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02 October 2014 / Ian Smith
Issue: 7624 / Categories: Features , Employment
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Employment law brief: 2 October 2014

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Ian Smith salutes the end of some long running legal uncertainties & taps into the latest trade union action.

The first two cases considered this month are potentially of some significance in settling a couple of quite longstanding uncertainties in two important areas of employment law, namely constructive dismissal and damages for stress-related injury in discrimination cases. The other two are, most unusually these days, concerned with trade union law and how unlawful detriment imposed on an employee because of his union activities is to be proved.

Another one bites the dust

For some time now there has been a possible problem in the law relating to constructive dismissal caused by the common law case of RDF Media Group plc v Clements [2008] IRLR 207, [2007] All ER (D) 53 (Dec) where it was suggested that an employee already in breach of the term of trust and respect could not then complain of such a breach by the employer, thus scuppering a possible constructive dismissal claim (perhaps best, if rather

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Weightmans—Elborne Mitchell & Myton Law

Weightmans—Elborne Mitchell & Myton Law

Firm expands in London and Leeds with dual merger

Boodle Hatfield—Clare Pooley & Michael Duffy

Boodle Hatfield—Clare Pooley & Michael Duffy

Private wealth and real estate firmpromotes two to partner and five to senior associate

Constantine Law—James Baker & Julie Goodway

Constantine Law—James Baker & Julie Goodway

Agile firm expands employment team with two partner hires

NEWS

From blockbuster judgments to procedural shake-ups, the courts are busy reshaping litigation practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School hails the Court of Appeal's 'exquisite judgment’ in Mazur restoring the role of supervised non-qualified staff, and highlights a ‘mammoth’ damages ruling likened to War and Peace, alongside guidance on medical reporting fees, where a pragmatic 25% uplift was imposed

Momentum is building behind proposals to restrict children’s access to social media—but the legal and practical challenges are formidable. In NLJ this week, Nick Smallwood of Mills & Reeve examines global moves, including Australia’s under-16 ban and the UK's consultation
Reforms designed to rebalance landlord-tenant relations may instead penalise leaseholders themselves. In this week's NLJ, Mike Somekh of The Freehold Collective warns that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 risks creating an ‘underclass’ of resident-controlled freehold companies
Timing is everything—and the Court of Appeal has delivered clarity on when proceedings are ‘brought’. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ, Stephen Gold explains that a claim is issued for limitation purposes when the claim form is delivered to the court, even if fees are underpaid
The traditional ‘single, intensive day’ of financial dispute resolution (FDR) may be due for a rethink. Writing in NLJ this week, Rachel Frost-Smith and Lauren Guiler of Birketts propose a ‘split FDR’ model, separating judicial evaluation from negotiation
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