Successful Lloyds names were entitled to enforce their claims in the normal time sequence. The transfer of the rights of the insured against the insurer under section 1(1) the 1930 Act takes place on the event of insolvency, even if the insured’s liability to the third party has not yet been established. In handling claims, … Continue reading Cox v Bankside Members Agency Ltd and Others: CA 16 May 1995
The Secretary of State was not entitled to a Mareva injunction preventing the disposal of assets against a parent pending the issue of a child support assessment. The court refused a freezing order:- (Morritt LJ) ‘The Child Support Act introduced a wholly new framework for the assessment and collection of the sums required for the … Continue reading Department of Social Security v Butler: CA 11 Aug 1995
It is generally unwise to give summary judgment in cases where the relevant law is uncertain or in a state of development: ‘This must mean that where the legal viability of a cause of action is unclear (perhaps because the law is in a state of transition), or is in any way sensitive to the … Continue reading E (A Minor) v Dorset County Council: CA 1995
A series of 32 asbestosis reinsurance contracts had been underwritten by Mr Outhwaite him without doing any proper assessment of the risk. The insurance had the wording: ‘each and every loss and/or occurrence . . and/or series of losses and/or occurrences . . arising out of one event’. Held: The court did not in the … Continue reading Caudle and Others v Sharp; Grove v Sharp: CA 1995
The appellants were widowers whose wives had died at a time when the benefits a widow would have received were denied to widowers. The legislation had since changed but they variously sought compensation for the unpaid sums. Held: The appeal succeeded. By 1995 discrimination as to pensions was no longer supportable. And those appellants pursuing … Continue reading Hooper and Others, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: CA 18 Jun 2003
The claimant sought benefits. He had a large family which could only be housed in two adjacent houses. His claim for benefit was turned down on the basis that the second house was not regarded as his home, and therefore stood as capital, resulting in his exclusion from benefit. His appeal was allowed, and the … Continue reading Secretary of State for Works and Pensions v Mohammed Miah: CA 25 Jul 2003
The claimants sought judicial review of schemes which they said appeared to require them to work for free in order to claim Jobseekers Allowance. Held: Judicial review was granted. There had been a breach of regulation 4(2) of the 2011 Regulations, because the Secretary of State had breached regulation 4(2), by the failure to provide … Continue reading Reilly and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Admn 6 Aug 2012
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
The claimant was divorced from her husband, a member of the armed forces, and was to receive a share of his pension. She complained that although he had been able to take his share of the pension early, she had been obliged to wait. Held: There was no discrimination. The provisions fell within the ambit … Continue reading Regina (on the Application of Smith) v Secretary of State for Defence, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: QBD 26 Jul 2004
EAT DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION – Reasonable adjustments Tribunal in finding a failure to make reasonable adjustments under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 failed to follow the guidance set out in Environment Agency v Rowan [2008] ICR 218. Judges: Ansell J Citations: [2010] UKEAT 0435 – 09 – 1309 Links: Bailii Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Jurisdiction: … Continue reading Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Wakefield: EAT 13 Sep 2010
Jobseekers allowance Citations: [2010] UKUT 4 (AAC) Links: Bailii Statutes: Jobseekers Act 1995 19 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Benefits Updated: 17 August 2022; Ref: scu.410596
EAT DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION: Reasonable adjustments The Employment Tribunal erred in law in failing to properly apply s. 18B of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to the evidence and to make the necessary findings of fact about reasonable adjustments: Smiths Detection – Watford Ltd v Berriman (UKEAT/0712/04/CK) and Romec Ltd v Rudham (UKEAT/0069/DA) applies. Judges: Birtles … Continue reading Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Job Centre Plus) and Others v Wilson: EAT 19 Feb 2010
EAT DISABILITY DISCRIMINATIONReasonable adjustmentsSection 4A(1) and (3) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.The Tribunal found that employer had failed to make a reasonable adjustment when it gave the Claimant a 12 month written warning for leaving work early without asking for or obtaining permission. On appeal, the Employment Appeal Tribunal held: no basis in fact … Continue reading Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions v Alam: EAT 9 Nov 2009
