Month: May 2021

Action for Brain Injury Week 2021

/ Karen

Action for Brain Injury Week 2021 runs in the UK from 17th – 23rd May 2021. This is a week where focus is given to raising awareness of the devastating effects of brain injury.

From a legal perspective, catastrophic brain injuries can arise out of all types of accidents on the road, at work or as a result of medical negligence.  Cases of this nature can be extremely complex – often, victims of a traumatic brain injury are left with a wide range of medical problems which will require intensive and lengthy rehabilitation for many years. Some may also be dependent for the rest of their lives. If the victim was an innocent party to the accident, then they will likely be entitled to substantial financial compensation for their injuries and any financial loss they suffer as a result of their injury.

It is normally necessary to engage a team of experts in such cases to calculate the full scope of any financial claim that may be due to the injured party.   This can include experts in the following areas :-

  • Medical/nursing/care/architectural/occupational therapy Many specialist experts will have to be instructed over and beyond those consultants actually treating the victim for his/her injuries. For example, the victim may require independent care for the rest of their life. In these circumstances, a nursing care regime may need to be put in place as quickly as possible and nursing experts and disability specialists may need to be engaged to assess properly the cost of providing for care needs. Often the family home of the victim will need to be substantially adapted to enable the victim to live as independently as possible. In these cases, expert architects and occupational therapists will often become involved.
  • Assistive Technology – As with virtually every aspect of life nowadays, technology plays a major role in helping victims of serious brain injury. Assistive Technology experts can identify what technological products/services can help maintain or improve the ability of an injured party with disabilities or impairments to communicate and learn and live an independent, fulfilling and productive life.
  • Employment/Forensic Accountancy – The victim’s employment is crucial when properly considering these difficult cases. Often victims of accidents can no longer return to work. They may have been qualified or trained in a particular field of employment. A team of specialist forensic accountants and employability consultants will therefore need to be instructed to calculate as precisely as possible the potential future financial loss.

Victims of catastrophic brain injury need a specialist and experienced team of lawyers to assist in recovering the appropriate level of compensation as this area of law is extremely complex.

For further information on this area, please feel free to contact us here

Controllerships – All You Need To Know

/ Karen

controllership3

This week is Dementia Action Week 2021 – a week aimed at highlighting the ways in which we can all take action to improve the lives of people living with dementia.  

For those who have loved ones who are suffering from dementia, it is important to consider how becoming mentally incapacitated with such an illness could affect their ability to manage their financial affairs.

In a previous article on Enduring Powers of Attorney, we set out information on how any one of us can take sensible steps whilst mentally and physically capable of doing so, to put in place measures that would reassure us that our financial affairs would be managed by a trusted family member in the event that we lost mental capacity.

However, what if a person has already become mentally incapable and an Enduring Power of Attorney has not been executed?  What action could be taken on behalf of this person to manage their property and financial affairs? 

When a person is deemed no longer able to manage their own finances and they have put nothing in place to stipulate who can manage their finances on their behalf, the responsibility for the management of their property and affairs is vested in the High Court through what is known as a ‘Controllership’.

Here’s all the information you need:-

What is Controllership?

A Controller is a person appointed by the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland under the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986 to manage the property and finances of an adult who is mentally incapable of doing so themselves.

Who acts as Controller?

Typically a Controller will be a family member or friend of the Patient but may be Court Officer if circumstances require.

When is a Controller appointed?

If a Court is satisfied on the basis of medical evidence that a Patient is mentally incapable of managing personal property and financial affairs and the Patient has assets or income requiring management, a Controller should be appointed.

Is Controllership a temporary arrangement?

Once appointed, a Controller will remain in charge of a Patient’s affairs unless the Court is satisfied:-

  • The Patient has recovered.
  • That such an Order is no longer necessary.
  • The Controller is replaced by retirement or otherwise.
  • The Patient dies.

What responsibility does a Controller have and is it a paid role?

A Controller does not receive payment for work undertaken but may recover reasonably incurred expenses to a limited degree. The Controller’s powers are limited to those set out in the Court Order by which the Controller is appointed and will only ever extend to financial and property matters pertaining to the Patient. Under the present law, a  Controller has no authority to manage health, social and welfare matters for the Patient.

What if the Patient disagrees and wants to manage their own affairs?

Once a Controller is appointed the Patient is no longer deemed legally capable of undertaking the management of their financial and property affairs. Before a Controller is appointed,  a Notice is served on the Patient advising that the procedure is underway and allowing the Patient the opportunity to object.

