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Glasgow Times
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow law firm representing claimants in group action
Thompsons Solicitors, based in Wellington Street, is acting for individuals and businesses in the case against several Ford companies. The action relates to alleged use of defeat devices in Ford diesel vehicles manufactured to Euro 5 or Euro 6 emissions standards, excluding Euro 6d and Euro 6d Temp. The devices are claimed to have unlawfully reduced the effectiveness of the vehicles' nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions control systems, causing loss and damage to the pursuers. The full public notice can be viewed at Read more: Man charged with assault and theft after incident Proceedings have been brought by Graeme Hamilton, acting as the representative party on behalf of the group. The case is being heard in the Court of Session. The action is being brought against Ford Motor Company, Ford Motor Company Limited, Fordwerke Gmbh, Ford Motor Company of Australia Pty Limited, Ford Retail Limited, FCE Bank Plc, and ALD Automotive Limited. Anyone who has not previously made a claim in the group proceedings but wishes to do so is invited to contact Thompsons Solicitors. The firm can be reached by email at mbemissions@ or by post at Patrick McGuire, Thompsons Solicitors Scotland, 70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, G2 6UA.
Glasgow Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Court issues decision in Tommy Sheridan's case against Glasgow council
Mr Sheridan instructed lawyers to go to the Court of Session in a bid to judicially review the actions of Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership bosses. The organisation wrote to Mr Sheridan to tell him that to employ him as a social worker in Glasgow would create an 'unacceptable level of risk' for the local authority. The move came after Mr Sheridan had applied to become a criminal justice social worker with the council. In his job application, he disclosed how he had been given a three year prison sentence in 2011 for perjury - a jury at the High Court in Glasgow concluded that he had lied on oath during his successful defamation action against the News of the World newspaper. The court heard that social work bosses then sent him a letter in August 2024 telling him the conviction presented an 'unacceptable level of risk' to Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership. More communications to Mr Sheridan told him that future applications for jobs with the organisation would not be 'progressed'. This has prompted Mr Sheridan to instruct lawyers to go to Scotland's highest civil court in a bid to get Glasgow City Council to overturn its decision. Earlier this year, Mr Sheridan' s lawyer Mike Dailly told Lord Young that the council had acted unlawfully in its decision. However, in a written judgement issued by Lord Young on Thursday, the court acted social work bosses acted lawfully. Lord Young said he agreed with submissions made by lawyers acting for the local authority that the decision made by social work bosses couldn't be judicially reviewed. He wrote: 'I agree with the submission for the respondent that it makes no difference that, in this case, the petitioner's complaint relates to a refusal by the respondent to consider entering into a contract of employment. 'The context in which the respondent sent these letters to the petitioner was whether the petitioner was viewed as a suitable candidate for employment as a social worker. 'This was an employment situation where parties are free to decide whether to enter into a contract or not. 'He enjoys no private law right to be considered for employment by the respondent, so he is seeking to fashion a right to be considered for social work jobs through the application of broad public law concepts. 'If the petitioner's argument was accepted, then it would follow that every applicant for a public sector job in Scotland could potentially challenge the job application process using the judicial review procedure. 'I find that the petition is incompetent for the reasons advanced by the respondent and it falls to be dismissed. (Image: Mike Dailly) READ NEXT: Tommy Sheridan says he is 'victimised' by Glasgow council READ NEXT: Tommy Sheridan in court over case against Glasgow City Council READ NEXT: Tommy Sheridan to pursue legal action against Scottish council At earlier proceedings, Mr Dailly said the body which regulates social work in Scotland - the Scottish Social Services Council - had assessed Mr Sheridan as being a suitable candidate for working in the profession. He added : 'It's a simple matter - the petitioner has been assessed as being a fit person for the profession by the statutory social work body. 'He has also been assessed as being suitable to work with children and younger people under the PVG scheme. 'The petitioner has been told he cannot be a social worker. However, the Scottish Parliament has allowed the SSSC the role and responsibility to determine who is a fit and proper person to be a social worker. 