Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 05 DECEMBER 2023

Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil – A Landmark Decision For Dispute Resolution

Thomson Snell & Passmore
Thomson Snell & Passmore
Contributor
Thomson Snell & Passmore

Thomson Snell & Passmore

With roots going back to 1570, Thomson Snell & Passmore has been honoured by the Guinness World...

View firm profile
Explore more from Thomson Snell & Passmore

On 29 November 2023, the Court of Appeal handed down its highly anticipated judgment in the case of James Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council [2023] EWCA Civ 1416.

United KingdomLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Zoe Bowler
Zoe Bowler

On 29 November 2023, the Court of Appeal handed down its highly anticipated judgment in the case of James Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council [2023] EWCA Civ 1416. This decision is set to change the way disputes are managed, after it was confirmed that the courts have the authority to stay (or suspend) proceedings and order the parties to engage in Alternative Dispute Resolution ("ADR").

Background to Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil

Mr Churchill made claims that Japanese knotweed had encroached from land that the Council owned (which was adjacent to his property) on to his property, causing damage, a reduction in value and loss of enjoyment. Mr Churchill's solicitor sent a letter before action to the Council in relation to these claims. The Council responded pointing Mr Churchill to their internal complaints procedure, and warned that if Mr Churchill proceeded to issue a claim without making use of the procedure, they would apply to the court for a stay

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Meta's $18 Billion Settlement: Reckoning Or Managed Exit?

Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion over 10 years to settle claims by 52 US state and territory attorneys general in the largest state consumer-protection settlement in American history outside tobacco. The settlement imposes binding child-safety obligations including time limits and age assurance, but leaves the core algorithmic feed unchanged and raises questions about whether this represents genuine accountability or a commercially managed outcome.
United KingdomLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Article

Game Developer And Publisher Battle Over Step In Rights

A High Court ruling examines a contentious dispute between a video game developer and publisher over milestone-based funding and "step in" rights for the first-person shooter Six Days in Fallujah. With over $50 million in development costs at stake and allegations of conspiracy to acquire proprietary source code, the court declined to grant either party interim control of the game's development, leaving both sides without the "keys to the kingdom" pending a full trial.
United KingdomLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Lewis Silkin
Lewis Silkin
Article

AI In Court: CJC Issues Final Report On The Use Of AI In Preparing Court Documents

The Civil Justice Council has released its Final Report on AI use in court documents, proposing 15 recommendations that balance innovation with integrity in civil litigation. The report introduces differentiated disclosure requirements for witnesses versus experts, while maintaining existing professional duties for legal representatives in written advocacy.
United KingdomLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG
Video

One-Punch Manslaughter – When A Single Blow Kills (Video)

A split-second decision can change lives forever. In one-punch manslaughter cases, a single impulsive blow, perhaps thrown in anger, fear or misguided bravado, leads to a tragic death. These ‘death by a single punch’ incidents are more common in the UK than many realise. Dozens of families every year are left devastated, with one family grieving an unimaginable loss, and another family shocked and fearful as their loved one faces a homicide investigation for an outcome no one intended. It’s a tragic reality, one moment of anger, one fatal assault involving a single blow, and two lives (and families) ruined.
United KingdomLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Olliers Solicitors
Olliers Solicitors
Article

LNG Charterparty Hire Formula: Meaning Of JKM–TTF Pricing Spread

The Commercial Court ruled on a USD 29 million dispute over an LNG carrier charterparty's index-linked pricing formula, determining whether the "JKM-TTF spread" operated bidirectionally or only when JKM exceeded TTF. The decision examines how unprecedented market conditions—where European gas prices surged above Asian prices due to the Ukraine war—tested the contractual formula's application and whether rectification could remedy an alleged drafting oversight.
European UnionLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
CMS Wistrand
CMS Wistrand
Article

Key Legal Changes Shaping The Property Market

The UK property sector faces sweeping regulatory transformation in 2026, from the abolition of no-fault evictions and fixed-term tenancies to retrospective bans on upward-only rent reviews and mandatory landlord databases. These changes fundamentally alter how residential and commercial properties are marketed, managed, and transacted, requiring landlords, developers, and investors to navigate an increasingly complex compliance landscape.
United KingdomReal Estate and Construction
Thomson Snell & Passmore
Thomson Snell & Passmore