Jeweller Shahid Bashir, whose business collapsed after an armed robbery, is suing his insurer for compensation. Bashir, who traded in gold jewellery from a shop at Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, has issued a writ against Moore Brown Barnes, London E1. According to his writ, the robbery took place on 1 March last year when he was out of the country. It claims that he had left his father looking after his property but that three armed men broke into his father's house and held him, his wife, and two daughters at gunpoint. One of the men stayed in the house while the other two drove the father to the shop where he was forced to open the shop and unlock the safe. They fled with gold worth £65,500. Bashir claims that, in breach of contract, Moore Brown Barnes has refused to meet his claim in respect of the stolen jewellery and more than £70,000 worth of other losses.

Writ issued by Barrett & Thomson, Slough.

Laing Estates is suing the Health and Safety Executive for more than £2m in repair costs and other charges. The claim stems from the Health and Safety Executive's takeover of a remaining year's lease on Ferguson House in Marylebone Road, London. Laing's writ claims that when the property was handed back it needed extensive repairs. A schedule of dilapidations puts building costs and repairs at £1,011,126 plus VAT, professional fees at £101,113, and loss of rent during repairs at £354,708 plus VAT. The total claim amounts to £2,115,272. Ferguson House was leased from 15 June 1983 to 31 August 1994 at an annual rent of £225,000, and the lease was assigned to the Health and Safety Executive on 20 August 1993. It gave back the property on 29 September 1994.

Writ issued by Speechly Bircham, London EC4.

Wilfred Dixon, who was sacked from his job as managing director of Executive Protection, is suing for damages of more than £100,000. His writ says he was taken on as managing director for a minimum three-year term at £45,000 a year, with a bonus of 0.5 per cent of the company's turnover of £1.5m. His contract is also said to have entitled him to a car, expenses, private health insurance for him and his family, a pension scheme and life assurance. But he says that on 1 May this year Executive Protection's holding company Ships (UK) purported to sack him.

Writ issued by Collyer-Bristow, London WC1.