The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has reportedly reopened the case on ‘toxic’ mortgage-backed securities by filing lawsuits against seventeen banks which sold them to government-supported mortgage organisations. The FHFA alleges that these banks, which included British institutions such as HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays, sold securities worth $41.5 billion to government-supported home …
The clothing brand of fashion designer Vivienne Westwood is reportedly being sued by one of its long-standing business partners, the franchisee Hervia Limited. Hervia Limited, which runs a total of seven Vivienne Westwood stores in cities throughout the UK, is alleging breach of contract against the fashion designer’s brand. The company claims that last June, …
A company based in Surrey has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after one of its marquee floors collapsed during a wedding, sending as many as 150 wedding guests falling to the floor. Block Scaffolding Limited was eventually fined £8,000 and ordered to pay more than £7,000 in court costs over the …
The Japanese chemical engineering and manufacturing firm Nichia Corporation has reportedly filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Korean chip manufacturer Everlight. The lawsuit centres on one of Nichia’s patents, relating to the GT3528 series of white LED products manufactured by Everlight Electronics and sold by Chip One. Nichia’s patent is for the density of the …
The head of the Association of Insurance and Risk Managers in Industry and Commerce has warned businesses that they could incur significant costs if they do not have public liability insurance in place. Chief executive John Hurrell said that without public liability insurance cover, businesses face “very significant” risks. He explained how it is difficult …
The pop singer Rihanna is reportedly filing lawsuits against the former owner of her Beverly Hills home, as well as real estate agents and inspectors, after the property suffered major water leaks during a rainstorm last year. According to the lawsuit, filed in LA County Superior Court, Rihanna is accusing the former owner of her …
New figures have revealed that the number of court cases filed over claims of online defamation have more than doubled in the space of just a year. The statistics, which were gathered by the legal information provider Sweet and Maxwell’s Lawtel and Westlaw UK services, show that compared to the seven cases which went through …
A prominent conservation charity is facing charges and fines from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a gardener was killed when a tree fell on his van. The Woodland Trust is being accused of health and safety failings after gardener Alex McDonald, 25, died when a large tree fell and crashed through the windscreen …
A recycling firm has been prosecuted and fined after an employee was crushed between two skips at one of its centres in the Scottish town of Ayr in Ayrshire. The incident occurred when 46-year-old employee Steven Graham was working between two skips and an 18-tonne shovel loader hit one of them. This caused Graham to …