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Professionals face a ‘perfect storm’ in PI
Marsh has warned that the UK architectural, engineering and construction sector is facing a ‘perfect storm’ which could leave many firms facing increasing risks at a time when the current trend of falling professional indemnity (PI)..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Child road deaths in Scotland double
A doubling in the number of child road deaths in Scotland shows there can be no let-up in efforts to improve road safety, and particularly the safety of children travelling in cars, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
HPA warning over poor egg handling practices in restaurants
Poor egg handling practices in restaurants and takeaways could be putting UK consumers at risk, according to a new report from the Health Protection Agency and LACORS (Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services).
Councils across the UK..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
No general rule of law
There was no general rule of law which permitted a court to strike out a genuine claim on the grounds that the claimant had been involved in a fraud upon the court in respect of an associated claim.
The Court of Appeal so stated when dismissing the..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
New study highlights undeclared ingredients in chicken products
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has carried out an exploratory study into injection powders used to retain water in chicken breast products supplied mainly to the catering trade.
Water can be added to chicken products by manufacturers for a number..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
HSE launches new strategy to reduce workplace accidents
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a new strategy, “Be Part of the Solution”, designed to reduce the number of workplace accidents and take a common sense approach to ensuring that risk management is an enabler for..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
UK ratifies UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The UK has ratified an international treaty that enshrines the human rights of disabled people. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a powerful and explicit statement, which states that disabled people must be..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
2009 Marine Insurance Outlook from Aon
Shipowners are facing challenging negotiations at 2009/10 renewals as marine insurers seek rate increases on all classes of business. However, according to the 2009 Marine Insurance Outlook from Aon, abundant capacity means competitive forces will..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
It’s those nasty insurers again
Liability insurers — you’d better watch out. Health and safety generally gets the blame when overzealous insurers stop people from having fun. But the health and safety profession are fighting back and laying the blame squarely at the..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
New construction project PI insurance facility
Marsh has launched a new project professional indemnity (PI) insurance facility for major construction projects. Designed for projects with an estimated construction value in excess of £25m, the facility can provide limits of liability of up to..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Union concern over dangerous fumes at airport
Union GMB has demanded “independent and transparent action” at London City Airport to cut potential dangerous fumes in the arrivals lounge. According to GMB, every passenger who travels through this airport has to use this area and will..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
BNP in possible breaches of anti-discrimination law
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has written to the British National Party over possible breaches of anti-discrimination law. The commission has demanded that the party address potential breaches related to its constitution and membership..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Landmark ruling on disclosure of depression
A borough council has lost its case in which it sought to sue a former employee for £1m for not disclosing her past experience of depression. Mental health charity Mind said the landmark ruling serves as an important reminder to employers about..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Local authority’s duty of care to teachers
A local authority owed a duty of care to its teachers to take such precautions as were reasonable in all the circumstances to prevent or minimise the risk of injury that might occur as a result of mischievous or malicious behaviour on the part of..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Research project to tackle seafarer fatigue
A major multi-partner European research project aiming to tackle the problems posed by seafarer fatigue has been launched, according to the Maritime & Coastguard Agency.
The European Commission-funded Project Horizon brings together 11 academic..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Warning over change to Animals Act
Existing law is virtually unusable in compensation claims by people injured by animals, but planned amendments will only make matters worse, according to Thompsons Solicitors. Government plans to change the legislation will make the law more..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Equal pay claimants and comparators
Male colleagues of female equal pay claimants were entitled to bring “piggyback” claims using the female claimants as comparators and were able to recover sums equivalent to those awarded to the successful comparators by way of arrears...
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
‘Line Management Behaviour and Stress at Work’ report launched
New guidance, “Line Management Behaviour and Stress at Work,” jointly funded by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Investors in People (IIP), has been launched as part..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Agricultural industry advised to adopt safe working practices
Aviva has warned the agricultural industry that employers must be aware of the dangers to employees and visitors, as the industry diversifies and the risks multiply. As part of its 2009 Simply Safety campaign, Aviva is advising workers in the..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Concern over US Insurance Claims Consumer Protection Amendment Act
American Tort Reform Association general counsel Victor Schwartz has called proposed legislation targeting so-called ‘bad faith’ claims decisions by insurers “well-intentioned but overly broad,” and warned that several..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Scotland launches new ten-year Road Safety Framework
Scotland has launched a new Road Safety Framework to 2020. Stewart Stevenson, Scotland’s Transport Minister, unveiled a new 10-year Road Safety Framework to 2020, called “Go Safe on Scotland’s Roads — It’s..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
New proposals as part of the new Equality Bill
The new Equality Bill, which will cover England, Scotland and Wales, looks set to bring in more legislation, as the government plans to insert a new clause covering ‘dual discrimination’.
