The articles here relate to every day family life.
There is now less than one week until polling day and, as an antidote to the election fatigue most of us are feeling, it is worth looking at some of the more interesting laws relating to elections and the Parliament generally. So, here are five facts about...
Emma Menzies , head of our award-winning Personal Injury team , has been awarded the title of " Defendant Lawyer of the Year " at the National Personal Injury Awards . Emma was praised as a “ model professional ", and the...
Southampton Sailing Week 2020 will have the same Property and Legal Cup Sponsors as the 2019 event as Dutton Gregory are set to return. The leading solicitors, who operate out of six offices across the country including Southampton, Winchester and...
Since being founded in 2008, Airbnb has gone from the complete unknown to having hosted roughly 400 million guests worldwide. Surprisingly a year after its launch, the company was struggling to break-even but now has 31 offices and is estimated to have more...
Fairly soon we’ll have a new Parliament. For those campaigning for election, it is perhaps worth remembering some of the strange laws made by some of their predecessors. Or, as it often turns out, strange laws that people think their...
Unfortunately, we’ve noticed Clinical Negligence claims involving falls in hospitals are still common, especially among the elderly. Falls can happen for a number of reasons and not all of them will be because of negligence. ...
Over 100 Propertymark agents and supporters, including Dutton Gregory Senior Partner Robert Bolwell, took part in a charity sleep out to raise £57,938 to support homeless young people in the UK. On the 21 st November, a team of over 100 individuals,...
With parts of England still underwater and more wet weather to come, many people, organisation and even animals are doing their bit to help. Indeed, it has been announced that three families of beavers are to be introduced on land managed by the...
Local fast-growing law firm Dutton Gregory Solicitors is delighted to announce Associate Solicitor, Helen Clarkson, as the new Chair of Young Resolution Hampshire. Resolution is a nationwide community of family justice professionals who commit to working...
Dutton Gregory Solicitors , a growing regional practice offering legal expertise across Dorset and Hampshire, has become a finalist for four separate categories at this years’ Personal Injury Awards 2019. The Personal Injury Awards are...
Next week marks the 25 th anniversary of the first National Lottery draw. For £1 per ticket, players could guess which six out of 49 balls would be drawn with each ticket having a one-in-14-million chance of being a winner. To mark the...
An inquest is sometimes held when a person has died and their death was either sudden and the cause is unknown, unnatural and or violent. Depending on the circumstances of the death, a member of the family of the deceased can request the matter be referred...
This Saturday (9 th November 2019) marks the 30 th anniversary of one of the most important events in recent history, the fall of the Berlin Wall. To mark the occasion, here are five fascinating facts about facades, fortifications, borders,...
It will soon be that time of year again when bonfires burn and fireworks flash. In order to ignite your interest, here are five fiery facts about illegal illuminations, prosecuted plotters and more! 1. All’s flare in love and war It is...
MOVING HOME? BE PREPARED Moving house is often classified as one of life’s most stressful events, with a recent poll ( Yopa, 2019 ) voting a move to be more nerve-wracking than getting a divorce, with 60% of people admitting they were put off...
Dutton Gregory Solicitors Achieves Another Record Win for Clients October 2019 This month Carol Maunder, Partner at the firm and Head of Clinical Negligence settled a case for her client, a 12 year old boy, for £12.86 million . Suffering from...
Clinical Negligence Claims - Snooze and You Will Lose! Think you or a loved one have a potential Negligence claim? Get in touch with our expert Clinical Negligence team now to discuss: 01202 315005 or contact@duttongregory.co.uk In clinical...
Whether you’re interested in lore or law, there are plenty of eerie enactments and creepy cases that deal with the supernatural. As the spooky season is now upon us, here are five fascinating facts about phantoms, felons and all things...
This week it was revealed, following an investigation, that only 1% of the bulbs sold at Amsterdam’s famous floating flower market, ever blossom. That spells trouble for those sellers touting their tulips to tourists but it’s also an...
Dutton Gregory is celebrating after several of its departments and many of its leading individuals throughout Hampshire and Dorset were recognised in the Legal 500 Directory 2019. The Legal 500 series analyses the capabilities of law firms worldwide...
