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06 March 2026
Issue: 8152 / Categories: Legal News , Family , Divorce , Abuse
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NLJ this week: 40% penalty for coercive control

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In a striking financial remedies ruling, the High Court cut a wife’s award by 40% for coercive and controlling behaviour. Writing in NLJ this week, Chris Bryden and Nicole Wallace of 4 King’s Bench Walk analyse LP v MP [2025] EWFC 473

Mr Justice Cusworth held that even where loss is not ‘easily measurable’, it may still be unfair to ignore the financial impact of abuse. 

The decision challenges the traditionally strict requirement for clearly quantifiable loss and blurs the line between emotional harm and economic consequence. Whether this marks a ‘new era’ or a fork in the road for conduct arguments remains to be seen.

Issue: 8152 / Categories: Legal News , Family , Divorce , Abuse
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