Supreme Court rules against the McCanns in damages case.

[jassi]

This is something that has puzzled me. As Madeleine is a Ward of Court, how can the MCanns take legal action on her behalf? Is that not now the responsibility of the Family Court?
Perhaps someone with a legal brain will explain.

[faithlilly]

Well had it been my child the ex-cop had been tasked with finding and he not only failed, but also made me the chief suspect and then spent the rest of his life trying to persuade people he was on the right track all along(even though he patently wasn't) then yes, I'd have been a bit effin' miffed.  You of course wouldn't have been remotely bothered.

Ask yourself this. Would they have begun litigation if their own home and my had been at stake?

[Alfie]

Ask yourself this. Would they have begun litigation if their own home and my had been at stake?

Their own home is at stake isn't it?

[jassi]

Their own home is at stake isn't it?

Possibly. There are ways and means of putting it beyond the reach of a court, though you would need a clever lawyer or accountant. 

[Angelo222]

Their own home is at stake isn't it?

Amaral lost his home and most of his income so why should the McCanns be any different?  Actions have consequences so their lawyers would have had a responsibility to explain all this before committing to legal action.

The first move will be a restraint order to freeze all assets and prevent anything from being sold or transferred.

[Mr Gray]

Amaral lost his home and most of his income so why should the McCanns be any different?  Actions have consequences so their lawyers would have had a responsibility to explain all this before committing to legal action.

The first move will be a restraint order to freeze all assets and prevent anything from being sold or transferred.

That is assuming there are any assets

[Brietta]

This is something that has puzzled me. As Madeleine is a Ward of Court, how can the MCanns take legal action on her behalf? Is that not now the responsibility of the Family Court?
Perhaps someone with a legal brain will explain.

Correct me if I am wrong.  Wasn't one of the court delays due to Amaral's then lawyer checking out that very point?

[slartibartfast]

This is something that has puzzled me. As Madeleine is a Ward of Court, how can the MCanns take legal action on her behalf? Is that not now the responsibility of the Family Court?
Perhaps someone with a legal brain will explain.

If I remember correctly, the Judge removed Maddie from the list of plaintiffs?

[ferryman]

Correct me if I am wrong.  Wasn't one of the court delays due to Amaral's then lawyer checking out that very point?

Yes.

And it fell flat.

[stephen25000]

Yes.

And it fell flat.

Irrelevant.

The case is over.

[Brietta]

If I remember correctly, the Judge removed Maddie from the list of plaintiffs?

Along with Madeleine's siblings ... who are not Wards of Court. 

[Alfie]

Amaral lost his home and most of his income so why should the McCanns be any different?  Actions have consequences so their lawyers would have had a responsibility to explain all this before committing to legal action.

The first move will be a restraint order to freeze all assets and prevent anything from being sold or transferred.

How does a Portuguese restraint order work in the UK then?

[Alice Purjorick]

This is something that has puzzled me. As Madeleine is a Ward of Court, how can the MCanns take legal action on her behalf? Is that not now the responsibility of the Family Court?
Perhaps someone with a legal brain will explain.

As I recall there was a hooha because Sr Amaral's avogado picked up on this and wanted proof the English courts were content that appropriate permissions had been granted before the writ was filed in Portugal.
Apparently all was cool.

[Mr Gray]

How does a Portuguese restraint order work in the UK then?

Very good Alfie

[G-Unit]

Who knows, maybe the Portuguese Courts required some kind of guarantee of payment at some point before allowing further action.