Case Summaries

Care proceedings stemming from a private law dispute where a mother made allegations of abuse against the fathers of her children. The mother's pursuit of the allegations led to emotional harm of the children.

In this case Mrs Justice Knowles considered the difficulties in assessing the evidence of a vulnerable witness and what allowances, if any, the court can make for a witness who, by virtue of their learning disability, cannot give a coherent and/or credible account

Application by a Local Authority pursuant to the inherent jurisdiction for a declaration that it is in the interests of a looked after child [T] to receive a schedule of vaccinations.

Fact-finding hearing regarding an injury to a new born baby to establish a pool of perpetrators and whether the injury was intentional, caused by recklessness or by delivery method.

HHJ Simmonds delivers an ex tempore judgment at the conclusion of the final hearing in an adoption application in respect of two children.

HMCTS ordered to fund the reasonable costs of lay advocates for parents in care proceedings. The service was akin to that provided by an interpreter or intermediary.

Appeals concerning 3 babies where the mothers had concealed the pregnancies from the fathers and relatives. With 2 children being placed for adoption and that being an option for the third, should the local authorities notify the fathers before the plans are affected?

Parents successfully appealed the refusal of permission to oppose the making of an adoption order

Judgment of Mr Justice Cohen on the “needs claim” of the applicant husband, who described himself as a “struggling artist”, against his former wife who had resources of £50 million. The judgment provides a firm reminder of costs rules, amplified by the recent amendments to FPR 2010 Practice Direction 28A, where a party fails to litigate sensibly and to engage in sensible negotiations.

In this case Mr Justice Cohen granted, for what appeared to be the first time, a Hadkinson order to cover proceedings which were not identical, albeit related. The effect of the order was to strike out an appeal in Family Law Act proceedings unless the respondent made good the admitted default in Financial Remedy proceedings.

Complex big money financial remedies appeal raising issues of non-matrimonial property. Finding at first instance of a ‘special contribution’ overturned by the Court of Appeal.
W’s share increased from £152 million to £182 million.

Fact finding hearing in which the conduct of the police during the ABE interviewing process rendered the evidence unreliable

Judgment of Mr Justice Mostyn in financial remedy proceedings, dealing with the valuation of music-related income streams, and providing guidance on the treatment of future earnings, amortisation, and the calculation of child support in “top-up” cases.

Judgment following a finding of fact hearing concerning a young child with significant head injuries.