Weekly law digests

Adoption

Re L (Children) [2017] EWCA Civ 2173, [2018] All ER (D) 15 (Jan)

The mother’s appeal against the making of final care orders and subsequently placement orders in respect of her two children had no prospect of success and permission to appeal should, accordingly, be refused. The Court of Appeal, Civil Division held that the judge had been entitled to conclude, on the evidence, that there had been no change of circumstances for the purpose of s 47(5) of the Adoption and Children Act 2006

Criminal law

R (upon the prosecution of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Health and Safety) v Whirlpool UK Appliances Ltd [2017] EWCA Crim 2186, [2017] All ER (D) 124 (Dec)

A fine of £700,000 imposed upon the defendant company following a guilty plea to an offence contrary to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 s 3(1) was deemed manifestly excessive, on appeal. The Court of Appeal, Criminal Division, applying the Definitive Guideline on Corporate Manslaughter, held that the appropriate fine in the circumstances should have been one