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25 November 2022 / Dominic Regan
Issue: 8004 / Categories: Opinion , Costs , Personal injury , Damages
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The insider: 25 November 2022

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Dominic Regan sees February and October in the fixed costs tea leaves, predicts Belsnerphobia in Wolverhampton, and shares the joy of swag

Fixed costs

I was in the front row at the Civil Justice Council National Forum last Friday. Lord Bellamy KC, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice, who has held office for almost an eternity (over five months) announced yet further delay to the Fixed Costs Rules. They are now going to come into force in October 2023.

The ministry is a soft target for criticism, but I am assured by the top brass that the concern was to ensure practitioners had a decent amount of time to digest the new measures, which I think might now be unveiled in February.

Belsner

Fear stalks the streets of Wolverhampton. Those employed at the office of the Legal Ombudsman, already burdened with a backlog, must be terrified at the thought of thousands of costs disputes coming their way, as strongly recommended by the Master

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Switalskis—Sally Ann Masih, Suzy Overton & Jane Beaumont

Switalskis—Sally Ann Masih, Suzy Overton & Jane Beaumont

Trio of recruits strengthens Switalskis residential property team

Ward Hadaway—Steven Hayward

Ward Hadaway—Steven Hayward

Birmingham law firm appoints construction partner

Flint Bishop—six appointments

Flint Bishop—six appointments

Flint Bishop accelerates Northern growth through strategic senior appointments

NEWS
A High Court decision has clarified that a home may be unfit for human habitation not only where conditions endanger health or safety, but also where they seriously undermine comfort and convenience

A longer time limit for employment tribunal claims, new charity law thresholds, property tribunal recruitment and appellate guidance on small-claims costs feature in the latest Civil Way round-up

A recent High Court ruling could make issue estoppel considerably more complex in cross-border litigation, requiring parties to consider the foreign law governing the underlying claim
The Supreme Court has overturned Cheshire West’s bright-line test for deprivation of liberty, replacing it with a broader, more contextual assessment that gives greater weight to an individual’s wishes, feelings and apparent consent
Jonathan Fisher KC’s wide-ranging fraud report contains worthwhile proposals, but turning them into workable reform will require money, capacity and political will
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