The applicants sought judicial review of the defendant’s response to a report of the Parliamentary Ombudsman finding maladministration by the defendant in rejecting the recommendation for compensation. Held: The respondent’s rejection of the recommendations in some cases lacked cogency and fell short of the requirement.Carnwath LJ said: ”Discussion: In considering the application of Bradley to … Continue reading Equitable Members Action Group, Regina (On the Application of) v Her Majesty’s Treasury: Admn 15 Oct 2009
EAT DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION: Disability PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE: Striking-out/dismissal The Employment Judge correctly struck out the Claimant’s case as it was not reasonably arguable, on the evidence at a PHR, that the Claimant’s intolerance to temperatures below 27C was a disability within the DDA 1995. Citations: [2008] UKEAT 0133 – 08 – 2608 Links: Bailii Employment … Continue reading Sawyer v Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions (Job Centre Plus): EAT 26 Aug 2008
EAT DISABILITY DISCRIMINATIONThe EAT held that there were arguable errors in the ET’s approach to the factual questions raised by sections 5 and 6 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 before their repeal. Judges: Keith J Citations: [2007] UKEAT 0370 – 07 – 3011 Links: Bailii Employment, Discrimination Updated: 14 July 2022; Ref: scu.266652
Complaint was made as to a leaflet PEC 3 issued by the Department in 1996, intended to summarise the changes introduced by the Pensions Act 1995, and their purpose. One answer given was: ‘The Government wanted to remove any worries people had about the safety of their occupational (company) pension following the Maxwell affair.’ The … Continue reading Bradley and Others, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: CA 7 Feb 2008
The claimant had lost his company pension and complained that the respondent had refused to follow the recommendation of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration that compensation should be paid. Held: The court should not rely on evidence given by the Ombudsman to a parliamentary select committee committee: ‘to allow the evidence of a witness to … Continue reading Bradley and Others, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Admn 21 Feb 2007
EAT The Claimant claimed that she was disabled within the meaning of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. She claimed she was suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, which was accepted. She also complained she was suffering from a mental impairment, i.e ‘stress’. Before the Employment Tribunal she failed to adduce any medical evidence beyond certain brief … Continue reading Beales v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: EAT 18 Sep 2006
After conviction for benefits fraud, the defendant appealed a confiscation order, saying that had he made appropriate claims for state benefirs under other heads, the loss to the state would have been much less (andpound;3000 not andpound;19,000). Held: The defendant was unable to set off against the amount ordered to be paid any sum which … Continue reading Department for Works and Pensions v Richards; Regina v Richards (Michael): CACD 3 Mar 2005
The claimant Reynolds challenged the differential treatment by age of jobseeker’s allowance. Carson complained that as a foreign resident pensioner, her benefits had not been uprated. The questions in each case were whether the benefit affected a ‘possession’ within the Convention or the discrimination was arbitrary so as to breach the applicants human rights. Held: … Continue reading Carson and Reynolds v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: CA 17 Jun 2003
The Ombudsman had sought to rule on a complaint against the applicants. They said the Ombudsman had no jurisdiction. Held: For jurisdiction the Ombudsman had to rely upon his statutory powers. Those allowed him to rule on those who were, or acted as administrators of a pension scheme; those who ran it. ‘It is of … Continue reading Britannic Asset Management Ltd and Others, Regina (on the Application of) v Pensions Ombudsman: Admn 21 Mar 2002
Ombudsman has jurisdiction to investigate acts of pensions managers as trustees. Citations: Times 23-May-1995 Statutes: Pension Schemes Act 1993 146-1 Financial Services Updated: 19 May 2022; Ref: scu.78957
Renewed application by the claimant for permission to apply for judicial review of a decision of the defendant to refer her for a skills conditionality assessment interview and thereafter to participate in a Skills Conditionality Scheme period of training Judges: Mr Justice Foskett Citations: [2014] EWHC 2590 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Jobseekers Act 1995 17A … Continue reading Smith, Regina (on The Application of) v Department of Work and Pensions: Admn 19 May 2014
Appellants challenged the changes brought about to women’s pensions by the Pensions Acts 1995 and 2007 raising the ages from which pensions would be available. Judges: Sir Terence Etherton MR, Lord Justice Underhill and Lady Justice Rose Citations: [2020] EWCA Civ 1199, [2020] WLR(D) 507, [2020] HRLR 20, [2021] 3 All ER 115, [2021] ICR … Continue reading Delve and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: CA 15 Sep 2020