The government has proposed a new law to protect..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Warning over compensation for injuries abroad
Tourists swapping Britain for a sunny European break this summer could be seriously under-compensated if they are injured abroad and booked their travel independently, according to the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL). Travellers who..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Determining disability within the meaning of Act
When determining whether a person was disabled within the meaning of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 by reason of having an impairment which, though capable of being controlled by measures taken to treat or control it, would be likely to have..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Limitation Act, MoD, and 1950s nuclear tests
In relation to a group action, the issue as to when a claimant had “knowledge” for the purposes of sections 12 and 14 of the Limitation Act 1980 was primarily one of fact. The state of the claimant’s belief was to be considered, as..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Ex turpi causa non oritur actio
A person who, as a result of a railway accident, suffered post-traumatic stress disorder which led him to kill someone, could not, as part of his claim for damages in negligence against the train operators responsible for the accident, recover..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
New PI policies for media and technology sectors
Hiscox has introduced a new range of professional indemnity (PI) and Hacker Damage policies for the media and technology sectors. Hiscox is now offering new, combined policies for large or small media and technology companies, providing wider PI..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Global status report on road safety
The first global assessment of road safety has found that almost half of the estimated 1.27m people who die in road traffic crashes every year are pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists.
The “Global status report on road safety”,..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Survey reveals extent of stress amongst teachers
Around 44% of teachers have suffered from stress related illnesses, a new poll of teachers carried out by Teachers TV (the digital channel for those working in education) has found. Around 27% of these stated they have lived with anxiety, with..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Music could reduce a third of ‘sickies’ in the workplace
One third of employees are less likely to take time off sick if music is being played at work, according to a new study.
An organisation called MusicWorks, a business tool aimed at informing businesses about the benefits of playing more music,..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Older people ignore ‘use by’ dates
People over the age of 60 are more likely to take risks with ‘use by’ dates than younger people, according to new research published by the Food Standards Agency. Eating food beyond its ‘use by’ date increases the risk of..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Asbestos-like litigation risks for nano companies revealed
A new report from the US Investor Environmental Health Network (IEHN) has warned that billions of dollars in potential asbestos-like litigation risks for nanotechnology companies and investors are now hidden due to weak regulations governing..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Norovirus tourists wins total of £2.5mn
A group of more than 500 tourists have proved successful in their bid to secure payouts after coming down with illnesses while abroad. They won compensation totalling more than £2.5mn after suffering sickness caused by norovirus, which causes..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
£65,475 for racial discrimination
A black immigration worker has been successful in his claims of unfair dismissal and racial discrimination. He was made redundant, while the remaining workers, all of whom were white, were promoted to new positions. During a recent employment..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
The globalisation of collective redress: Consequences for the insurance industry A Focus Report by Swiss Re
A Focus Report by Swiss Re
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Toxic sofa latest update
Russell Jones and Walker (RJW) has warned that action is not being taken over the so-called toxic sofas, contaminated with DMF. The European Union ban on Di-Methyl Fumarate was implemented with effect from May 1, 2009. According to RJW, the UK..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Spine damage after road accident
A man who suffered damage to his spine when the car he was driving was hit from the rear has been successful in his bid to secure compensation. He was awarded a payout of £50,000 under the terms of an out-of-court settlement. After the..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Road traffic crash damages
A man has received £70,000 in compensation after he was involved in a road traffic crash. He was struck by a car during the course of his employment. He had been in the UK some six months or so prior to the crash and was intending to remain in..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Report reveals flaws in legislation over asbestos in homes
A new academic report commissioned by construction union UCATT has uncovered huge deficiencies in the rules covering the management of asbestos in people’s homes, potentially exposing both residents and maintenance workers to asbestos..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
£3.8mn in damages for cerebral palsy victim
