Case Reports

A man who claimed entitlement to the Baronetcy of Stichill on the basis that DNA evidence put in doubt his rival’s claim has succeeded after the Board of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council found in his favour. Lord Hodge gave the opinion of the Board which also comprised Lord Neuberger, L

A Scottish local authority that was granted a permanence order in respect of a child, but challenged a sheriff’s decision to order that contact take place between the boy and his father four times a year rather than two, has had its appeal refused in the first published civil case judgment of the

A Scottish council has won a £3 million legal dispute with an insurance firm over the collapse of the Scottish Coal Company. South Lanarkshire Council raised a commercial action seeking payment of £3,117,724 from Aviva Insurance, which the local authority claimed was due under a “performance gua

An agriculture apprentice who was banned from driving for two years after driving a tractor the wrong way along a one-way road in the course of his employment in a family farming business has successfully challenged the period of disqualification. The Sheriff Appeal Court allowed the appeal against

A trustee company that sought to prevent a financial services group from redeeming enhanced capital notes has had its appeal dismissed by judges in theSupreme Court. BNY Mellon’s appeal was dismissed by a 3:2 majority. Lord Neuberger gave the leading judgment, with which Lord Mance and Lord Toulso

The Supreme Court has unanimously allowed the appeal of an unfairly dismissed fingerprint officer involved in the McKie scandal, finding that the original Employment Tribunal’s (ET) interpretation of the relevant legislation leading to a reinstatement order was sound. Lord Hodge, with whom Lady Ha

The man found guilty of the “limbs in the loch” murder has had a claim for damages refused after his confidential correspondence was opened by prison officers. William Beggs was seeking £5,000 compensation after a judge had ruled that his human rights were breached in jail when “privileged”

The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled the UK’s policy requiring recipients of child benefit and child tax credit to have a right to reside in the UK, while indirectly discriminatory, is justified by the need to protect the finances of the host member state. The regulation on the coo

Rangers shareholder Mike Ashley has lost a legal bid to have a fine imposed on him reversed after a judge in the Court of Session ruled football’s governing body took the right decision. Mr Ashley was fined £1,000 by the Scottish Football Association (SFA) for breaching its rules on dual ownershi

A Scottish local authority which refused a cab driver's application to renew his taxi booking office licence after finding that he was "not a fit and proper person" has successfully challenged a sheriff's ruling to overturn its decision. Judges in the Inner House of the Court of Session held that th

The owners of a luxury block of flats overlooking the Old Course in St Andrews have failed in an appeal against a decision by the local authority assessor to describe two of the apartments as a “showhouse” on the valuation roll. The Lands Valuation Appeal Court upheld a decision of the valuation

A police officer who was banned from driving after jumping a red light and crashing into two cars while en route to an emergency call has successfully appealed against her 12-month disqualification. The Sheriff Appeal Court quashed the sentence imposed and endorsed the former officer’s licence wit

A youth who was found guilty of raping two boys and sentenced to six years’ detention has had his sentence quashed and substituted with a custodial term of five years and an extension period of three years following an appeal. The Criminal Appeal Court ruled that the sentencing judge erred in fail

A name containing several tokens of nobility and freely chosen by a German in another member state of which he also holds the nationality does not necessarily have to be recognised in Germany, the European Court of Justice has ruled. Mr Nabiel Peter Bogendorff von Wolffersdorff, who was born in Germ

A magistrate was not entitled to impose a driving ban on a motorist convicted of driving while using a mobile phone and without insurance having already determined that “exceptional hardship” had been established, the Sheriff Appeal Court has ruled. Daniel Hamand successfully appealed against hi