A record 1,489 directors were disqualified in 1999. This is a 10% increase on the previous year. A recent high profile disqualification led to Lord Moyne, Sir William Shelton and Sir Charles Blois each being disqualified as directors for five years with a fourth person. They were directors of Access to Justice Ltd which aimed...Read More

A judge has the right to allow a disqualified director to be involved in the management of a company. This was decided in the first case in which such leave had been granted to a director disqualified for eight years, and was the first case where the Secretary of State wished to oppose the court’s...Read More

The DTI has published a consultation paper on giving new powers to protect consumers. At present, the law allows dishonest retailers to be prosecuted for past offences. The new power will allow consumer protection bodies to seek an injunction to prevent traders continuing to break the law. Consultation on the Injunctions Directive continues to 2...Read More

Sealpoint Ltd and four related companies were wound by the DTI in the public interest. The companies ran a huge telephone marketing operation for cold-calling customers in Northern England to sell masonry coatings. The products were vastly overpriced to pay for the huge marketing operation. [2000]Read More

The law on vexatious litigants has been clarified by a recent decision. A vexatious litigant is someone who keeps bringing legal actions which stand little chance of success. An order declaring someone a vexatious litigant means they need the permission of the court to issue proceedings. Before the court could make an order declaring someone...Read More

Where a document permits different people to appoint different receivers, the appointment of one receiver did not automatically prevent others appointing receivers. Whether multiple receivers could act severally rather than jointly was a matter of construction of the document. It should not be automatically assumed that multiple receivers acting severally would lead to chaos. The...Read More

In an action for infringement of a trade mark, it is not a defence to argue that the trade mark is being used for a different area. If a member of the public was likely to associate the infringer’s product or service with that of the registered holder, there was an infringement. The case concerned...Read More

It is a general principle of law that a document is to be interpreted according to the wording of the document. There is an exception if someone can prove that the parties understood the document to mean something else. A recent case has held that a document cannot be given the meaning perceived by one...Read More

The courts have recently developed the concept of corporate manslaughter under which a corporate body, such as a trading company, can be found guilty of crimes such as manslaughter. It has previously been thought that only individuals could be convicted of such crimes. The law on corporate manslaughter has been further refined by a legal...Read More

Various amendments are made to the law on registering land. One of the more significant changes is that registration may be made electronically. The Land Registration Rules SI 2000 No 429 The Land Registration (District Registries) Order SI 2000 No 430 [2000]Read More