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The generation game rolls on

02 June 2011 / Michael Tringham
Issue: 7468 / Categories: Features , Wills & Probate
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Michael Tringham observes some recent judgments of Solomon

IN BRIEF

  • Son (partly) wins proprietary estoppel.
  • Wife adopts ex-husband to defeat “unfair” trust.
  • Mothers v fathers: court creates disabled children’s wills.

Disappointed with his only son John, Frank Suggitt left his £4m Yorkshire estate to his second daughter Caroline—but with this conditional promise in his will: “I express the wish (without imposing a trust) that if at any time my son shall in the absolute opinion of Caroline show himself capable of working on and managing my farmland that she shall transfer my farmland to him.”

The consequence: a double claim in Leeds High Court—for proprietary estoppel by John and for family provision under the Inheritance Act 1975 by his partner and mother of his children. John’s litigation was supported by his two other sisters. His Honour Judge Roger Kay QC commented: “The great sadness of this case is that both sides of the family became deeply entrenched and unable to reach a sensible compromise.”

Judge Kaye observed (In the matter

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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