A 'happy' Christmas?

Christmas is viewed by many as being a special time for families but it is a sad fact of life for many that it can be a very difficult time as well.

The children of separated parents will find this time of year difficult and upsetting as they will wish to spend time with both parents. However there are ways of easing the difficulty. For example the children can spend Christmas Day with one parent and Boxing Day with the other. They can actually have two Christmases a prospect that a lot of children will look forward to. This arrangement can be alternated each year. What is appropriate will depend on the circumstances of the children and individuals.

Christmas also brings other pressures, usually financial and spending time together in strained circumstances can also cause problems for couples. If you find yourself in this difficult situation please contact us and we will advise you on your position.

Many people will inevitably see the New Year as a chance to have a fresh start, to change their lives and to sort out their family problems. If you find yourselves in need of family law advice please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you and advise on the best course of action.”

Neil Remnant head up the family law department at Grantham based JMP Solicitors and is available on 01476 561415 or nremnant@jmp-solicitors.com

 

Elite Insurance claim major victory for ATE insurance

Following the recent decision in Knightly v Dailey and Ors, Elite welcomes the decision that an opponent can no longer simply rely on the fact that where a BTE insurance policy is discovered later on in proceedings, an ATE policy taken out for the same claim is automatically deemed unrecoverable.

 

Until this ruling, this has been a common feature in a large number of settlements. In future, for the defendant to argue successfully that an ATE insurance premium is unrecoverable in light of the presence of a BTE insurance policy, they will have to ensure they can justify the BTE policy was completely suitable for the client’s specific requirements and that there was a certain level of disregard to enquiries in respect of the existence of BTE insurance.

 

 

 

Firm sentenced after worker loses leg in fish tank fall

A Manchester firm has been ordered to pay nearly £90,000 in fines and costs after an employee was crushed by a giant fish tank that toppled off a forklift truck.

 

The 59-year-old from Middleton, who has asked not to be named, broke both his legs in the incident and doctors had to amputate his right leg below the knee due to the extent of his injuries.

 

Alloy Bodies Ltd was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an investigation found the work had not been planned, supervised or carried out safely.

 

During a six-day trial, Manchester Crown Court heard that the company manufactures lorry trailers, but that its bespoke services department had built a two-metre-wide fish tank for one of the firm’s directors.

 

The tank, which weighed around 200 kilograms, was being loaded into the back of a van on 1 June 2010 when it toppled from the forklift truck and struck the worker. The court was told the fish tank was not secured to a pallet before being lifted and workers struggled to load it onto the van due to its size.

 

In addition to having part of his right leg amputated, the injured employee also had to have a pin fitted into his left leg. He now has a prosthetic limb and is still unable to return to work, more than three years on from the incident.

 

Alloy Bodies Ltd, of Clifton Street, Miles Platting, was today (9 December 2013) fined £30,000 and ordered to pay £56,621 in costs after being found guilty of a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

 

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Alex Farnhill said:

“This was an entirely preventable incident which resulted in an employee having to have part of his leg amputated. His whole life has been affected by the shortcomings of this company.

 

“No effort was made to plan the work in advance, despite it being a highly unusual activity for employees at the factory. The firm should have considered the risks and found a safe way of moving the fish tank.

 

“If it had been secured to a pallet and loaded onto a larger vehicle, rather than a van, than the terrible injuries the worker suffered could have been avoided.”

 

Information on vehicle safety in workplaces is available at www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport

 

 

(source: hse.gov.uk)

Hospital Death Rates Higher at the Weekend

According to a report people who have a routine operation just before the weekend are 24% more likely to die than those who have surgery during the week. Weekend patients are 10% less likely to have a fracture repaired within the day and 42% less likely to receive an MRI scan. The report found that the overall death rate for emergency admissions is 20% higher at weekends.



(source: The Times)

New family law department opens in Grantham

JMP Solicitors are pleased to announce the appointment of Neil Remnant who joins the firm as their new head of family law from HRW Hilliers Solicitors.

Neil is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives and also an Accredited Specialist of Resolution (formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association) with particular specialisation in Advanced Financial Provision and Private Law Children matters.

Commenting on his appointment Neil said “ I am very pleased and excited to be given the opportunity to set up a new family department in such a progressive and forward thinking firm as JMP. I am looking forward to providing a family law service that will be second to none.”

JMP Solicitors are based in the centre of Grantham at Autumn Park Business Centre and offer free town centre parking for clients visiting their new offices.

To discuss your family law matters with Neil on a confidential basis please call him on direct line 01476 561 415 or contact him via email on nremnant@jmp-solicitors.com