In March 2021, Lisa Baverstock drafted a homemade will for her 76 year old mother, Margaret Baverstock, to sign. The will named Lisa as Margaret’s sole executor and sole beneficiary of her £700,000 estate, leaving Lisa’s brother and...
Firm News
Iya Patarkatsishvili and Dr Yevhen Hunyak have successfully sued property developer Mr William Woodward-Fisher due to the condition of an early Victorian Notting Hill property they purchased for £32 million in May 2019. As soon as the couple moved...
A press release from the Ministry of Justice advises that Court fees will change in early April. While most fees will increase, there are some decreases. If you are considering legal action, you may be aware that a Court fee is payable when you issue...
From 1 April 2025, the Financial Ombudsman Service (‘FOS’) will be introducing case fees for professional representatives. In their most recent policy statement FOS have introduced the following changes: Professional representatives, such as...
A bakery worker was found dead at home four days after being treated for an arm injury sustained at work, an inquest has heard. It has been reported that an employee crushed his arm in machinery while supervising dough as it fell into tins at a Warburtons...
It has been reported a baby has died within hours of being born. A coroner ruled the infant’s death at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital was preventable and said effective monitoring of her foetal heart rate was not taken. An independent expert...
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital trust patient wins £130k settlement after a failed appendix operation. It has been reported that a man has developed lifelong bowel issues following surgery performed by Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in 2018. It is...
It has been reported in the national press that a High Court judge has awarded a young boy with multiple complex needs a £15m compensation care package after Blackpool Victoria Hospital admitted the injuries he sustained at birth could have been...
Bell Lax was recently instructed to defend a claim brought against an individual and their company for breach of a ‘non-compete’ clause in their agency agreement. The Individual ( “Client A” ) and their company ( “Client...
Unfortunately, many families find themselves at the centre of a dispute when they feel that the contents of a loved one’s will does not reflect their true intentions. This is the situation that Beverley Neate has now found herself in, after finding...
Since my last blog post on the Renters’ Rights Bill on 19 July 2024, the government has stated that it hopes the ban on evicting tenants in England without having to establish a breach of the tenancy agreement, also known as ‘no-fault...
LEESON & ANOR V MCPHEARSON It is not often that in order to decide a civil case, the courts must consider whether a crime had taken place. However, in the recent case of Leeson & Anor v McPherson , the Honourable Mr Justice Richard Smith...
Can I sell goods in my possession which belong to someone who owes me money? I recently had a query from the owner of a haulage business which had a customer that owed them over £10,000 in total, from a number of previous jobs. They were about to...
Co-ownership of property with family members or friends is becoming increasingly popular, as the price of property continues to rise. But what happens when the joint owners fall out and cannot agree on what to do with the property? This was the question...
EMMA COULSON -v- RONALD IVOR JAMES PAUL A recent case heard in the High Court involved an inheritance dispute where the claimant, Ms Coulson, sought to inherit her biological grandfather's estate, despite having been adopted. However, the claim was...
The personal injury team at Bell Lax led by Stuart Andrews have successfully recovered compensation for a 28-year-old lady who sustained multiple severe injuries after a car drove into her whilst she was walking along the pavement. In this case, liability...
A recent freedom of information request showed that, between the years 2021 and 2023, there were almost 1,200 ambulance calls in the UK regarding accidents in trampoline parks. In the year 2023 alone, there were over 420 calls made requesting ambulance...
The personal injury team at Bell Lax have successfully recovered compensation for a 66-year-old lady who sustained multiple severe injuries after the stairlift she was using malfunctioned and tilted causing her to be thrown out of the seat. Commonly, when...
Mum, 36, died of heart attack after ‘hospital sent her home with paracetamol and misdiagnosis of trapped nerve’ It has been reported in the national press that a woman aged 36 has died after alleged failings at a hospital. The woman was...
In 2015, former pop star Gary Glitter made headlines when he was jailed for attempted rape, four counts of indecent assault and one count of sex with a minor. Despite being released after serving only half of his 16-year jail term, Glitter breached his...
