The Court of Criminal Appeal struck out an uninsured-driving charge added more than eight months after the offence and held that drug analysis needs no accredited laboratory. Defence lawyers facing added charges or laboratory challenges should note both points.
The Court of Appeal held Maltapost Plc 40% liable for a postal worker's death in a delivery vehicle with no doors or seat belt, and cut the damages to €40,622.40 with a lower multiplier and a no-dependency deduction.
The Family Section gave a mother sole custody, removed the absent father's parental authority under article 154(e) of the Civil Code and ordered €325 monthly maintenance with arrears from birth. It matters to any parent raising a child alone.
The Court of Appeal held that an occupier without title cannot keep a shop until repaid for money he says he spent on it, because retention under article 550 needs possession as owner. It matters to anyone resisting eviction with a claim for expenses.
The Constitutional Court dismissed an engineers' union's appeal seeking to annul the 2021 amendments to the Engineering Profession Act. It matters to anyone relying on an injunction or the proportionality-test law to stop legislation.
The Court of Criminal Appeal annulled a judgment because the accused pleaded guilty to attempted fraud but the Court of Magistrates never cited article 41 on attempts. It sent the case back for a fresh judgment, leaving the earlier proceedings intact.
The Court of Appeal split fault for a marriage breakdown two-thirds to one-third, held that article 48 penalties bind the spouse found guilty of adultery, and set rules for student maintenance and the matrimonial home.
The First Hall of the Civil Court held that the Authority for Transport in Malta could not recover €122,749 in wreck rent and scrapping costs from a shareholder of the company that owned the vessel. It matters to anyone contesting an article 466 executive letter.
The Court of Appeal held on 10 March 2026 that an owner who sells a damaged house keeps the right to sue for the damage. It matters to anyone selling property while a damages case is pending.
The First Hall of the Civil Court (Constitutional Jurisdiction) awarded €24,405 to co-heirs who owned half a garage let under the old commercial rent law until a 2015 division. It matters to heirs and co-owners deciding who may sue for past breaches.
The Court of Appeal left a €76,185.80 unfair dismissal award in place, holding that the Industrial Tribunal gave reasons within article 81(2)(a) of Chapter 452. It matters to any employer thinking of appealing an award on quantum.
The Court of Appeal refused a mother's bid to join her child as a defendant in the father's custody case and to act as the child's curator. It matters to any lawyer weighing joinder under article 961 or an appeal from a decree without leave.