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Re MA and Others (Children): CA 31 Jul 2009

Children appealed against dismissal of their care proceedings on the basis that the threshold had not been reached. The parents resisted. Held: It could not be said that the decision so plainly wrong that the judge’s conclusion on the facts could be set aside. Citations: [2009] EWCA Civ 853, [2010] 1 FLR 431, [2010] 1 … Continue reading Re MA and Others (Children): CA 31 Jul 2009

Benjamin, Vanderpool and Gumbs v The Minister of Information and Broadcasting and The Attorney General for Anguilla: PC 14 Feb 2001

PC (Anguilla) A first non-religious radio station had been formed, but came to include much criticism of the government. One programme was suspended by the government. The programme makers complained that this interfered with their constitutioinal and human rights to freedom of thought, freedom of expression and freedom from discrimination. Held: The motive in closing … Continue reading Benjamin, Vanderpool and Gumbs v The Minister of Information and Broadcasting and The Attorney General for Anguilla: PC 14 Feb 2001

P (Child), Re (Child: Financial Provision): CA 24 Jun 2003

The father was a very wealthy Iranian, and the mother also had capital. She sought an assessment under the 1991 Act of the amount he should be asked to pay. The assessment came to andpound;152 per week, but he was paying andpound;1,200 a month voluntarily. An order under the 1989 Act could not be made … Continue reading P (Child), Re (Child: Financial Provision): CA 24 Jun 2003

Office of Fair Trading and others v IBA Health Limited: CA 19 Feb 2004

The OFT had considered whether it was necessary to refer a merger between two companies to the Competition Commission, and decided against. The Competition Appeal Tribunal held that the proposed merger should have been referred. The OFT and parties appealed. Held: The Tribunal had misdirected itself as to one test. The statutory test required the … Continue reading Office of Fair Trading and others v IBA Health Limited: CA 19 Feb 2004

C (Children), Re (Residential Assessment): CA 4 Jul 2001

Citations: [2001] EWCA Civ 1305, [2001] 3 FCR 164, [2001] 3 FCR 164 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 38(6) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Kent County Council v G and others HL 24-Nov-2005 A residential assessment order had been made under the 1989 Act in care proceedings. When the centre recommended … Continue reading C (Children), Re (Residential Assessment): CA 4 Jul 2001

Regina v Norfolk County Council, ex parte M: QBD 1989

The plaintiff worked as a plumber. His work took him to a private children’s home. An allegation of sexual abuse was made against him by a 13 year old child. She had made other claims against other men which had proved to be false. He was released by the police without charge. The local authority … Continue reading Regina v Norfolk County Council, ex parte M: QBD 1989

W v J: FD 24 Oct 2003

The mother sought an increase in the order for child maintenance made in order to pay her legal fees. Judges: Bennett J Citations: [2003] EWHC 2657 (Fam) Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Child Support Updated: 19 November 2022; Ref: scu.279037

Masri v Consolidated Contractors International Co Sal and Others: HL 30 Jul 2009

The claimant sought to enforce a judgment debt against a foreign resident company, and for this purpose to examine or have examined a director who lived abroad. The defendant said that the rules gave no such power and they did, the power was outside the rule-maker’s power. Held: Even though the rule-making power is wide … Continue reading Masri v Consolidated Contractors International Co Sal and Others: HL 30 Jul 2009

In re W (Children) (Direct Contact): CA 24 Jul 2012

The court took the opportunity to emphasise the importance of parental responsibility as an incident of family life. McFarlane LJ said: ‘Whether or not a parent has parental responsibility is not simply a matter that achieves the ticking of a box on a form. It is a significant matter of status as between parent and … Continue reading In re W (Children) (Direct Contact): CA 24 Jul 2012

In re T (a Minor): CA 24 Oct 1996

C was born with a liver defect. After a failed operation, the parents, both caring health professionals, decided not to put him through major surgery again. The local authority and doctors obtained an order to allow a potentially life saving liver transplant. The parents now appealed. Held: The appeal succeeded.Butler-Sloss LJ said: ‘it is clear … Continue reading In re T (a Minor): CA 24 Oct 1996

In Re A (A Minor) (Supervision Order: Extension): CA 11 Nov 1994

Justices do not have the power to make an interim care order pending a later hearing on the extension of an existing supervision order. Citations: Times 11-Nov-1994, [1995] 1 FLR 335 Statutes: Children Act 1989 31 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Applied – T (A Child) v Wakefield Metropolitan District Council CA 19-Mar-2008 A … Continue reading In Re A (A Minor) (Supervision Order: Extension): CA 11 Nov 1994

