the Bernera cafe/dog/legal aid saga - wtf?

[AuntieBiotics]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ced71ny99y5o

American woman living in Bernera is suing the local community run cafe because it would not admit her "emotional support" dog. She is being supported by the Ethnic Minorities Law Centre because Americans are ethnic minorities, and is being funded by Legal Aid. She wants £10k, which would shut them down.

I mean. What the actual fuck. Move to a tiny island with 250 people on it, claim you're being ostracised and harrassed and try to solve that by suing a charity? That'll sort it. And LEGAL FUCKING AID???

It might. In my case, I'm not sure how much it would come to - a few thousand, I believe. (It was going to be too much for the small claims court.)

I'm wondering if she is planning to stay on in Bernera after the case.

Why would an American have a housing association house? I don’t understand how you can rock up in a different country, get supported by legal aid and housing association, and sue the local community!

Is there a shortage of people wanting to live there so they’ll house all comers? In which case they should be advertising for uk families to move up there.

Claire has had a rather sad and troubled life. But some of it is self inflicted! Like others I'm a bit shocked that she has secured social housing in this remote island. Unless she put her name down in 1986 or something. I have a couple of friends in Easter Ross waiting a very long time indeed.

The UK government sets the immigration rules. Why does this person have the right to live in the UK? And Scotland is clearly far more generous with its legal aid than England is. I'm struggling to see the logic of someone being publicly funded through litigation (and in this person's case they're talking about their "legal team") just because they've come to Scotland from a different country. As far as we can tell from the article, they're not claiming race discrimination in any event.

I think she has a Scottish father?

I wonder whether it's possible that they threatened legal action over nothing if they didn't get a council house, and the council backed down. Or perhaps the council are keen to encourage transwomen to move to their area.

Imagine she did win but it turned out to be a pyrrhic victory because her claims of both disability and entitlement to the bungalow were scrutinised & it turned out she was a total grifter.
No doubt she's had a tough childhood by the sounds of it but that doesn't mean you get to get away with being an arsehole when you're an adult.

Absolute wanker. Reminds me of Tamsin Whatsitt who wrote that batshit book trashing Lismore.

I thought it was clear she isn’t trans?

@Scoffingbiscuits just that it could be less degrading. only those who have been though it can understand.
You can't walk, prove to me you can't walk! you're blind, can you try to read this? you can't hear, let me shout it louder, even though I see you using bsl....that's literally what some court appointed medical experts have done.

I can just imagine some hoary old crofter eyeing her up and down, and saying 'aye, I kennt her faither………..'

I don't disbelieve you @poodlemum01 , I'm sure being asked for proof feels uncomfortable, unfortunately, it's that or take people at their word. The people who are really making your life harder are the entitled few who will lie through their teeth if it means they get their own way. Maybe what's needed are official dog coats only available through a government body, if your Drs class you as disabled then the coat would be issued, any other coats would be disregarded

Recoverable court cots are usually about 50% of the actual legal costs incurred
And if the other party has no assets are probably irreparable
Obviously Legal aid won’t cover the other party’s costs
Given how difficult it is to get Civil Legal aid , I am astonished it has been granted in this case

Either way, I'm wondering whether they've got where they are by being aggressive and threatening. Some organisations are easily cowed / don't want the hassle.

I am gobsmacked. So she has managed somehow to get legal aid to make this claim, and because she has no assets (according to her), she won't have to pay a penny - meanwhile the charity will have to pay their lawyers fees incurred while defending this (seemingly) ridiculous claim against them? 😲

I wonder if she makes her living by suing or threatening to sue people and businesses?

She certainly seems to be enjoying herself.

Horrible woman.

I have also donated to the BCA. Let's hope they can stay in operation.

Did we ever find out how Peter Murrell got legal aid?

I think PPP is referring to your use of 'they' rather than she

@MyDpsanarse registered assistance dogs, trained through charities that are members of assistance dogs uk / assistance dogs international, have the ADI or ADUK logo on their uniforms and an ID number on their collars. They may have different uniform colours (to distinguish from guide dogs, hearing dogs, autism dogs etc) but they should have the logo somewhere. It wont be big though.

Your suggestion seems to be a blanket approach but the dogs and the disability they support do need to be distinguished by uniform colour. Guide dogs will be yellow or white, hearing dogs burgundy, canine partners are blue...but all the dogs trained through an ADUK member charity have a yellow ID book - this is recognised by the government (I don't have it to hand so can't check exact wording but mine has a wee statement from environmental health department confirming there is no hygiene / health and safety reason to refuse entry).

So there IS already "proper" documentation and uniform available if you want to call it that but there's no proper regulation or legal requirement to have them on show.

I said earlier I'd reserve judgement as its not as simple as just saying 'oh they are at it'. Also some posts on this thread do make me uncomfortable as a disabled person and assistance dog owner. Then again there is a lot of disablism and ignorance across mumsnet as a whole.

@poodlemum01 I appreciate the detailed reply, obviously much of what I suggested is already in place.

Basically yes

Legal aid for criminal cases is much easier to get than for civil cases
While I have no time for Murrell, this is fair

Headline on Herald website : ‘I don’t know if someone is going to kill me’: American woman in Hebridean café row

I'm sure quite a few people would at least like to try.