This means that an “employer” is liable for an act which an employee does directly. The Employer stands in the shoes of the employee. In abuse cases, the law changed in or around  2001 to make the “employer” liable. The term employer is, however, used loosely and has been extended widely to include foster carers, voluntary workers,

Both sides of a case are at liberty to obtain expert evidence from someone recognised by the Courts as someone with expertise in a certain subject. In abuse cases,the types of expert often used are Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Care Experts, or Independent Social Workers. Experts are under a duty to behave impartially with no bias

This is a meeting between the parties to any legal case, usually involving Counsel/Barristers on both sides at an agreed location, which is usually the solicitor’s office of either the Claimant or Defendant, the purpose of which is to try to settle the case on terms acceptable to both parties. If the meeting is successful,

A term often used to describe a state of mind which most victims of abuse aspire to, whereby they are able to shut the door on memories of the abuse, and get on with their lives in a balanced and contented fashion. Some argue that there is no such thing as closure because memories of

Old fashioned word for “Claimant” used before 1999, meaning the person who brings a claim through the courts in England and Wales.

A state of mind not uncommon in abuse victims, where the hurtful and intrusive thoughts are set aside and not processed because they are too painful. It is one of the brain’s methods of coping with painful memories. In psychiatric terms it is described as “A psychological defense mechanism in which specific, anxiety-provoking thoughts, emotions,

Abuse committed in the name of Satan, utilising the worship of the Devil to jusitify the commission of the abuse. Heathen practises including child sacrifices.

Abuse committed usually within a cult or society utilising the customs and traditions of that group in order to make into a routine the abusive practises.

Latin meaning “between the parties”. It is used to mean something that only applies between the people invoved in the case eg Claimant and Defendant as opposed to between the solicitor and client or client and the Legal Services Commission

A Witness Summons is a document issued by the court requiring a witness to attend Court to give evidence or produce documents to the Court.