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Solicitor Advocate Frank Maguire of Thompsons Solicitors has welcomed moves by MSP Bill Butler to reform the law covering compensation for wrongful deaths.
 
Mr Maguire said: “This is an area of the law which is long overdue for a major overhaul.

“There is something far wrong with a system that makes the families of victims jump through all sorts of legal hoops to get rightful compensation for their loss.

“The system is appallingly slow and cumbersome and that adds to the grief and suffering of the bereaved relatives.”

Mr Butler plans to bring forward a member's bill to update legislation for such cases, which can include deaths at the workplace or in road traffic accidents.

His actions follows on from a number of recommendations the Scottish Law Commission made with a view to reforming the law in this area.

The Glasgow Anniesland MSP said: "I want to provide justice and dignity for victims and their loved ones.

“The current system can be improved so that it provides a fair level of compensation in cases of wrongful death without the need for unnecessarily long and distressing court cases.

"Labour has always put the needs of victims first and these sensible proposals, which have been drawn up by the Scottish Law Commission, need to be implemented urgently."

Mr Butler added he would be approaching Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, seeking Government support for the changes.

He said: "We should all be able to agree about making the law fairer."

Professor Joe Thomson of the Scottish Law Commission said: "This bill clarifies, simplifies and modernises the law of damages for wrongful death.

“Almost all of the measures were welcomed by all those who responded to a consultation on the issue.”