The most common method of leaving loved ones a gift after your death is by stating this intention in a valid Will. However, in a recent case heard in the High Court in May 2024, it was decided that a gift made in contemplation of death was valid, regardless...
BBC News have reported that a man suffered life changing injuries as a result of an accident whilst working for a logistics company. The worker fell 36 feet through an open hole in the driver’s cab of a straddle carrier onto concrete. At the time of...
BBC News have reported that a mother was not informed of the risk to her baby being born with a life-threatening condition as a result of her high-risk medical history. Previously, the mother had lost a child, aged 4 months due to a rare genetic condition,...
When FOS give their final decision, they recommend you obtain independent legal advice before deciding whether to accept or reject their decision. If the decision is in your favour, it may seem like an obvious choice to accept the decision. However, the...
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many chose to spend their time during lockdown trying to raise money for a good cause. One of the most admired fundraisers was Sir Tom Moore, a 99-year-old war veteran who set out to walk 100 laps of his garden in the run up to...
BBC news have reported that a young girl suffered brain damage during an emergency caesarean section resulting in her becoming permanently disabled and needing to use a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Having been diagnosed with cerebral palsy at...
On 17 July 2024, the King announced the new Labour government’s legislative agenda for the coming Parliamentary year. One of the new bills was the Renters’ Rights Bill, which will ban section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions. A...
In February 2023 Claire Massey suffered a devasting fire at her home as a result of a dehumidifier catching fire. Ms Massey’s insurers, Policy Expert who are underwritten by Accredited Insurance (Europe) Ltd, paid for her and her two children...
The Arbitration Act 1996 will get a makeover under the Labour government, following to the King’s Speech on 17 July. Arbitration is one of the main alternative dispute resolution methods encouraged by the Courts. Arbitrations are private and held...
The BBC have reported that the family of an elderly lady who suffered from neglect at a care home over the last year of her life have called for the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to carry out a review of the care home concerned. Despite numerous emails...
The bankruptcy process Bankruptcy is a legal process by which you (the debtor) choose to or are forced to declare that you cannot repay your unsecured debts. Before a creditor can present a bankruptcy petition to the Courts, they are usually required to...
In the News: NHS to pay nearly £30 million due to negligence that left a baby with catastrophic life changing injuries The family of a baby girl who suffered catastrophic brain injuries shortly after her birth has recently been awarded £29.3...
In recent years there has been increased encouragement from the courts for parties to engage in Alternative Dispute Resolution ( “ADR” ) before issuing a claim, with the intention of reaching some form of settlement. If a party refuses to engage...
In 2019, a controversial bill known as the Renters (Reform) Bill ( “RRB” ) was proposed by the Conservative Party under then Prime Minister, Teresa May. The purpose of this proposed legislation was to reform the private rented sector and...
Since 2013 financial advisers have been required to provide annual advice and review updates to their clients on the products they have recommended. Those products can include pensions, ISA’s or managed funds. The financial advisers charge for this...
Know when something is not right - a change in your bladder habit could be a sign of something serious. In the United Kingdom, there are around 10,000 new bladder cancer cases diagnosed every year. Bladder cancer is the 11th most common cancer accounting...
Bell Lax has recently placed 5 th in the Feedspot Top 10 Birmingham Law Blogs. https://blog.feedspot.com/birmingham_law_blogs/ There are thousands of legal blogs on the web, so it is really inspiring to know that a relatively small firm like Bell Lax...
I was recently instructed by a client in relation to a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975 (the “Inheritance Act”), that was being brought against his late wife’s estate by his stepdaughter. After our...
Sanne van Vroenhoven and Richard Kerry recently successfully settled a rectification claim and obtained an indemnity for our client which covered the vast majority of the costs incurred as a result of the claim. In 1998, our client purchased a landlocked...
Liz Tolmie and I have recently successfully acted in a breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty claim on behalf of our client against one of its former employees. Our client is a company specialising in providing financial advice to British...
Bell Lax has recently successfully defended a breach of contract claim valued at over £600,000 against our client, A. A is a parts manufacturer who supplied parts to B. B used these parts in the construction of a number of boats, which it...
