The Derby County Court has delivered a significant ruling on costs procedure, addressing whether courts should entertain preliminary applications before provisional assessment hearings. District Judge Davies examined compliance with the Ainsworth v Stewarts Law LLP precedent and considered whether pre-assessment declarations undermine the provisional assessment regime's fundamental purpose.

When third party debt order applications become heavily contested and substantially more complex than anticipated, courts may exercise discretion to disapply fixed costs regimes in favour of assessed costs. A recent High Court decision demonstrates how routine enforcement proceedings can justify significantly higher cost awards when the level of contest and preparation exceeds what the fixed costs regime was designed to cover.

Baroness Amos' final report reveals the persistent failures in maternity and neonatal care, where families' concerns are routinely dismissed and accountability is denied. The report proposes system-wide reforms including a statutory National Maternity and Neonatal Commissioner to oversee implementation within 12 months. Will these recommendations finally deliver the meaningful change that families desperately need, or will this be another missed opportunity for lasting reform?

A recent costs judgment in Smith v Wigan Borough Council confirms an important point in housing disrepair litigation: settlement figures alone do not determine the appropriate costs Track.

The families of the Southport attack victims have responded to the Government's acceptance of the inquiry's findings, welcoming legislative commitments while pressing for individual accountability. As the Government moves to introduce new laws targeting mass casualty attack planning and violence-fixated individuals, questions remain about whether institutional reforms alone are sufficient without consequences for those whose failures made the tragedy possible.

When serious injury strikes, the legal claims process offers far more than just financial compensation. From early rehabilitation support and interim payments to practical assistance with employment concerns and benefit appeals, specialist solicitors provide crucial guidance during life's most challenging moments.

A complex Erb's palsy clinical negligence claim resulted in a £350,000 settlement for a client living with permanent brachial plexus injury from birth trauma. Despite previous solicitors closing the case and significant legal obstacles including denied liability and statute-barred maternal claims, meticulous case review and expert medical evidence secured life-changing compensation for lasting physical and psychological impacts.

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination represents one of the most demanding assessment regimes for aspiring solicitors in England and Wales. What makes this centralised examination system so challenging, and how can candidates best prepare for its rigorous two-stage process that tests both legal knowledge and practical skills?

The publication of Donna Ockenden's final report into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has brought to light systemic issues in communication, patient safety, and accountability that extend far beyond a single institution. With maternity claims representing 57% of new clinical negligence claims by value and costing the NHS £1.3 billion annually, the question arises: how can improved communication and mental health support during the perinatal period prevent both devastatin

The final report of the Thirlwall Inquiry reveals serious failures in management, governance and safeguarding at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2018. Lady Justice Thirlwall's investigation identifies 17 recommendations aimed at improving the safety of babies in hospital care, following events that led to the conviction of former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby. Bond Turner, representing affected families as a Core Participant, emphasizes the importance of these findings and the need for meaning

A devastating train collision near Bedford has resulted in numerous serious injuries and a tragic loss of life, raising urgent questions about railway safety.

NHS England's new Sepsis Modern Service Framework sets out an ambitious 10-year plan to reduce deaths and complications from sepsis by 25% by 2035. With over 133,000 hospital admissions and 1,300 clinical negligence claims related to sepsis in recent years, understanding the warning signs and knowing when delays in diagnosis may constitute medical negligence has never been more critical.

Women carrying BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations face significantly elevated breast cancer risks and require ongoing enhanced screening. This interactive tool helps you verify whether your high-risk breast screening pathway remains active and identify potential gaps in your care that may have occurred through administrative oversight or system failures.

Recent investigations reveal the systemic pressures facing UK maternity care, raising critical questions about safety standards, accountability and the legal framework supporting families when care falls short. What does the evidence tell us about the current state of maternity services, and how can legal processes drive meaningful improvement?

The Amos Report examines whether this latest inquiry into UK maternity care will finally drive meaningful improvement or simply repeat lessons already identified by previous investigations. With decades of warnings about avoidable harm, persistent inequalities, and failures to learn from past mistakes, the report raises critical questions about systemic accountability and the effectiveness of reform efforts. Will this become another report that gathers dust, or a genuine catalyst for safer, more equitable m

The tragic death of eight-year-old Ethan Michael Hanson has led to a Prevention of Future Deaths report exposing critical failures in NHS communication systems, neurodivergent patient assessment, and emergency care pathways. How did systemic breakdowns between primary and secondary care, combined with inadequate safeguards for recording clinical observations, contribute to a missed diagnosis of appendicitis that proved fatal?

Women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations require enhanced breast screening to detect cancer early, but administrative failures in healthcare systems can cause patients to be lost to follow-up...

The UK Government has announced a new Post Office Families Fund to recognise the harm suffered by relatives of sub-postmasters affected by the Horizon scandal. This dedicated compensation scheme will operate separately from existing redress programmes and is expected to open in summer 2026, offering two potential claim routes for eligible family members.

Investigations into NHS paediatric audiology services have revealed systemic failures affecting hundreds of children, including delayed assessments and missed hearing loss diagnoses that may have impacted speech, language and educational development. Families affected by these failures in care may have legal options to pursue compensation where delays caused avoidable harm and lost opportunities for early intervention. Understanding the scope of these failures and the potential consequences for children's d

The publication of Baroness Amos's final report and the appointment of a national Maternity and Neonatal Commissioner have reignited a fundamental question that has plagued NHS maternity services for years. With multiple layers of oversight already in place—from regulators and commissioners to national bodies—why does avoidable harm persist, and who actually holds the power to enforce the changes needed to prevent it?