Significant Increase in Damages Awarded by Court of Session in Fatal Asbestos Claims
Two recent cases have marked a distinct increase in the amount of compensatory damages awarded in fatal cases. Both cases concerned section 4(3)(b) of the Damages (Scotland) Act 2011, which allows family members to claim damages for distress and anxiety, grief and sorrow, and loss of society and guidance following the death of their loved one. […]
Councils pay out millions in compensation
According to figures obtained by the Scottish Conservatives under Freedom of Information legislation, councils in Scotland have paid out over £33 million to settle around 13,000 compensation claims over the past five years. The data reveals a wide range of claims, including a man in Edinburgh who claimed £170,000 after a firework blew up in his hand; […]
Damages (Scotland) Act in force
The Damages (Scotland) Act 2011 is now in force. It is intended to overhaul the system of obtaining damages for wrongful death – where a person suffers injury or disease as a result of the wrongful actions or omissions of another. The new rules should speed up the legal process, and make it easier for […]
Council fined after girl trapped in swimming pool
Castle Point Borough Council has been fined following an incident where a seven-year old girl was trapped by a water outlet at a swimming pool. The girl was using the swimming pool with her great grandfather in May 2009. Her hair was sucked into the water sampling outlet on the side of the pool, trapping […]
National Trust school trip suit
The families of children injured when a large tree branch fell on them during a school trip are suing the National Trust for damages, reports the Telegraph. Eleven-year-old Daniel Mullinger was killed when the two-ton branch landed on top of him, and three of his friends suffered severe injuries. The children were taking part in […]
Substantial damages awarded following slips
A customer who slipped on a grape while shopping in an Asda store in Peterborough has been awarded £10,500 in damages, reports the Telegraph. Asda was also ordered by the court to pay £18,000 in legal costs. The Telegraph also reports on a similar case involving a teacher, who slipped on a grape that had […]