Tomorrow marks the 40 th anniversary of the publication of the Hitchhiker’ Guide to the Galaxy. *Spoiler alert*. For those who haven’t read the book (or watched film, or watched the TV series or listened to the radio play…),...
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few weeks, you may have noticed that the Supreme Court has been in the news recently. What you may not know is that it also celebrated its 10 th birthday this week. Moreover, another British...
Every year hundreds of thousands of accidents occur at work. These might involve heavy lifting or inadequate training on how to lift, using defective equipment or machinery or it could be another employee’s error. We’re taking an insider look at...
Have you bought a derelict property since March 2016? Did you pay a SDLT surcharge on the purchase of that property? If so, you could be due a refund. On 1 st April 2016, the government introduced the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) surcharge for...
It is quite common for land or property to be subject to covenants which restrict certain use or activity on the land. As can be seen from the first part of this article , a covenant must satisfy certain conditions in order to be enforceable. ...
It is quite common for land or property to be subject to covenants which restrict certain use or activity on the land. What is a covenant? Covenants are typically created where a land owner sells off a part of their land while wanting to restrict...
Regional heavyweight law firm Dutton Gregory are delighted to announce they won two awards at the Hampshire Law Society Legal Awards 2019. The firm was awarded runner up for ‘Large Law Firm of the Year’ after a successful 12 months which saw the...
When you get married or enter into a civil partnership it is not obligatory to change your name and take on your partner’s surname. Some people decide to change their name because of marriage or with couples wanting to make it simpler especially if...
When parents separate, there can often be a dispute about the arrangements for any children. Whilst there is a presumption by the court under Section 1(2A) Children Act 1989 that the involvement of a parent in a child’s life will further their (the...
Every now and again we are reminded of ancient laws that have never been repealed, some being fairly ridiculous and amusing! For instance, an 1872 law that has never been repealed made it an offence for a pub landlord to allow drunkenness in their...
Family law is something many people need at some point in their lives. But seeking professional advice can also be one of the most daunting steps to take. Here at Dutton Gregory Solicitors , all our family team offer a personal service, built on...
Regional heavyweight law firm Dutton Gregory has been awarded membership of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) following the recent growth and successes the firm has seen within its leasehold property services. ALEP is...
Mediation - What is it, and how can it help me? This week is Family Mediation Week - but what exactly is mediation, and how does it support you and your family? When relationships break down emotions run high, and talking face to face can seem like the...
One of the fastest growing law firms in the South, Dutton Gregory, is strengthening its residential conveyancing service in Southampton. Following the success of the firm’s merger with Page Gulliford & Gregory in April 2018, Dutton Gregory...
As solicitors advising families often find, divorce and child contact disputes are an extremely emotional and complex issue for all involved. These cases can become very stressful and worrying for everyone, as the Family team at regional law firm Dutton...
One of the fastest growing law firms in the South, Dutton Gregory, has recently awarded promotions to six of its lawyers at Associate and Senior Associate level. These prestigious promotions have been awarded to lawyers from across Hampshire and Dorset in...
At the frontline of housing in the Dorset area, our experienced Residential team have been busy over the last few months supporting local residents to buy and sell their property. Notoriously a slow period for property movement, the summer months...
As a result of the recent budget, there have been further changes in respect of the relief that First Time Buyers can claim in respect of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) payable on the purchase of new Shared Ownership properties. From 2017, it was the case...
On 28th February 2018, the Office of National Statistics published their findings looking at marriages in England and Wales in 2015. Of the 239,020 opposite sex marriages in England and Wales, 15% were remarrying. This means that in 2015 alone, approximately...
Local law firm Dutton Gregory continue to receive excellent feedback and high praise from their satisfied residential property clients, following the recent growth of their Chandler’s Ford-based team. Led by Partner Paul Sams, the team have received a...
Regional heavyweight law firm, Dutton Gregory are proud sponsors of this year’s Southampton Property Show, taking place at Southampton Harbour Hotel on Thursday 13th September. As Southampton’s largest property investment, business and...
