Morning:
10°c
The father of a peace activist shot dead by an Israeli soldier has launched a pioneering legal service to make justice more affordable.
Tom Hurndall, a photojournalist from Camden, was shot in the head by a sniper as he tried to help Palestinian children in Gaza in 2003. The 22-year-old fell into a coma and died nine months later in a London hospital.
His father Anthony Hurndall, a property lawyer, led a lengthy legal battle to bring his son's killer to justice.
He has set up the Centre for Justice in Camden to help resolve disputes without going to court and at a fraction of the cost and time — as he also begins mediation with Israeli authorities over compensation for his son's death.
“Most people involved in a dispute are crying out for help but they are shoe-horned into the legal process without the central issue being resolved. We provide a non-adversarial arbitration service that tries to empathise with the people involved.”
The centre has between 10 and 20 cases, the first of which, a financial services dispute, is expected to be resolved within the next month.
One of its five lawyers is appointed to investigate the issue in dispute and to speak to both parties, acting as mediator. The lawyer also has powers to judge how monies or property should be split. The decision is legally binding under the 1996 Arbitration Act as long as both parties sign up to the mediation.
He said: “We estimate the cost is between 10 and 25 per cent of a
normal court case. A big case may cost £10,000 with us compared with up to £50,000 at a county court. It should also be a lot quicker.”
Major law firms have backed the not-for-profit centre, including Norton Rose and Linklaters. Its caseload includes neighbour disputes, arguments between tenants and landlords and a challenge to Camden council over social security. However, Mr Hurndall believes it can tackle much bigger cases. He said: “We are capable of handling very major types of dispute.”
Mr Hurndall secured the manslaughter conviction of soldier Taysir Hayb in 2005, but he still campaigns for senior Israeli officers to face charges.
Reader views (1)
I just watched the Shooting of Tom Hurndall video. Powerful. I'd very much like to join in efforts to call out the Israelis for their unconscionable attacks on Gazans, their campaign against Lebanon, their continuing attempts to begin a war with Iran.
Sympathizers with "Jews" abound in my community. Nothing may be said against Israel without incurring the epithet: anti-Semite.
My student, to whom I provided the book version, wanted to perform My Name is Rachel Corrie locally and was blocked at every turn. She is now a student in California and is still attempting to convince theatres around her to allow the play.
Why has no one commented on this article published months ago? I would very much like to contact or meet the Hurndalls.
- John Dwyer, Naples, FL, USA, 30/12/2009 01:04
Report abuse