'The SSSC says the petitioner is a fit and proper person. I say the decision made by the council is irrational - it cannot say the petitioner cannot be a social worker.' (Image: Tommy Sheridan with wife Gail, right.) Mr Dailly was speaking during a judicial review brought by Mr Sheridan used to lead the Scottish Socialist Party which won a number of seats at Holyrood in 1999 and 2003. Mr Sheridan served as an MSP for Glasgow between 1999 and 2007. He took the News of the World to court in 2006, alleging it defamed him after reporting he was an adulterer who visited swingers' clubs. He netted £200,000 but he was later convicted of lying in court during this civil action, and was sentenced to three years in jail. On social media last summer he revealed his future plans in response to a suggestion that he should stand again as an MSP in 2026. He posted: "I just graduated as a professional social worker from Glasgow Caledonian University after a two-year masters degree so I am applying for jobs in that profession just now but who knows what will come to pass by 2026.' Lord Young also dismissed concerns that the council acted irrationally in the light of the SSSC allowing Mr Sheridan to be registered with the organisation. He added: 'I do not consider that the respondent's concern about employing the petitioner comes close to being viewed as irrational. 'His registration with the SSSC simply confirms that he meets the minimum statutory requirement for employment. 'It does not prevent an employer from applying its own additional criteria before interviewing or offering employment. 'The existence of a conviction for perjury is likely to be of some relevance to some employers considering whether to employ an individual as a social worker.'
The Herald Scotland
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Police probe into evidence to Salmond inquiry 'ongoing'
He said the investigation was looking into claims that a 'very, very senior civil servant - Mr James Hynd - gave a false statement on oath at the inquiry'. When the former First Minister died suddenly, aged 69, in North Macedonia in October last year it was not clear if and for how long the police investigation into the matter would continue. READ MORE: But today the force said its inquiries into the evidence provided to the Holyrood committee are still continuing. "We are investigating a complaint in relation to evidence provided to a Scottish Parliament committee. These inquiries are ongoing and we are unable to comment further," a spokesman for Police Scotland told The Herald. The Court of Session was told in August 2024 that detectives were probing evidence given to the inquiry in 2020 by Mr Hynd, who was the Scottish Government's head of cabinet, parliament and governance at the time. The parliamentary inquiry was examining the handling of sexual harassment complaints made against the former First Minister, who was later cleared of all of the charges against him in a separate criminal trial. The probe by a committee of MSPs - formally called the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints - concluded in March 2021 that the government investigation into Mr Salmond was 'seriously flawed". During his evidence to the parliamentary inquiry Mr Salmond alleged that there was a conspiracy among senior SNP figures, including his successor as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, to imprison him. Ms Sturgeon has strongly denied the claim. The Court of Session action was launched by Mr Salmond in November 2023 to seek "significant damages" and compensation for loss of earnings reportedly worth £3 million. The sum would be in addition to the £500,000 that Mr Salmond was awarded in legal costs after a judge said in 2019 that the government investigation into the allegations against him had been 'unlawful in respect that they were procedurally unfair" and also "tainted with apparent bias". Mr Salmond's lawyer Gordon Dangerfield told the Court of Session last August that the Police Scotland investigation into Mr Hynd was called Operation Broadcroft and was being headed by a senior detective. Mr Dangerfield told the court hearing at the time: 'I can advise that the ongoing Police Scotland investigation is named Operation Broadcroft. It is led by senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Graham Lannigan." Mr Hynd was responsible for drawing up the government's policy on the handling of complaints involving former and current ministers - the policy under which Mr Salmond was investigated. Mr Dangerfield asked last August for the civil case to be 'sisted' - a legal expression for it to be paused – while the police investigation was ongoing. Judge Lord Fairley refused the request after Scottish Government lawyer Lesley Shand KC said the case had already been sisted three times since it was first raised in November 2023. A spokesman for the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service told The Herald last night that the case has now been sisted until September 19 this year. The Scottish Government was asked for a response to the development that the Police Scotland Operation Broadcroft inquiry is still ongoing. 'It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on a live police investigation," a spokeswoman said. The Scottish Government does not comment on individual staffing matters.
