Expert Witness Legal News – page 39

Secondhand smoke may harm your mental health

It is accepted that other people's smoke is bad for your lungs and heart, and new research suggests it could be damaging your mental health, too.

Researchers found that non-smokers exposed to regular secondhand smoke were 50 percent more likely to suffer from psychological distress than those not exposed.

Experts double estimate of oil spill

BP's chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg has been summonded to the White House next week to meet President Obama and other US officials. The British company is coming under increasing pressure from the American administration as the extent and severity of the oil spill in the Gulf Coast becomes clearer. It is now thought the amount of oil that has leaked into the gulf could be double previous estimates. Oil has been leaking into the Gulf since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on April 20th and sank off the coast of the Louisiana, killing 11 workers.

Scottish solicitors vote for ‘Tesco law’

Solicitors voted to allow a minority of external ownership of law firms at the Law Society of Scotland’s AGM last week.

The motion were narrowly passed in favour of allowing what are called alternative business structures. The motion was ratified as policy at a meeting immediately following the AGM.

Government scraps Home Information Packs, to boost sales

The new coalition government has scrapped rules that require homeowners to give buyers more information about the property they are selling at their own expense, a measure it hopes will spur sales.

Chester Hotel wins Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors award

The redevelopment of a Chester hotel has scooped a top award at the RICS North West Awards dinner held in Manchester.