Michael Block BL

I have been in practice at the Bar since 2002. I am a member of the Dublin Circuit, and my practice is predominantly based in Dublin in the area of Civil Litigation (in particular in the area of personal injuries, contract law, commercial law, land law and probate).

Over the past 19 years I have acted for both Plaintiffs and Defendants in the Circuit, High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court and have appeared, for Plaintiffs and Defendants, in employers liability claims, public liability claims and property damage claims. I have appeared for a range of parties in probate actions as well as contractual / commercial disputes and specifically in respect of Patent infringement claims as well as Franchisee / Franchisor disputes.

Written Judgments of cases I have appeared:

• O’Flynn v Buckley and the MIBI [2009] IESC 3, [2009] 3 IR 311

Acted for the MIBI in relation to an application to dismiss the Plaintiff’s proceedings for not being in accordance with the requirements of the MIBI Agreement)

• Reaney and Others v Interlink Ireland Ltd t/a DPD [2012] IEHC 606

Acted for the Defendant (Interlink) in respect of a dispute between the franchisee and franchisor – this case dealt with restrain of trade clauses, allegations of breach of contract and fraud as well as issues in relation to the lodgment procedure

• Joseph Elmontem v Nethercross Ltd t/a Roganstown Golf and Country Club and Another [2014] IEHC 91

Acted for the Second Named Defendant in respect of an assault which occurred in the workplace- this case dealt with employers duties and vicarious liability as direct liability of employers.

• Reaney v Interlink Ireland Ltd (t/a D.P.D.) [2016] IECA 238

Acted for the Defendant (Interlink) in respect of an appeal to the Court of Appeal in respect of the High Courts findings in respect of the lodgment and in respect of the Courts Act Interest

• Reaney v Interlink Ireland Ltd (t/a D.P.D) [2017] IESCDET 36

Acted for the Defendant (Interlink) in obtaining leave to appeal the decision of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court in respect of the Court of Appeals findings in respect of the lodgment procedure and in respect of the relationship between Courts Act Interest and the lodgment Procedure.

• Reaney v Interlink [2018] IESC 13

Acted for the Defendant (Interlink) in successfully arguing before the Supreme Court that the Defendant’s lodgment was valid and that no regard should be had to the issue of Courts Act Interest for the reckoning of whether or not a Plaintiff had ‘beaten’ a lodgment.

• Demeray Ltd v O’Grady p/a O’Grady Solicitors [2018] IEHC 800

Acted for the Defendant in seeking and obtaining an Order for Security for Costs. The Plaintiff’s appealed that decision to the Court of Appeal who heard the appeal on the 29 October 2020 and the decision of the Court of Appeal is awaited.

• Seligman v Kuiatkowski [2018] IEHC 102

Acted for the Plaintiff in a personal injuries action.

• Innovative Health Care Distribution L.L.C. v Kilgannon [2019] IEHC 941

Acted for the Plaintiff seeking to enforce a foreign judgment.

• Chandler v Minister for Defence and Others [2019] IEHC 832

Acted for the Plaintiff in an application to renew a summons in a Medical Negligence Action. The Summons was renewed initially and thereafter an application to set aside the renewal was successful. Subsequently the Plaintiff’s brought an appeal to the Court of Appeal which was heard on the 12 April 2021 and the decision of the Court of Appeal is currently awaited.