PI Dept.'s Legal 500 Entry

From The North Devon Journal

Personal Injury Department Gains Entry to The Prestigious Legal 500

The highly prestigious law directory, The Legal 500, has singled out the Exeter and Bideford offices of Slee Blackwell as one of a handful of firms excelling in personal injury law.

Says partner Lee Dawkins,

“We are delighted that the firm has been recognised by an influential and independent publication as one of the region’s leading centres for personal injury law. This is a reflection of the professionalism and expertise of our team of personal injury specialists.”

The firm has been developing a growing reputation for dealing with personal injury law and represents claimants from all parts of the country in what has become a national practice.

Mike Clarke Half Million Compensation Claim NDJ

From The North Devon Journal

Bideford solicitors recover £1/2m compensation for local man

Slee Blackwell’s Bideford office has secured compensation of almost half a million pounds for a former engineer with T J Brent who suffered devastating head injuries in an industrial accident.
Adrian Pile, a former Army electronics specialist from Torrington, who now lives in Bideford, was aged 25 when his head was crushed by heavy machinery. He suffered multiple skull fractures which left him with severe brain damage, loss of sight in one eye, and permanent effects on his ability to taste and smell.
His solicitor, Mike Clarke, said:
"Mr Pile recovered very well from injuries which could easily have been fatal, but his promising career as an engineer has been destroyed. He will suffer significant difficulties for the rest of his life and the size of the settlement reflects that. He is a very determined man of high intelligence, who has made great efforts to keep working and remain positive, despite the drastic effect this accident has had on his life."
Liability for the accident was admitted by Brents but agreement on the amount of compensation was reached on the case only this week, shortly before it was due for trial.
For further information please contact Mike Clarke on 01237 425225 or by e-mail at michael.clarke@sleeblackwell.co.uk

Licencing act 2003 - One Year On

It has been almost a year since the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003 since then the Courts have been kept busy clarifying how the Act should be interpreted in terms of the way Licensed Premises are run.
One thing is clear, people are not afraid to contest the decisions made by the Licensing Authorities. Challenges can be brought by Judicial Review or by an appeal. Appeals can be costly for the Premises Licence Holder especially since the High Court ruled that if an Authority has acted 'reasonably and in good faith' in reaching its decision legal costs should not be awarded against them even if ultimately the decision is flawed.
There are many appeals currently ongoing throughout the country and there have already been several interesting decisions. Perhaps the most significant one so far concerns the Department of Culture and Media which has been forced to clarify what is meant by the requirement to have a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) or Personal Licence Holder 'present' when alcohol is being sold or supplied. In Yorkshire one Licence Holder was forced to return from holiday under threat that if they failed to do so their premises would have to be closed. This led to questions being raised in the House of Commons and a revision of the DCMS Guidance. The revised Guidance now specifies that the DPS must give a specific statement to the person delegated to take over responsibility and that there must be regular monitoring by the absent personal licence holder. It would therefore be our advice that a written statement be given by both the DPS and the person taking over their responsibilities during their absence.
Hopefully these appeals and judicial reviews will continue to bring much needed clarity to the law so that Licensing Authorities and Premises Licence Holders alike will have a better understanding of what the Licensing Act 2003 actually requires.
If you need any help or advice relating to Licensing matters please contact specialist solicitor Emma Napper on 01271-349924 or e-mail emma.napper@sleeblackwell.co.uk
www.sleeblackwell.co.uk