The High Court has settled a dispute between two brothers after one accused the other of using undue influence to persuade their mother to leave him her house in her will. The case involved an elderly woman who moved in with her son after her husband died. However, she later wanted to move back to
Two homeowners have won a claim against Network Rail after the company failed to keep Japanese knotweed under control on its land. The plant grows very fast and can damage the structure of buildings due to its widespread roots. Some of the weed growing on Network Rail land spread to the properties of both Stephen
The National Landlord’s Association (NLA) has criticised government proposals to introduce 3-year minimum tenancies. Ministers say 3-year tenancy terms, with a 6-month break clause, are necessary to help renters put down roots, and to give landlords longer term financial security. The average amount of time tenants stay in a property is four years, according to
When agreeing break clauses on commercial properties it’s important to ensure the terms are clear and unambiguous. Otherwise costly disputes can arise, as happened in a recent case involving Goldman Sachs and Procession House Trustee Ltd. Goldman had taken out a lease for a term of 25 years from 1999, at a rent of over
The developers of an app for smartphones have won an injunction preventing Google from withdrawing or suspending services until a dispute can be settled at a full court hearing. The case involved a company called Unlockd Media Technology Ltd, which developed an app delivering advertisements for the Android smartphone operating system. The app was available
The High Court recently handed down judgment in Dobson v Griffey [2018] EWHC 1117 (Ch). Mr Griffey and Ms Dobson were a couple whose relationship began in 2004. In February 2007, Mr Griffey bought a farm in his sole name with the mortgage also in his sole name. The couple then lived in the farm
Cohabitees are usually unmarried couples that live together, and the number of couples choosing to cohabit either before marriage or as an alternative to marriage in England and Wales has increased considerably over recent years. Despite the increasing popularity, many couples who choose to cohabit are unaware of the possible risks involved and rely on
The Supreme Court has recently made an important ruling clarifying the way in which contracts may be varied. In Rock Advertising Ltd v MWB Business Exchange Centres Ltd [2018] UKSC 24, the Supreme Court considered whether a contract with a ‘No Oral Modification’ clause could be varied other than in accordance with that clause. The
A businessman has failed to overturn his father’s will, so he could inherit farming land and other substantial assets. The High Court heard that the father had built up a farming and haulage business during his working life and acquired several parcels of land. The son worked for the business and lived for free in
A director of a haulage business has been disqualified for seven years after he sold company assets for his own benefit, leaving creditors unpaid. Gilmour James McFarlane was a director of Garden Haulage Ltd. His company went into liquidation in 2015, owing £38,670 to creditors. While the company was insolvent, McFarlane sold off assets including