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Two directors have been disqualified for five years for taking a total of £59,000 from company funds instead of paying creditors after their business got into financial difficulties. Neither director disputed that they took the money at a time when the company’s tax liabilities had risen to more than £109,000 and when a trade creditor
A firm of surveyors has been ordered to pay compensation to a finance company for negligently providing a property valuation that was far too high. The case arose after the surveyors valued a house at £3.4m in July 2007. On the basis of that valuation the finance company provided the purchaser with a loan of
The new National Minimum Wage rates include an increase for apprentices. The Low Pay Commission (LPC) had recommended that the rate for apprentices should be frozen following concerns about compliance, but the Government has decided to go ahead and increase it. Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “The independent Low Pay Commission plays a crucial role
The Government has unveiled plans to introduce a 90-day patent service to help creative and innovative businesses. Under the present system it can take a number of years to obtain patent protection. Ministers say this is acceptable for most patent applications as it gives innovators time to develop their ideas and make important commercial decisions.
The Government is introducing a new Code of Practice to ensure that pub tenants are treated fairly and are allowed to run their businesses as they wish. The code will be enforced by an adjudicator with powers to fine large pub companies who abuse their powerful position. Ministers say the measures will save tenants £100m
From 1st April 2013, the Small Claims Track increased from claims valued up to £5,000 to £10,000. Lower limits will apply to personal injury and housing disrepair claims. Although these claims will still be dealt with in the County Court, significantly different rules apply to claims once they are allocated to the Small Claims Track.
A woman who was sexually harassed by a male colleague at work has been awarded £12,293 compensation by an industrial tribunal. Noeleen McAleenon says she was subjected to inappropriate contact and degrading comments about her sex life while working for Autism Initiatives NI. She complained to her employer then later resigned because she felt her
There’s been a large increase in the number of couples drawing up living together agreements – sometimes known as cohabitation agreements or ‘no-nups’. Some family lawyers say the figures have doubled in the last few years. The increase coincides with the growing trend for parents to provide their children with large sums to help buy
A Government proposal could cut costs for many people planning to build a new home. Under the current system, new homes above a certain size are subject to the Community Infrastructure Levy. The levy allows councils to raise funds from developers undertaking new building projects in their area. The money raised is used to fund
Two women have successfully challenged their aunt’s will after discovering that they were to inherit nothing from her estate. The court heard that the aunt was very frail and confused in the latter years of her life. Her two nieces kept in touch with her but after the death of her husband, she was also