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
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
The claimant sought to challenge the policy that a 17 year old under arrest was to be treated as an adult for interview purposes, even though at every other stage of a criminal investigation and prosecution, he would be treated as a child. He had been arrested, but, under the applicable Code of Practice had … Continue reading HC (A Child), Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for The Home Department and Another: Admn 25 Apr 2013
The father sought leave to appeal a care order and an order releasing his child for adoption. Held: The court applied Re W as to the extent of the duty of the appellate court in such matters. The appeal would stand no reasonable prospect of success. Leave was refused. Judges: Wall LJ Citations: [2007] EWCA … Continue reading Re F and H (Children): CA 24 Aug 2007
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
Appeal against order as to media arrangements for fact finding hearing.McFarlane LJ said: ‘In the present case, Jackson J used the power available to him to move from the default position so as to allow a controlled degree of publicity. This was a matter for the judge’s discretion. It was common ground before this court … Continue reading Re W (Children): CA 25 Feb 2016
(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 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
Judges: Mrs Justice Roberts Citations: [2021] EWFC 21 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 15 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 25 September 2022; Ref: scu.659466
Care proceedings Judges: Floyd, King , Moylan LJJ Citations: [2019] EWCA Civ 1714, [2019] WLR(D) 566 Links: Bailii, WLRD Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 31 August 2022; Ref: scu.642662
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
Judges: Thorpe, Wall, Patten LJJ Citations: [2009] EWCA Civ 1405, [2010] 1 FCR 305, (2010) 112 BMLR 101, [2010] Fam Law 235 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 11 August 2022; Ref: scu.392511
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
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
The child’s guardian and the local authority sought leave to appeal against dismissal of an application for an interim care order. Judges: Thorpe, Wall LJJ Citations: [2009] EWCA Civ 1254 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 38 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 05 August 2022; Ref: scu.381456
Hair-testing of mother for drug abuse allegation during care proceedings. Judges: Baker J Citations: [2012] EWHC 2548 (Fam) Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 09 July 2022; Ref: scu.464866
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
The appellant had been dismissed from the social services department of Haringey Borough Council, and her name placed on a list of persons unsuitable to work with children. She had been criticised in the statutory inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie. She had led the team of social workers. The Secretary of State appealed … Continue reading Secretary of State for Education and Skills v Mairs: Admn 25 May 2005
The duty placed on social services authority under Children Act 1989 s17 is a target duty owed to children in general and not justiciable by judicial review – no duty in law to meet assessed needs by providing alternative accommodation for the whole family. As to the decision in Horvath, the system must provide for … Continue reading Banomova v Secretary of State for Home Department: CA 25 May 2001
The applicant was mother of three children, two of whom were autistic. She sought re-housing from the defendant. It was claimed that s17 imposed a specific duty on the authority, having identified a child’s needs, in this case for re-housing, to satisfy them. Held: The structure the section is general, and point very clearly to … Continue reading A v The London Borough of Lambeth: Admn 25 May 2001
A contact order had been properly granted with an order freeing the child for adoption. Butler-Sloss LJ: ‘The effect of an order freeing a child for adoption is to extinguish parental responsibility of those previously endowed with it and thus to bring to an end the relationship between the child and his natural family (see … Continue reading In Re A (A Minor) (Adoption: Contact Order): CA 24 Jun 1993
The legal aid board could refuse to grant legal aid to children involved in proceedings to refuse contact to a parent, because the regulations which applied were sufficiently widely drawn to allow a discretion to the local authority to pay the costs. In such circumstances it was not unreasonable for legal aid to be refused. … Continue reading E v Legal Aid Board, Ex P W et Al (Minors): QBD 25 Nov 1999
K, aged 16, had left home to join what was said to be a religious sect. His whereabouts were unknown. He had been made a ward of court and the Official Solicitor was appointed to represent his interests. He had sent messages to say that he was well and did not wish to return. The … Continue reading Kelly (A Minor) v British Broadcasting Corporation: FD 25 Jul 2000
