Harassment: An Elephant in the Corner
Accepted version
Peer-reviewed
Repository URI
Repository DOI
Change log
Authors
Shmilovits, Liron
Abstract
In Worthington v Metropolitan Housing Trust Ltd [2018] EWCA Civ 1125, the Court of Appeal decided that unjustified threats of eviction from social housing amounted to civil harassment under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. The housing association was ordered to pay two tenants £4,750 and £4,160 respectively. This decision is important for two reasons. First, it is a warning to lawyers. The threats of eviction were contained in letters drafted by lawyers. The letters were unexceptional on their face. Countless such letters are issued every day. Second, the case represents a further expansion of harassment. It shows the power of this open-ended tort to delineate acceptable behaviour in a civilised society.
Description
Keywords
Is Part Of
Publisher
Stevens & Sons