by admin | Mar 31, 2023 | news
Taylor Law have followed up there sponsorship of boys football team Riverside U10’s by supporting TIBS FC under 16 girls and helping them to secure rain jackets, which have been much appreciated and needed throughout the last month.
We wish Riverside and TIBS FC all the best for the remainder of the season
Contact us
Putting legal representation in place as soon as possible is important to protect your rights.
We have solicitors who can step in immediately to represent you and deal with investigators and police on your behalf. We provide a first-rate legal service and have an excellent track record of success.
We have criminal defence solicitors in Middlesbrough, Leeds and London. For an initial discussion, ring us on 0113 532 8100 (Leeds), 01642 221 108 (Middlesbrough) or 0203 780 7646 (London) or fill in our Contact Form.
by admin | Mar 6, 2023 | news
Taylor Law’s Chris Bennett successfully represented a bus driver with Asperger’s Syndrome who was called an ‘illiterate imbecile’ and ‘sp****’ by work colleagues and won a £30,000 payout.
Thomas Holland, who had always wanted to be a bus driver, was forced to quit his job when facing continued harassment and discrimination from staff, a tribunal heard.
Colleagues insulted Mr Holland for having Asperger’s, with the firm’s transport manager also referring to him as ‘Mr Bean’ in the workplace.
Read More Here
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11803091/Bus-driver-Aspergers-Syndrome-called-illiterate-imbecile-wins-30-000-payout.html
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bus-driver-with-aspergers-was-tormented-by-workplace-bullying-wztbjwx6x
Contact us
At Taylor Law we have an excellent reputation for successful outcomes for our clients in employment matters. If you would like to discuss how we can help you with your employment issue, we would be happy to hear from you. Time is often crucial in dealing with an employment problem, and it is therefore advisable to seek legal advice as soon as you can.
For an initial discussion, ring us on 0113 532 8100 (Leeds), 01642 221 108 (Middlesbrough) or 0203 780 7646 (London) or fill in our Contact Form.
by admin | Feb 3, 2023 | news
On 25 March 2022, the law on people using their mobile phones while driving in Great Britain became stricter.
Since 2003, it’s been an offence to use a hand-held mobile phone or similar hand-held device while driving in Great Britain.
The offence (under Regulation 110 of the Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986) is specified as using a hand-held device for ‘interactive communication’: principally phone-calls and messages or accessing the internet. Using the device does not need to lead to an accident for the offence to be committed. The offence carries a minimum penalty of a £200 fine and six penalty points. This means an offender would lose their licence after two offences or, for new drivers who have held a licence for less than two years, a single offence would lead to their licence being revoked.
Why has the Government changed the law?
The law is being updated to keep up with technology.
Since 2003, mobile devices have become capable of performing many more tasks beyond ‘interactive communication’. They are used to play music and games, take photos or videos, or scroll through articles. The Government said, the “array of functions that mobile phones can now perform has outgrown the wording of the offence and its parameters”.
What led to the change?
The perceived need for a law change has been highlighted by recent court cases, particularly that of DPP Vs Barreto in 2019. In that case, a driver who was filming a nearby road accident while at the wheel was found not guilty because they were not using a hand-held mobile phone for ‘interactive communication’. The judge said they were therefore out of the scope of this offence.
Following this, the Government consulted on changes to the law. According to the consultation, “the Government considers that all use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving is reckless and dangerous, and not just when being used for the purposes of a call or other interactive communication.”
Department for Transport statistics illustrate the danger. In 2020, 17 people were killed, 114 people were seriously injured, and 385 were slightly injured in road traffic accidents in Great Britain where the driver was using a mobile phone.
Just over 80% of the 423 respondents to the consultation agreed with the Government’s proposal to expand the offence to cover uses beyond ‘interactive communication’.
On 1 February 2022, the Government laid a Statutory Instrument (SI), under the ‘made negative’ procedure, titled The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2022 which will enact the proposed changes.
What will the new law mean?
