The court granted an appeal in care proceedings, but examined the relationship between the court and local authorities. There had been a late change in the proposed care plan and an application by grandparents to be made party. Some in the authority, and the guardian, wanted a stranger adoption, but the authority and the family … Continue reading Cheshire County Council and others v DS (Father) and others: CA 15 Mar 2007
Citations: [1997] EWCA Civ 2265, (1997) 1 CCLR 57, [1997] 4 All ER 532, [1997] 38 BMLR 135 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Appeal from – Regina v Sefton Borough Council ex parte Help the Aged Admn 26-Mar-1997 A Local Authority was entitled to look to its financial resources before setting the standards and levels … Continue reading Regina v Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council ex parte Help the Aged ex parte Blanchard: CA 31 Jul 1997
A Local Authority cannot be obliged to bear the cost of an assessment of a family in residential care. Citations: Times 03-Oct-1996, [1996] EWCA Civ 619 Statutes: Children Act 1989 39 38(6) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children, Local Government Updated: 31 October 2022; Ref: scu.140486
Application for judicial review of the decisions of Birmingham City Council, the second defendant, determining him to be over 18 years old on the material dates for the purposes of the Children Act 1989. Judges: Beatson J Citations: [2011] EWHC 3488 (Admin) Links: Bailii Immigration, Children Updated: 31 October 2022; Ref: scu.459738
(Plenary Court) The applicant was held in prison in the UK, pending extradition to the US to face allegations of murder, for which he faced the risk of the death sentence, which would be unlawful in the UK. If extradited, a representation would be made to the judge at the time of sentencing that the … Continue reading Soering v The United Kingdom: ECHR 7 Jul 1989
The mother JJ’s first baby had died after physical abuse inflicted either by her or the father. In care proceedings for a later child, the judge concluded ‘T-L’s injuries could have been inflicted by either, or both, of them. Singling out a likely perpetrator does not help this couple because it must be debatable as … Continue reading In re J (Children): CA 3 Apr 2012
The mother appealed against a judge’s refusal in care proceedings to make a direction under section 38(6) of the Children Act 1989. Citations: [2011] EWCA Civ 661 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 38(6) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 13 September 2022; Ref: scu.440315
Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss P said that in abuse cases, evidence: ‘cannot be evaluated in separate compartments. A judge in these difficult cases has to have regard to the relevance of each piece of evidence to other evidence and to exercise an overview of the totality of the evidence in order to come to the conclusion … Continue reading In In Re T (Abuse: Standard of Proof): CA 19 May 2004
The court was asked whether and if so, on what basis a Court considering an application for a care order in respect of a young person with lifelong disabilities should transfer the case to the Court of Protection to be dealt with under the Mental Capacity Act, 2005, rather than the Children Act, 1989. Judges: … Continue reading B (A Local Authority) v RM and Others: FD 15 Oct 2010
Criminality of Assisting Suicide not Infringing The court was asked: ‘whether the present state of the law of England and Wales relating to assisting suicide infringes the European Convention on Human Rights, and whether the code published by the Director of Public Prosecutions relating to prosecutions of those who are alleged to have assisted a … Continue reading Nicklinson and Another, Regina (on The Application of): SC 25 Jun 2014
The claimant sought to restrain publication by the defendant of a book recounting very personal events in her life. She claimed privacy and a right of confidence. The defendant argued that there was a public interest in the disclosures. Held: Documents showed a readiness in the defendant to seek to manipulate the claimant through threats … Continue reading McKennitt and others v Ash and Another: QBD 21 Dec 2005
Judges: King, Lindblom, Peter Jackson LJJ Citations: [2019] EWCA Civ 575, [2019] WLR(D) 208 Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes: Children Act 1989 31(2) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 14 June 2022; Ref: scu.635638
There is no jurisdiction in wardship over a child not habitually resident in England. A child born in England of and English mother and Dubai father had gone to live with his mother in Dubai at the invitation of the father, but had there retained the boy against the mother’s will. The mother obtained certain … Continue reading Al Habtoor v Fotheringham: CA 15 Feb 2001