The appellant had applied for and been refused disability living allowance on the basis of being able to carry out certain cooking tasks. Held: The purpose of the ‘cooking test’ is not to ascertain whether the applicant can survive, or enjoy a reasonable diet, without assistance. It is a notional test, a thought-experiment, to calibrate … Continue reading Moyna v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: HL 31 Jul 2003
There is no facility to appeal against an interim decision or determination of the Pensions Ombudsman, on a point of law, to the High Court. The appeal is purely statutory, and since no express capacity for such an appeal is provided, none exists. Judges: The Honourable Mr Justice Lightman Citations: Times 07-Dec-1999, Gazette 01-Dec-1999, [1999] … Continue reading Legal and General Assurance Society Ltd v Pensions Ombudsman and Others; Regina v Pensions Ombudsman, ex parte Legal and General Assurance Society Ltd: ChD 3 Nov 1999
When determining whether a claimant has possessions or property within the meaning of Article I the court may have regard to national law and will generally do so unless the national law is incompatible with the object and purpose of Article 1. Any interference with the enjoyment of property must be justifiable as being in … Continue reading Pressos Compania Naviera S A And Others v Belgium: ECHR 20 Nov 1995
Several lone parents challenged the benefits cap, saying that it was discriminatory. Held: (Hale, Kerr LL dissenting) The parents’ appeals failed. The legislation had a clear impact on lone parents and their children. The intention was to encourage claimants back into work. It was said that thus contradicted the other policy of providing no free … Continue reading DA and Others, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: SC 15 May 2019
The respondent’s child lived with the estranged father for most of each week. She was obliged to contribute child support. She now lived with a woman, and complained that because her relationship was homosexual, she had been asked to pay more than someone in a heterosexual relationship. Held: The claim failed. The regulations had now … Continue reading Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v M: HL 8 Mar 2006
UTAA Jobseekers allowance – voluntary unemployment – ‘This case raises some interesting and difficult questions about the relevance to the provision in section 19(6)(a) of the Jobseekers Act 1995 for a ‘sanction’ (ie the identification of a period up to 26 weeks for which jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) is not payable) where a claimant has ‘lost … Continue reading AA v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: UTAA 15 Mar 2012
The Appellant had been unemployed and in receipt of JSA for several years. He was required to do work under the MWA scheme, and he did so over four weeks, He commenced judicial review proceedings challenging the lawfulness of the MWA Regulations on various grounds. He was eventually given permission on a single ground, namely … Continue reading Smith v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: CA 19 Mar 2015
EAT Disability Discrimination: Disability – PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Perversity – Disability – whether evidence to support finding – The Claimant had two periods of absence during the latter part of her employment. She had conceded in her witness statement and evidence that she was not a disabled person for the purposes of the Disability … Continue reading The Department for Work and Pensions v Conyers: EAT 5 Nov 2014
The applicant was a retired local government worker. His pension was determined by his final salary. He worked many hours overtime. Was that overtime to be included when calculating his pension? The regulations included all payments, but not non-contractual overtime. Held: The regulations were not clear. The contract provided overtime rates, so the ombudsman had … Continue reading The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Newham v Skingle and the Pensions Ombudsman: ChD 23 May 2002
The Secretary of State appealed against the decision in favour of Ms Reilly and Mr Wilson, that the 2011 Regulations, made under section 17A of the 1995 Act, did not comply with the requirements of that section, and (ii) a cross-appeal brought by Miss Reilly and Mr Wilson against the Court of Appeal’s rejection of … Continue reading Reilly and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: SC 30 Oct 2013
Claimants challenged the raising of the age at which women became entitled to a state pension. Held: The Appellants’ judicial review claim was dismissed. Lord Justice Irwin and Mrs Justice Whipple [2019] EWHC 2552 (Admin) Bailii England and Wales Cited by: Appeal from – Delve and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v The Secretary … Continue reading Delve and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Admn 3 Oct 2019