The council had taken the applicant’s children into care alleging that the mother had harmed them. In the light of the subsequent cases casting doubt on such findings, the mother sought the return of her children. She applied now that the hearings be in public. Held: The applicant and her solicitors had already made significant … Continue reading Kent County Council v The Mother, The Father, B (By Her Children’s Guardian); Re B (A Child) (Disclosure): FD 19 Mar 2004
The Court of Appeal had imposed conditions upon the care plan to be implemented by the local authorities, identifying certain ‘starred’ essential milestones. The local authorities appealed. Held: This was not a legitimate extension of the powers contained in the 1989 Act. There exist clear problems in local authorities implementing care plans, and those difficulties … Continue reading Re S (Children: Care Plan); In re W and B (Children: Care plan) In re W (Child: Care plan): HL 14 Mar 2002
As part of the modernisation and reform of civil procedure, all the principal Court of Appeal practice directions are consolidated now into this one document handed down by the court.‘2. Permission to appeal2.1 When is permission required?2.1.1. Most appeals require the permission of the court below (the court which made the decision which is challenged) … Continue reading Practice Direction (Court of Appeal) (Civil Division): CA 19 Apr 1999
An option to take a tenancy of a property was not sufficient to constitute ‘premises’ for the Act. The section presupposed existence of premises which could be inspected and approved, and on which a registration could be based Citations: Gazette 25-Nov-1998 Statutes: Children Act 1989 71(1)(b) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Licensing Updated: 10 May 2022; … Continue reading Jenkins v Essex County Council: FD 25 Nov 1998
Immediately after a child was born, the social worker began proceedings for it to be taken into care. The judge severely criticised the actions of the social worker before the birth. The local authority now appealed against an order at the conclusion of care proceedings that they should pay each parent damages in the sum … Continue reading In re V (a Child) (Care: pre-birth actions): CA 12 Oct 2004
Courts should take additional powers under the Act for the management and implementation of care plans made in care proceedings. In these cases, an order had been made on the basis of a care plan which subsequently proved impossible to implement, and in the second case, decisions might better have been deferred until some situation … Continue reading In Re W and B (Children: Care Plan) In Re W (Child: Care Plan): CA 7 Jun 2001
Acquisition of Habitual Residence Habitual residence can in principle be lost and another habitual residence acquired on the same day. Held: The provisions giving the courts of a member state jurisdiction also apply where there is an alternative jurisdiction in a non-member state such as the United States. The Regulation also deals with how child … Continue reading A v A and another (Children) (Children: Habitual Residence) (Reunite International Child Abduction Centre intervening): SC 9 Sep 2013
The mother fled Pakistan and secured asylum here, proving a well founded fear of persecution if she returned. She had brought her son. The father applied for the child to be returned for the courts there to decide his future, saying he had been abducted. Held: To order the return of the child anticipating the … Continue reading In re H (a Minor) (Child abduction: Mother’s Asylum): FD 25 Jul 2003
The court had already made an order about the way in which the health professionals were able to look after a severely disabled baby girl; an injunction was granted prohibiting identification of the child, her parents, her current carers and the hospital where she was being looked after. Although the child herself would know nothing … Continue reading Re C (Wardship: Medical Treatment) (No 2): CA 1989
‘The principal issue arising on this appeal in care proceedings concerning a little girl, L, is whether the process by which the recorder reached the conclusion that the threshold criteria under s.31 of the Children Act 1989 were satisfied was fair. The appellant, Z, who is L’s father, contends that certain of the findings made … Continue reading Re L (Fact-Finding Hearing: Fairness): CA 17 Feb 2022
The duty imposed by section 17 of the Act on local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children is a general duty only, and is not capable of being enforced for the benefit of a particular child by way of judicial review. As a so called target duty decisions made by the local … Continue reading Regina (A) v Lambeth London Borough Council: QBD 25 May 2001
A local authority did not have the right to exclude solicitor representatives from child protection case conferences, and must provide minutes of any part of a meeting from which the parent is excluded. To do so would be to fail to follow the guidelines set out by the Secretary of State, which the authority was … Continue reading Regina v Cornwall County Council, Ex P L: QBD 25 Nov 1999
The father appealed an order refusing him direct contact with the child. The judge had made the order because he considered that the mother’s hostility to contact made it likely that her health would suffer if contact was ordered, and that the children’s health would suffer in turn. Held: The appeal was allowed. Stopping a … Continue reading In Re P (Minors) (Contact): CA 15 May 1996
