header-logo header-logo

13 January 2012 / Dominic Regan
Issue: 7496 / Categories: Opinion , Legal services , Profession , Damages , Personal injury , Limitation
printer mail-detail

One for the record books?

Dominic Regan predicts good times ahead for UK litigators

For litigators, 2012 will be the year of the century. The Legal Aid and Punishment of Offenders Bill will receive Royal Assent, paving the way for seismic changes which will affect all civil claims in some way. My next article will mull over those reforms.

Almighty case

Here, I want to identify some of the big cases coming. In March or April we are likely to see the Supreme Court decision in Ministry of Defence v AB and others. Injury lawyers will be captivated by the decision of the seven who heard the appeal. A group of 1,011 claimants seek damages for exposure to ionising radiation as a result of exposure to nuclear tests undertaken during the 1950s in the Pacific Ocean.

Two almighty points are to be decided. What is the correct test for identifying the date of knowledge and how is the discretion under s 33 of the Limitation Act 1980 to be properly exercised?

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Stephen Ward, The Barrister Group

NLJ Career Profile: Stephen Ward, The Barrister Group

From mowing lawns to life at the Bar: Stephen Ward reflects on an unconventional career

Clarke Willmott—Ben Loosemore

Clarke Willmott—Ben Loosemore

Commercial property partner joins Clarke Willmott in Southampton

Ellisons—Robert Tiffen

Ellisons—Robert Tiffen

Robert Tiffen joins Ellisons as Partner in growing Norwich office

NEWS
The Law Society RFC Festival of Sport returns next month, bringing together legal and financial services professionals for one of the sector’s largest annual sporting events
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

back-to-top-scroll