Last week, the Minister of Housing, Communities and Local Government, James Brokenshire, published the latest figures from the Government’s Help to Buy schemes. It was announced that over a third of a million first time buyer properties have been...
Regional heavyweight law firm, Dutton Gregory, has expanded its Residential Property department with four new members of staff joining the team based in Chandler’s Ford. This latest growth will enable the firm to continue delivering first-class...
Since 1 October 2015 in addition to the paperwork sent to a tenant proving compliance with the deposit registration regulations, Landlords have had to make sure that tenants have received the appropriate energy performance certificate, the government’s...
Prenuptial Agreements are regarded as unromantic, but:- If every couple had one, there would be far fewer disputes about finances and all solicitors would be left twiddling their thumbs. If a Prenuptial Agreement is prepared with the assistance of an...
Separated parents need to be aware of the issue of the law relating to taking their children abroad on holiday, to avoid being accused of child abduction, be refused past check-in or turned away at boarder patrol, if they fail to take the right documents...
When personal injury claimants are awarded a lump sum of compensation payments that include damages for future loss, eg future loss of earnings, the amount they receive is adjusted according to the interest they can expect to earn by investing the...
The Knee – it’s a complex bit of kit. The knee, as you will know, is a hinge joint. This means that it can either be flexed (folded ‘backwards’) or extended. It is a complex joint, as the femur (thigh bone) joins...
Pressure Ulcers – what they are, who is at risk, prevention & treatment. This is a Photo of Maggot Therapy – which is occasionally used to treat serious Pressure Ulcers. Pressure ulcers are an injury that breaks down the skin and...
Complications with the Prostate Glands In males, the urethra is the tube that runs from the bladder to the tip of the penis, carrying urine and at the time of ejaculation, sperm with seminal fluid. The prostate is a small olive-sized structure that...
Medico-Legal Ramifications when Diagnosing or Missing Infection Diagnosing infection is generally straight forward, as one will present with a fever along with relevant physical symptoms. Chest, gut and urinary tract infections are probably...
A hernia occurs when an internal part of the body pushes through a weakness in the muscle or surrounding tissue wall. A hernia usually develops between your chest and hips. In many cases, it causes no or very few symptoms,...
This is a rare disease affecting the eyes, though it can have a profound impact. Essentially it is inflammation of both eyes, following trauma to one eye. It can leave the patient completely blind. Symptoms may develop from days to several years after...
Botox, which has it’s origins in the bacteria, Clostridium Botulinum, is used commercially in medicine, cosmetics (as can be seen in the picture above – where it’s been extensively used), and research. Infection with this type of...
This is a relatively new phenomenon in which a right diagnosis is made but subsequently harm arises. This may seem like an odd concept, though there are times when the impact of treating a condition is less beneficial than not treating it. The first...
S cars are areas of the skin where there is obvious residual appearance of an area of healing to the skin after it has been damaged. In the picture above – you can see a vertical scar to my forehead (in amongst the wrinkles!) – caused...
Local Solicitor offers urgent warning about Government’s ‘risky’ online legal tool Alistair MacFarlane Partner at Dutton Gregory Solicitors, issues warning about the Government’s online tool for Lasting Powers of Attorney...
The Brain Stem (see the diagram above showing it in multi-colours) is responsible for many of the automatic functions of the body, including maintenance of breathing, the heart rate and blood pressure and the ability to swallow. It acts as a relay...
This is an image that the actress Brooke Shields posted of herself on Instagram – following surgery to both hands for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition that causes a tingling...
Question : what do Michael Phelps (pictured below), Abraham Lincoln and Osama Bin Laden have in common? Answer : they were all diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome. Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects the body’s connective...
In two months the Supreme Court will determine the final outcome of an inheritance case which has been ongoing for more than a decade, a decision which is likely to set new legal precedent. The case of Heather Ilott has raised contentious debate over...
Asthma is one of the most common medical conditions, with an estimated five and a half million people in the UK having this condition, i.e. 1 in 10 people. The startling statistic is that every 10 seconds there is a person having a potentially lethal...
