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21 September 2022
Issue: 7995 / Categories: Legal News , Human rights , Local government , Child law
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Landmark care challenge

A former looked-after child can bring a human rights claim against council authorities for failing to remove him from the care of his mother soon enough, the Court of Appeal has agreed.

The court granted permission this month for the appeal to proceed and the landmark case is due to be heard next year.

In AB v Worcestershire County Council & Anor [2022] EWHC 115 (QB), AB (via a litigation friend) argued he should have been removed at an earlier date to save him from the abuse and neglect he suffered. He brought claims for breach of Art 3 and Art 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998. Margaret Obi, sitting as a deputy High Court judge, struck out the claims after a successful application by the local authorities, stating there was ‘no realistic prospect’ of the Art 3 claim succeeding, nor did the Art 6 claim disclose a legally recognisable claim.

However, AB (via his litigation friend) argued the judge had misapplied the test to determine whether a duty arises under Art 3, and sought permission to appeal, which has now been granted.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Carey Olsen—Patrick Ormond

Carey Olsen—Patrick Ormond

Partner joinscorporate and finance practice in British Virgin Islands

Dawson Cornwell—Naomi Angell

Dawson Cornwell—Naomi Angell

Firm strengthens children department with adoption and surrogacy expert

Penningtons Manches Cooper—Graham Green

Penningtons Manches Cooper—Graham Green

Media and technology expert joins employment team as partner in Cambridge

NEWS
Freezing orders in divorce proceedings can unexpectedly ensnare third parties and disrupt businesses. In NLJ this week, Lucy James of Trowers & Hamlins explains how these orders—dubbed a ‘nuclear weapon’—preserve assets but can extend far beyond spouses to companies and business partners 
A Court of Appeal ruling has clarified that ‘rent’ must be monetary—excluding tenants paid in labour from statutory protection. In this week's NLJ, James Naylor explains Garraway v Phillips, where a tenant worked two days a week instead of paying rent
Thousands more magistrates are to be recruited, under a major shake-up to speed up and expand the hiring process
The winners of the LexisNexis Legal Awards 2026 have now been announced, marking another outstanding celebration of excellence, innovation, and impact across the legal profession
Three men wrongly imprisoned for a combined 77 years have been released—yet received ‘not a penny’ in compensation, exposing deep flaws in the justice system. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Jon Robins reports on Justin Plummer, Oliver Campbell and Peter Sullivan, whose convictions collapsed amid discredited forensics, ‘oppressive’ police interviews and unreliable ‘cell confessions’
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