm PGMBM terminating a retainer that leaves 183 litigants to continue their battle for compensation alone.
Collective redress lawyers join forces amid calls for reform
Calls for long- and short-term reform to the group action regime yesterday marked the launch of the Collective Redress Lawyers Association, as a tribunal refused to certify two opt-out actions.
Mind the gap – Economic duress of lawful act
On 18 August 2021, in Pakistan International Airline Corporation v Times Travel (UK) Ltd (Appellant) [2021] UKSC, the Supreme Court unanimously held that economic (or lawful act) duress does exist under English law.
Firm’s error gave sex offender access to child’s confidential data
National law firm BLM has won a claim against a convicted sex offender it accidentally gave access to a vulnerable child’s confidential information and who then asked for money to delete it.
Choose your submissions wisely, says judge in time-estimate warning
The judge in charge of the Commercial Court has complained again about inadequate time estimates, telling advocates they cannot ask judges to read authorities after the hearing as a shortcut.
“Vested interests” of solicitors holding back ADR, government told
Solicitors’ “vested interests in pursuing lengthy litigation” are holding back the take-up of ADR, the government has been told. Their “adversarial language” was also viewed as aggravating tensions.
Partner celebrated “huge victory” by accidentally breaking CA embargo
A partner who celebrated a “huge jurisdictional victory” with a WhatsApp message which broke a Court of Appeal embargo has apologised to the court.
Vos: People with small claims want speed more than justice
People with small claims care more about resolving their disputes quickly than whether the outcome is the right one, the Master of the Rolls has claimed.
Blog
Why good governance matters when managing Law Society forms
Everyday legal transactions rely on Law Society forms. But they are often treated as static templates rather than what they really are: living documents that change over time.
A letter from the SRA? Your first reaction matters
An email from the SRA has a way of rearranging a working day. It arrives in the same inbox as everything else, often in the same measured tone, yet it carries a different weight.
Regulate sole practices on evidence, not turnover
For a sole practice, the SRA’s plan that I cannot hold a compliance role if my firm has more than £600,000 of turnover is not a measure of risk. It is a ceiling on growth.
Reports
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