Case
Study Library
If the following
case studies are of interest they may be downloaded and
used on the understanding that MATA is given clear
attribution.
Confidential information sheets accompany each case study.
These are available on request (and a nominal contribution
to charity).
Case studies with the note "In use" are currently being
used on MATA training courses and so confidentials will not
be made available until the case studies are released for
general use.
It is MATA policy to add at least one new case each month
(and review content), so it is worth checking on a regular
basis. It is also worth contacting MATA if you need a case
study in a particular sector and/or would like one to be
written for you.
Case
Study List
All case studies
are within areas of interest. General headings will guide
you to case studies in those areas. Please note: there will
always be some overlap, as case studies can fall within
more than one area.
Agricultural
Parlour Games
Dispute
concerning Dairy farmers and the construction of a new
state of the art milking parlour.
Download
Parlour Games
Snappy Families
Siblings, who
are equal shareholders in family run scrap and waste
business and a dispute over profits made from involvement
in clear-up of foot and mouth disease.
Note: In use
Download
Snappy Families
Commercial
Chips with Everything
The Chip Butty Emporium (CBE) is a franchise
operation, working on the basis that modern society wants
chips with everything and chips with nothing else but
chips! Matt & Sue Lawson entered into a franchise
agreement with CBE. A dispute arises over the terms of the
agreement and planning permission for premises.
Download Chips
with Everything
Ever Ready
Ever Ready (ER)
is a small, family run, maintenance company that
specialises in quick-response jobs on large housing
estates. It also carries out period maintenance contracts
on property and external works. The dispute arises over
their main competitor accusing them of fraudulent price
fixing and a subsequent drop in work. ER have made a claim
for losses and damage to reputation. An Arbitration is
currently on hold, pending mediation.
Download Ever
Ready
Jules et Gym
A boutique gym run by partners (emotional and
professional relationship). Emotional relationship came to
an end resulting in a dispute over payment for half the
value of the gym.
Download Jules et
Gym
Misplaced
Passion
Mr Black and Mr
White formed 'The Passion Place', a company specialising in
the import and retail of exotic fruit and passion fruit in
particular. Prior to forming the company, they had both
worked for The General Fruit Trading Company (GEFTRA).
After leaving, GEFTRA experienced a drop in business and
long term suppliers and customers ceased trading with them.
That business had gone to 'The Passion Place'. GEFTRA
investigated and believe that Black and White solicited
business on behalf of Passion Place whilst at GEFTRA.
Download
Misplaced Passion
Consensus Building
Building Good Faith
Moslem group
submit plans to convert redundant Christian Church into
mosque. After receiving several comments of protest from
the local community, the local council approach two
mediators in order to be fair, open-minded and
unprejudiced.
Download
Building Good Faith
Construction
Diminishing Asset
Dispute over the
purchase, storage and construction of a restored barn frame
from a reclamation company.
Download
Diminishing Asset
Green Belt Blues
Purchase and
restoration of a barn, in a green belt area. Dispute over
Planning Authority regulations and involvement of the
architect with the build.
Note: In use
Download Green
Belt Blues
Northern Sites
A hotel purchase
and development. Dispute arising due to the building
footprint boundary and public footpath conflicting with
survey drawings.
Download
Northern Sites
Foul Up
Water Company
providing water and sewage in Midlands and North of England
sells redundant treatment works as brown-field sites for
housing development. In dispute with development company
for £800,000 due to being given false information about
sewer location and responsibility. (Also insurance).
Download Foul
Up
Employment
Single Frogs
Charity of
Community Peacemakers, working in the UK and abroad. Unease
amongst the Directors, one of whom is headhunted.
Accusations of disloyalty mean he is subsequently sent on
leave. Whilst on leave the Director is replaced without
being notified and then accused of sexual harassment.
Download
Single Frogs
Brown v Healthcare
Trust
Mrs Brown is
school nurse for the Trust. She drove her car into the car
park of the Health Centre and whilst unloading equipment
slipped on the snow and ice. Mrs Brown claims damages for
pain and suffering, loss of earnings and cost of domestic
support at home needed due to ongoing disability caused by
the accident. Trust say claim is ridiculous.
Download Brown v
Healthcare Trust
Family
Lost the Plot
Pet memorial
ground adjoining local cemetery. Fido is buried in the
wrong plot, by the honest admittance of the District
Council. They suggest mediation after a dispute arises over
the exhumation and reburial of the beloved
canine.
Download
Lost the Plot
Insurance
Damage Limitation
Bodyworks (UK)
Ltd is a network of vehicle repair shops. Mass Insurers Plc
(MIP) covers the insurance market. MIP has a repair
contract with Bodyworks. The dispute arises when MIP, as
part of its fraud avoidance process, carry out a
spontaneous audit on Bodyworks and the report gives MIP
grounds for believing that Bodyworks have abused their
relationship.
Download Damage
limitation
International
Black Water Cruising
Dispute between
a boat builder and owner over the capacity of waste water
storage, hull shape and anchor. (Also Marine).
Note: In use
Download Black
Water
Cementing Relationships
Construction
Agents in Saudia Arabia used by Ace Conveyors Ltd. Dispute
over the construction of two conveyor systems and their
fitness for purpose. (Also commercial).