The applicant contended that the 1991 Act infringed her human rights in denying her access to court to obtain maintenance for her children. Held: The applicant had no substantive right to take part in the enforcement process in domestic law which is capable in Convention law of engaging the guarantees in it. ‘Sympathetic though one … Continue reading Kehoe, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: HL 14 Jul 2005
The Claimants sought a declaration of incompatibility, under section 4 of HRA 1998, on the ground that the 2013 Act was incompatible with their rights under Article 6 and Article 1 of the First Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights. Lang J [2014] EWHC 2182 (Admin), [2014] WLR(D) 420, [2015] 1 QB 573, … Continue reading Reilly (No 2) and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Admn 4 Jul 2014
Having ‘due regard’ is not Obligation to do The claimant sought to challenge the decision to close her local post office on the basis that being retired and disabled and without a car in a rural area, the office was essential and the decision unsupportable. In particular she challenged the removal of post offices from … Continue reading Brown, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Admn 18 Dec 2008
Magistrates were wrong to think they had a discretion to look at the validity of a liability assessment under child support legislation. The Act gave the payer alternative avenues of appeal, and therefore the Act should be read as it stated and the magistrates had no such jurisdiction. ‘section 33(4) precludes the justices from investigating … Continue reading Farley v Child Support Agency and Another; Farley v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (No. 2): HL 28 Jun 2006
The claimants complained of the system where they were obliged to work for free to claim Jobseekers Allowance. Held: The 2011 Regulations were required to specify the schemes under which the claimants were to claim. Instead, the regulations had named a scheme of work and the details of it were set out elsewhere. This did … Continue reading Reilly and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: CA 12 Feb 2013
ECJ Council Directive 80/987 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer is to be interpreted as applying to all employees, other than those in the categories listed in the Annex thereto, whose employers may, under the applicable … Continue reading Francovich v Italy: ECJ 9 Nov 1995
The appellant sought to recover overpayments of benefits and Social Fund Loans, after the respondent had had a Debt relief order. Held: The Secretary of State’s appeal failed. The ‘net entitlement principle’ argued for did not exist. The entitlement is a statutory one, and any liability to repay is separate and independent, being only a … Continue reading Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Payne and Another: SC 14 Dec 2011
Each claimant sought Frankovich damages alleging a failure to implement European law leading to a loss.
Held: Such a claim was available against the government after it had failed to implement the Directive so as to provide them with the . .
The degree to which an appellate court will be willing to substitute its own judgment for that of the tribunal will vary with the nature of the question. Hoffmann LJ said: ‘The concept of limited liability and the sophistication of our corporate law . .
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
issue as to the correct basis upon which the trustee of a company’s staff pension scheme, which is being wound up, can seek the debt due from the company under section 75 of the Pensions Act 1995, to make good the deficiency in the scheme. Citations: [2009] EWCA Civ 793, [2009] Pens LR 279, [2010] … Continue reading Headway Plc v Eastearly Ltd: CA 23 Jul 2009
The respondent had the benefit of a single member company pension scheme. He sold the company, but the purchasers, now assignees of the pension, and appellants alleged breach of warranty in the company sale, and sought to prevent further payments under the pension scheme. Held: A consent order to restrict payment of sums falling due … Continue reading Fisher and others v Harrison and others: CA 29 Jul 2003
The defendant’s pension scheme had been set up by deed in 1949. The trustees argued that the firm had an obligation to make substantial additional contributions to ensure it was not underfunded. The defendants argued that it was a money purchase scheme. Held: Contributions were to be made by the employer and by its employees … Continue reading AON Trust Corporation Ltd v KPMG and others: ChD 29 Jul 2004
Judges: Mummery, Wilson, Patten LJJ Citations: [2010] EWCA Civ 1349, [2011] Pens LR 11 Links: Bailii Statutes: Pensions Act 1995 91 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Financial Services Updated: 28 August 2022; Ref: scu.426759
FTTTx National Insurance contributions – gender dysphoria – determination of pensionable age – whether possible to interpret ‘woman’ as including person with gender dysphoria living as a woman – whether directly effective right under Directive 79/7 to cease paying contributions otherwise than by satisfying conditions for recognition under the Gender Recognition Act 2004 – Social … Continue reading M v Revenue and Customs: FTTTx 30 Jul 2010
