Sixty-four per cent of UK workers admitted to breaching rules by forwarding work emails to their personal email accounts in the months following the introduction of GDPR.
Michael Parker v the Chief Constable of Essex Police 2018 EWCA 2788 Civ
Whilst this case concerns the TV personality Michael Barrymore’s claim for damages against the police for his false imprisonment following his (unlawful, as the police admitted) arrest in 2007, it has relevance to employment law and specifically ‘Polkey’, an often misunderstood principle (and an often negative one for Claimants). Michael Parker, stage name Barrymore, claimed £2.4 million in damages (allegedly … Read More
How far to take an Uber?
Uber’s latest attempt to avoid their drivers having ‘worker’ status and thus minimum protections for national minimum wage and paid holiday has failed yet again – but only just. On appeal to the Court of Appeal, after losing at ET and EAT levels, Uber has been defeated but only by a majority basis of two to one. So, has the … Read More
Divorce Law update – is it time to introduce “No fault” Divorces?
Major reform to our Divorce laws could follow in the wake of a recent high-profile Divorce case. The government has said it is already “looking closely” at reforms to the Divorce system after the Supreme Court in the case of Owens v Owens ruled that a 68-year-old woman must remain married to her Husband. Mr and Mrs Owens married in … Read More
Employment Tribunal awards compensation to former Maplin workers
An employment tribunal has awarded compensation to former Maplin workers who have established that the company failed in its statutory duty to consult with them about impending redundancies. The former Head Office workers pursued claims against the electronics retailer when they were made redundant without sufficient information being given to them in advance and without any adequate consultation process. 80 … Read More
We are recruiting – Work with us
Think you might have what it takes to work with a leading trade union law firm and the country’s most motivated team of legal minds? We’re always on the lookout for new talent and currently have vacancies for the following positions in our Leeds and Yeadon offices: Employment Solicitor – Leeds Clinical Negligence Solicitor/Legal Assistant – Leeds Legal Secretary – Leeds … Read More
Morrish secures top accolade from The Law Society
Morrish Solicitors have once again achieved the prestigious Lexcel standard from The Law Society. The Lexcel practice management standard is only awarded to law firms who provide the highest level of client care and business management standards. Accredited practices undergo rigorous independent assessment every year to ensure they meet required standards of excellence in client care, structure and strategy, financial … Read More
Banter or harassment?
Section 26 of the Equality Act 2010 states that a person (A), harasses another (B), if A engages in unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic (e.g. sex or race), and the conduct has the purpose or effect of violating B’s dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for B. In deciding whether the conduct … Read More
Morrish Solicitors featured in The Times Best Law Firms 2019
Morrish Solicitors is pleased to announce that it has received a ranking in The Times Best Law Firms 2019. Statista, an international market research firm, carried out the research earlier this year. It contacted more than 20,000 solicitors in England and Wales, and hundreds of clients, and asked them to recommend the best law firms in any of 31 categories. … Read More
Lawyers join forces for inaugural justice week
This week is Justice Week. It comprises a week-long programme of new research, public events, and digital content, revealing how the public really view justice at a time when successive governments have restricted access to it more than at any time since Legal Aid was established in 1949. How we can do more to encourage support for justice funding? New … Read More
Unite member awarded compensation after leg crushed at work
Peter was involved in an accident during the course of his employment at Barratt Steel. On the day of the accident, Peter was loading cut steel onto a roller transporter. A colleague operating the machine activated it before Peter had finished repositioning the steel and his leg was crushed. Peter was diagnosed with a fractured femur and sustained muscle and … Read More
Bellman – more on vicarious liability
Bellman v Northampton Recruitment Ltd [2018] EWCA Civ 2214 Following a recruitment agency’s Christmas party, to which all employees and their partners were invited, a number of the guests including Mr Major, the Managing Director (“MD”) of the agency, and Mr Bellman, an employee of the agency and the Claimant, continued their celebrations at a hotel bar where some of … Read More
GDPR & Lasting Power of Attorney’s – why it’s more important than ever to put a Lasting Power of Attorney in place
What is a Lasting Power of Attorney & why you need one A Lasting Power of Attorney is a document which lets you decide who you wish to help make decisions on your behalf in relation to your property and financial affairs and health and welfare when you are not able to make those decisions yourself. Be aware that you … Read More
New Partner promotion at Morrish Solicitors
Leeds law firm Morrish Solicitors LLP has promoted employment Solicitor Daniel Kindell to Partner to mark his contribution to the business. Daniel joined Morrish Solicitors in 2005. Daniel has a wealth of experience and will continue to advise clients on a full range of employment issues. He specialises in complex employment litigation, including unfair dismissal, discrimination and contract claims as … Read More
Morrish appoint two new trainee solicitors
We are delighted to announce the appointment of two new trainee solicitors from within the firm, James Battle and Shamaila Gul. James, who completed a degree in Applied Criminology and Legal Studies at Canterbury University, followed by a Masters degree in Management, Business and Law at the University of Law in 2017, begins his training contract in our personal injury … Read More
Employment Tribunal claim pursued by ex-Poundworld employees
Over 180 former employees of collapsed retailer Poundworld, are claiming compensation due to the failure to consult with staff prior to making mass redundancies earlier this year. The claims follow the collapse of Poundworld in June, which saw the loss of over 5,000 jobs across the UK. Almost 300 of those were based at their head office and distribution centre … Read More
Unmarried couples – rights of surviving partner
There was a recent case in the Supreme Court which has highlighted the vulnerability of the survivor when one partner dies and the couple were not married. Siobhan McLaughlin successfully claimed Widowed Parents’ Allowance following her partner’s death. Current law states that this benefit is only available to bereaved partners who have children and have been married to or in … Read More
Fairness: with knobs on
There is a really interesting report this week of a decision by the Employment Appeal Tribunal that looks at a number of current issues about fairness both in general terms and procedurally, the approach of the ETs in making decisions about what is fair and the relevance of the right to be accompanied at a disciplinary/grievance hearing. Some useful guidance … Read More
Shop and Office Fit Out Works: What Does the Lease Say?