In Re O (A Minor) (Contact: Imposition of Conditions): CA 17 Mar 1995

The court may impose detailed conditions on the form of indirect contact. His Lordship set out the relevant principles: ‘1 Overriding all else, as provided by section 1(1) of the Children Act 1989, the welfare of the child was the paramount consideratin, and the court was concerned with the interests of the mother and the … Continue reading In Re O (A Minor) (Contact: Imposition of Conditions): CA 17 Mar 1995

Bowden and Another v Lancashire County Council: CA 18 Jun 1994

The council had made an ex parte application to the magistrates to cancel the appellant’s registration as a child minder. Held: The court affirmed the order setting aside the magistrates decision. The circumstances which the council put before the justices did not constitute an emergency sufficient to justify a summary order without notice under section … Continue reading Bowden and Another v Lancashire County Council: CA 18 Jun 1994

In Re D (a Minor) (Contact: Mother’s Hostility): CA 1993

Waite LJ: ‘It is now well settled that the implacable hostility of a mother towards access or contact is a factor which is capable, according to the circumstances of each particular case, of supplying a cogent reason for departing from the general pronciple that a child should grow up in the knowledge of both his … Continue reading In Re D (a Minor) (Contact: Mother’s Hostility): CA 1993

Regina v Northavon District Council, ex parte Smith: CA 4 Aug 1993

A local Authority has a duty to act upon a housing request for children even though the family were intentionally homeless. Citations: Independent 18-Aug-1993, Times 04-Aug-1993 Statutes: Housing Act 1985, Children Act 1989 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Appeal from – Regina v Northavon District Council ex parte Smith HL 18-Jul-1994 Local Authority is … Continue reading Regina v Northavon District Council, ex parte Smith: CA 4 Aug 1993

Dobbie v Medway Health Authority: CA 11 May 1994

The plaintiff had a lump on her breast. The surgeon, without first subjecting the lump to a microscopic examination in order to determine whether it was cancerous or benign, removed the breast. This was in 1973. The lump was subsequently found to be benign. The patient knew very soon after the operation that the lump … Continue reading Dobbie v Medway Health Authority: CA 11 May 1994

In re K (Children) (Non-accidental injuries: Perpetrator: New Evidence): CA 27 Aug 2004

The children had been taken into care, and freed for adoption. The mother appealed saying the blame for non-accidental injury was misplaced. The court had not thought her responsible for the non-accidental injuries, but she had been unwilling to separate from the assumed perpetrator. Held: The mother had now taken the step of breaking free. … Continue reading In re K (Children) (Non-accidental injuries: Perpetrator: New Evidence): CA 27 Aug 2004

HM Chief Inspector of Schools v Spicer: Admn 12 Mar 2004

The applicant was refused registration as a child minder, on the basis that a person is qualified for registration for childminding if she is ‘suitable to look after children under the age of eight’ and that the applicant was said not to be suitable. Held: The burden of proof is on the Applicant in applications … Continue reading HM Chief Inspector of Schools v Spicer: Admn 12 Mar 2004

J v C and E (a Child) (Void Marriage: Status of Children): CA 15 May 2006

The parties had lived together as a married couple. They had had a child together by artificial insemination. It was then revealed that Mr J was a woman. The parties split up, and Mr J applied for an order for contact with the child. Held: The appeal was dismissed. The HFEA Act required that to … Continue reading J v C and E (a Child) (Void Marriage: Status of Children): CA 15 May 2006

A Local Authority v S and W and T By her Guardian: FD 27 May 2004

A child had died. The father was accused and acquitted of murder by way of shaken baby syndrome. The local authority persisted with an application for care orders for the other children. Held: ‘I do not claim to have divined truth. I have reached conclusions based on what I believe to have been proved to … Continue reading A Local Authority v S and W and T By her Guardian: FD 27 May 2004

VC and Others, Regina (on The Application of) v Newcastle City Council: Admn 24 Oct 2011

Judges: Munby LJ, Langstaff J Citations: [2011] EWHC 2673 (Admin), [2012] 1 FCR 206, [2012] Fam Law 280, [2012] PTSR 546 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 Citing: Cited – M, Regina (on the Application of) v Gateshead Council CA 14-Mar-2006 The applicant had left care, but still received assistance. She was arrested and the … Continue reading VC and Others, Regina (on The Application of) v Newcastle City Council: Admn 24 Oct 2011