Judges: Fancourt J Citations: [2019] EWHC 1222 (Ch), [2019] WLR(D) 305 Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes: Pensions Act 1995, Pension Protection Fund (Multi-Employer Schemes) (Modification) Regulations 2005, Occupational Pension Schemes (Employer Debt) Regulations 2005 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Financial Services, Insolvency Updated: 05 July 2022; Ref: scu.638172
Attempt by the trustees and the principal employer of a private sector defined benefit occupational pension scheme to introduce inflation-linked annual increases to the pensions of members of the scheme earned by service before 6 April 1997. The relevance of that date is that under section 51 of the Pensions Act 1995 such increases were … Continue reading BIC UK Ltd v Burgess and Others: CA 10 May 2019
The company found itself unable to fund the pension scheme it had committed itself to. If it sought to pay the money due, the company would have to go into liquidation. It did not meet the minimum funding requirements of the Act. The company proposed a scheme of compromise with the trustees. Held: There was … Continue reading Bradstock Group Pension Scheme Trustees Ltd v Bradstock Group plc and Others: ChD 17 Jun 2002
Maladministration includes bias, neglect, inattention, delay, incompetence, inaptitude, perversity, turpitude and arbitrariness in reaching a decision or exercising a discretion, but that it has nothing to do with the intrinsic merits of the decision itself.Lord Donaldson of Lymington MR set out the correct view of the relationship between a local authority and the Ombudsman: ‘There … Continue reading Regina v Commissioner for Local Administration ex parte Eastleigh Borough Council: CA 1988
Where a scheme had been wound up, but later acquired a right of action, that benefit did not re-constitute the beneficiaries as members of the scheme. A subsequent discretionary augmentation of benefit was insufficient. Citations: Times 06-May-1999 Statutes: Pensions Act 1995 124(1) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Financial Services Updated: 10 May 2022; Ref: scu.78776
When apportioning the assets of a pension fund on its winding up under the statutory scheme, the trustees had to take careful note of the differing historic retirement ages throught the scheme and between men and women. Citations: Times 17-Aug-2007 Statutes: Pensions Act 1995 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Appeal from – Trustee Solutions Ltd … Continue reading Trustee Solutions Ltd and others v Dubery and Another: CA 26 Jul 2007
It was wrong to imprison a company director for non-payment of pension contributions required to be made by the company where such amounts had been deducted from wages for this purpose, save in the presence of a fraudulent evasion. There was already a civil penalty imposed, and new legislation was to replace the offence of … Continue reading Regina v Dixon: CACD 24 Nov 1999
The trades’ union had agreed with the employer that what had been irregular and non-pensionable payments made to employees would, in future, be paid regularly, but that only certain parts of the payments become pensionable. The employer now sought to enforce that agreement, on the inception of a new scheme which it had to be … Continue reading South West Trains Ltd v Wightman and Others: ChD 14 Jan 1998
The release by the trustees of a sum due to the pension scheme from the employers, did not make funds payable to the employer, so as to trigger the clause within the scheme trust deed which would restrain such a payment. Where an actuarial surplus had accrued within a scheme, and there was a substantial … Continue reading National Grid Co Plc v Mayes and Others; International Power Plc (Formerly National Power Plc) v Healy and Others: HL 7 Jun 2001
The Court was asked about the powers of the Complaints Commissioner under the 1996 Order, and in particular about his powers in relation to general medical practitioners working in the National Health Service and whether, and if so in what circumstances, the Complaints Commissioner has power to recommend the payment of a money sum to … Continue reading JR55, Re Application for Judicial Review (Northern Ireland): SC 11 May 2016
The claimants were trustees of the defendant’s pension scheme. They sought additional payments to make up a shortfall in funds, on the basis that the fund was an earnings related pension scheme, and that the company therefore had obligations to make good any shortfall in the scheme. Held: Compulsory contributions were payable in each year … Continue reading Aon Trust Corporation Ltd v KPMG (A Firm) and others: CA 28 Jul 2005
The rules of a pensions scheme were altered. It was required that any such alteration be in writing, but the trustees had not signed the document creating the amendment. Held: The words ‘writing under hand’ clearly required a signature, and the amendment was ineffective. No estoppel arose as against the members: ‘An avoidance of pedantry, … Continue reading Trustee Solutions Ltd and others v Dubery and Another: ChD 21 Jun 2006
