A new Pre-Action Protocol “PAP” for debt recovery claims will come into force on 1st October 2017. The protocol applies to any business, including sole traders claiming payment of a debt from an individual, including a sole trader. The PAP does not apply to business debts, unless the debtor is a sole trader. An individual…
Natalia Potanina, the ex-wife of a Russian oligarch Vladimir Potanin has filed a lawsuit demanding $15billion from her former husband. She is seeking half of Vladimir Potanin’s wealth. If the claim is successful, the settlement will easily beat the current record, which is estimated to be $4billion paid by Alec Wildenstein to his ex-wife wife Jocelyn.…
Annual profits at Halfords have been hit by the weak pound despite a strong rise in sales. It reported pre-tax profits fell 10.5% to £71.4m for the year to March. Revenue was up 7.2% to nearly £1.1bn, boosted by the acquisition of upmarket bike business Tredz/Wheelies. Like-for- like revenues rose 2.7%. Halfords said higher import…
Darryl White, the son of late singer Barry White, is suing his father’s estate and widow Glodean White to get a bigger share of the estate. Mr White Jnr alleges that he was never shown his father’s will and is now “almost broke and homeless” after payments made to him from the estate dried up.…
This took place in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA… A lawyer purchased a box of very rare and expensive cigars, then insured them against, among other things, loss due to fire. Within a month, having smoked his entire stockpile of these great cigars, the lawyer filed a claim against the insurance company. In his claim, the…
Grammy award winning DJ Mark Ronson and French actress wife Josephine de La Baume have split. De La Baume filed for divorce from the musician citing irreconcilable differences. She is asking the court to award her spousal support, as well as for Ronson to pay her legal fees. Ronson and De La Baume married in…
Nestlé has lost the latest round of its seven year battle with rivals Cadbury to trademark the shape of the KitKat bar in the UK. The Court of Appeal ruled that the four-finger design had “no inherent distinctiveness”. Nestlé’s appeal followed a High Court ruling in January 2016 that blocked the trademark attempt. The European…
IKEA is to create more than 1,300 new jobs in three new stores. A new outlet will open in Sheffield later this year, while stores in Exeter and Greenwich will open in 2018, the firm said. The jobs will increase IKEA’s workforce in the UK and Ireland by 12.5% to about 11,700, the company said.…
Much has been written in the press recently about the proposed hike in Probate Court fees. The Government looked all set to implement the fee rise in May before it called a snap General Election for the 8th June 2017. Sadly, whatever happens we must be prepared for the new Government seeking to re-introduce a…
Accounting firm PwC has been fined a record £5m and severely reprimanded over its auditing of collapsed property services group Connaught by The Financial Reporting Council (FRC). Social housing specialist Connaught had £220m of debt when it went bust in 2010. The FRC found evidence of misconduct by PwC and retired partner Stephen Harrison. Mr…