Law in Practice

Disclosure and inspection of documents – Public interest immunity. The Competition and Markets Authority (the CMA) was granted various warrants under s 28 of the Competition Act 1998, concerning an investigation into suspected anti-competitive behaviours in relation to a number of pharmaceutical drugs. The defendant (Concordia) applied to have the warrant granted in respect of it discharged to the extent that it applied to certain medicines. Prior to that application being heard, the Chancery Division considered whether Concordia could have sight of certain confidential material submitted in support of the CMA's application or whether non-disclosure could be justified, as the CMA submitted, on the ground of public interest immunity.

Contract – Damages for breach. The appellant's appeal in respect of his claim for breach of contract against the respondent IVF clinic was dismissed. The clinic had implanted an embryo containing the appellant's gametes into his former partner (R), from whom the appellant had, by then, separated, without the appellant's consent (his signature having been forged). R had later given birth to a child. The Court of Appeal, Civil Division, ruled, among other things, that the legal policy which prevented recoverability of the cost of the upbringing of a healthy child tortious claims applied to the appellant's claim for breach of contract.

Patent – Infringement. The Patents Court considered the validity of three patents relating to pharmaceutical compositions for inhalation. The defendant company (Ventura) alleged that the claimant companies (together, GSK) had infringed the patents by the manufacture and sale of dry powder inhalers containing ingredients used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The court held that GSK had not established that any of the patents were obvious over any of the cited prior art. Further, Vectura had not proved that GSK's process and products had infringed the patents. Furthermore, the patents were all invalid on the grounds of insufficiency. GSK's process, and hence the products obtained as a direct result of that process, were obvious over the prior art.

Contract – Construction. The declaration sought by the claimant employer, that, on the proper construction of practical completion within an amended JCT 2011 design and build contract, it was possible to achieve completion of one section of the works prior to the completion of the whole of the works, was granted. The Technology and Construction Court held that the interpretation of practical completion contended for on behalf of the defendant contractor, and accepted by the adjudicator, had not accorded with the ordinary meaning of the words used.

Family proceedings – Orders in family proceedings. The total amount which the husband had to pay was £4.05m following the wife's application for financial provision. The Family Court based that on an initial lump sum in respect of housing and capitalised maintenance of £3.65m, with an additional £400,000, being a little bit less than half of the total sum due on her litigation loan.