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Lasting power of attorney (LPA) forms have been updated to make them simpler and clearer. The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), which administers LPAs, says the move is in response to feedback from users following a consultation exercise. LPAs enable you to protect your interests in the future in case you ever lose mental
A minority shareholder was not unfairly treated when his former colleagues decided to buy him out against his will. That was the ruling of the Court of Appeal in a case involving a private equity business. The court heard that the business had been subject to a management buy-out from its previous owner. It was
An estate agency that was cut out of a property deal after finding a prospective buyer has been awarded its £75,600 commission in full. The High Court heard that the agency was hired by a company wanting to sell a commercial property. The agency found a purchaser in Cyprus. The purchaser agreed to pay a
A contractor was not liable for the failure of some of its work despite apparently giving a 20-year “warranty”. That was the decision of the Court of Appeal in a case involving a multi-million pound project. The contractor, MT Hojgaard, had been hired by the power company, E.ON, to build the foundations for a set
A steel company has won damages of $7.4m plus interest from a supplier that failed to deliver materials on time. The High Court heard that there had been a contract between the companies for the supply of four consignments of steel billets from Ukraine to Morocco, where the buyer had a factory. Difficulties arose and
When investing in a business it’s important to have a written agreement clearly stating the terms and conditions that apply. Failure to do so can result in costly confusion as occurred in a recent case before the High Court. It involved an investor who put £50,000 into a business on the understanding that he would
Here is the concluding article on powers of attorney with some final thoughts and encouragement. As with so many tasks in life making and registering a power of attorney IS not complicated if you know what you are doing, however there are traps for the unwary and the consequences of getting things wrong can be
A wife has had her divorce settlement increased because her husband inherited money after the original sum was agreed. The couple had been married for nine years and had two children. Their main asset was their home, which was worth £190,000. They were both on low incomes and received tax credits. Following the separation, the
An employee has won a disability discrimination case because his employer failed to take into account a change in his circumstances over a three-month period. The case involved an employee who had broken his back in 1995 and had spent 11 months in hospital before he could return to work. Over the coming years he
A couple who were plagued by nuisance neighbours after buying a farmhouse have been awarded £155,000 damages. The court heard that the farmhouse had originally been owned by the family causing the trouble. They had sold it when the father had reached retirement. They retained the next-door cottage. The farmhouse was eventually bought by a