News & Events: December 2015
Legal funding orders
The question of what can be done in complex private law proceedings where the court is of the view that a parent is unable to represent him or herself has understandably been dominating legal headlines. Reported cases have tended to focus on discussions surrounding the circumstances in which HMCTS could be ordered to fund representation […]
Suicide verdict successfully resisted on behalf of the family of the man who once held the record for flying around the world solo
A Jury has recorded a narrative verdict following an Inquest into the death of an experienced pilot last year. Muhammad Naviede, 60 from Regent’s Park London was piloting a PA-38 Tomahawk aircraft when it spun out of control and crashed in a field in Buckinghamshire in August 2014. Mr Naviede, was an experienced pilot who […]
Damages claims against Local Authorities – is there any change down the back of the sofa?
Local authorities must be very concerned about the spate of recent cases in which parents, other family members and former ‘looked after children’ have sought damages for the alleged failure by an authority to exercise their powers lawfully or for abuse suffered whilst in their care. In these cases, courts have had to explore the […]
Grandparents blocked from adopting grandchild
The grandparents of a three-year-old girl who lost their application to appeal to apply to care for their granddaughter are making a fresh fight to avoid her being placed with prospective adopters. An application for permission to apply for a special guardianship order and permission to apply to revoke a placement order will be heard before […]
Deprivation of Liberty of Children under Local Authority Responsibility
In A Local Authority v D & Ors [2015] EWHC 3125 (Fam), Keehan J gave useful guidance in an area of law which many family practitioners may not have considered. Where a child is under the local authority’ responsibility, can that local authority authorise the placement of the child in a setting which amounts to […]
The hardest decision of all? Re C (Baby: Withdrawal of Medical Treatment) [2015] EWHC 2920 (Fam)
The case of C does not change the law, it offers little by way of legal analysis or significant upheaval. However, it should not be overlooked; the judgment of Peter Jackson J provides a concise, clear, and moving appraisal of the law concerning the withdrawal of life sustaining medical treatment in children. C was born […]
