Williamsons Solicitors News Stories
Can I take it back?
There’s always plenty of confusion at this time of year about whether you can or you can’t take stuff back to the shops. A lot of commentators get in a muddle by failing to make the clear… Read More
No such thing as ‘Self-Dismissal’
In Zulhayir v JJ Food Service Ltd., the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) held that an employee was not ‘self-dismissed’ because he had failed to respond to a letter from his employer saying that he… Read More
Tribunal awards increases
The Government has published the annual inflation-linked changes to the compensation amounts that can be awarded by employment tribunals. These reflect the increase in the retail prices index of 5.6… Read More
Directors disqualified
The accounting systems of car dealerships have always been fairly complicated, and when trading conditions are hard it is often difficult for directors to ensure that appropriate standards of record… Read More
Children of murderers – inheritance simplified
In England and Wales, the law prevents a person who unlawfully kills another person (or a person who ‘aids, abets counsels or procures the death of another’) from benefiting from their crime – so a… Read More
Would you like some cookies?
The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) (Amendment) Regulations 2011, which came into force on 26 May 2011, require websites wanting to use cookies to gain the visitor’s consent… Read More
Reminder to VAT dodgers
In July this year, HM Revenue and Customs launched a campaign targeted at businesses trading above the VAT threshold (currently £73,000 turnover on a rolling annual basis) without having registered… Read More
Government consults on "boy racers"
On 1 March 2011, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that, with effect from 21 December 2012, the use of gender as a risk factor by insurers should not result in individual differences in… Read More
Fore!
A lady golfer who was hit in the face by a stray golf ball has received compensation for her injuries. The woman was struck full in the face and knocked to the ground. The force of the impact caused… Read More
Consultation on Employment Tribunal fees
Earlier this year, the Government announced its intention to introduce fees for those wishing to lodge a claim with an Employment Tribunal (ET) or an appeal with the Employment Appeal Tribunal… Read More
Internet trader jailed for VAT fraud
Following an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), an internet trader from South East London has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for attempting to avoid paying over £420,000 in VAT… Read More
Undue influence
The High Court has ruled that a Kent businessman who left a £4 million fortune to the woman who shared his life and helped run the family business for more than 30 years was not put under ‘undue… Read More
Online biometric checks
The Government has announced plans to make it easier for businesses to carry out checks to determine whether or not foreign nationals have the right to work in the UK. From Spring 2012, employers… Read More
"Employer's" liability
When a priest was alleged to have committed an act of abuse against a child many years ago, the first issue that had to be decided was whether the (now adult) child could bring a case against the… Read More
Director escapes guarantee liability
The High Court has ruled that a company director who signed a guarantee over a 35-year lease when he thought that all he was doing was witnessing the signature of a fellow director has no obligation… Read More
Watch your steps!
A woman who fell down a set of temporary steps at Birmingham International Airport has won £28,000 in compensation from Thomson Airways. She was boarding a flight to Lanzarote when the accident… Read More
Christmas Party!
Every year the firm's Christmas party presents employees with the chance to relax and enjoy the holiday season but it is easy to forget that an employer owes its employees certain obligations, even… Read More
Immigration policy changes bite
For businesspeople from outside the EU who do not have a commercial sponsor, coming to work in the UK is becoming more difficult as the Government’s policy to cut net immigration bites. The UK… Read More
Slip rule!
When the court makes a ruling and that contains a mistake, what happens? The answer lies in the nature of the mistake and the exact circumstances. In a recent case involving the balance due to be… Read More
Upward-only pub rents to go
Proposals announced by the Government to reform the law relating to pub tenancies will be welcomed by tenants throughout the country. The most significant reform is the plan to make the Industry… Read More