Actor Hugh Grant stated on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he had settled his claim against The Sun after receiving a Part 36 Offer. Mr Grant said that he has abandoned his hopes of a phone hacking trial against The Sun due to the risks created by...
I often introduce Bell Lax Solicitors as firm which specialises in any kind of civil or commercial dispute which could end up in court. However, one area of work which we specialise in, but is hopefully not the result of a dispute, is the...
The Financial Ombudsman (‘FOS’) is a free service, created by Parliament to impartially and independently resolve complaints about financial business, such as banks, insurance companies and financial advisors. Their aim is to resolve disputes...
Under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, or the “75 Act”, certain categories of people can bring a claim against the estate if they consider that “reasonable financial provision” has not been made for them...
Serious concerns regarding maternity services at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust BBC's Panorama investigated the maternity services of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust after the tragic deaths of two babies and a mother between 2019 and 2021. ...
This week saw a tragic news report about the death of a mother of two from uterine leiomyosarcoma. She had reported symptoms of extreme pain and heavy prolonged periods to her GP for approximately 5 years prior to the cancer diagnosis. Receiving a...
A routine scan at 36 weeks during pregnancy can reduce the number of unexpected breech births Currently, pregnant women in England undergo routine scans at 12 and 20 weeks, with no routine scan offered in the third (final) trimester. Only pregnant women...
Each year, charity group, Headway, run various campaigns to raise awareness of acquired brain injuries, and the impact such injuries can have on sufferers and their loved ones. According to Headway, hospital admissions in England due to brain injuries ...
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has been fined £800,000 over baby's death Baby Wynter Andrews died at Queen's Medical Centre 23 minutes after her birth due to hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy, which could have...
One patient dies every 23 minutes due to delays in Accident and Emergency Departments across England The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has reported that one patient is dying every 23 minutes in England due to delays. This statistic is based upon...
It was reported on the 20 March 2023 that a 52-year-old man was left in a critical condition at Ocean Beach Amusement Park in South Shields after a workplace accident that left him with serious head injuries. The incident has been reported to the HSE...
Was a mother given 'conflicting' advice by the NHS before dying in childbirth? Lucy, a 32-year-old mum-of-two sadly passed away at Royal Hampshire County Hospital after suffering complications during the birth of her second child. ...
Concerns for patient safety grow as NHS England data shows that the average ambulance response times for category 1 - 3 emergencies in October 2022 were the highest since categories were introduced in 2017. Some patients who require emergency...
On behalf of everyone at Bell Lax, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We are looking forward to a busy and prosperous 2024. Warmest wishes The Bell Lax Team....
It is with a great deal of sadness, but also pride that we let everyone know that Natalie Bradshaw has left Bell Lax to begin her new role as a full time District Judge. Natalie has been with Bell Lax since 2007, and has been instrumental in the...
Many people are familiar with the word “mediation”, but only a few have actually participated in one. This blog answers some of the most frequently asked questions about mediation and explains why it is such an important tool when resolving...
Hundreds of Walsall Manor patients recalled Following an audit conducted in February 2020, concerns were raised that operations performed by surgeon Mian Munawar Shah had a ‘higher complication rate than usual’. The concerns highlighted...
The legal doctrine of passing off is based on the principle that “No one is to sell their own goods under the pretence that they are the goods of another”. Zara v House of Zana Retail giant Zara recently launched legal action against an...
Often, a winding up petition is a company’s worst nightmare. If your company receives a winding up petition we have created some useful guidance for you to consider. First, what is a winding up petition? A winding up petition is often the first...
The government is proposing legislation that will bring no-fault evictions to an end. The end of no-fault evictions – which is currently the biggest single cause of homelessness in England will have an extensive impact on the housing market as 13...
Over the past few weeks you may have read solicitors, barristers and other legal professionals comments on the Johnny Depp v Amber Heard and the so-called Wagatha Christie trials. Many in the profession are explaining why lawyers discourage their clients...
We are delighted to announce that Wioleta Dworak has been promoted to the position of Associate Director. She will take up this post on 1 st June 2022 and we are excited to welcome her to our senior management team. Wioleta completed her...
