Company loses appeal against first corporate manslaughter conviction

It has been reported that Cotswold Geotechnical (Holdings) Ltd which, in February 2011, was found guilty of corporate manslaughter under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 and fined £385,000, has lost its application for permission to appeal against its conviction (see Legal update, Company sentenced in first corporate manslaughter trial).

At the time of sentencing, the court acknowledged that the company's financial state meant the fine could be paid over a period of ten years (the level of the fine was said to reflect the seriousness of the offence and to act as a deterrent). In upholding the fine in the Court of Appeal, Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge said it was "unavoidable and inevitable" that the company would probably have to go into liquidation.

Source: Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings loses death appeal, bbc.co.uk, 11 May 2011.