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30 January 2026 / Dominic Regan
Issue: 8147 / Categories: Features , Public , Contempt , Liability , Tort
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How not to ignore a court order

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Persistence pays (eventually): Dominic Regan charts the course of a long-running David vs Goliath story

The judiciary has a sneaking admiration for plucky individuals who fearfully litigate despite having an opponent with bottomless pockets and the finest lawyers. In Ferguson v British Gas Trading Ltd [2009] EWCA Civ 46, the claimant took on British Gas. ‘It is one of the glories of this country that every now and then one of its citizens is prepared to take a stand against the big battalions of government or industry’, observed Lord Justice Jacob. The claimant ended her gas supply contract with the defendant, which continued to bombard her with bills. The defendant then threatened to report her to a credit rating agency. The claimant sued. The defendant failed to get the claim struck out: the court thought she had a good claim.

Legal skirmishes

Now in the spotlight is Nadine Buzzard-Quashie, who has given the chief constable of Northamptonshire Police and his team a sound thrashing. I thought

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A sprawling Intellectual Property Office battle between House of Fraser and Frasers Property has delivered a masterclass in modern trade mark law
Courts in England and Wales and Singapore are increasingly confronting complex disputes over international child relocation as families become more globally mobile
The government’s long-awaited family law reform consultation could mark a turning point for domestic abuse victims navigating financial remedy proceedings, but significant challenges remain
A new commercial court pilot giving the public access to documents used in hearings, including expert reports, is raising difficult questions about transparency and privacy
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