Most retail shops and offices will be occupied by tenant owners under the terms of a Lease. The issue of fitting out the shop or office will usually arise as part of the negotiations when a new Lease is granted to the original tenant or at a later stage if either the tenant transfers the Lease to a new tenant … Read More
TSSA and Morrish Solicitors win case of disability discrimination and victimisation against Network Rail
TSSA and Morrish Solicitors have won a long-running case of disability discrimination and victimisation against Network Rail, which has resulted in the employer having to pay in excess of £32,000 in compensation. Natalie Brown was and remains employed as an information controller for Network Rail. At the time of these events between November 2016 and June 2017, she suffered from … Read More
Legal advice privilege – Disability Discrimination
As a general rule advice passing between lawyer and client is “privileged” i.e. the client is not bound to disclose it in legal proceedings. An exception to that rule is “iniquity” e.g. when the advice is being used for fraudulent activity. In X v Y Ltd the EAT has looked at the iniquity exemption in the context of “how to … Read More
Dismissal and the Statutory Notice Period
It is generally well known that a Claimant looking to bring a claim for unfair dismissal can add the statutory week’s notice period to their period of continuous employment, to get them ‘over the line’ in relation to the 2-year qualifying period. So: an employee with 1 year and 51 weeks’ service who is sacked by an employer who gives … Read More
Compensation for bus driver following life-changing injuries
A former bus driver has received a six-figure sum in compensation after being injured in a fall at work that left him with life-changing injuries and the loss of his job. Unite member Mr Courtman, who worked for First West Yorkshire Limited, was collecting fares and as the bus drove out of Bradford Interchange, a car pulled out, causing the … Read More
Unite Legal Services help bus driver hit head-on by ambulance
A former bus driver has received £150,000 in compensation after being involved in a serious road traffic accident that left him with extensive injuries. Unite member Graham Codling, who was employed as a bus driver for Yorkshire Coastliner, was driving his bus on the A64, when an ambulance suddenly swerved directly into his path. Despite Graham hitting the brakes as hard as he could, a head-on collision could not be avoided. The driving cab was completely crushed … Read More
Morrish Solicitors Shortlisted in the Yorkshire Legal Awards 2018
Morrish Solicitors are delighted to announce, on Yorkshire Day, that we have been shortlisted in the Yorkshire Legal Awards 2018 for the Employment Law Award. This shortlisting identifies the performance of the firm as a whole and the innovative measures contributing to its success. The firm will be judged on the quality of legal services offered, both in terms of significant cases … Read More
Employment Update: Is it appealing to appeal?
In the recent case of Patel v Folkestone Nursing Home Limited [2018] EWCA Civ 1689 the Court of Appeal have delved into the surprisingly complex and messy area concerning appeals against dismissal or disciplinary sanctions. The Claimant was a care assistant dismissed over two charges of misconduct. As is often the case, his written contract of employment identified that the … Read More
Employment Update: Hot potatoes and crystallised rights
Hot potatoes and crystallised rights. What are we talking about? You might think the June hot weather has really got to us this month but our ‘hot potato’ is illegally obtained information in the context of trade union activities and our ‘crystallised rights’ relate to comparators in equal pay claims. Morris v Metrolink RATP Dev (Court of Appeal) Mr Morris … Read More
“The incapacity crisis: a nation unprepared”
Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) launch a campaign this week which aims to raise awareness of health and welfare Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA’s). SFE have built a report with think-tank Centre for Future Studies (CFS) which highlights the issues surrounding the lack of planning for mental incapacity and, backed by the evidence, demonstrates a looming incapacity crisis. Incapacity is … Read More
Leeds solicitors walking challenge helps support children’s cancer charity
Staff from Leeds-based firm Morrish Solicitors recently boosted their fundraising efforts for children’s cancer charity, Candlelighters, by completing the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge. Morrish are almost half way through a 2 year partnership which will see them raise money for this Yorkshire wide charity. As well as completing the 3 Peaks Walk the firm have also held regular dress down … Read More
Why should I use a Solicitor?
The ageing population means that there is a large and increasing market for legal services for elderly people. Services in which elderly people are often interested are:- Wills Powers of Attorney Concerns about costs of residential/nursing care Equity Release Advice regarding dementia/mental incapacity Individuals are free to obtain legal advice from wherever they choose. The advice could be from a … Read More