It is with great pleasure that Bell Lax announce the promotion of Aimee Herbert from Solicitor to Associate Solicitor from 1 June 2022. Aimee joined Bell Lax in July 2018 as a litigation support lawyer, before completing her training contract and qualifying...
Important lessons we can learn from the Wagatha Christie trial. Whilst social media has many benefits, we all too often forget about the problems that can arise. What is the ‘Wagatha Christie’ trial? Rebekah Vardy is suing Coleen Rooney...
On 19 April 2022, the Ministry of Justice, (MoJ) announced that decisions from the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court will be made freely available on ‘The National Archives Find Case Law’ site which can be accessed at: ...
On 7 April 2022, a paramedic for the London Ambulance Service's motorcycle response unit was involved in a five-vehicle crash while undertaking a training course with the North Wales Police driver training unit. He was rushed to hospital but died of a...
April is Limb Loss Awareness Month. This is an event run by various charities to raise awareness about living with limb loss and supporting amputees in a community setting by ensuring that they have the access to the correct support system....
In 2019, the biggest maternity scandal in Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust’s history came to light. Hundreds of families came forward, telling their stories of how the Trust had failed them and their babies. This led to an inquiry into 1,592...
It was recently reported that the NHS is facing a mass exodus of GPs in England. Official data was quoted showing that 23% of family doctors are 55 years or over and will be looking to retire within the next few years, with the average retirement age being...
As of 29 January 2022, the Highway Code has changed to include a new hierarchy for road users. The aim is to try to improve road safety for the more vulnerable road users, and hopefully protect those more physically at risk should a collision occur. One...
Michel Roccati made international news for being the first person, with a completely severed spinal cord, to regain the ability to walk. This was made possible by ground-breaking advancements in medical technology which will hopefully lead the way in...
In 2018, 2 young women tragically died within weeks of giving birth having contracted a “rare” strain of herpes. The source of the infections is now suspected to have been the surgeon who performed caesarean sections for both of the women. ...
The long awaited ‘Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020’ comes into effect on 6 th April 2022. It was first introduced in Parliament in January 2020 and aims to modernise the divorce legislation, by introducing the ‘no fault’...
This week the BBC reported that more than 13,000 patients a year are having NHS funding for their palliative care withdrawn after living longer than expected. In addition, other patients were having their continuing healthcare support replaced with more...
Q. What is a No Win No Fee agreement? A no win no fee agreement (also known as a conditional fee agreement), means that if you are unsuccessful in your claim, you will not have to pay us for our work. Q. What will I have to pay if I do...
Last week was Family Mediation Week organised by the Family Mediation Council (FMC). The FMC is a not for profit organisation who maintain a professional register of family mediators. Family Mediation Week was an opportunity to raise awareness about family...
In recent weeks, there has been reports and warnings of lengthy wait times for ambulances across England. Additionally, nearly one in four patients arriving at hospitals by ambulance in the first week of 2022 waited at least 30 minutes to be handed over to...
Cervical Screening Awareness Week runs from 21 to 28 January 2022 and aims to raise awareness and highlight the importance of regular cervical screening for women. Cervical screening (a smear test) is an effective way of preventing cervical cancer....
Across the country men will be growing their beards to raise awareness and support vital research and lifesaving work to help prevent bowel cancer. More than 42,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the United Kingdom every year, and more than...
During the Covid 19 pandemic, we have seen a rise in people abandoning their cars and public transport in favour of bicycles as their preferred mode of transport to work. Last year, the Government encouraged this by offering a £2 billion package to...
Resolution’s Good Divorce Week 2021: Parenting through Separation Each year Resolution, a group of family justice professionals from around the country, campaigns to MPs and the public about an issue which is close to its heart. The issue relates...
A High Court judge has recently dismissed a claim for compensation, following a data protection breach describing the breach as “trivial” Delivering judgment in Rolfe and others v Veale Wasbrough Vizards, Master McCloud confirmed that for...
Our Legal Director, Richard Kerry talks about how the pandemic has impacted the legal profession, but how it has also led to technology being more positively embraced by the courts and improving productivity in the industry. As well as hearing more about...