The Herald Scotland
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Rangers reach settlement over 'costly' fans pre-payment card lawsuit
The news emerged during proceedings at the Court of Session on Friday. It is the latest hearing in an action brought by Reputation Exchange PLC who are seeking to recover undisclosed but 'significative compensation' from the Glasgow club. The company, known as REPX believes Rangers owe it money over an aborted agreement between the two sides. REPX says Rangers wanted it to develop a 'customised payment card' which would have allowed fans to buy products associated with it. However, the business claims that Rangers stopped the card from coming into operation. It says it was provided with legal advice from 'Scottish legal counsel' saying the club breached an agreement. The firm also claims that the alleged breach means it is entitled to compensation - it says that it invested a large amount of its own money into developing the card and it should be compensated for the sum it spent. The gates at Ibrox Stadium (Image: SNS Group) On Friday, Rangers's lawyer Timothy Young told Lord Sandison of the latest development in the case. The court had earlier heard from REPX'S advocate Ross Anderson who said that the agreement between the two sides still needed to be finalised. Mr Young said: 'I would echo what Mr Anderson has said about parties having reached an agreement in principle subject to entering into the settlement agreement. 'As my learned friend indicated - it's not so much that the agreement hasn't been reached. It's simply that implementation of that agreement will take some time. According REPX's website, the firm describes itself as being a 'fintech company' that is 'disrupting' traditional banking. It states: 'REPX is creating for celebrities, influencers, sport teams, brands, iconic cities, the opportunity to monetize their fans base with unique co-branded prepaid cards, debit cards, and patented digital products catered to their loyal legions of followers and fans' It started working with Rangers to design a prepaid card after making similar products for Italian sides AC Milan and Torino. In the firm's strategic report for the year ending December 31 2023, the company talks of initiating a legal action against a football club which it doesn't name. The report states: 'The company initiated legal action against a football club to recover the advance paid to acquire the right to issue branded prepaid cards, as well as to recover the loss of profit and/or cost of investments made to develop an app customized to the wishes of the club itself. 'Below are some key extracts from the letter sent by our lawyers to the other side, anticipating that proceedings will be commenced against the football club without further delay should it not be possible to resolve the claims in early course "Our Client has also had the benefit of advice from senior counsel on Clause 12 of the contract.'Our Client (REPX) has suffered significant losses as a result of your client's breaches of contract. Our Client maintains claims against Your Client under the following heads.' It states the failed scheme created losses of £1.5million on top of £500,000 in 'aborted costs' including design work. They say this is on top of further £120,000 in cash they had paid the club as part of an agreement to launch the card in August 2023 before the plan was shelved. Bosses are also claiming a further £20,000 for 'costs and wasted management time'. In a letter sent to the council of the Cyprus Stock Exchange on December 27 2024, REPX directors state that 'the company has started a costly lawsuit against the Scottish club. Rangers fans (Image: SNS Group) Rangers FC who had a customised payment card created to their specifications.' It further states: 'REPX invested several hundred thousand GBP in technology and one year of development) and then effectively blocked the issuance of the card on instrumental grounds that even the Scottish Legal Counsel (which carries significant weight in Scotland) who provided us with the prior legal advice to start the legal process dismissed as unfounded. 'In fact the Scottish Legal Counsel invited us to assert our right to a substantial refund of the amount invested on the basis of the Scottish club's claims. we We believe we should be entitled to receive a significative compensation.' On Friday, Mr Anderson said: 'The parties have reached a commercial settlement.' Lord Sandison expressed concern about the state of the settlement agreement. He said that he wasn't content to end the action at the close of Friday's hearing because of the lack of detail provided to the court. He said that unless parties could finalise the details of the agreement, they would be expected to come to court to participate in a proof - the Scottish legal term used to describe the main hearing in civil cases - next month. Lord Sandison told the two advocates: 'I'm not asking you in any way to disclose the terms of the settlement agreement. 'But let us hypothesis that it might be that one party is going to pay some money to the other party. 'What's going to happen to the agreement - I pose this question rhetorically - if that money is not paid on the day that it is supposed to be paid? 'Is there a settlement or is there not? If there is then there is no need to postpone the disposal of this action until implement because you have got a a binding agreement - which you can just come right back to court and say 'here's a binding agreement: it hasn't been performed, we want it to be performed.' He added: 'I think it's very common knowledge that i don't discharge diets - substantive diets - on the promise of a settlement one day.' He urged the two sides to finalise the agreement. He added 'I've hoped I've made it perfectly clear. I can't imagine that I haven't. Either this action settles before the start of the proof diet or it proceeds on the proof diet - loud and clear?'