The judge had found that the threshold criteria in section 31 had been met, but the authority changed the care plan immediately before the final hearing. The guardian now appealed a final order, having proposed an interim order. Held: Once the care order had been made, the court had no continuing direct role. The order … Continue reading In Re J (Minors) (Care: Care Plan): FD 1994
Claim for costs against third party local authority, Croydon LBC after four day private law fact finding hearing. F said that M had fabricated illnesses both in herself and the child leading to the LA being asked to prepare a report. That report failed to allow for established guidance on the topic, leading to the … Continue reading HB v PB: FD 9 Jul 2013
CH suffered injury, and a care order was sought, with rehabilitation a possibility. The guardian wanted adoption. In the absence of a paediatric psychiatric report, the judge approved the care plan and gave directions that a child psychiatrist should be informed on placement. The Guardian was not allowed to call his witnesses, and he appealed, … Continue reading Re CH (Care or Interim Care Order): 1998
The deceased was a prisoner known to be at risk of committing suicide. Whilst in police custody he hanged himself in his prison cell. The Commissioner accepted that he was in breach of his duty of care to the deceased, but not that that breach was caustive of the death by suicide. Held: Police and … Continue reading Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis v Reeves (Joint Administratix of The Estate of Martin Lynch, Deceased): HL 15 Jul 1999
The deceased had suffered a head injury whilst working for the defendant. In addition to severe physical consequences he suffered post-traumatic stress, became more and more depressed, and then committed suicide six years later. The claimant appealed against refusal of an award under the 1976 Act. The judge had decided that it was not part … Continue reading Corr v IBC Vehicles Ltd: CA 31 Mar 2006
Section 31 and its associated emergency and interim provisions comprise the only court mechanism available to a local authority to protect a child from risk. The interpretation of the ‘attributable’ condition adopted by the House of Lords is necessary to avoid the unacceptable consequence that, if the court cannot identify which of a child’s carers … Continue reading Re B (minors) (Care proceedings: practice): FD 1999
The appellant had been provided with emergency accommodation after losing her assured shorthold tenancy, but the court was now asked ‘whether the council adopted the correct approach in determining that the accommodation was ‘affordable’ for those purposes.’ Held: Her appeal was granted. The 1996 Order requires the authority to take into account all sources of … Continue reading Samuels v Birmingham City Council: SC 12 Jun 2019
This appeal is concerned with the liability of a local authority for what is alleged to have been a negligent failure to exercise its social services functions so as to protect children from harm caused by third parties. The principal question of law which it raises is whether a local authority or its employees may … Continue reading Poole Borough Council v GN and Another: SC 6 Jun 2019
In each case the defendant sought to resist European Extradition Warrants saying that an order would be a disporportionate interference in their human right to family life. The Court asked whether its approach as set out in Norris, had to be amended in the light of the case of ZH. Held: HH and PH’s appeals … Continue reading HH v Deputy Prosecutor of The Italian Republic, Genoa: SC 20 Jun 2012
The deceased had been shot by soldiers of the British Army whilst in a car in Northern Ireland. The car was alleged to have ‘run’ a checkpoint. The claimants said the investigation, now 20 years ago, had been inadequate. The claim was brought under human rights law, but predated by many years the incorporation of … Continue reading In re McKerr (Northern Ireland): HL 11 Mar 2004
Power to call in is administrative in nature The powers of the Secretary of State to call in a planning application for his decision, and certain other planning powers, were essentially an administrative power, and not a judicial one, and therefore it was not a breach of the applicants’ rights to a fair hearing before … Continue reading Regina (Holding and Barnes plc) v Secretary of State for Environment Transport and the Regions; Regina (Alconbury Developments Ltd and Others) v Same and Others: HL 9 May 2001
