Latest news with #Stewarts
ITV News
02-06-2025
- ITV News
Rollercoaster crash like 'hitting a car at 90mph': 10 years on from Alton Towers Smiler injuries
Ten years after they suffered life-changing injuries on a rollercoaster at Alton Towers, Leah Washington-Pugh and Joe Pugh reflect on how far they have come. Leah and Joe, from South Yorkshire, were just 17 and 18-years-old and on a date when the carriage they were riding on the Smiler ride crashed into the empty carriage ahead. The pair were left serious injuries with Joe suffering two shattered kneecaps and damage to his hands and Leah having damage to her legs and a fractured hand. She went on to have her left leg amputated above the knee. The crash, on 2 June 2015, led to operator Merlin being fined £5m, with compensation paid to the 16 victims. Speaking through representatives at the legal firm Stewarts, the pair described how having each other got them through their recovery. Joe said: 'We had to learn not only how to walk again, but how to build a relationship with each other again.' 'Looking back now, me and Joe sticking together, we were such a good support for each other. Yes, our injuries were there and everything else around us was going off, but we still had that relationship and friendship and that got us through everything,' Leah added. The Smiler was the couple's first ride of the day after entering the park. "I think if I remember rightly if you compare it to a car accident it was the equivalent of driving into a car at 90 miles an hour. It was pretty severe," added Joe. "I looked down at my legs and realised that something wasn't right," said Leah. "I looked at Joe and Joe's little finger was hanging off." It took a number of hours for them to be rescued from the ride in a complex operation which involved the Air Ambulance flying in blood for Leah. "If it wasn't for the air ambulance and other services on the day I know I wouldn't be here today." Leah spent five days in intensive care and was in hospital for eight weeks in total. Partner at Stewarts, Anna Wiseman acted for Leah and Joe in their case. She said: 'Leah was young when I first met her, she was only 17. For her to go through that process and be injured in the way that she was, was quite terrifying for her.' Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd admitted breaches of the Health and Safety Act in what bosses called "the most serious incident" in Alton Towers' history. Reflecting on a decade since the crash, the couple, who recently got married say the incident has brought them closer together. "You've always got to find the positive in the negative and just got to grab life, because it's so precious, and make the most of it" added Leah. The couple are using the anniversary to host a ball to support the Midlands Air Ambulance, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the LimbBo Foundation, a charity which supports limb-different children.
Western Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Microsoft facing multibillion-pound legal claim over software licence pricing
The opt-out claim has been brought by barrister Alexander Wolfson, and says it could apply to millions of UK consumers, businesses and public bodies who have purchased licences for products such as Microsoft Office and Windows. The claim alleges that the US tech giant has abused its market dominance and imposed restrictive licensing practices which hampered competition and inflated prices. As a result, it claims, consumers and businesses who purchased licences for some Microsoft software products between October 1 2015 and the present day were overcharged. 'Microsoft's actions have had a significant and far-reaching impact on UK consumers, businesses and public bodies,' Mr Wolfson said. 'This claim seeks to hold Microsoft to account and to secure compensation for the many affected members of the class. 'With billions of pounds potentially at stake, this case is about ensuring fairness in the digital marketplace and ensuring even the largest tech companies play by the rules.' Kate Pollock, head of competition ligation at law firm Stewarts, which is working with Mr Wolfson, said: 'Microsoft's conduct has had a profound and costly impact on millions of individuals and private and public sector organisations that rely on its software for daily business operations. 'We believe that Microsoft abused its market dominance by imposing restrictive licensing practices that effectively shut down competition and inflated prices. 'We're proud to be supporting Alexander Wolfson in bringing this claim. 'With our specialist experience in complex competition litigation, we are well placed to help secure justice for the millions affected. This case has the potential to restore greater fairness and accountability to the UK's increasingly digital economy.' Microsoft has been contacted for comment. In December, a separate £1 billion claim was filed with the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal, alleging Microsoft customers using rival cloud computing platforms to Microsoft's own Azure were charged higher licensing fees to access its Windows server.