Beware the Emergency Department (Part II) Assessment This requires a mental health history including any history of documented social behavioural conditions, conduct disorders, ADHD, psychosis/schizophrenia or autism. In the medical history,...
It can be an incredibly difficult decision to terminate a pregnancy and harder still to follow through on that course. At the very least you would hope for some peace of mind knowing you made the right choice, given the circumstances, for the right reasons. ...
This article will look at the guidance provided on the management of patients who are violent in the setting of an Emergency Department (ED). Most assaults in hospital occur within the ED; the overall reported figures for violent attacks against all...
The Clinical Negligence team at Dutton Gregory has finalised a case against several GPs and nurses; a bittersweet success which sadly came too late for the Claimant who recently passed away. The team at Dutton Gregory were approached following a string...
Bunions (Hallux Valgus) Bunions are quite common, and occur when the big toe pushes towards the adjacent toes, making the joint at the base of the big toe protrude outwards. This joint is the metatarsal to the phalanges (the equivalent joint in the...
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a form of arthritis that mainly affects the spine. It tends to occur in young people, being more common in males. The explorer Christopher Columbus, cricketer Mike Atherton and golfer Ian Woosnam all suffered from AS. ...
This essentially means wear and tear affecting one’s vision as they get older. The macula is an oval-shaped pigmented area near the centre of the retina of the human eye . It has a diameter of around 5mm. The consequence of a...
Owing to the obesity ‘epidemic’ afflicting the UK, Bariatric (“weight loss”) surgery is developing at a pace. Within bariatric surgery are 3 different types of procedures that are commonly used so that the patient can sustain a...
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative condition, reflecting wear and tear of a joint, linked to the ageing process. Trauma (for example sport’s injury), obesity or other causes of joint loading will tend to speed up the development of this...
Approximately 1 in 5 pregnancies lead to miscarriage, with over fifty thousand admissions following miscarriage occurring in the UK per year. One in a hundred pregnancies (roughly 2,500 per year) is ectopic: ie. a fertilised egg settles not in the womb, but...
Intestinal Polyps are abnormal growths from the lining of the bowel, occurring mostly in the large bowel (aka large intestine/colon) , although there are some inherited conditions where polyps can be found anywhere in the bowel. The majority do not cause...
A Definition of Clinical Negligence and NHS Indemnity Clinical negligence is defined as: “Professional negligence by act or omission by a health care provider in which the treatment provided falls below the accepted standard of...
Cauda Equina (Latin for ‘horse’s tail’) describes the appearance of the nerve roots coming out at the bottom end of the spinal cord. Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) relates to compression of nerves in the lumbar spine. These nerves if...
The appendix (see picture below) is a largely useless part of the bowel in the human, measuring around 10cm in length in an adult. However, some species of animal cannot be without it - for example the rabbit - as the grass that a rabbit eats needs...
You may be aware that there are a number of ways to close wounds. These include: Skin staples Stitches (also called sutures) Strips of paper with small grips to bring the wound together (e.g. steristrips) Specialised glue Gunpowder from a bullet...
Secondary victim = someone who witnesses an accident which results in there being an injury, or fear of injury, to the primary victim. Consequently the secondary victim suffers nervous shock (psychological injury). Because of the potential for...
Firstly, a quick biology lesson/reminder: Arteries generally carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the body, and veins carry the de-oxygenated blood from the various parts of the body back to the heart. The muscles of the heart receive their own...
Carol Maunder, Partner and Head of the Clinical Negligence Department, acted as the Solicitor for the claimant on the case outlined below (Relfe v Hywel Dda Local Health Board). The facts In December 2010, the claimant was involved in a car accident. She...
The literal translation of Microcephaly is ‘small headedness’. Infants with Microcephaly are born with either a normal or reduced head size. Subsequently, the head fails to grow, while the face continues to develop at a normal rate,...
The recent Supreme Court decision in the case of Knauer –v- Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has been welcomed by clinical negligence and personal injury lawyers alike. It means that claimants will now be better off when it comes to assessing their...