Commissioners of Customs and Excise v Barclays Bank Plc: ComC 3 Feb 2004

The claimant had obtained orders against two companies who banked with the respondent. Asset freezing orders were served on the bank, but within a short time the customer used the bank’s Faxpay national service to transfer substantial sums outside the bank’s branch controls, and defeat the freezing order. The claimant sought recovery from the bank. … Continue reading Commissioners of Customs and Excise v Barclays Bank Plc: ComC 3 Feb 2004

In re S (A Child); TL v London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, ED, S (by a Children’s Guardian): CA 15 Jul 2011

TL, the mother appealed against refusal of her application by the appellant for a residential parenting assessment pursuant to section 38(6) of the Children Act 1989. Judges: Sir Nicholas Wall P, Moore-Bick, Black LJJ Citations: [2011] EWCA Civ 812 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 38(6) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 16 September 2022; … Continue reading In re S (A Child); TL v London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, ED, S (by a Children’s Guardian): CA 15 Jul 2011

In In Re T (Abuse: Standard of Proof): CA 19 May 2004

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

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Kehoe: CA 5 Mar 2004

The claimant had applied to the Child Support Agncy for maintenance. They failed utterly to obtain payment, and she complained now that she was denied the opportunity by the 1991 Act to take court proceedings herself. Held: The denial of access to the courts under section 8 did not engage her civil rights. The Act … Continue reading Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Kehoe: CA 5 Mar 2004

O and others (Children); In re O (Children), In re W-R (a Child), In re W (Children): CA 22 Jun 2005

In each case litigants in person had sought to be allowed to have the assistance and services of a Mackenzie friend in children cases. In one case, the court had not allowed confidential documents to be disclosed to the friend. Held: The courts had been unhelpful to the parties appearing before them. If given access … Continue reading O and others (Children); In re O (Children), In re W-R (a Child), In re W (Children): CA 22 Jun 2005

Re L-W (Children) (Enforcement and Committal: Contact); CPL v CH-W and Others: CA 4 Nov 2010

The father appealed against orders made in the county court in the course of child contact enforcement proceedings. He had residence of the child, but had repeatedly failed to make his son available for contact at the times ordered causing financial loss to the mother who had travelled to see him. Held: With minor exceptions, … Continue reading Re L-W (Children) (Enforcement and Committal: Contact); CPL v CH-W and Others: CA 4 Nov 2010

A and B, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Health: SC 14 Jun 2017

The court was asked: ‘Was it unlawful for the Secretary of State for Health, the respondent, who had power to make provisions for the functioning of the National Health Service in England, to have failed to make a provision which would have enabled women who were citizens of the UK, but who were usually resident … Continue reading A and B, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Health: SC 14 Jun 2017

Coll, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice: SC 24 May 2017

The appellant female prisoner asserted that the much smaller number of probation and bail hostels provided for women prisoners when released on licence was discriminatory in leaving greater numbers of women far removed from their families. Held: A declaration was granted: ‘The provision of Approved Premises in England and Wales by the Secretary of State … Continue reading Coll, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice: SC 24 May 2017

Nicklinson and Another, Regina (on The Application of): SC 25 Jun 2014

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

Kennedy v The Charity Commission: SC 26 Mar 2014

The claimant journalist sought disclosure of papers acquired by the respondent in its conduct of enquiries into the charitable Mariam appeal. The Commission referred to an absolute exemption under section 32(2) of the 2000 Act, saying that the exemption continued until the papers were destroyed, or for 20 years under the 1958 Act. Held: The … Continue reading Kennedy v The Charity Commission: SC 26 Mar 2014

D and F Estates v Church Commissioners for England: HL 14 Jul 1988

The House considered the liability of main contractors on a construction site for the negligence of it sub-contractors.Lord Bridge said: ‘It is trite law that the employer of an independent contractor is, in general, not liable for the negligence or other torts committed by the contractor in the course of the execution of the work. … Continue reading D and F Estates v Church Commissioners for England: HL 14 Jul 1988

In Re A (Minors) (Conjoined Twins: Medical Treatment); aka In re A (Children) (Conjoined Twins: Surgical Separation): CA 22 Sep 2000

