A Unite member has received compensation after lacerating his finger at work. Mr Baker, who is employed as a fitter by Arriva Buses in Castleford, was checking for an oil leak on one of the buses in the depot, when he slipped on oil and fell. It caused him to hit his hand on the fan blade that was spinning … Read More
If you can’t join them, beat them (twice!)
Government Legal Service v Brookes UKEAT/0302/16/RN An aspiring law student dreamt of joining the Government Legal Service. She studied hard and got her law degree. Amongst thousands of graduates, she applied for a handful of trainee solicitor vacancies at the GLS. She had Asperger’s Syndrome. The medicos agreed that this condition made it difficult for her to complete multiple choice answers … Read More
Injured singer wins damages
An Equity member has received a significant settlement following an accident on stage. The performer was injured when part of a spotlight hit his head during rehearsals. Although the responsibility for the accident was clear, the case became difficult because of a dispute over damages. The performer suffered post-concussion symptoms, developed long-term headaches and facial pain. This pain could be … Read More
The key to any employment rights is the ability to enforce them
So, we have an election coming up. From an employment law perspective, and specifically from a worker’s focus, which of the two main parties will make a real difference to employment law protections, should it win? Both Labour and Conservative parties promise the protection of existing employment rights and propose the implementation of new ones. In fact, the Conservatives are … Read More
Unite bus driver loses job due to accident at work
A Unite member who suffered injuries to her neck and shoulder following an accident at work has been awarded compensation with the help of Unite Legal Services. Louise Welford, who was employed as a bus driver by First West Yorkshire Ltd in Leeds, was retrieving newspaper for the bus she was due to drive from an unlit shed at the … Read More
Could zero hours workers gain the right to request a move to a fixed number of hours?
Could zero hours workers gain the right to request a move to a fixed number of hours? It is according to reports indicating that the government appointee Matthew Taylor’s review into modern employment practices, due to be published this summer, will recommend a new right for workers on zero hours contracts. It’s believed that a right to request more hours … Read More
Morrish Solicitors one of highest donating firms for Will Aid
John Coulhurst from Will Aid popped over to our Yeadon office this morning to present Tom Morrish with a certificate for being one of the highest donating firms in West Yorkshire (4th). An amazing £34,496 raised since being part of Will Aid and £5,490 this year. Peter de Vena Franks from Will Aid said: “This really is a huge amount … Read More
Unite member receives £200,000 in compensation after life-changing fall
A former HGV driver has received £200,000 in compensation after being injured in a fall at work that forced him to resign from his job. Unite member Mr W, who had started work for a car transport firm 2 weeks prior, was walking down the length of the transport vehicle checking the car positions, when he suddenly slipped and lost … Read More
Employment Rights Update
Easter is often associated with little things, like chicks, lambs and mini eggs. So it seems fitting that our monthly update should cover a little more satellite litigation on ACAS Early Conciliation and a little compensation for failing to grant the right of accompaniment. HM Revenue and Customs v Garau Mr Garau was an administrative assistant, formerly employed by HMRC. … Read More
Cohabitation – myth vs reality
Nearly one in five couples in the UK now chooses to cohabit rather than marry. Figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed that cohabiting couples are now the fastest growing family type in the UK, with 3.3m families documented in 2016 – more than double the 1.5m recorded in 1996. Most of the public are however unaware of … Read More
New legal services partnership for Morrish Solicitors and Musicians’ Union
Morrish Solicitors are pleased to announce that they have secured a contract with the Musicians’ Union to provide legal services on employment rights issues to the union and its members. Founded in 1893, the Musicians’ Union is one of the UK’s oldest and best respected independent ‘craft’ trade unions, with over 30,000 members working in all sectors of the British music industry. … Read More
Proposed probate fee increase scrapped
The proposed probate fee hike was scrapped last week. Tom Morrish, Head of our Wills and Probate department and Yorkshire Regional Coordinator for Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) said: “We are delighted to hear the proposed probate fees have been dropped. It was very clear from the offset that the new system was nothing more than a backdoor tax and … Read More
Please support our It’s a Knockout team
Ten Morrish members of staff will be taking part in It’s a Knockout to raise money for our Charity of the Year, Children’s Heart Surgery Fund!! It will take place at Roundhay Park, Leeds on 25 June 2017. The team will be preparing for new challenges with water, foam and inflatables! Children’s Heart Surgery Fund couldn’t be more local to us…they are literally steps around … Read More
BREAKING NEWS – Increase in Probate Court Fees
When applying for a Grant of Representation (this is the document required to enable the Personal Representatives of the estate to deal with the deceased’s estate) the Personal Representatives are aware that there will be a court fee payable. It is currently a manageable amount of £155 via a solicitor, £215 without the assistance of a solicitor and £0 if … Read More
Getting away with it?
As specialist lawyers for Claimants in Employment Tribunals and Courts, we often get involved in cases involving companies going bust (e.g. going into administration or liquidation), and dismissing large numbers of employees as a result. A good number of well-known companies have recently gone bust – City Link, BHS, Austin Reed and Phones4u. There are common themes to many recent … Read More
Can I transfer my business lease?