On Friday 10 September, I had the pleasure of attending the Birmingham Medico-Legal Society (‘BMLS’) annual dinner with my colleague, Saira Walji, at the Edgbaston Golf Club. We were grateful to be invited as guests of St Philips Chambers, whom...
A Midlands neurosurgeon has been prevented from performing complex surgery following negligent treatment. Mr Hussein El-Maghraby is a consultant neurosurgeon at University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust and the private Woodland Hospital in...
NHS Trusts fill nurse vacancies with non-nurses NHS Trusts in England are recruiting unqualified people to fill the growing number of nursing vacancies within the NHS. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned that this compromises...
Cervical Screening Awareness Week runs from 14 June 2021 to 20 June 2021 and aims to raise awareness and highlight the importance of regular cervical screening for women. Did you know? In the United Kingdom, cervical cancer is the most...
Walsall Manor Hospital has been told to make 'significant improvements' to its medical services within three months following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission in March 2021. An inspection was carried out due to concerns regarding the...
Pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores and pressure sores, can be debilitating, painful and potentially fatal if left untreated. However, with appropriate nursing care pressure ulcers can be prevented most of the time. Whilst there are certain...
In the first criminal prosecution of its kind, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust was recently prosecuted and found to be in breach of the Duty of Candour for failing to be open and transparent with a bereaved family. In this case, a patient died at...
The COVID-19 outbreak has had an enormous impact on core NHS services. In order to free up capacity to deal with the initial peak of the pandemic, the NHS shut down or significantly reduced many areas of non-COVID care from April 2020 onwards. This resulted...
After 27 years of marriage, Bill and Melinda Gates have announced they’ve filed for divorce, saying “we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple”….“After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship,...
You have won your case and now have judgment, but the debtor won’t pay. Traditionally, you would probably consider instructing bailiffs. However, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic means bailiffs are currently suspended until at least 31 May 2021. As...
You have won your case and now have judgment, but the debtor won’t pay. Traditionally, you would probably consider instructing bailiffs. However, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic means bailiffs are currently suspended until at least 31 May 2021. As...
My ex-partner has stopped me seeing my children, are they allowed to do that? Without a Court Order, your ex-partner can stop you from seeing your children whether you have parental responsibility or not. But we can help you. To ensure you have...
Question Can i get divorced without sorting out the money? Answer It is possible to get a divorce (or civil partnership dissolution) without dealing with any financial issues arising from the separation. For example, the court could end your...
How much does a divorce cost? This really depends on the complexity of your situation. Simple divorces can take a matter of months and cost a few hundred pounds. Complex divorces can last several years and cost more as a result. But regardless of your...
Due to the extended notice periods required for possession as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many landlords are seeking to evict tenants on alternative grounds, such as nuisance, to enable them to obtain possession of their properties sooner. ...
Ronan Keating’s wife, Storm Keating, has recently undergone emergency spinal surgery at Cromwell Hospital after being diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome. On social media, Storm revealed how she had initially been rushed to hospital for a...
No Fault Divorce - Coming soon
The justice system is finally over-hauling a 50 year law on bringing marriage to a less acrimonious end.
At Bell Lax we have acted for many clients who do not wish to assign blame, and would prefer to move forward with their lives, keeping a harmonious relationship with their ex partner, particularly if there are children involved.
It has been difficult for both parties when they want to move on, knowing that one person must take the blame in order for the divorce to be granted at court. In many instances our clients have simply fallen out of love, and there are no bitter feelings as both parties want to move on.
This new legislation is very good news, it will allow ex parties to end their marriage, without the costly legal fees.
Bell Lax will be able to assist parties seeking to end their "no fault" marriage on a fixed fee basis.
Resolution Charity Quiz
Bell Lax won £500 for the amazing charity "The Buddy Bag Foundation", at a fiercely competitive quiz last night. The event was hosted by 3PB Chambers, and sponsored by Dain's Accountants. Facing some fierce competition, including a table of Judge's, we triumphed for our chosen charity.