Where because of mental and other health problems, a natural, unmarried, father was incapable of discharging the duties and functions of a parent properly, there was no overriding need to make a parental responsibility order. Citations: Times 25-May-1999 Statutes: Children Act 1989 4(1) 3(1) Children Updated: 08 April 2022; Ref: scu.81954
Reasons for directing a re-consideration of findings of fact made within Part IV Children Act 1989 care proceedings, following an investigation into the cause of life-threatening injuries to a 10 month old baby boy. Cobb J [2016] EWHC 326 (Fam) Bailii England and Wales Children Updated: 10 January 2022; Ref: scu.560255
HHJ Hillier [2014] EWFC B142 Bailii Children Act 1989 38(2) Children Updated: 24 December 2021; Ref: scu.540364
Application for care orders, after father of one of the children being found to have abused her. Edwards HHJ [2014] EWFC B161 Bailii Children Act 1989 Children Updated: 24 December 2021; Ref: scu.540365
The court was asked as to the scope of a local authority’s power to provide services to a child in need under s17 of the 1989 Act. Lord Dyson MR, Floyd, King LJJ [2014] EWCA Civ 1518 Bailii Children Act 1989 17 England and Wales Children Updated: 23 December 2021; Ref: scu.539133
‘This appeal concerns the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. It raises general questions relating to: (1) the place which the habitual residence of the child occupies in the scheme of that Convention, and (2) whether and when a wrongful retention of a child may occur if the travelling parent originally … Continue reading Re C (Children): SC 14 Feb 2018
Originating summons in the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court asking for an order granting permission to interview two young girls, represented by CAFCASS Legal. The third defendant is the children’s mother, NP. The local authority in which the children and their mother reside, Manchester City Council, has also been represented as an interested party. … Continue reading Greater Manchester Chief Constable v KI and Another (Children) and others: FD 26 Jul 2007
[2005] EWCA Civ 170, [2005] 2 FLR 166, [2005] Fam Law 463 Bailii Children Act 1989 England and Wales Children, International Updated: 17 November 2021; Ref: scu.408803
The court considered whether discriminatory acts after the termination of employment were caught by the respective anti-discrimination Acts. The acts included a failure to give proper references. They pursued claims on the basis of victimisation after their primary discrimination claims. Held: The 1975 and 1976 Acts were similarly phrased and the wording in the 1995 … Continue reading Relaxion Group plc v Rhys-Harper; D’Souza v London Borough of Lambeth; Jones v 3M Healthcare Limited and three other actions: HL 19 Jun 2003
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
Three claims for judicial review concerning the Defendant local authority’s obligations to provide accommodation under section 20 of the Children Act 1989 for unaccompanied asylum seekers pending the completion of assessments of their age. In each case the Defendant declined to accommodate the Claimant under s.20 of the Children Act 1989 on the grounds that … Continue reading AB and Others, Regina (on The Application of) v London Borough of Brent: Admn 25 Oct 2021
Bingham LJ discussed the nature of frustration of contract: ‘The essence of frustration is that it is caused by some unforeseen supervening event over which the parties to the contract have no control and for which they are therefore not responsible. To say that the supervening event occurs without the default or blame or responsibility … Continue reading Lauritzen A/A v Wijsmuller BV;( ‘The Super Servant Two’): CA 12 Oct 1989
Single Sex Schooling failed to prepare for life The Chief Inspector appealed from a decision that it was discriminatory under the 2010 Act to educate girls and boys in the same school but under a system providing effective complete separation of the sexes. Held: The action was discriminatory. However, the scheme operated against individuals, both … Continue reading Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills v The Interim Executive Board of Al-Hijrah School: CA 13 Oct 2017
Balance of probabilities remains standard of proof There had been cross allegations of abuse within the family, and concerns by the authorities for the children. The judge had been unable to decide whether the child had been shown to be ‘likely to suffer significant harm’ as a consequence. Having found some evidence to suggest that … Continue reading In re B (Children) (Care Proceedings: Standard of Proof) (CAFCASS intervening): HL 11 Jun 2008
Notice of dismissal begins when received by worker The court was asked: ‘If an employee is dismissed on written notice posted to his home address, when does the notice period begin to run? Is it when the letter would have been delivered in the ordinary course of post? Or when it was in fact delivered … Continue reading Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v Haywood: SC 25 Apr 2018
The Court was asked whether the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (‘the Commissioner’) owes a duty to her officers, in the conduct of proceedings against her based on their alleged misconduct, to take reasonable care to protect them from . .
