Una Morris is a specialist civil liberties, human rights and public law practitioner with expertise including claims against the police and other public authorities, inquests and judicial review. She is Public Access qualified.
Una has been shortlisted in the Newcomer category of the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards (LALYs).
Claims Against the Police and Public Authorities
Overview
Una is regularly instructed to act for claimants in actions against the police and other public authorities. She has wide-ranging expertise across the full spectrum of torts, human rights, data and privacy claims. Her significant experience in this field extends to advising in writing and in conference, drafting pleadings and other written documents, through to representation at trial in the County Court and High Court and on appeal.
Notable Cases
G v British Transport Police (2016)
Una acted for the claimant in a claim for damages for false imprisonment, assault and battery and malicious prosecution. The claimant was arrested by British Transport Police officers, during which he sustained injuries and was knocked unconscious. The claimant, who has learning difficulties, was interviewed by the police without having an appropriate adult present, before being charged. As a result of the incident, the claimant sustained severe psychiatric injury. The claim settled shortly before trial.
M v Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police (2016)
Una acted for the claimant in a claim arising out of a police dog bite incident and breaches of the claimant's rights to privacy. The claimant succeeded in his personal injury claim and in his claims connected to the privacy and data violations, including misfeasance in public office. The claimant recovered basic damages, special damages and exemplary damages. The claimant also recovered his costs, some of which were payable on an indemnity basis.
C v Chief Constable of Merseyside Police (2016)
Una represented the claimant in a claim for damages in connection with a stop and search. The claimant succeeded in false imprisonment and assault. The jury found that not all of the necessary information under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 had been provided to the claimant. The jury also rejected the officers' accounts of the restraint of the claimant.
G v Chief Constable of Merseyside Police (2015)
Una acted for the claimant, who succeeded in her claim for damages for assault. The claimant, who was 69 years old and disabled at the time of the incident, had been subjected to unlawful force by an officer of the rank of sergeant. The officer's account of the incident was rejected by the judge, as was the evidence of the supervising inspector on the scene.
Morgan v Chief Constable of West Midlands Police (2015)
Una acted for Carl Morgan in this claim against the police. Mr Morgan was arrested, sprayed with CS spray and prosecuted for an offence he did not commit, following his attendance at a football match in August 2011. West Midlands Police agreed to pay damages and costs, after Mr Morgan brought proceedings for false imprisonment, assault and malicious prosecution.
Crook v Chief Constable of Essex Police [2015] EWHC 988 (QB)
Una appeared in this High Court action arising out of the unlawful disclosure of Anthony Crook's personal data. Mr Crook succeeded in breach of confidence, breach of the Data Protection Act 1998 and Article 8 and was awarded substantial damages.
G & Others v Chief Constable of Merseyside Police (2015)
Una, along with Leslie Thomas QC, represented four claimants, who were aged just 11 and 12 when they were arrested following an incident at school. The case settled at the conclusion of the claimants' evidence.
W v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (2014)
Una represented the claimant in a jury trial at Central London County Court. The claimant succeeded in establishing false imprisonment and assault against the Metropolitan Police.
R (Birks) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2014] EWHC 3041 (Admin)
Una appeared, along with Leslie Thomas QC and Jude Bunting, for the Second Interested Party, Marcia Rigg-Samuel, in proceedings brought by a police officer in relation to the refusal of the Commissioner to consent to his resignation pending misconduct proceedings arising out of the death of Sean Rigg. The challenge to the decision failed.
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Inquests and Inquiries
Overview
Una has considerable experience of acting for bereaved families at all stages of inquest proceedings, including in concurrent and post-inquest civil claims.
Notable Cases
Inquest touching on the death of Dean Joseph (2015)
Una and Leslie Thomas QC represented the maternal side of Dean Joseph's family at the inquest into his death. Mr Joseph was shot and killed by a firearms officer in Islington in September 2014. The jury returned a narrative conclusion, in which they criticised the Metropolitan Police handling of the firearms operation, deeming it "inadequate".
Inquests touching on the deaths of Christi and Bobby Shepherd (2015)
Una assisted Leslie Thomas QC in acting for the families at a number of points during and after the inquests into the deaths of Christi and Bobby Shepherd. The children died on a Thomas Cook holiday in Corfu in 2006 from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Inquest touching on the death of Rubel Ahmed (2015)
Una represented the family of Rubel Ahmed, who died at Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre in September 2014. The jury returned an open conclusion and a critical narrative.
Inquest touching on the death of Paul Malicus Coley (2015)
Una represented two of the children of Paul Malicus Coley, who died at HMP Hewell in December 2013. The jury returned a critical narrative.