Download
Cementing Relationships
International
and Joint Venture
Friendlypharm
A
joint venture is formed to sell medicines abroad that have
been repackaged cheaply in this country. A shareholder
agreement was signed. A dispute has arisen over the terms
of the agreement.
Download
FriendlyPharm
Landlord & Tenant
Haver v Goodtime
Commander Haver
owns a house he is currently renting to Gloria Goodtime (he
was a pilot and she a hostess for the same airline), under
an Assured Short term Tenancy (from 2004). Ms Goodtime paid
rent for the first 6 months, but the Commander has only
recently demanded other arrears. The dispute arises as the
Commander now demands vacant possession with back rent,
interest and costs. Ms Goodtime counter-claims a
declaration by the court for a life tenancy at a peppercorn
rent pursuant to the Commander's promise in 2005. (Also
Ethical).
Download Haver v
Goodtime
Marine/Commercial
Ploughing the Seas
Cable laying
company hired ship for a large project involving laying
cables under the sea. Equipment had to be built onto ship
specifically for this project on the understanding that the
ship would be returned to its normal state afterwards.
Company owed money and so ship was impounded with equipment
still on board. Dispute over payment, equipment removal and
arrangements concerning both.
Download
Ploughing the Seas
Medical
Heartache
A
couple belonged to a religious sect that had very strong
views on dying and the afterlife. They believed that the
body had to be buried complete for a peaceful transition
into the afterlife. The man was sadly killed and subject to
a post mortem where it was established that body parts had
been removed for research.
Download
Heartache
Media
The Rolling Rocks
Dispute between
the members of a heavy metal band who have issues over
whether royalties should be paid to an ex-member after two
of the four members continue to move the band into the 90s
and have a huge revival.
Download Rolling
Rocks
Motor
In the
Soup
Mass Production Cars (MPC)
decided to 'soup up' their range of cars to provide a
sports edition of their 3 main ranges. They entered into an
agreement with a company (SPEL) who could develop prototype
cars. The development stage was a disaster, resulting in
the industry looking at MPC with derision. MPC were hugely
embarrassed and determined that SPEL should pay for their
humiliation.
Note: In Use
Download In the
Soup
Personal Injury
Turf War
Australian Footballer, 'Bruce' recruited by
English Premiership Club, 'Moneychester United', trips as
he leaves the player's tunnel on his debut game. He breaks
three ribs and has pains in his right leg. The press have a
field day and accuse him of drinking. Bruce and the
Chairman of the club face considerable embarrassment. Bruce
claims PI; alleged racial taunts from team-mates and stress
at work. (PI & Sports).
Download Turf
War
Property
Gardening Leave
A landscaping
company specialise in external areas of expensive homes. A
couple engage the company to overhaul the gardens of their
historic country house, including forming a lake with a
jetty for boating. A dispute arises over completion of the
works and with communications between project manager and
the couple breaking down.
Download
Gardening Leave
Land
Grab
Lawrence owned a house and
an adjoining plot and also ran a taxi business as his main
source of income. He decided to take out a bank loan to
better the cars in his fleet. He put the house and plot up
as security. The Bank considered the plot to be worthless
and took the house alone as security. Within two years the
taxi business folded and the Bank put the security into
auction. The Dewers bought the house and rented it out to
tenants. When Lawrence then got planning permission to
build on the plot, he discovered that it had been
transferred to the Dewers at the time of the auction.
Lawrence is suing the Dewers for return of his land; the
Bank for damages and his solicitors for negligence.
Note: In Use
Download Land
Grab
Sports
Fighting Chance
European
Middleweight Boxing Champion in dispute with his manager
over his contract and the treatment he receives compared to
other boxers.
Download
Fighting Chance
Jagged
Ends
An advertising
company negotiated a sponsorship deal with Hondai Sports
Car for exclusive advertising at Brockside Stadium. A
dispute arises over the exclusivity of the advertising and
hence the sponsorship deal.
Download Jagged
Ends
Love All
Cola-Zip is an
energy drink made by Top Drinks (UK). They enter into a
deal with National Youth Tennis Association to build courts
in school grounds to promote future champions of the sport.
Deal involved schools collecting cans for recycling with TD
(UK) paying 10p per can to school and a flat sum to NYTA.
Two years on and two rising tennis stars get cartledge
degradation. Papers run story claiming that drink contains
a chemical causing problem. NYTA say withdraw drink TD (UK)
say no. NYTA terminate deal. TD (UK) sue. (Also
sponsorship).
Download Love
All
Upping the Antti
Antti Kempennen
is a talented, if temperamental soccer player. Mandy Mason
is a licensed soccer agent who arranged for Antti to be
transferred from a Dutch club to an English Premiership
side. Mandy has been paid the fee and it is still in the
bank. A dispute arises over Antti's father claiming a share
of the agency fee and no written contract to substantiate
the claim either way.
Download Upping
the Antti
Trusts
Taken
on Trust
Family
inheritance where sole beneficiary (daughter of deceased
wealthy widow) has tendency for eccentric and obscure
behaviours. Dispute over Trustees (including step-father)
not releasing funds to beneficiary.
Download Taken
on Trust