Glasgow Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Microsoft facing multibillion-pound legal claim over software licence pricing
The opt-out claim has been brought by barrister Alexander Wolfson, and says it could apply to millions of UK consumers, businesses and public bodies who have purchased licences for products such as Microsoft Office and Windows. The claim alleges that the US tech giant has abused its market dominance and imposed restrictive licensing practices which hampered competition and inflated prices. As a result, it claims, consumers and businesses who purchased licences for some Microsoft software products between October 1 2015 and the present day were overcharged. 'Microsoft's actions have had a significant and far-reaching impact on UK consumers, businesses and public bodies,' Mr Wolfson said. 'This claim seeks to hold Microsoft to account and to secure compensation for the many affected members of the class. 'With billions of pounds potentially at stake, this case is about ensuring fairness in the digital marketplace and ensuring even the largest tech companies play by the rules.' Kate Pollock, head of competition ligation at law firm Stewarts, which is working with Mr Wolfson, said: 'Microsoft's conduct has had a profound and costly impact on millions of individuals and private and public sector organisations that rely on its software for daily business operations. 'We believe that Microsoft abused its market dominance by imposing restrictive licensing practices that effectively shut down competition and inflated prices. 'We're proud to be supporting Alexander Wolfson in bringing this claim. 'With our specialist experience in complex competition litigation, we are well placed to help secure justice for the millions affected. This case has the potential to restore greater fairness and accountability to the UK's increasingly digital economy.' Microsoft has been contacted for comment. In December, a separate £1 billion claim was filed with the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal, alleging Microsoft customers using rival cloud computing platforms to Microsoft's own Azure were charged higher licensing fees to access its Windows server.
South Wales Guardian
13-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Microsoft facing multibillion-pound legal claim over software licence pricing
The opt-out claim has been brought by barrister Alexander Wolfson, and says it could apply to millions of UK consumers, businesses and public bodies who have purchased licences for products such as Microsoft Office and Windows. The claim alleges that the US tech giant has abused its market dominance and imposed restrictive licensing practices which hampered competition and inflated prices. As a result, it claims, consumers and businesses who purchased licences for some Microsoft software products between October 1 2015 and the present day were overcharged. 'Microsoft's actions have had a significant and far-reaching impact on UK consumers, businesses and public bodies,' Mr Wolfson said. 'This claim seeks to hold Microsoft to account and to secure compensation for the many affected members of the class. 'With billions of pounds potentially at stake, this case is about ensuring fairness in the digital marketplace and ensuring even the largest tech companies play by the rules.' Kate Pollock, head of competition ligation at law firm Stewarts, which is working with Mr Wolfson, said: 'Microsoft's conduct has had a profound and costly impact on millions of individuals and private and public sector organisations that rely on its software for daily business operations. 'We believe that Microsoft abused its market dominance by imposing restrictive licensing practices that effectively shut down competition and inflated prices. 'We're proud to be supporting Alexander Wolfson in bringing this claim. 'With our specialist experience in complex competition litigation, we are well placed to help secure justice for the millions affected. This case has the potential to restore greater fairness and accountability to the UK's increasingly digital economy.' Microsoft has been contacted for comment. In December, a separate £1 billion claim was filed with the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal, alleging Microsoft customers using rival cloud computing platforms to Microsoft's own Azure were charged higher licensing fees to access its Windows server.
South Wales Argus
13-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Microsoft facing multibillion-pound legal claim over software licence pricing
The opt-out claim has been brought by barrister Alexander Wolfson, and says it could apply to millions of UK consumers, businesses and public bodies who have purchased licences for products such as Microsoft Office and Windows. The claim alleges that the US tech giant has abused its market dominance and imposed restrictive licensing practices which hampered competition and inflated prices. As a result, it claims, consumers and businesses who purchased licences for some Microsoft software products between October 1 2015 and the present day were overcharged. 'Microsoft's actions have had a significant and far-reaching impact on UK consumers, businesses and public bodies,' Mr Wolfson said. 'This claim seeks to hold Microsoft to account and to secure compensation for the many affected members of the class. 'With billions of pounds potentially at stake, this case is about ensuring fairness in the digital marketplace and ensuring even the largest tech companies play by the rules.' Kate Pollock, head of competition ligation at law firm Stewarts, which is working with Mr Wolfson, said: 'Microsoft's conduct has had a profound and costly impact on millions of individuals and private and public sector organisations that rely on its software for daily business operations. 'We believe that Microsoft abused its market dominance by imposing restrictive licensing practices that effectively shut down competition and inflated prices. 'We're proud to be supporting Alexander Wolfson in bringing this claim. 'With our specialist experience in complex competition litigation, we are well placed to help secure justice for the millions affected. This case has the potential to restore greater fairness and accountability to the UK's increasingly digital economy.' Microsoft has been contacted for comment. In December, a separate £1 billion claim was filed with the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal, alleging Microsoft customers using rival cloud computing platforms to Microsoft's own Azure were charged higher licensing fees to access its Windows server.