Who is the Controller responsible to?

The Controller is normally required to submit an annual vouched account reflecting all expenditure in relation to the Patient’s funds, to the Office of Care & Protection. The Controller cannot take any significant steps in respect of the Patient’s affairs unless authorised by the Court Order under which the Controller appointment is made, or a subsequent authority is obtained from the Master of the Office of Care & Protection.

A Controller may not incur an expense on behalf of the Patient at a cost of £500 or more without Court authority, and should retain receipts for all transactions involving the Patient’s money which exceed a value of £50.00.

How can application be made to be appointed as Controller?

Such an application can be made directly to the Office of Care & Protection or with the assistance of a solicitor experienced in Office of Care & Protection work to guide the applicant through the process.

If you would like any further information on the areas of Controllership, Enduring Power of Attorney or any other area of future planning, please feel free to contact us here or use our confidential contact form below.

Bill Gates Divorce: Can finances be divided amicably?

/ Karen

Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda recently announced their intention to divorce after 27 years of marriage.

Having reportedly accumulated an extraordinary wealth of $130 billion, it was no surprise that the media response was live with speculation as to how their significant assets would be divided out upon divorce, particularly as it transpired that the couple had not entered into a pre-nupital agreement prior to their marriage.

However, it has since been reported that divorce papers filed by the couple make repeated reference to a “separation contract” which both have signed. It appears therefore that the couple, who share three children as well as business and charitable commitments, wish to have the marriage dissolved and assets divided in as amicable a manner as possible.

Can dividing assets on divorce be handled amicably in Northern Ireland?

Where there are financial issues arising following breakdown of the marriage, it is not necessary to ask the Court to determine how these should be divided. It is very common for parties who wish to avoid the stress and expense of Court proceedings to enter into negotiations with one another through their solicitors with a view to reaching a financial settlement on an agreed and amicable basis. This is known as a Matrimonial Agreement.

If an agreement can be reached, it will be drawn up into a legally binding document to be signed by both parties and often made an Order of the Court upon Divorce.

Increasingly these agreements are made on a “clean break” basis. That means that they set out what each parties’ entitlements are to family finances and provide that neither party will have a claim to the other’s finances in the future.

A solicitor specialising in divorce and separation can provide advice and assistance in negotiating Matrimonial Agreements with a view to reaching financial settlement. If settlement is not possible in this way, either spouse can ask the Court to make decisions about how assets should be divided. This does however tend to be a longer and more expensive process for both parties.

For further information on Matrimonial Agreements, feel free to contact us here

Industrial Deafness

/ Karen

Deaf Awareness Week 2021 runs from 4th – 9th May 2021 and aims to promote the positive aspects of living with deafness and raise awareness of organisations that work to support those living with hearing loss and deafness within our communities. 

To mark the event, we have put together some information on Industrial Deafness and how the law protects those who suffer hearing loss as a result of their working environment.

What is Industrial Deafness?

Industrial deafness can best be described as the deterioration of your hearing as a result of your working environment and conditions.  Any employee who is exposed to loud noise over a prolonged period, or in exceptional cases even for a relatively short period, is at risk of developing industrial deafness.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a physical condition (rather than a disease) and can also be caused by an overexposure to noise. The condition manifests itself by causing noises (most often described as ‘ringing’) in the ears when no such noise is actually present.

How might my hearing loss be caused by my job?

The length and intensity of exposure to loud noises both on a daily basis and over a period of time are contributing factors to industrial deafness and tinnitus. Occupations which are most frequently affected by industrial deafness and tinnitus are those who use heavy machinery and include the manufacturing, construction, agriculture and transport industries.

How does the law protect me if I have suffered Industrial Deafness?

At work, your employer has a duty to minimise noise in the workplace in order to prevent the high exposure levels which have been proven to be a potential cause of industrial deafness and tinnitus.

There are regulations in place, including The Control of Noise at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 which outline what acceptable levels of noise are, how employers should ensure that noise levels are minimised and that suitable protective equipment, such as ear defenders, is provided.

There is a claims process available for those who may have been affected by noise levels in their workplace and have suffered tinnitus or industrial deafness as a result. A person suffering from industrial hearing loss may also be eligible for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. It would therefore be important for legal advice on all options available to be sought at the earliest instance from a solicitor specialised in this complex area of law.

If you require further information on Industrial Deafness, please feel free to contact us here.