The employer appealed an award of ten thousand pounds including aggravated damages, and other elements after a finding of sex discrimination. They also awarded six hundred pounds in interest. It was asserted that Scots law did not allow for . .
Where a patient lacks capacity, there is the power to provide him with whatever treatment or care is necessary in his own best interests. Medical treatment can be undertaken in an emergency even if, through a lack of capacity, no consent had been . .
Appeal against an order made after an agreement within the family that the children should live with the paternal grandmother.
Orse In re W (Parental Agreement with Local Authority)
The mother had placed her three children with their . .
References: [2014] EWFC B142 Links: Bailii Coram: HHJ Hillier Statutes: Children Act 1989 38(2)
References: [2014] EWFC B161 Links: Bailii Coram: Edwards HHJ Application for care orders, after father of one of the children being found to have abused her. Statutes: Children Act 1989
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
Application for judicial review of a purported decision by X Council to continue to detain FD, a girl who is 14 years and 5 months, in secure accommodation. Judges: Mrs Justice Lieven DBE Citations: [2019] EWHC 3481 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 25 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children, Local Government Updated: 19 September … Continue reading FD, Regina (on The Application of) v X Metropolitan Borough Council: Admn 16 Dec 2019
Application for secure accommodation order is family proceeding-hearsay admissible. Citations: Gazette 29-Apr-1992 Statutes: Children Act 1989 25 92(2) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 09 July 2022; Ref: scu.88354
Justices cannot make a three month secure accommodation order after an earlier one month interim order. The total order must not exceed three months. Citations: Times 24-May-1994, Ind Summary 20-Jun-1994 Statutes: Children Act 1989 25 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children, Magistrates Updated: 19 May 2022; Ref: scu.78797
Citations: Ind Summary 27-Feb-1995, Times 10-Feb-1995 Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 1991 60(3), Children Act 1989 25 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 15 May 2022; Ref: scu.83099
On making a secure accommodation order, the welfare of the child is a relevant but not the paramount consideration. The Court referred to the responsibility of reaching ‘so serious and Draconian a decision as the restriction upon the liberty of the child’. Citations: Times 15-Nov-1994, [1995] 1 FLR 418 Statutes: Children Act 1989 25 Jurisdiction: … Continue reading In Re M (A Minor) (Secure Accommodation Order): CA 15 Nov 1994
The period of a secure accommodation order runs from the date of the order and not the date in which the child was in fact placed in the secure accomodation. Citations: Times 27-May-1994 Statutes: Children Act 1989 25 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 28 April 2022; Ref: scu.81711
A children’s clinic is not secure accommodation, and the court may make orders for his or her treatment whilst in the clinic. The court discussed whether the state had power if necessary to detain a child using its parens patriae powers to give necessary medical treatment. Wall J analysed the permissible use of force in … Continue reading In Re C (A Minor) (Medical Treatment: Court’s Jurisdiction); Re C (Detention: Medical Treatment): FD 21 Mar 1997
An order providing that a child should stay in secure accommodation, was an order which restricted the child’s liberty. A justification for such a restriction had to be brought within the exceptions listed in article 5. Held: Detention for educational supervision was permitted, and such supervision was not restricted to education in the sense of … Continue reading In Re K (A Child) (Secure Accommodation Order: Right to Liberty): CA 29 Nov 2000
A child bailed to a Local Authority may be made subject to a secure accommodation order. Citations: Times 05-Jul-1994 Statutes: Children Act 1989 25 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 18 April 2022; Ref: scu.81775
The court was asked whether K, a 13-year-old girl, should attend the hearing of an application by her local authority to keep her in secure accommodation for three months. She wanted to be at the hearing, but the local authority opposed her attendance on welfare grounds. Held: The child should be allowed to attend: ‘the … Continue reading In re K (A Child): FD 16 May 2011
Application made by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham for a secure accommodation order pursuant to s.25 of the Children Act 1989. . .
