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Civil way: 5 July 2013

04 July 2013
Issue: 7567 / Categories: Features , Civil way
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Judicial review: the fast show

“It’s for you” x 547

The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (PFHA 1997) is an effective weapon in the armoury of the victim of nuisance creditors. In Ferguson v British Gas Trading Ltd [2009] EWCA Civ 46, [2009] All ER (D) 80 (Feb) the claimant left British Gas and over five months thereafter was subjected to letter after letter and threat after threat to cut off her supply, start legal proceedings and report her to credit reference agencies—all without justification. She said she was brought to a considerable state of anxiety. The Court of Appeal refused to strike out her PFHA 1997 claim for damages. The conduct was capable of amounting to harassment in that it was oppressive and unacceptable.

Now in Roberts v Bank of Scotland plc [2013] All ER (D) 88 (Jun) the Court of Appeal has just upheld a PFHA 1997 award of £7,500 to the claimant customer of RBS who had exceeded her overdraft or credit limit on one of more of her accounts. Although

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Freeths—Ruth Clare

Freeths—Ruth Clare

National real estate team bolstered by partner hire in Manchester

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Partner appointed head of family team

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

Firm strengthens agriculture and rural affairs team with partner return

NEWS
Conveyancing lawyers have enjoyed a rapid win after campaigning against UK Finance’s decision to charge for access to the Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has launched a recruitment drive for talented early career and more senior barristers and solicitors
Regulators differed in the clarity and consistency of their post-Mazur advice and guidance, according to an interim report by the Legal Services Board (LSB)
The Solicitors Act 1974 may still underpin legal regulation, but its age is increasingly showing. Writing in NLJ this week, Victoria Morrison-Hughes of the Association of Costs Lawyers argues that the Act is ‘out of step with modern consumer law’ and actively deters fairness
A Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) ruling has reopened debate on the availability of ‘user damages’ in competition claims. Writing in NLJ this week, Edward Nyman of Hausfeld explains how the CAT allowed Dr Liza Lovdahl Gormsen’s alternative damages case against Meta to proceed, rejecting arguments that such damages are barred in competition law
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