The applicants had had their requests for asylum refused. They complained that if they were removed from the UK, their article 3 rights would be infringed. If they were returned to Pakistan or Vietnam they would be persecuted for their religious faiths. Held: A distinction was to be made between domestic cases involving actions within … Continue reading Regina v Special Adjudicator ex parte Ullah; Regina v Secretary of State for the Home Department: HL 17 Jun 2004
The plaintiff firm of solicitors sought to recover money which had been stolen from them by a partner, and then gambled away with the defendant. He had purchased their gaming chips, and the plaintiff argued that these, being gambling debts, were worthless, and that therefore no consideration had been given. Held: The casino’s defence succeeded. … Continue reading Lipkin Gorman (a Firm) v Karpnale Ltd: HL 6 Jun 1991
Application by the Local Authority for the making of a Care Order pursuant to s.31(1) Children Act 1989 in respect of ‘C’, Rawkins HHJ [2014] EWFC B159 Bailii Children Act 1989 31(1) England and Wales Children Updated: 24 December 2021; Ref: scu.540381
An expert’s report was required for the purposes of care proceedings. The court ordered that the cost be paid as to half by the local authority, where there were three other parties. The authority appealed. Held: The authority’s appeal was allowed. The proportionate basis, where the cost was divided equally between the four parties was … Continue reading Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council v S and Another: FD 18 Oct 2004
Beldam, Pill, Thorpe LJJ [1999] EWCA Civ 3031, [1999] 2 FLR 881, [2000] LGR 125, [1999] Fam Law 687, [2000] BLGR 125, [2001] Fam 364, [2000] 2 WLR 193, [1999] 3 FCR 385 Bailii Children Act 1989 31(8) 105(6) England and Wales Children, Local Government Updated: 03 December 2021; Ref: scu.346266
Same Sex Partner Entitled to tenancy Succession The protected tenant had died. His same-sex partner sought a statutory inheritance of the tenancy. Held: His appeal succeeded. The Fitzpatrick case referred to the position before the 1998 Act: ‘Discriminatory law undermines the rule of law because it is the antithesis of fairness. It brings the law … Continue reading Ghaidan v Godin-Mendoza: HL 21 Jun 2004
The claimant suffered locked-in syndrome and sought relief in a form which would allow others to assist him in committing suicide. The court considered whether the case should be allowed to proceed rather than to be struck out as hopeless. Held: The case was arguable and should be allowed to proceed: ‘However, the point that … Continue reading Nicklinson v Ministry of Justice and Others: QBD 12 Mar 2012
The child had been born in Britain to British citizen parents from Pakistan and India. There had been care proceedings, but later and with the court’s consent the father took him to Pakistan undertaking to return him, but then failed to do so. Contact was re-established, but the child was now habitually resident in Pakistan. … Continue reading In Re I (A Child): SC 1 Dec 2009
The parties had been a lesbian couple each with children. Each now was in a new relationship. One registered the two daughters of the other at a school now local to her but without first consulting the birth mother, who then applied for residence and or contact. The other mother took the children secretly to … Continue reading In Re G (A Minor) (Interim Care Order: Residential Assessment); G (Children), In Re (Residence: Same Sex Partner): HL 26 Jul 2006
(Grand Chamber) Air strikes were carried out by NATO forces against radio and television facilities in Belgrade on 23 April 1999. The claims of five of the applicants arose out of the deaths of relatives in this raid. The sixth claimed on his own account in respect of injuries sustained during the raid. The claimants … Continue reading Bankovic v Belgium: ECHR 12 Dec 2001
A child was found to have bruising consistent with physical abuse. Either or both parents might have caused it, but the judge felt it likely that only one had, that he was unable to decide which, and that they were not so serious that he had to say that the other must have known. Held: … Continue reading In re S-B (Children) (Care proceedings: Standard of proof): SC 14 Dec 2009
No General ty of Care Owed by Police The mother of a victim of the Yorkshire Ripper claimed in negligence against the police alleging that they had failed to satisfy their duty to exercise all reasonable care and skill to apprehend the perpetrator of the murders and to protect members of the public who might … Continue reading Hill v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire: HL 28 Apr 1987
The local authority and a young man’s parents disputed his continued care, he having substantial incapacities. The parents wanted assistance caring for him on visits home. The LA declined to fund that support. The LA now argued that the CoP had not . .