A family cared for their son for more than 10 years without realising they could receive millions of pounds in compensation. They had been wrongly advised that they could not claim after his third birthday for a catastrophic medical error during his..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Mesothelioma victim wins £205,000 in damages
A gardener who was diagnosed with mesothelioma and told he has only months to live has been awarded £205,000 in compensation. He was exposed to asbestos while working for a university during the 1980s. He took his lunch breaks in the boiler..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Damages over broken ankle
Three businesses have paid compensation to an insulation engineer who broke his ankle on an uneven surface on a building site. He was off work for 19 weeks as a result of the accident at the National Grid. He was working for a subcontractor to a..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Fractured wrist settlement
A promising county–level rugby player had to give up his sport after a hospital failed to spot his fractured wrist. The 23-year-old received £80,000 in compensation after the hospital failed to spot the scaphoid injury, where a small bone..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Vibration White Finger damages
A man has received £10,000 in an out of court settlement after his hands were left permanently damaged by using vibrating tools at work. He was left with Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), also known as Vibration White Finger, after using..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Delays in breast cancer diagnosis
A woman has won £80,000 in compensation after delays in investigating her breast cancer resulted in her losing her breast. After visiting her doctor after noticing a dint in her right nipple, she was referred to a hospital breast clinic. There..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Compensation for pleural plaques widow
The widow of a pleural plaques sufferer who went on to die from asbestos related lung cancer has received £91,000 in compensation. The final award of compensation was paid in settlement of the claim against six of his former employers.
Her..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
HSE figures show work deaths at record low
The number of people killed at work in Britain has fallen to a record low, according to new figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Provisional data shows that 180 workers were killed between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009 – a rate..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Damages over loss of fingers and thumb
A man who lost four fingers in a workplace accident and later had to have his thumb amputated has received a six-figure sum in compensation. He was working as a waste disposal operative when his left hand was crushed. He was cleaning a machine used..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Call for tighter safety levels for radon gas
An expert advisory group of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has recommended that the agency should consider tightening its recommended safety levels for radon gas in homes and workplaces.
According to the HPA, radon, a naturally occurring gas, is..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
£250,000 in mesothelioma compensation
The widow of an electrician whose death from mesothelioma was caused by exposure to asbestos while rewiring a police station has received £250,000 in compensation.
The member of the trade union Unite from Trowbridge was diagnosed with asbestos..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
£300,000 claim over tree injury
A teacher who sustained injuries to her head when a branch fell on her during a country walk is seeking compensation of £300,000. She suffered cuts to her head and her legal team claim she has suffered from tiredness and an impaired memory..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Compensation for damaged knee
A woman who damaged her knee as she worked in an express train buffet car has been awarded more than £5,000 in compensation. She was injured after a faulty drawer in the buffet car of the train flew open and struck her knee. The court found..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
£290,000 compensation for mesothelioma
The widow of an electrician has received £290,000 compensation in an out of court settlement after her husband died from mesothelioma. He was exposed to asbestos regularly during his work as an electrician for a power company. He was not warned..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Broken ankle compensation for radiographer
A radiographer who broke her ankle in a workplace accident has received £3,000 in compensation. She was off work for four weeks following the accident. She was pulling a screen, used to give patients’ privacy, along a corridor in the..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
APIL welcomes FSA PI compensation protection
A proposal from the Financial Services Authority to protect personal injury compensation in the event of a bank collapse has been welcomed by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).
APIL said the FSA’s proposal to extend the..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Carbon monoxide poisoning compensation
Two women who suffered carbon monoxide poisoning after a boiler was negligently serviced have received compensation. A sub-contracted boiler engineer carried out a service of the gas boiler. At the time of his arrival, the boiler was not working. He..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009
Food Standards Agency to study aspartame
The Food Standards Agency is to begin a new study looking at aspartame. The research will focus on people who have reported bad reactions to the artificial sweetener. Aspartame is being linked anecdotally by some people to different conditions,..
Online Published Date:
22 July 2009
Appeared in issue:
227 - 01 July 2009