Legal

A labourer has been found guilty of murdering the foreman of a site they were working on together in 2018. Elton Sefa, 24, was found guilty of murdering John Woodward (pictured), 47, in a trial at the Old Bailey that followed a “complex and protracted” investigation and a Europe-wide manhunt.…

A legal challenge to Highways England’s £27.4bn five-year road investment strategy (RIS2) has kicked-off in the High Court. Campaign group Transport Action Network has launched the judicial review action, claiming that transport secretary Grant Shapps broke the law by failing to consider the effect of the plan on the environment.…

A £250m legal claim against Carillion’s auditor KPMG has moved a step closer. The official receiver, which is managing the liquidation of the firm, has sent a letter before action to KPMG warning it of the potential claim, according to Sky News. The latest action follows on from the receiver…

The average value of legal disputes in the UK construction sector more than doubled last year as claims linked to the pandemic rose. Three out of four contractors said they were in disputes related to COVID-19, according to a report from Arcadis. The pandemic caused some sites to close and…

Two former Balfour Beatty employees have pleaded guilty to "major fraud" against the United States, relating to falsified records of military housing maintenance, it has emerged. The US Department of Justice announced this week that Rick Cunefare, 61, of Glendale, Arizona, and Stacy M Cabrera, 47, of Converse, Texas, pleaded…

The National Open College Network (NOCN) is taking legal action against the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) over problems with the Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS). Adult learning body NOCN bought the skills cards scheme from CITB in a deal worth around £3.5m in March 2019, operating them under its…

A new "one-stop shop" to protect workers from modern slavery and low pay has been proposed by the government. The organisation will combine efforts to tackle modern slavery, safeguard the minimum wage and protect agency workers, replacing three organisations in the process. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy…

An asbestos-removal contractor has been fined £150,000 after a worker was fatally injured and another seriously injured in a gas explosion during pre-demolition works. Workers from Glasgow-based Enviraz were removing a boiler and pipework at the former Pastoral Centre in Bonkle Road, Newmains in Wishaw when the explosion occurred on…

Nexus, the company that operates the Tyne and Wear Metro, has been fined £1.5m after a maintenance worker was killed by electrocution from an overhead cable. John Bell, 43, died in July 2014 while working at height carrying out maintenance work on high-voltage cables at a depot in South Gosforth.…

Gleeds has set up a new dispute advisory business as it anticipates a growing number of contractual claims in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The consultancy said it has extensive experience working with insurers, loss adjusters, lawyers, forensic accountants and other specialisms but has not previously provided a dedicated…