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An employer did not breach an employee’s human rights when it checked his phone for emails and messages while investigating a claim of harassment. That was the decision of the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) in the case of an NHS Trust and one of its managers. The issue arose after the manager formed a personal
An employee has lost her claim for compensation for injury to feelings under the Working Time Regulations 1998. The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) held that such compensation was confined to incidents of discrimination. The case involved a woman who brought a claim against her employer for failure to allow her rest breaks as required by
A software company has been granted an interim injunction preventing a former employee from working for a larger rival. The company was a relatively small enterprise but had a market-leading service in its sector. It had employed a sales executive on an employment contract that included a restrictive covenant. This stated that if he resigned,
A racial discrimination claim has failed after the Court of Appeal ruled that the claimants involved could not be classed as employees. The case involved a group of people who provided services to the Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) on a case-by-case basis. They also worked for other institutions. HMCTS was under no obligation to
The family of the pop star Prince fear there could be a costly dispute over his multi-million pound fortune because he died without having made a will. Prince’s sister, Tyka Nelson, has asked a court in the United States to appoint a special administrator to manage his estate because he left no will or instructions
A director has been disqualified for five years for transferring money from his insolvent company to himself and his associates. James Elliott Pemble ran a marquee hire business called All Marquees Ltd at Tonbridge in Kent. He also had at least three other companies in the leisure and entertainment industry. An investigation by the Insolvency
Research into dementia is making regular headlines, with the recent report of Sea Hero Quest, a smartphone game developed by dementia researchers to record people’s spatial navigation skills. According to the reports, these skills are often the first skills to fail in a person who has dementia. Alzheimer’s Research UK, who have made the game
The government has announced a range of proposals to encourage innovation and to help businesses grow, but the changes could also see firms facing more competition from former employees. One of the proposals aims to prevent red tape from stifling entrepreneurship. This would involve removing or reducing the effectiveness of non-compete clauses in employment contracts.
A woman has won the right to claim part ownership of the home she shared with her former partner and helped to pay for over several years. The case involved an unmarried couple who had lived together for 15 years. The house was in the partner’s name and was bought with an interest only mortgage.
An elderly woman knew what she doing when she drew up a new will, even though she was suffering from some mental impairment at the time. That was the decision of the Court of Appeal in a case involving a family dispute between the woman’s grandchildren and their uncle. The court heard that in 2003,