Francis Hoar represents solicitor in legal challenge against government’s travel quarantine laws

04 September 2020

Francis Hoar is acting for a businessman who is seeking judicial review of the government’s travel quarantine laws.

The solicitor who wishes to remain anonymous to protect the identities of his 2 school-aged children, claims the Government has wrongly imposed quarantine laws.

The legal documents name UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps as the respondent. The case is being brought on 6 grounds including:

  • there is insufficient scientific evidence to authorise the legislation under the Public Health Act;
  • that indiscriminate quarantine is a violation of the right to liberty under Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights and does not fall within limited exceptions; and
  • that it is irrational and disproportionate.

Background to the case

The businessman decided to sue the Government after he and his family were placed into quarantine following their return from a holiday to Croatia.

He also launched a crowdfund campaign via legal funds platform CrowdJustice to support the case.

Francis also represents businessman Simon Dolan in his judicial review of the lockdown restrictions.  An appeal for Mr Dolan’s case will be heard on 28 and 29 September.