Twins were conjoined (Siamese). Medically, both could not survive, and one was dependent upon the vital organs of the other. Doctors applied for permission to separate the twins which would be followed by the inevitable death of one of them. The parents, devout Roman Catholics, resisted. Held: The parents’ views were subject to the overriding … Continue reading In Re A (Minors) (Conjoined Twins: Medical Treatment); aka In re A (Children) (Conjoined Twins: Surgical Separation): CA 22 Sep 2000

Airedale NHS Trust v Bland: HL 4 Feb 1993

Procedures on Withdrawal of Life Support Treatment The patient had been severely injured in the Hillsborough disaster, and had come to be in a persistent vegetative state (PVS). The doctors sought permission to withdraw medical treatment. The Official Solicitor appealed against an order of the Court of Appeal permitting the action. Held: The appeal failed. … Continue reading Airedale NHS Trust v Bland: HL 4 Feb 1993

Regina v Birmingham City Council ex parte Equal Opportunities Commission: HL 1989

At the council’s independent, single-sex grammar schools there were more places available for boys than girls. Consequently the council were obliged to set a higher pass mark for girls than boys in the grammar school entrance examination. Held: The council, as local education authority, had discriminated against girls. Discrimination can take place when a woman … Continue reading Regina v Birmingham City Council ex parte Equal Opportunities Commission: HL 1989

The Local Authority v RK and RU and Z (by her Children’s Guardian): FD 21 Aug 2008

Three elder brothers and sisters of Z had been taken into care after one suffered serious non-accidental injury. Before Z’s birth the authority planned for a placement, but had stayed with her parents for nearly a year subject to supervision in the hope that she could stay there. The evidence was that she could not … Continue reading The Local Authority v RK and RU and Z (by her Children’s Guardian): FD 21 Aug 2008

The Father v The Mother, O by Cafcass Legal; In re O (a Child) (Contact: Withdrawal of application): FD 12 Dec 2003

The father sought to withdraw his application for contact, but the court took the opportunity to explain some points relating to contact disputes. Held: Such disputes engender very deep feelings. Courts must ensure contact with both parents save when absolutely necessary. Joint residence order should be more widespread, but they were not the default order. … Continue reading The Father v The Mother, O by Cafcass Legal; In re O (a Child) (Contact: Withdrawal of application): FD 12 Dec 2003

In re B (A Child) (Prohibited Steps Order): CA 24 Jul 2007

The mother appealed against a refusal of an order allowing her to remove her son to live with her in Northern Ireland. Held: Thorpe LJ said that the relief appropriately to be sought by the objecting parent is a prohibited steps order. Judges: Thorpe, Lloyd, Toulson LJJ Citations: [2007] EWCA Civ 1055, [2008] Fam Law … Continue reading In re B (A Child) (Prohibited Steps Order): CA 24 Jul 2007

In re S (a Child) (Identification: Restrictions on Publication): HL 28 Oct 2004

Inherent High Court power may restrain Publicity The claimant child’s mother was to be tried for the murder of his brother by poisoning with salt. It was feared that the publicity which would normally attend a trial, would be damaging to S, and an application was made for reporting restrictions to be applied to avoid … Continue reading In re S (a Child) (Identification: Restrictions on Publication): HL 28 Oct 2004

Kent County Council v G and others: HL 24 Nov 2005

A residential assessment order had been made under the 1989 Act in care proceedings. When the centre recommended a second extension of the assessment, the council refused, saying that the true purpose was not the assessment of the child but the treatment of the mother. Held: The appeal succeeded: ‘the main purpose of the proposed … Continue reading Kent County Council v G and others: HL 24 Nov 2005

Re L and H (Residential Assessment); CT and Another v Bristol City Council and others: CA 14 Mar 2007

Application for leave to appeal against refusal to order residential assessment under section 38(6). ECHR Articles 6 and 8, and the underlying philosophy of the 1989 Act, required that a case be fully investigated and that all the relevant evidence necessary should be in place before children were permanently removed from their natural families and … Continue reading Re L and H (Residential Assessment); CT and Another v Bristol City Council and others: CA 14 Mar 2007

Sutton London Borough Council v Davis (Number 2): FD 8 Jul 1994

The local authority had refused to register a childminder, who successfully appealed to the magistrates, who awarded costs in her favour. The local authority appealed against the costs order. In doing so the authority urged the court to apply, by analogy, the principle that costs are not usually ordered in child cases. Held: The appeal … Continue reading Sutton London Borough Council v Davis (Number 2): FD 8 Jul 1994

