Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Legal Ombudsman names eight firms over “serious” service failures
A Liverpool law firm ordered to bear the cost of redeeming a client’s mortgage because of mistakes made in a conveyancing matter is among eight named by the Legal Ombudsman.
Law firm wrongly paid out £2.5m of client monies, High Court rules
A law firm paid away £2.5m in client monies without instruction and also forged its client’s signature on multiple documents, the High Court has decided.
ATE insurer settles action over failed consumer claims for £48.5m
Legal expenses insurer AmTrust has paid £48.5m to settle a claim brought by the disbursement funder owed money following the collapse of Pure Legal and High Street Solicitors.
Introducing AI “should be next phase of tribunal reform”
Introducing AI into tribunals should be “the next phase” of the HM Courts and Tribunal Service reform programme, the Administrative Justice Council has said.
MRO fees: No breakdown needed but judge sets 25% mark-up cap
There is “no realistic scope” to break down the elements of a medical reporting organisation’s fee, the Senior Costs Judge has ruled – but its recoverable mark-up should not exceed 25%.
Irwin Mitchell’s negligent advice did not cause loss, court rules
A former Irwin Mitchell client has “a moral right to feel aggrieved” by negligent advice it admitted giving, but this “is not the same as a legal right to damages”, the High Court has ruled.
High Court: Witness coached via smart glasses while giving evidence
A claimant giving evidence in the High Court was fed answers through smart glasses he was wearing that were connected to his mobile phone, a judge has found.
Barrister’s claim against Neidle ruled first statutory SLAPP
A barrister’s £8m libel and malicious falsehood claim against high-profile tax lawyer Dan Neidle was yesterday found a statutory SLAPP, the first time a court has made such a declaration.
“We have a duty” – solicitor calls on profession to help PM Law’s clients
A solicitor helping former litigation clients of PM Law has called on others to take on cases – and for defendant solicitors not to take advantage of the situation.
Suspended sentence for online harassment of solicitors
The partner of a deceased solicitor has received a suspended sentence for contempt of court after breaching injunctions designed to stop her online harassment of his executors.
Claimant funded by solicitor boyfriend “cannot claim impecuniosity”
A claimant who received “significant financial assistance” from her solicitor boyfriend cannot claim impecuniosity prevented her from suing her former law firm.
Judge strikes out taxi driver’s fraud claims against law firm
The High Court has struck out a taxi driver’s fraud and harassment claims against a council and its law firm as “totally devoid of merit”.
“We’re making progress” says minister as county court delays fall
“Headway is finally being made” in reducing delays in the county courts, justice minister Sarah Sackman declared yesterday on the back of positive statistics on wait times.
Appeal judges reject challenge to law firm negligence ruling
The Court of Appeal has rejected a challenge to a High Court ruling that a law firm was not negligent in its advice to settle £2m of claims.
“Make LEI compulsory”, litigation funding expert tells MPs
Legal expenses insurance should be compulsory for everyone, the co-chair of the Civil Justice Council working party on litigation funding has told MPs.
Blog
Does the Lloyd review mark the end of the Legal Services Act?
The Legal Services Board often generates eye-rolls and irritation from the leaders of the frontline regulators it oversees and of the representative bodies attached to them.
A familiar story?
There is no doubt that the rising cost of clinical negligence claims deserves attention. However, the system’s true cost driver is often not the claim itself.
When AI becomes a line on the client’s bill
On 23 June, Legora changed how it charges. The platform announced that its most capable product was moving away from a flat per-seat licence fee to consumption-based pricing