Judges: Forbes J Citations: [2007] EWHC 514 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Regina (Behre and Others) v Hillingdon London Borough Council Admn 29-Aug-2003 Each claimant arrived as an unaccompanied child to claim asylum, and destitute. Assistance was provided under the 1989 Act until they … Continue reading Hillingdon, Regina (on the Application of) v the Secretary of State for Education and Skills: Admn 15 Mar 2007
The court was asked whether the Claimant became a ‘looked after child’ as defined in Section 22(1) of the 1989 Act. Citations: [2009] 1 FLR 493, [2009] Fam Law 14, (2009) 12 CCL Rep 59, [2009] PTSR CS35, [2008] EWHC 2551 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 22(1) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: … Continue reading Collins v Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council: Admn 29 Oct 2008
Application for assistance in providing accomodation to allow early release from prison. Citations: [2007] EWHC 1196 (Admin), [2007] 2 FLR 849 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – G, Regina (on the Application of) v London Borough Of Southwark HL 20-May-2009 The House was asked whether when a child of 16 or … Continue reading S, Regina (on the Application of) v London Borough of Sutton: Admn 18 May 2007
In three linked cases, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children had had assistance with housing from the local social services authorities. They claimed entitlement to support as former relevant children under section 20. The local authorities argued that they had provided accommodation under section 17 rather than section 20 of the 1989 Act. Held: Once the section 20 … Continue reading H and others v London Borough of Wandsworth and others: Admn 23 Apr 2007
The father sought leave to appeal an order refusing him access to his children, and order made under section 91 restricting further applications. The court welfare officer had been strongly against supervised contact because of the father’s inconsistent behaviour. The mother was utterly against and completely opposed to any form of direct contact. A psychiatrist … Continue reading T-T (Minors): CA 13 Nov 1998
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
The parties sought guidance from the court on the circumstances which arose in ancillary relief proceedings where a legal representative came to believe that one party might be holding the proceeds of crime. In the course of ancillary relief proceedings, the parties legal representatives concluded that some part of the matrimonial assets might represent the … Continue reading P v P (Ancillary Relief: Proceeds of Crime): FD 8 Oct 2003
Renewed application for permission to appeal after refusal of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal’s decision on a reconsideration of the respondent’s decision to deport him following his conviction and sentence to three and a half years in prison for theft, handling stolen goods and obtaining property by deception. He came to this country in 1989, … Continue reading GO (Nigeria) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: CA 16 May 2007
The mother of the child on behalf of whom the application was made, was to face trial for murder. The child was in care and an order was sought to restrain publiction of material which might reveal his identity, including matters arising during the trial. Held: (Hale LJ dissenting) The court in this case was … Continue reading Re S (A Child): CA 10 Jul 2003
A tenancy of a flat was granted to Miss Vyas. She occupied it with Mr Sharma. They later married. She moved out and was given the tenancy of a council house elsewhere. She then wrote to Brent, the landlords, to say she was no longer sharing with Mr Sharma, that she had moved out and … Continue reading London Borough of Brent v Sharma and Vyas: CA 1992
The mother sought an order terminating the father’s parental responsibility. The father sought a specific issues order as to the provision of annual reports. Judges: Baker J Citations: [2013] EWHC 854 (Fam) Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 84 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 17 November 2022; Ref: scu.472580
The claimants sought damages from the defendant local authority after their identities had been wrongfully revealed to the natural parents of the adoptees leading to a claimed campaign of harassment. The adopters has specifically requested that their names and address be not revealed, but they details were let slip in a case conference. Both parties … Continue reading B and B v A County Council: CA 21 Nov 2006
The parents were led to believe that C was their child, but the authority asserted the child had been subject to a child trafficking system. Citations: [2004] EWHC 2580 (Fam) Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 14 November 2022; Ref: scu.219549