The parent company and its service company had gone into insolvent administration. The service company had seconded most of its employees to e main company and its administrators now sought an indemnity against the service company’s liabilities under the 1995 Act from the main company. Held: The service was entitled to an indemnity as requested … Continue reading Heis and Others v MF Global UK Services Ltd: ChD 31 Mar 2015
The court was asked whether the trustee of a pension scheme is able to assign the debt owed to the pension scheme which is created by s75 Girss J [2014] EWHC 3038 (Ch), [2015] Pens LR 31, [2015] WLR(D) 242, [2015] 1 CH 571, [2015] 3 WLR 787 Bailii, WLRD Pensions Act 1995 75 England … Continue reading The Trustee of The Singer and Friedlander Ltd Pension and Assurance Scheme v Corbett: ChD 16 Oct 2014
Sir Peter Gibson [2007] EWCA Civ 771 Bailii Pensions Act 1995 73 England and Wales Financial Services Updated: 11 December 2021; Ref: scu.258424
Olympic Airlines, incorporated in Greece, but with headquarters in London, went into liquidation. The pensions scheme had been run with a deficit. The trustees no sought the winding up of the company under British law. Held: To be an establishment for the purposes of the Insolvency Regulation the following qualities must be present on the … Continue reading Olympic Airlines Sa Pension and Life Assurance Scheme v Olympic Airlines Sa: ChD 29 May 2012
The Office appealed against decisions ordering it to release information about the gateway reviews for the proposed identity card system, claiming a qualified exemption from disclosure under the 2000 Act. Held: The decision was set aside for breaching the rule against impugning an action of Parliament. The minister had made a statement as to the … Continue reading Office of Government Commerce v Information Commissioner and Another: Admn 11 Apr 2008
The claimant challenged the refusal of the Council to pay compensation as recommended by the Ombudsman. The Council had gathered personal details and information of the claimants in the course of a planning dispute, and then published that information on its website. Though accepting that there needed to be good reason for not following the … Continue reading Gallagher and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Basildon District Council: Admn 9 Nov 2010
Failure to provide programme discriminated The claimant prisoner who had a learning disability said that he had been unable to complete the offending behaviour programmes because of his disability, that he had been kept in prison for much longer than he should have been as a consequence, and that the defendant should have made appropriate … Continue reading Gill, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice: Admn 26 Feb 2010
The court considered the application of the limitation period to answering when damage occurred when it arises under an unsecured contingent liability. The claimant insurance company had provided after the event litigation insurance policies to the solicitors and their clients, relying on assessments of the cases made by the defendants. The court below had held … Continue reading Axa Insurance Ltd v Akther and Darby Solicitors and Others: CA 12 Nov 2009
The claimant sued for breach of trust. The action was re-instated after being struck out for want of prosecution, but in the meantime the defendant had been made bankrupt and then discharged from bankruptcy. An order for costs was then made which the claimant now sought to enforce. Held: The possibility of a future costs … Continue reading Glenister v Rowe: CA 21 Apr 1999
Four children complained that, for years before they were taken into care by the local authority, its social services department was well aware that they were living in filthy conditions and suffering ‘appalling’ neglect in the home of their parents. Suspicions of abuse had arisen in 1987, but they were given effective support only in … Continue reading Z And Others v The United Kingdom: ECHR 10 May 2001
A Judge may give judgment in a case finished he had only after reaching the maximum permitted retirement age. Citations: Times 07-May-1996 Statutes: Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Appeal from – Regina v The Lord Chancellor Ex Parte Stockler QBD 4-Dec-1995 Judge may sit as an acting judge beyond … Continue reading Regina v the Lord Chancellor, Ex Parte Stockler: CA 7 May 1996
EAT Deposit ordered. Order lost in post due to the Claimant putting wrong post-code on ET1. Review. Distinguishing Judgments from Orders. Strike-out. Extending time. Judges: His Honour Peter Clark Citations: [2005] UKEAT 0318 – 05 – 2907, UKEAT/0319/05/TM, UKEAT/0318/05/TM, [2005] ICR 1647, UKEAT/0320/05/TM, [2005] IRLR 836 Links: Bailii, EATn Statutes: Employment Tribunal Rules 2004 20(1) … Continue reading Sodexho Ltd v Gibbons: EAT 14 Jul 2005