Hypoxia occurs when there is a deficiency in the amount of oxygen in the body. It can be throughout the body or in a localised area. Anoxia is where there is no oxygen at all. Hypoxia can occur for a number of reasons, including breathing in air...
Click here to read Part 1 of this article. In the following fictitious example, a Mr Gregory Dutton died at the age of 48 from testicular cancer. His GP was found to have been clinically negligent for failing to timeously refer Mr Dutton to an oncologist,...
In the following fictitious example, a Mr Gregory Dutton died at the age of 48 from testicular cancer. His GP was found to have been clinically negligent for continuously failing to refer Mr Dutton to an oncologist, therefore resulting in his premature...
Warfarin is the most commonly used oral anticoagulant (drugs that prevent blood from clotting) used in the UK. It is often prescribed where there has been a significant blood clot that has caused a medical complication, such as pulmonary embolism (clot in...
Click here to see the previous blog post this relates to. What has been the reaction to the Autumn Statement from the industry? Huw Evans, director general at the Association of British Insurers: "This is a significant breakthrough in...
The potential impact of the autumn statement for you and for clinical negligence lawyers… What was relevant in the Autumn Statement 2015 for personal injury and clinical negligence lawyers? The Government has announced in its 2015 Autumn...
Type of Injury: Spinal infection Court title: Deane-Cutler v Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust Damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity: £18,000 Total damages agreed: ££49,000...
A needle-stick injury is, unsurprisingly, one where the skin is breached by contact with a sharp object such as a needle. What is surprising is that it is quite a common injury in clinical practice, with large numbers going unreported. Of those that are...
Stillbirth Damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity: £20,763 Total damages agreed: £25,000 Sex: Female Age: 34 The facts The Claimant's baby was stillborn on 14/12/10. She had significant medical history in relation to...
It seems that a complaint about a specific term of an employment contract, provided it affects more than just one individual, can be in the ‘public interest’ for the purposes of the newly amended whistle-blowing provisions under section 43B(1) of...
The first part of this article can be seen here . Problems from a medico-legal point of view Misdiagnosis of epididymitis – this is due to an infection of the surrounding part of the testis, called the epididymis. This too can be painful and...
The High Court is to rule on a damages claim against the NHS by a man who was discharged from A&E without seeing a doctor in 2006. He went on to suffer a heart attack and stroke four years later. The claimant says the A&E department...
Adapted from an article by Mr Ramesh Thurairaja , Consultant Urological Surgeon, Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital, London What is it, and how to establish if there is potential clinical negligence for failing to diagnose it ...
To read part 1 of the article please click here. Raised intracranial pressure Raised intracranial pressure may present with vomiting, headache and altered level of consciousness. This can be due to the tumour itself, but more commonly due to the system...
Brain tumours are the most common solid tumour in children and young people. Brain tumours account for about 25% of all childhood cancers, with an incidence of 5 per 100,000 children (aged up to 9 years of age). The location of tumours is divided into a...
A decision last month by the Court of Justice for the European Union in the case of Vnuk v. Zavarovalnica Triglav D.D. may well have far reaching implications for motorised vehicles within the UK that have not previously required insurance. To date,...
Robert Bolwell, partner and head of department (Landlord and Tenant), appeared on last week's BBC Watchdog giving advice on tenancy arrangements. If you missed the show, you can watch it on BBC iPlayer here . Should you need any further advice...
There are 5 nerves connecting the vertebrae in the neck to the upper arm, which join together to form a complex union, a bit like a busy railway junction. This union of 5 nerves, as well as the formation of different nerves from that union that supply the...
"The team works extremely hard for its clients, is friendly and easy to work with, and operates in a very professional manner."Legal 500 2019
"I have always found the property team at Dutton Gregory to be very efficient and conscientious; they are a pleasure to work with."Legal 500 2019
The team at Dutton Gregory stands out for its ability to assist clients with 'understanding any technical issues which arise and helping to resolve the legal problems all the way to a conclusion'."Legal 500 2018
"Dutton Gregory LLP provides ‘a very good service’ and ‘enjoys a warm and friendly relationship with clients’."Legal 500 2018
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