Civil Partnerships: Decision of Appeal Court published 29 April 2012

Judges have overturned a decision that awarded an actor a £1.7m settlement after his civil partnership broke down.

The Appeal Court ruled Donald Gallagher was not entitled to 42% of the assets he shared with partner Peter Lawrence, and cut the amount to 33%. The crucial issue was whether the courts applied the same rules to civil partnerships as to a heterosexual marriage.

The decision is viewed as a test case.