The claimant was a category A prisoner serving a sentence of life imprisonment for murder. He sought the reasons for his categorisation as a Class A prisoner. Unhappy at the disclosure made, he sought information under the 1998 Act. It was argued that disclosure beyong ‘gist’ reports would threaten the system of categorisation, which was … Continue reading Lord, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: Admn 1 Sep 2003
The defendant appealed a conviction of possession of 66 grams of cannabis with intent to supply. Also found were a large number of small bags and pounds 7,000 in cash. The defendant said the cannabis was for his personal use, and the equipment had been left at the house. He also complained of the mention … Continue reading Payton, Regina v: CACD 26 May 2006
An asylum seeker who was found to be destitute and had failed in his application was entitled to restricted support under the section. The respondent implemented a policy restricting the restriction on the use of the power to those who had some physical impediment preventing movement. The applicant had not been evicted, but had had … Continue reading Salih and Another v Secretary of State for the Home Department: Admn 8 Oct 2003
Miss Singh challenged her school’s policy which operated to prevent her wearing while at school a steel bangle, a Kara. She said this was part of her religion as a Sikh. Held: Earlier comparable applications had been made under human rights law, but this was under the 1976 Act. The evidence established that the Sikh … Continue reading Watkins-Singh, Regina (on the Application of) v The Governing Body of Aberdare Girls’ High School and Another: Admn 29 Jul 2008
EAT DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION – Direct disability discriminationDISABILITY DISCRIMINATION – Reasonable adjustmentsUNFAIR DISMISSAL – Constructive dismissalClaimant, working as a debt adviser, suffers from agoraphobia and travel anxiety – Resigns when Respondent refuses to move her to bureau closer to her home on a guaranteed permanent basis – Tribunal dismisses claim under section 3A (2) of Disability … Continue reading Wilcox v Birmingham Cab Services Ltd: EAT 23 Jun 2011
The court was asked how to achieve fairness in ancillary relief proceedings on a divorce as respects pension entitlements. The parties had sufficient to allow a clean break, but the assets mixture included sums invested which would be returned only as pension payments. Held: The court and parties should have taken advantage of the procedures … Continue reading Martin-Dye v Martin-Dye: CA 25 May 2006
Judges: The Honourable Mr Justice Peter Smith Citations: [2004] EWHC 1768 (Ch) Links: Bailii Statutes: Pensions Schemes Act 1993 151(4) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Financial Services Updated: 29 August 2022; Ref: scu.199564
The applicant was a philosopher by profession. She claimed unemployment benefit and was told that her benefits would be reduced unless she was willing to take up a wider range of employment than she considered suitable. She complained under Article 4 that she was being forced to take up labour irrespective of whether it would … Continue reading Schuitemaker v The Netherlands: ECHR 4 May 2010
1. Social policy – Male and female workers – Equal pay – Pay – Concept – Right to join a private occupational pension scheme – Included – Exclusion of married women from membership – Not permissible – Exclusion of part-time workers – Part-time staff composed principally of women – Not permissible where there is no … Continue reading Vroege v Nciv Instituut Voor Volkshuisvesting Bv and Stichting Pensioenfonds Nciv: ECJ 28 Sep 1994
The plaintiff was injured whilst at work in one of the defendant’s collieries. The House considered the deductibility from damages awarded for personal injury of a collateral benefit. Held: The issue of deductibility where the claim is for loss of pension cannot be properly answered without a clear understanding of the nature of the loss … Continue reading Longden v British Coal Corporation: HL 13 Mar 1997
Gibraltar – The claimant challenged a public housing allocation policy which gave preference to married couples and parents of children, excluding same sex and infertile couples. Held: The aim of discouraging homosexual relationships is equally impermissible under sections 7(1) and 14 of the Constitution of Gibraltar. The suggested aims are incoherent and the means employed … Continue reading Rodriguez v Minister of Housing of The Government and Another: PC 14 Dec 2009
FTTTx Seafarers’ earnings; ship; offshore installation; whether vessels offshore installations; Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 sections 1 and 12; Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 section 192A, 837C; Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 sections 378-385; Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations 1995, regulation 3(1)(a)(c)and(d) and (2)(d)and(e) Citations: [2009] UKFTT … Continue reading Spowage and Others v Revenue and Customs: FTTTx 18 Jun 2009
