Blogs

Bideford solicitor, Mike Clarke reports on another successful personal injury claim for Slee Blackwell

A Torrington rugby fan has secured compensation for personal injury suffered in a London pub.  John Pledger of Torrington, North Devon was at the Barmy Arms in Twickenham with his family, having a quiet pint after watching a rugby match in December 2009.  He went to use the gents and slipped on water on the floor, suffering tendon damage to his right knee.

Samantha Hannon of Slee Blackwell’s PIP Implant Action Group reports on recent developments

Our offices are continuing to receive a high volume of new PIP implant compensation enquiries from all over the UK. With an estimated 50,000 women in Britain being affected, there is no sign of these enquiries declining anytime soon.

Employment lawyer, Roger Cheves, provides an update on the proposed changes to the law

While many of us may think that younger doctors should be avoided for the steady hand of a more experienced surgeon a new study has shown that this isn’t the case, with surgeons mid-career between the ages of 35 and 50 being deemed the safest.

Published in the British Medical Journal the study showed that those who have been carrying out the same operations for more than 20 years demonstrated a marked deterioration in their performance.

James McNally, a partner at Slee Blackwell and a member of the firm’s Clinical Negligence team said:

The office is located upon a business Park in Binden Road, to the west of Taunton town centre. It is easily accessible from both Junction 25(the main Taunton Junction) and Junction 26 (the Wellington exit). There is also designated parking at the office for the use of clients.

The new Taunton office brings the total number of Slee Blackwell  offices to 6. It is the first time Slee Blackwell have had a presence outside their traditional Devon stronghold, though the firm has had a loyal client base in Somerset for many years.

Agricultural solicitor, John Pearn takes a look at current Inheritance Tax issues affecting farmers and their families

The Medical Defence Union (MDU), which provides insurance to the majority of family doctors in the UK, has recently published data showing a 20% increase in clinical negligence claims against GP’s in 2010.  The MDU report that clinical negligence claims in general are on the increase but there is a marked rise in cases against family doctors.

The biggest increases in medical negligence claims involve a late or wrong diagnosis, followed by a failure to refer patients to a specialist.

Christmas: The time for peace on earth and goodwill to all men - and the latest divorce rate stats from the Office for National Statistics(ONS).

The employment tribunal case of Hashman v Milton Park (Dorset) Ltd concerned a Dorset man who was unfairly dismissed from his job at a garden centre because of his anti-hunting principles.

The case dealt with the legal assessment about what can amount to a ‘belief’ under the Equality Act 2010. The provisions make any discrimination in the workplace on grounds of religion or belief unlawful. The definition of ‘belief’ includes any ‘religious or philosophical belief’.

After all the leaking and counter-leaking between the different factions of the Government, Business Secretary Vince Cable has announced the Government's proposals for what he says is the biggest shake up of employment law for decades. At the same time, the government has also published its Response to the Consultation on Resolving Workplace Disputes.

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