The new law will amend the 1986 Regulations and will mean the offence is triggered whenever a driver holds and uses a device, regardless of why they are holding it.
The SI’s explanatory notes state the offence “will cover any device which is capable of interactive communication even if that functionality is not enabled at the time.” This would include a device being in flight mode.
In the text of the SI, the meaning of ‘using’ a phone will be expanded to cover the following:
- illuminating the screen
- checking the time
- checking notifications
- unlocking the device
- making, receiving, or rejecting a telephone or internet based call
- sending, receiving or uploading oral or written content
- sending, receiving or uploading a photo or video
- utilising camera, video, or sound recording
- drafting any text
- accessing any stored data such as documents, books, audio files, photos, videos, films, playlists, notes or messages
- accessing an app
- accessing the internet
Will there be exemptions?
As well as an existing exemption which allows a driver to use a phone in emergencies, the new law creates one new exemption. According to the SI’s explanatory notes, drivers will be permitted to hold and use a device while driving to make a contactless payment at a payment terminal for goods or services. The vehicle would have to be stationary, and the item being paid for must be provided at the same time or after the contactless payment is made. Such a transaction might include paying for a car park or drive-through coffee using a phone.
The explanatory notes also say that using a mobile phone for navigation will continue to be legal, as long as it is kept in a cradle and not in the driver’s hand. They also say the Government will update both the Gov.uk guidance on Using a phone or a sat nav when driving and the Highway Code, to reduce misunderstandings about the new law, particularly on the difference between hand-held and hands-free use
Contact us
At Taylor Law our employment team have in-depth experience of advising on settlement agreements as well as confidentiality clauses and restrictive covenants. We will explain the terms of any document to you clearly and answer any questions you may have.
For an initial discussion, ring us on 0113 532 8100 (Leeds), 01642 221 108 (Middlesbrough) or 0203 780 7646 (London) or fill in our Contact Form.
by admin | Jan 26, 2023 | news
A review from one of our clients who engaged Chris Bennett to help in an Employment Dispute:
I wish to express my since thanks and gratitude for appointing Chris to handle my son’s Employment Tribunal Case matter which was satisfactorily resolved yesterday.
From the very start Chris was attentive, knowledgeable and professional.
He was fantastic.
Nothing was too much trouble and he dealt with a very difficult case admirably and as stated the outcome far exceeded my expectations.
Please thank Chris from Tom and myself and thank you Taylor Law for providing him.
Bob Holland
York
by admin | Jan 10, 2023 | news
Tax evasion happens when a person or company avoids paying taxes, hiding the true state of their finances to Revenue & Customs. This could be the evasion of income tax or VAT, excise duty and custom duty frauds. Alternatively, tax avoidance is where a person or company uses legal loopholes to mitigate their exposure to certain tax liabilities, for example establishing an offshore company.
Are Businesses criminally liable?
Under the Criminal Finances Act 2017, which came into force on 30 September 2017, businesses are now criminally liable if an employee or an associated person facilitates tax evasion whilst providing services on their behalf.
The Act, built on the existing Bribery Act 2010, already deems it a criminal offence for individuals or businesses to evade tax. It is however quite hard for the authorities to prove a business has knowingly colluded in tax evasion, and the new legislation put more onus on the company to disprove involvement.
Failure to comply with this new law can result in significant financial penalties and even a custodial sentence, along with serious reputational damage. This means businesses need to take a risk based approach, implementing processes and procedures to protect themselves.
If an employee or third party individual evades tax, the company must be able to show that it had reasonable prevention procedures in place.
Contact us
Tax evasion is a serious offence. Putting legal representation in place as soon as possible is important to protect your rights.
We have solicitors who can step in immediately to represent you and deal with investigators and police on your behalf. We provide a first-rate legal service and have an excellent track record of success.
We have criminal defence solicitors in Middlesbrough, Leeds and London. For an initial discussion, ring us on 0113 532 8100 (Leeds), 01642 221 108 (Middlesbrough) or 0203 780 7646 (London) or fill in our Contact Form.
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