The applicant had paid out many claims for mis-selling pensions. They sought to claim under their insurance. The claims met the requirements of the principle insurance, but the insurance companies sought to impose a limit by aggregation. Held: The absence of a training or monitoring system, even though an independent breach of the rules, was … Continue reading Lloyds TSB General Insurance Holdings and others v Lloyds Bank Group Insurance Company Ltd: HL 31 Jul 2003
Harassment to Criminal Level needed to Convict The claimant had been a customer of the defendant, but had moved to another supplier. She was then subjected to a constant stream of threatening letters which she could not stop despite re-assurances and complaints. The defendant now appealed against a refusal to strike out the claim of … Continue reading Ferguson v British Gas Trading Ltd: CA 10 Feb 2009
EAT JURISDICTIONAL POINTS: Claim in time and effective date of terminationHaving correctly held that three of the Claimant’s four DDA claims were out of time, parity of reasoning made the fourth out of time as well, there being no continuing act for the Claimant to rely on. Judgment set aside. Judges: McMullen QC J Citations: … Continue reading Kingston Upon Hull City Council v Matuszowicz: EAT 28 Jan 2008
The claimants had been detained under the 1971 Act, after completing sentences of imprisonment pending their return to their home countries under deportations recommended by the judges at trial, or chosen by the respondent. They challenged as unlawful the respondent’s, at first unpublished, policy introduced in 2006, that by default, those awaiting deportation should be … Continue reading Lumba (WL) v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 23 Mar 2011
(Northern Ireland) Children had been taken to school in the face of vehement protests from Loyalists. The parents complained that the police had failed to protect them properly, since the behaviour was so bad as to amount to inhuman or degrading treatment, and that the police had given undue weight to the right to demonstrate. … Continue reading Re E (A Child); E v Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and Another (Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and others intervening): HL 12 Nov 2008
The trial judge had refused an order requested at a preparatory hearing by the defence for the disclosure of documents held by the prosecutor. The House was now asked whether a right of appeal existed against such a refusal. Held: The practice at preparatory hearings has been the subject of dispute. Lord Nichols said: ‘the … Continue reading H, Regina v (Interlocutory application: Disclosure): HL 28 Feb 2007
The occupier had been granted a temporary licence by the authority under the homelessness provisions whilst it made its assessment. The assessment concluded that she had become homeless intentionally, and therefore terminated the licence and set out to evict her. She claimed that the authority had to get a court authority before so evicting her. … Continue reading Desnousse v London Borough of Newham and others: CA 17 May 2006
The claimant sought damages from his accountants, claiming negligence. The accountants pleaded limitation. They had advised him in connection with an investment in a company which investment went wrong. Held: It was argued that the limitation period was to be extended until three years after the discovery by the claimant of why it was that … Continue reading Haward and others v Fawcetts: HL 1 Mar 2006
Prisoners were disciplined after refusing to be squat searched, saying that the procedure was humiliating and that there were no reasonable grounds to suspect them of any offence against prison discipline. The officer who had been involved in ordering the search was the one later who decided on their complaint that it was unlawful. Held: … Continue reading Al-Hasan, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: HL 16 Feb 2005
Europa The right to join an occupational pension scheme, the rules of which were not laid down directly by law but were the result of negotiation between both sides of the industry concerned and all that the public authorities did was, at the request of such employers’ and trade union organizations as were considered to … Continue reading Fisscher v Voorhuis Hengelo and Stichting Bedrijfspensioenfonds voor de Detailhandel: ECJ 28 Sep 1994
The operator sought permission to erect a mobile phone mast. The authority failed to serve notice of the decision to refuse prior approval. The applicant wished to object. Held: The applicant had been deprived of her right to make objection to the application by the authortiy’s failure. If the authority had communicated its decision, she … Continue reading Nunn, Regina (on the Application of) v First Secretary of State and others: CA 8 Feb 2005
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
The defendant was to have been accused of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16. Proceedings could not be brought, because the allegation was more than a year old, and he was instead accused of indecent assault, but on the same facts. He appealed against his conviction, saying this was an abuse of … Continue reading Regina v J: HL 14 Oct 2004
