English mother to be reunited with child in Dubai…

by reporting watch team | Mar 4, 2017 | Cases, Explanation

This post is about the case of Lachaux v Lachaux [2017] EWHC 385 (Fam), a recent decision by Mr Justice Mostyn. It is really hard to write an accurate and not too long headline for this sort of case. We’re not sure the headline we’ve gone with is a good...

Shi-Anne Downer – Press Coverage and Serious Case Review

by reporting watch team | Feb 25, 2017 | Analysis, Cases, Explanation, FCReportingWatch, Notorious

The publication of the Serious Case Review in the very sad case of Shi-Anne (Keegan) Downer, murdered at 18 months old by her Special Guardian Kandyce Downer, has prompted a fresh round of press coverage of the circumstances of her death. Kandyce Downer was convicted...

When child protection goes wrong – can you claim any financial compensation?

by Sarah P | Feb 21, 2017 | Explanation

This post follows a recent report of an adult who has taken legal action against a local authority for failures to do their job properly or at all, resulting in harm to that individual. It is an attempt to provide a brief over-view of the likely routes to a claim for...

Teresa Kirk and the Court of Protection – the end of an “astonishing story”

by Barbara Rich | Feb 20, 2017 | Analysis, Cases, Comment, Court of Protection, Explanation, FCReportingWatch, Notorious

On 14 February 2017, the Daily Mail reported on developments in a Court of Protection case that it has been following for some time: “an astonishing story that has come to represent all that is wrong with Britain’s shadowy Court of Protection.”  The story is that of...

An unreasonable petition?

by reporting watch team | Feb 16, 2017 | Cases, Explanation, FCReportingWatch

There are reports of an unusual case heard in the Court of Appeal recently: a wife appeals against a judge’s refusal to grant her a divorce from her husband because she can’t stand his behaviour any more and says the relationship has broken down...

Enforcement of Family Financial Orders: Iqbal is the perfect example of why reform is needed.

by reporting watch team | Feb 15, 2017 | Cases, Comment, Explanation, FCReportingWatch

This is a post by Zoe Saunders, barrister at St John’s Chambers about the case of Iqbal v Iqbal [2017] EWCA Civ 19 (25 January 2017).   Enforcement of family law orders in financial cases is not a straightforward process. There are relatively few family...