The case concerned a boy aged eight at the material time, both of whose parents had severe mental health problems. Very shortly after he had been returned to his mother’s care when she came out of hospital, she suffered a relapse and called an . .
The claimant parents each carried a gene making any child they bore liable to suffer a serious condition. On a pregnancy the mother’s blood was sent for testing to the defendants who sent it on to the second defendants. The condition was missed, . .
References: (1843) 3 Hare 100, [1843] EngR 917, (1843) 67 ER 313 Links: Commonlii Coram: Sir James Wigram VC The court set down the principles to be applied in abuse of process cases, where a matter was raised again which should have been dealt with in earlier proceedings. Sir James Wigram VC said: ‘In trying … Continue reading Henderson v Henderson; 20 Jul 1843
1267 – 1278 – 1285 – 1297 – 1361 – 1449 – 1491 – 1533 – 1677 – 1688 – 1689 – 1700 – 1706 – 1710 – 1730 – 1737 – 1738 – 1751 – 1774 – 1792 – 1793 – 1804 – 1814 – 1819 – 1824 – 1828 – 1831 – 1832 … Continue reading Acts
The student had been unlawfully excluded from school. The school had not complied with the procedural requirements imposed by the Act. Held: Though the 1996 Act placed the responsibilty for exclusion upon the local authority, the head and school must also follow the rules. The duty on the local authority was a fallback duty. The … Continue reading Ali v The Head Teacher and Governors of Lord Grey School: CA 29 Mar 2004
The claimants sought a declaration that part of the Regulations were invalid, and an infringement of their human rights. The Regulations sought to exempt church schools from an obligation not to discriminate against homosexual teachers. Held: The Regulation was within the scope of the Directive. Though a member state had some freedom in implementing a … Continue reading Regina (Amicus etc) v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry: Admn 26 Apr 2004
Application made by the A local for a care order under S.31 of the Children Act 1989 Mrs Justice Eleanor King [2009] EWHC 2115 (Fam), [2010] 1 FLR 1560, [2010] Fam Law 337 Bailii England and Wales Children Updated: 13 December 2021; Ref: scu.421338
The local authority sought a care order, alleging serious physical abuse of the child. The mother said that any injuries had been inflicted by the father. The father said that the cause was the mother. Held: The injuries were not likely to have been accidental. The court concluded that the likely perpetrator was the father. … Continue reading Lancashire County Council v R (A Minor) and others: FD 4 Dec 2008
The claimants said they had been subjected to harassment and violence from non-state agents in their home country of Lithuania, and sought asylum. Held: It was for the person claiming the protection of the Convention provisions for ill-treatment to show that the country would not provide them with adequate protection against non-state agents. It was … Continue reading Bagdanavicius and Another, Regina (on the Application of) v: HL 26 May 2005
The local authority challenged the right of a county court judge attaching a penal notice to an order in Children Act proceedings. . .
References: [2003] EWHC 259 (QB), Gazette 01-May-2003, [2003] 1 FLR 1091 Links: Bailii Coram: The President An IVF treatment centre used sperm from one couple to fertilise eggs from another. This was discovered, and the unwilling donors sought a paternity declaration. Held: Section 28 did not confer paternity. The mistake vitiated whatever consents had been … Continue reading AHE Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust v A, A, YA and, ZA (By Their Litigation Friend, the Official Solicitor), the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority B, B: QBD 26 Feb 2003
Our law-index is a substantial selection from our database. Cases here are restricted in number by date and lack the additional facilities formerly available within lawindexpro. Please do enjoy this free version of the lawindex. Case law does not ‘belong’ to lawyers. Judgments are made up of words which can be read and understood (if … Continue reading law index
