Background

Mr Mathew McConville, Head of Irvings Law’s specialist Data Protection Department, has successfully represented a couple in a claim for compensation against Monmouthshire County Council; the couple are Mr & Mrs Hughes.

Mr & Mrs Hughes raised a complaint to an alleged breach of planning control by their neighbours and on the same, they requested that their details be kept private due to previous grievances from the said neighbours. Although this request was repeatedly assured to Mr & Mrs Hughes by Monmouthshire County Council, they shared the same in error to a third party and also uploaded such communications on an online portal for all to see inclusive of such neighbours. Mr & Mr Hughes were offered an unreserved apology by Monmouthshire County Council  whom confirmed that they had undertaken internal considerations to avoid any reoccurrence as well as recognising the distress caused by Mr & Mrs Hughes wished to take matters further.

Representation

As such, Mr & Mrs Hughes approached specialist Data Protection Solicitors, Irvings Law, for assistance. Mr McConville immediately acknowledged that what happened was completely wrong and without hesitation, offered to act for Mr & Mrs Hughes by way of “no win, no fee” presenting a claim to Monmouthshire County Council for a breach of human rights, data protection and misuse of private information.

Resolution

Despite their position before Mr & Mrs Hughes instructed Mr McConville, Monmouthshire County Council denied liability to pay compensation to them but once threatened with legal action, they wished to engage in settlement negotiations. Following this same, Mr & Mrs Hughes agreed to resolve their claim for over six thousand pounds including payment of their legal costs without issuing Court proceedings.