In re H (Children) (Contact Order) ( No 2): FD 22 Jun 2001

Exceptional circumstances might exist such that the need to protect a child’s primary carer would require the court to safeguard that at the expense of the immediate consideration of the welfare of the children. Here, contact had been established after the separation, but the father suffered a degenerative disease, and threatened his own suicide, and … Continue reading In re H (Children) (Contact Order) ( No 2): FD 22 Jun 2001

Re L (Children), (Care Proceedings: Significant Harm): CA 25 Aug 2006

The Court allowed an appeal by parents against a judge’s conclusion that their children had suffered and were likely to suffer significant harm and it remitted the issue for re-hearing. The professional evidence had been that the parents’ deficiencies had had ‘subtle and ambiguous consequences’ for the children. Such consequences could not amount to significant … Continue reading Re L (Children), (Care Proceedings: Significant Harm): CA 25 Aug 2006

M, Regina (on the Application of) v Gateshead Council: CA 14 Mar 2006

The applicant had left care, but still received assistance. She was arrested and the police asked the attending social worker to arrange secure accommodation overnight. The respondent refused. The court was asked what duty (if any) is owed by local authorities to provide ‘secure accommodation’ for arrested juveniles whom they are requested to receive under … Continue reading M, Regina (on the Application of) v Gateshead Council: CA 14 Mar 2006

In re B (Interim care order: Directions): CA 14 Jan 2002

The local authority applied for an interim care order immediately the child, B, was born. A proposal was made for the mother and child to move from the maternity hospital to a residential placement a mother and baby home which provided help in improving parents’ child care skills. The local authority was not prepared to … Continue reading In re B (Interim care order: Directions): CA 14 Jan 2002

P v BW (Children Cases: Hearings in Public): FD 2003

The applicant sought a joint residence order, and for a declaration that the rules preventing such hearings being in public breached the requirement for a public hearing. Held: Both FPR 1991 rule 4.16(7) and section 97 are compatible with the fair trial provisions of Article 61) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human … Continue reading P v BW (Children Cases: Hearings in Public): FD 2003

Quayle and others v Regina, Attorney General’s Reference (No. 2 of 2004): CACD 27 May 2005

Each defendant appealed against convictions associated variously with the cultivation or possession of cannabis resin. They sought to plead medical necessity. There had been medical recommendations to move cannabis to the list of drugs which might be prescribed by a doctor, but this had been rejected. Held: The appeals failed. There was no over-arching principle … Continue reading Quayle and others v Regina, Attorney General’s Reference (No. 2 of 2004): CACD 27 May 2005

Hockenjos v Secretary of State for Social Security (No 2): CA 21 Dec 2004

The claimant shared child care with his former partner, but claimed that the system which gave the job-seeker’s child care supplement to one party only was discriminatory. Held: In such cases the supplement usually went to the mother, and this had a diverse impact on men. It was for the Secretary of State to justify … Continue reading Hockenjos v Secretary of State for Social Security (No 2): CA 21 Dec 2004

Secretary of State for the Home Department v SP: CA 21 Dec 2004

The applcant, a girl aged 17 was in a young offender institution. She complained that she had been removed to segregation without first giving her chance to be heard. The respondent argued that there were sufficient post decision safeguards to ensure fairness. Held: Modern standards of fairnesss required that she be given opportunity to be … Continue reading Secretary of State for the Home Department v SP: CA 21 Dec 2004

Customs and Excise v Barclays Bank Plc: CA 22 Nov 2004

The claimant had obtained judgment against customers of the defendant, and then freezing orders for the accounts. The defendants inadvertently or negligently allowed sums to be transferred from the accounts. The claimants sought repayment by the bank. Held: The bank was liable. ‘a duty ought to be imposed on the Bank, towards claimants who have … Continue reading Customs and Excise v Barclays Bank Plc: CA 22 Nov 2004

Spink, Regina (on the Application Of) v Wandsworth Borough Council: Admn 20 Oct 2004

Parents requested the local authority to make provision for their severely disabled children. The local authority wished when deciding whether to provide adaptations of the house to make allowance for the parents’ financial resources. Held: The defendant authority is correct in its contention that it can lawfully have regard to parental resources when deciding under … Continue reading Spink, Regina (on the Application Of) v Wandsworth Borough Council: Admn 20 Oct 2004