Competition and Markets Authority launches action against British Airways and Ryanair

The Competition and Markets Authority (the CMA) have stated that Ryanair and British Airways could have breached consumer law by refusing to refund customers at the height of the pandemic. Instead, they offered an option to rebook or vouchers. It said that it had opened enforcement cases into both airlines and had written to them detailing…

Lidl loses trademark battle over Hendrick’s gin lookalike

Lidl has been forced to temporarily stop selling a version of one of its own brand gins after being sued by the makers of Hendrick’s gin who claim a trademark has been infringed. Hendrick’s gin bottles bear a diamond-shaped label in a trademark. Lidl is defending the case and claims there are “clear and obvious…

Ex-boxing champion Joe Calzaghe reaches agreement in legal dispute with sister

Ex-boxing champion Joe Calzaghe has reached an agreement in legal dispute with sister Sonia Prosser who had sued him and their other sister Melissa Calzaghe, in a dispute relating to administration of their late father Enzo’s estate. Judge Jarman sitting at Cardiff County Court had been due to oversee an online hearing but lawyers representing all sides…

EU prepares legal case against AstraZeneca over vaccine shortfalls

The European Union’s executive branch has commenced legal action against AstraZeneca for breaching the terms of its contract with the EU. It holds AstraZeneca responsible for partly delaying their vaccine rollout. AstraZeneca’s contract with the EU, signed last August, foresaw an initial 300 million doses for distribution among member countries, with an option for a…

Two hospitality bosses launch legal challenge to try to force the UK government to bring forward the reopening date for pubs and restaurants indoors

The High Court is considering evidence in a case brought by Sacha Lord, the night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester and a co-founder of Parklife festival, and Hugh Osmond, the founder of Punch Taverns and a former boss at Pizza Express to  try to force the UK government to bring forward the reopening date for…

Marks & Spencer launches legal actions against Aldi over Colin the Caterpillar cake rival Cuthbert

Marks & Spencer (“M&S”) has lodged an intellectual property claim with the High Court against Aldi in an effort to protect its Colin the Caterpillar cake with a claim that Aldi’s Cuthbert the Caterpillar product infringes its trademark. M&S argues that the similarity of Aldi’s product leads consumers to believe they are of the same…

Former footballer turned agent, Barry Silkman wins £800,000 legal battle over ex-wife’s estate

Barry Silkman, a former Manchester city footballer turned agent, has won an £800,000 court action over his ex-wife’s estate. Mr Silkman sued Gaven Love over the Will of Ally Fuller. Mr Silkman split from Ms Fuller in 2003 and she became engaged to Mr Love in 2007. Ms Fuller died of cancer in 2016 and…

Family of Argentinian Footballer, Emiliano Sala, to launch legal action over footballer’s death

The family of Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala are taking legal action against the footballer’s former club Cardiff City after his death in a plane crash on 21 January 2021. The family has commenced civil proceedings in the High Court, in order to “protect their legal rights” against 13 defendants including Cardiff City, the club Sala…

UK High Court rules Health Minister, Matt Hancock acted unlawfully in granting Covid-19 contracts

The UK High Court has ruled that Health Minister Matt Hancock “acted unlawfully by failing to comply with the Transparency Policy” in granting Covid-19 contracts. The ruling followed a judicial review against the government’s failure to publish its contracts with private companies involved in the response to the pandemic. The government used emergency powers under…