With a New Year inevitably comes new plans and resolutions.  It’s interesting to see that the first working Monday of the Year is traditionally known as “Divorce Day”.

While it might sound like hokum, we actually do see a spike in divorce enquiries made in the first working week of the year.

Our own website www.lynchsolicitors.ie has seen a sharp increase in enquiries.

A New Year for some couples means a rethinking of their future.

What are some of the legal New Years resolutions we should consider?

 

Marriage or Separation?

 

There are several reasons to explain why there is a surge in Divorce enquiries in early January – people may just want to have one last Christmas and New Year’s Eve before saying goodbye or the stress of the holiday period may have exacerbated any conflicts in the relationship.

Whatever the reason, if you made the decision to part ways there are some things to consider.

• The Family Law Act 2019.

This law amends the law on Divorce, and commenced in late 2019.

The Act reduces the minimum living-apart period specified in the Family Law Divorce Act 1996 to two years.

A Court will allow this two years period for couples who continue to live under the one roof, be have lived separate and apart – i.e. if they do not live together as a couple in an intimate and committed relationship.

 

Getting married in 2020? Have you thought about a pre Nup?

Pre nuptial agreements are increasing steadily in Ireland since their introduction in 1965.

 

We have seen a growth in the number of pre nuptial agreements being sought by farming and other asset rich business families.  It is no surprise that over 70% of farmers support calls to make pre-nups formally recognised legally in Ireland.

It is important to remember that courts are not bound to give pre nuptial agreements full effect.  If the Court considers that the agreement does not make adequate provision for a spouse or dependant the Court may vary the agreement.

However, if a Pre-Nuptial agreement is fair, there is every chance that it will be honoured by the parties and it will be considered favourably by the Court.

 

Taking a Medical Negligence case?

The New Year can also see an increase in people enquiring about Medical negligence cases.

What’s important to remember if you are to succeed in a claim, is that you must show both negligence and causation.

In other words, you have to show that there is a duty of care; that there has been a breach of that duty; and that such breach caused your situation that gave rise to your injuries.

 

Vaginal Mesh Scandal – The big case to hit 2020?

It is now emerging that thousands of people in Ireland and worldwide have suffered traumatic complications as a result of vaginal mesh surgery.

 

A number of women recently won their class-action lawsuit in Australia against Ethicon, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. This was one of Australia’s largest ever product liability class actions.

 

The Australian Federal Court found that Ethicon (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson) had been negligent and had engaged in misleading conduct and hid the risks associated with the implants from patients.

 

 

What are Vaginal Mesh implants?

 

Vaginal Mesh implants are non-absorbable implants, made of synthetic netting that are implanted in a surgical procedure to treat a number of conditions, most commonly pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.

 

 

What are the possible complications?

 

The Australian Federal Court listed the adverse events of the implants:

 

• Infection
• Erosion of the mesh into the vaginal canal resulting in infection which may be difficult to treat and cause offensive vaginal discharge and pain
• Erosion of the mesh into surrounding organs such as the bladder, urethra or rectum which may cause pain and damage those organs
• Damage to nerves in the scar tissue surrounding the implant or elsewhere;
• Chronic pain, which may be severe
• Painful sexual intercourse, which may be severe and may become chronic or inability to have sexual intercourse
• Leg weakness
• Recurrent incontinence
• Difficulty voiding and
• Vaginal discharge.

 

We published an article on this in recent weeks but if you would like more information or would like to enquire about taking a case, you can go to our website or call our office on 052 6124344

 

For further advice or if you wish to discuss any other legal area please contact reception@lynchsolicitors.ie or telephone 052-6124344.

The material contained in this blog is provided for general information purposes only and does not amount to legal or other professional advice. While every care has been taken in the preparation of the information, we advise you to seek specific advice from us about any legal decision or course of action.