News Desk 2003

Security industry breaks law on toilet breaks: GMB wins justice for guards

All security guards are entitled to rest breaks and the security industry is not exempt from Working Time Regulations, a Newcastle employment tribunal has ruled in the first case of its kind which was brought on behalf of Gavin Ruddick by his trade union, the GMB Britain's General Union and their lawyers at Thompsons Solicitors.

Open letter to Nick Brown MP

Thompsons Solicitors, the UK's largest trade union and personal injury firm, has written an open letter to Nick Brown MP on the Initial Regulatory Impact Assessment Employers Liability Insurance Review.

Accident Group administrators must put injury victims before creditors, union law firm demands

Thompsons Solicitors, the UK's largest personal injury and trade union law firm, has called on the administrators of The Accident Group to put the needs of the victims of injury before those of the failed firm's creditors.

Corporate killing proposals let company directors off hook

Thompsons Solicitors, the UK's largest trade union and personal injury law firm, today welcomed any new law that will help bring companies to book that are responsible for disasters like the train crashes at Ladbroke Grove and Hatfield.

Royal and SunAlliance ruling partial victory for asbestos victims

Thompsons Solicitors, the UK's largest law firm acting for the victims of asbestos, today welcomed a High Court ruling that the Royal & SunAlliance (RSA) is liable for compensation claims against the asbestos manufacturer Turner and Newall (T&N).

Machete attack children finally win compensation

Two children horrifically injured in a machete attack at a teddy bear's picnic have finally been awarded compensation for their injuries by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.

Widow demands enquiry into Chesterfield hospital failures

A woman whose husband died after Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Royal Hospital Trust failed to spot a massive blood clot on his brain is demanding an investigation into the hospital's procedures.

Website Quality Mark for Thompsons

Thompsons Solicitors is the first law firm in the UK to be awarded the Legal Services Commission (LSC) Quality Mark for legal websites.

New protocol but workplace accident investigations still dice with death

Lack of training and guidance for those investigating workplace accidents means that companies responsible for the deaths of workers and the public will still not be brought to book, according to Thompsons, the UK's leading trade union law firm, and train drivers' union ASLEF.

Landmark settlement brings justice for thousands of SA former asbestos miners

A landmark settlement has brought justice for thousands of South African former asbestos miners with the signing of a multi-million Rand trust fund.

Government still in breach of European human rights law

The Labour government will still be in breach of human rights law unless legislation spells it out to employers that offering financial inducements to workers for signing individualised contracts is illegal, the UK's leading trade union and employment rights law firm warns today.

Insurer and lawyers reject calls for employer liability reforms

Fundamental reform of Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (EL) will not resolve the so-called crisis in insurance, according to both the UK's biggest personal injury claimant law firm and a major provider of EL insurance.

Trade union lawyers win award for landmark pension ruling

Richard Arthur, head of collective and institutional employment rights at Thompsons Solicitors, has been named employment and pensions lawyer of the year for his work on the groundbreaking pensions and redundancy rights case of Beckmann v Dynamco Whicheloe Macfarlane Ltd.

Injured will be double victims of fixed costs

Thompsons, the UK's largest claimant litigation firm has predicted that the biggest losers under a fixed costs regime will be the victims of injury as law firms turn them away or reduce the quality of their service in order to protect their bank balances. Thompsons also warns that those law firms which have banked on fixed costs bringing fiscal certainty risk financial disaster if economic conditions change.