An application for leave to apply under the Act by a person subject to an order under section 91 should be made inter partes. Judges: Thorpe LJ Citations: [1998] 1 FLR 1 Statutes: Children Act 1989 91(14) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – In re S (Permission to seek relief); In re E … Continue reading In re A (Application for leave): CA 1998
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
After a family break up there had been continued litigation, and a refusal to comply with court orders by the mother. Eventually, the contact between mother an children all but broke down. There were three children. As the two elder children in turn reached majority, they went back to live with their mother, but allegations … Continue reading Re A (a Minor): CA 31 Jul 1997
The mother and child were released from hospital after the child’s birth. The mother claimed that she was subject to donmestic violence from the father and also that he had shaken the baby. The father was prosecuted and care proceedings instituted. The authority began care proceedings Citations: [2007] EWCA Civ 576 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children … Continue reading Re C (A Child): CA 15 May 2007
The parties had married, but the male partner was a transsexual, having been born female and having undergone treatment for Gender Identity Dysphoria. After IVF treatment, the couple had a child. As the marriage broke down the truth was revealed in court, but the plaintiff said that his wife had known the true position. He … Continue reading J v S T (Formerly J): CA 21 Nov 1996
Guidance was to the courts on disclosure of care proceedings statements etc to police. But for section 12 it would have been contempt of court to have disclosed to the police matters before the children’s court. Citations: Times 22-Oct-1996, [1997] Fam 76, [1996] 2 FLR 725 Statutes: Children Act 1989 12 98 Jurisdiction: England and … Continue reading In Re C (A Minor) (Care Proceedings: Disclosure); Re EC (Disclosure of Material): CA 22 Oct 1996
The court had made findings of non-accidental injury caused by the parents. A psychologist called in to assist the court was sympathetic to the parents invited the court to reconsider its findings of fact. Held: The expert had gone beyond her remit and also, on other elements outside her area of expertise. It would be … Continue reading Re L (Psychologist – Duty To The Court): FD 20 Dec 2011
JS had been taken into care after it was thought he had been subject to violent shaking. Judges: Baker J Citations: [2012] EWHC 1370 (Fam), GF11C00125 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 01 November 2022; Ref: scu.460522
Appeal by mother against interim care order. Citations: [2007] EWCA Civ 371 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 21 October 2022; Ref: scu.251611
The claimant was disabled, and sought sterilisation because she feared the additional difficulties she would face as a mother. The sterilisation failed. She sought damages. Held: The House having considered the issue in MacFarlane only recently it was inappropriate to change the rules set down in that case. Nothing had been put forward to argue … Continue reading Rees v Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust: HL 16 Oct 2003
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
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
Judges: Rix, Lloyd, Black LJJ Citations: [2011] EWCA Civ 925 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 20 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 17 September 2022; Ref: scu.442256
A contract of guarantee was made, but based upon a term of fundamental importance which was mistaken as to the existence of certain machines. Held: The court must first look to the nature of the purported agreement. Steyn J said: ‘Logically, before one can turn to the rules as to mistake, whether at common law … Continue reading Associated Japanese Bank (International) Ltd v Credit du Nord SA: 1988
Appeal by a local authority against an order refusing the authority’s application for a secure accommodation order under s.25 of the Children Act 1989 in respect of a 15-year-old girl. Citations: [2019] EWCA Civ 2025 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 12 September 2022; Ref: scu.644122
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
Grand Chamber – The first applicant said he had been injured by a shot fired by a British soldier who had been carried for two miles into the Republic of Ireland, clinging to the applicant’s vehicle following an incident at a checkpoint. Held: Rules granting the State immunities, did not infringe the applicants’ right to … Continue reading McElhinney v Ireland; Al-Adsani v United Kingdom; Fogarty v United Kingdom: ECHR 21 Nov 2001
There had been care proceedings as to C. The mother was treated by a psychiatrist, X, and an associate Y. They also prepared expert reports. M formally complained about X, and the charges having been dismissed, the doctors now sought disclosure of further medical recods from the care proceedings. His medical reputation had been severely … Continue reading Re C (A Child): FC 29 Sep 2015