STV News
20-06-2025
- Business
- STV News
Biffa £166m compensation claim over deposit return scheme 'good to go'
A lawyer acting for a company pursuing a £166m compensation claim against the Scottish Government has told a judge that his case is 'good to go' to court. Roddy Dunlop KC made the statement during a procedural hearing on Thursday in an action brought against Scottish ministers by Biffa Waste Services Ltd. The company has raised an action at the Court of Session in Edinburgh over a decision made by ministers to delay the introduction of the deposit return scheme. It alleges that Lorna Slater – the former minister for green skills, circular economy and biodiversity – gave negligent assurances to the firm in a letter about the initiative to ensure its participation. Biffa's lawyer Roddy Dunlop KC told judge Lord Clark last year that the correspondence made no reference to how Holyrood would need its Westminster counterpart to give the final go ahead to the scheme. The scheme was later scrapped after the Conservative government in London refused to give the go ahead for it be implemented. The firm believes the Scottish Government 'negligently misrepresented the assurance it gave' to Biffa. Biffa has instructed Mr Dunlop, the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, to act for it in the £166.2m compensation claim. Judge Lord Clark gave permission for the action to proceed following a two day hearing last year when the Scottish Government's lawyer Gerry Moynihan KC asked the court to dismiss the action. On Thursday, the case called again for a procedural hearing before judge Lord Sandison. Mr Dunlop said he and his legal team were making preparations for the case which is expected to be heard in the Court of Session over an eight day period in October 2025. Mr Dunlop added: 'The case is now simplified and good to go.' The deposit return scheme was a key policy of the former SNP-Green administration. Under the plans, a 20p deposit was be added to all single-use drinks containers made of PET plastic, metal or glass. Consumers could reclaim the deposit by returning the containers to retailers or to specially-designed reverse vending machines. It was due to be introduced in August 2023 but the launch date was pushed back, with then first minister Humza Yousaf citing concerns from businesses. The Conservative government at Westminster refused to grant the scheme the go-ahead unless it conformed to a UK-wide approach which excluded glass. In June 2023 Slater said she had no choice but to delay the scheme until at least October 2025, accusing the UK government of sabotage. She left government last year following the collapse of the Green-SNP power-sharing agreement. The company have decided to go to the Court of Session in Edinburgh because it believes the Holyrood government is responsible for it incurring a £166.2m loss. It wants compensation for the cash it invested in the collapsed deposit return scheme and the subsequent loss of profit. At the proceedings last year, Mr Moynihan said the Scottish Ministers acted lawfully and that the government did not act a duty of care to Biffa. He also said the letter sent by Ms Slater – which was dated May 17 2022 – did not amount to a 'negligent representation'. Speaking on the final day of a two day long hearing into whether the action should proceed, Mr Dunlop outlined the alleged actions of Ms Slater in dealing with his clients. Mr Dunlop said: 'Our position is that we did sign the contract in a situation of the assumption of responsibility. 'The minister was not required to give an assurance but she voluntarily did. 'She did so because she wanted Biffa on board. She must have known Biffa would act upon what she said. 'It is writing a letter that provides the assurances that not reflect the actuality of the situation. 'We know why she decided to write that letter. She wrote that letter as she needed the deposit return scheme to have a purpose. 'She needed a contractor like Biffa – who was swithering about whether to become involved – to become involved.' Mr Dunlop also claimed that Ms Slater's purpose in writing the letter to Biffa was to ensure the scheme's success. He added: 'The simple fact of the matter is that the Ministers were very keen to have Biffa on board. 'It was important for them politically and logistically to have a well resourced contractor like Biffa on board. 'Without that the deposit return scheme was dead in the water.' On Thursday, Lord Sandison fixed a date for another procedural hearing in the case – this will take place on September 2 2025. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
