http://www.bbc-law.co.uk/news Just another WordPress weblog Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:01:02 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Many fathers fear that family courts are prejudiced against them, but a newly published report says there is no evidence of bias. Research commissioned by the Ministry of Justice says the perception of bias is misplaced and most men are successful in securing contact arrangements for their children. The report says that ... http://www.bbc-law.co.uk/news/familylaw/report-insists-fathers-do-get-fair-treatment-from-family-courts A landlord has lost his appeal against a decision by a Leasehold Valuation Tribunal that he failed to consult tenants properly about work carried out at a block of flats. It means he is now limited in the amount he can recover through service charges. The tribunal was told that the landlord ... http://www.bbc-law.co.uk/news/propertylaw/landlord-loses-appeal-over-failure-to-consult-with-tenants It looks as if 2009 is going to be a difficult year for many families and businesses. Do not forget that we are here to help all our clients with value for money solutions to legal problems. We are offering special reduced rate telephone advice consultations so if you are worried about ... http://www.bbc-law.co.uk/news/general/happy-new-year A group of neighbours on a housing development have successfully taken legal action to prevent the building of a three-storey extension which they feared would spoil the view from their homes. The houses on the development had been sold subject to two restrictive covenants. The first was that homeowners could not ... http://www.bbc-law.co.uk/news/propertylaw/neighbours-stop-house-extension-that-would-spoil-scenic-views A married father of three has won the right to bring a claim of harassment after being persistently subjected to remarks by colleagues about being gay even though they knew he was heterosexual. Stephen English claimed that some of the staff at a Portsmouth firm started calling him names and making ... http://www.bbc-law.co.uk/news/employmentlaw/father-of-three-wins-appeal-in-%e2%80%98gay-taunting%e2%80%99-case The Lands Tribunal has held that windows are part of a property’s structure under the Housing Act and it was therefore reasonable for a landlord to include the cost of repairing them in the tenant’s service charge. The case involved Sheffield City Council and one of its tenants. Under the terms ... http://www.bbc-law.co.uk/news/propertylaw/shedding-light-on-how-the-housing-act-views-a-window Family courts now have new powers to help resolve disputes between estranged parents over contact arrangements for their children. The new measures are part of the Children and Adoption Act 2006 and are effective from 8th December 2008. They’re designed to help resolve conflicts between parents over such things as who ... http://www.bbc-law.co.uk/news/familylaw/new-powers-for-courts-to-resolve-contact-disputes-between-parents The UK Government has begun a consultation process on EU plans to develop a uniform set of consumer rights across Europe. The Consumer Rights Directive is intended to harmonise rules in several important areas such as protection against unfair contract terms and rules on faulty goods. There will also be new ... http://www.bbc-law.co.uk/news/commerciallaw/eu-wants-to-standardise-consumer-rights-across-europe A woman has been awarded nearly £4,000 compensation after she suffered burns to her back during a massage therapy at a beauty salon. The court heard she still had a scar four years after the treatment. The woman, who was 46 when the incident happened, had gone to the salon for massage ... http://www.bbc-law.co.uk/news/privateclient/woman-awarded-damages-after-suffering-burns-at-beauty-salon The Court of Appeal is to rule on whether a heterosexual father of three who was subjected to persistent homophobic banter from his work colleagues can bring a claim of harassment under anti-discrimination laws. Stephen English, who is married and has three children, worked as a salesman for a company in ... http://www.bbc-law.co.uk/news/employmentlaw/court-of-appeal-to-rule-on-case-of-father-subjected-to-%e2%80%98gay-taunting%e2%80%99