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11 July 2025
Issue: 8124 / Categories: Legal News , Civil way , Procedure & practice
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NLJ this week: Tenants win big, lenders lose out, & SLAPPs get real

In his latest Civil Way column, NLJ columnist Stephen Gold rounds up a civil litigation smorgasbord

In London Trocadero v Picturehouse, a tenant successfully reclaimed £700k in insurance overcharges, with the court ruling that landlord commissions and admin fees weren’t part of the ‘premium’.

The Court of Appeal’s new civil guide is out—92 pages of procedural wisdom (coffee tips not included). The Equal Treatment Bench Book now covers emotional support animals in court—yes, even spaniels.

Meanwhile, SLAPPs (strategic lawsuits against public participation) now have a statutory definition under the Economic Crime Act, with CPR changes in force. And in Waller-Edwards v One Savings Bank, the Supreme Court ruled that lenders must be alert to undue influence in hybrid loans. If a vulnerable borrower is disadvantaged by a partner’s debts, lenders are ‘put on enquiry’—and risk losing possession rights if they fail to act. A landmark win for victims of economic abuse.

Issue: 8124 / Categories: Legal News , Civil way , Procedure & practice
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NEWS
A seemingly dry procedural update may prove potent. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ this week, Stephen Gold explains that new CPR 31.12A—part of the 193rd update—fills a ‘lacuna’ exposed in McLaren Indy v Alpa Racing
The long-running Mazur saga edged towards its finale as the Court of Appeal heard arguments on whether non-solicitors can ‘conduct litigation’. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School reports from a packed courtroom where 16 wigs watched Nick Bacon KC argue that Mr Justice Sheldon had failed to distinguish between ‘tasks and responsibilities’

The Court of Appeal has slammed the brakes on claimants trying to swap defendants after limitation has expired. In Adcamp LLP v Office Properties and BDB Pitmans v Lee [2026] EWCA Civ 50, it overturned High Court rulings that had allowed substitutions under s 35(6)(b) of the Limitation Act 1980, reports Sarah Crowther of DAC Beachcroft in this week's NLJ

Cheating in driving tests is surging—and courts are responding firmly. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Parpworth of De Montfort Law School charts a rise in impersonation and tech-assisted fraud, with 2,844 attempts recorded in a year
As AI-generated ‘deepfake’ images proliferate, the law may already have the tools to respond. In NLJ this week, Jon Belcher of Excello Law argues that such images amount to personal data processing under UK GDPR
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