Blogs & opinions

What amounts to an actionable injury?
Sensitisation to particular type of substance can: Supreme Court

What is relevant to granting a reponing note?
Should the court test the quality of the failure to appear?

Defective bridge parapet gave rise to duty of care
Scope of duty explained, but driver contributorily negligent

Risky act in jumping balconies was novus actus
Judge properly weighed up level of risk and threat

Third parties' rights against insurers: limiting an exclusion
Liability only excluded if harmful outcome was intended

Letter: customise, don’t commoditise
Taking a little more time can often give you an advantage, and justify a higher fee

Letter: praise for ScotLIS
Give Registers of Scotland credit for an excellent service

No deal, no say?
The arguments for a second EU referendum apply with greater force in a "no deal" scenario

Letter: dumped by Lloyds
Was law firm ownership, not employee experience, key to panel rejection?

Letter: SLAB – a chance to respond
How one civil practitioner replied to a customer satisfaction survey

Letter: no discharge – what remedy?
What can a solicitor do if a lender fails without cause to deliver a discharge? An amendment to the standard clauses might be an answer

Letter: proper requirements?
Job ads should not stipulate experience with "top level" or "reputable" firm

System under threat
Items in this month's issue illustrate increasing threats to the rule of law and the integrity of the legal system

HMRC revises inheritance tax procedures
Process changes regarding the IHT400 set out in newsletter

Office of the Public Guardian updates
Professional guardian applications invited; new EPOAR declaration

OSCR issues guidance to reduce risk of fraud
Trustees advised to take precautions or face sanctions

PVG disclosure scheme to be streamlined
Consultation on simplified system closes shortly

HMRC revises residential property CGT payment scheme
Rules for UK residents and non-residents to be aligned

“No order” ruling justified for contact failure contempt
Sheriff entitled to give opportunity to reflect and change

Service on a four year old? The purpose of form F9
Appeal Court appoints reporter to take child's views instead

Unravelling a decree granted in ignorance but not error
Application for recall, rather than appeal, is correct procedure

No permanence order where kinship not fully considered
Sheriff attacks reliance on expert evidence on proposed carer

Children held to have new habitual residence in Germany
Order granted for return following removal to Scotland

Letter: why the voluntary registration delays?
Clients have paid a lot, but are still waiting, and no information is forthcoming