This is a question frequently asked by Tenants and one which can generally only be answered by a careful review of the lease. If the lease does not contain any written restriction upon transfer or assignment, then you are free to transfer it to a new Tenant subject to complying with any terms in the lease requiring the Landlord to … Read More
Controversial Blanket-Ban Policy Receives CJEU Clarification
With the Court of Justice of the European Union’s opinion in the case of Achbita v G4S Secure Solutions recently announced, now seems to be an apt time to address religious freedoms at work and the possible impact of this case on them. In this case a Muslim woman employed as a client-facing receptionist announced to her employer that she … Read More
Higher Rate Stamp Duty Land Tax
The Higher Rates for Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) came into force on 1st April 2016. The higher rate is calculated as a 3% surcharge on the standard rates, and applies to all purchases of a second residential dwelling, unless an exemption applies. How will you know whether you will have to pay the higher rate? First of all, it … Read More
Employment Rights Update
In the case of Zebrowski v Concentric Birmingham Ltd UKEAT/0245/16 the EAT considered the correct approach to reducing compensation following unfair dismissal, in particular: when was it appropriate for the Tribunal to limit the award to a period rather than reduce by a percentage. Background The Claimant was employed by the Respondent from 2009-2015. The Respondent ran a specialist fluid … Read More
Employment Tribunal rules in favour of sacked Austin Reed workers
Manchester Employment Tribunal has awarded a 90-day protective award to ex-employees against the two Austin Reed companies, AR Realisations 2016 Limited and ARG Realisations 2016 Limited. This follows a failure by the companies to properly inform and consult employees in their main offices at Thirsk and London in the lead up to the companies’ insolvency in April 2016. The insolvencies … Read More
Employment Rights Update
New Appointment Hannah Boynes has joined the Morrish employment team. Hannah qualified in 2012 and obtained Higher Rights of Audience in 2014. Hannah qualified as a Solicitor-Advocate after completing her training in civil litigation and employment. British Airline Pilots’ Association v Jet2.com Ltd 2017 This case looked into what falls within the scope of “pay, hours and holidays” in terms … Read More
WNG Group employees have a right to justice
We are offering assistance to employees of WNG Group (trading as Wachem, I Love Products and Sutton Manufacturing Solutions), as a result of the organisation’s recent administration announcement. East Yorkshire-based WNG Group, manufacturer and retailer of personal hygiene products, ceased trading upon the joint administrators’ appointment at the end of February, forcing them to make all 72 employees redundant. The … Read More
Equity member receives compensation for cycling accident
Equity has recently secured substantial damages for a member who was injured after being involved in a cycling accident. The Equity member, who was 25 years old at the time of the accident, was knocked off his bike when cycling in London. He was working as an actor at the time. The accident occurred when a van pulled out of … Read More
Morrish Solicitors lawyer appointed to Law Society clinical negligence panel
A legal expert from medical negligence specialists Morrish Solicitors has been recognised as one of the country’s leading figures in supporting victims of serious clinical negligence, handling some of the most complex, high-value cases. Duncan Gardiner, who is based at the firm’s Bradford office, has been selected onto The Law Society Clinical Negligence Panel, for which only solicitors who can … Read More
Poorly drawn up wills can result in loved ones missing out inheritance
Failure to draw up accurately-written wills is resulting in families being unable to take control of their loved one’s estates when they pass away, a legal expert has claimed. Tom Morrish, regional co-ordinator for Yorkshire with SFE (Solicitors for the Elderly), said wills drawn up by unregulated and unqualified personnel do not offer the same protections as those drawn up … Read More
Negative response from Government on attempt to bridge gender pay gap
The government has responded to the Women and Equalities Committee’s second report into the Gender Pay Gap. The committee made a total of 17 evidence based recommendations on 22 March 2016 to tackle the gender pay gap as quickly as possible. The government responded to this report by rejecting the majority of the proposals of the committee. A sample of … Read More
The mysteries of the Court of Protection
What is the Court of Protection? This is the Court which deals with matters relating to the affairs of people who are not able to handle their own affairs. Typically it deals with cases where elderly people develop dementia or other illnesses affecting mental capacity, which means that the individual is not able to manage their own financial affairs. Other … Read More
Unite Legal Services secure compensation for RTA victim
A Unite the Union member who sustained neck and back whiplash injuries following a road traffic accident has secured compensation with the help of Unite Legal Services. George Reed, a bus driver from Barnsley, was stationery in his car at a set of traffic lights, when another car drove into the rear of him. Mr Reed attended his GP surgery the following day … Read More
Unite Legal Services win protective award for bus driver
An employment tribunal has ruled in favour of Unite member, Rose Lee, in her claim for a protective award. Rose was employed as a bus driver for Tates Travel Ltd, based at the depot in Barnsley. She was made redundant with immediate effect on 8 February 2016, having worked at the company for two and a half years. Tates Travel … Read More
