A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Judge finds building firm acted in deceitful way over death claim

A High Court judge has found a construction company acted in a “deceitful and fraudulent manner” in its handling of a claim for a death-in-service benefit by the family of an employee who died in an accident in 2005.

Star Homes (Midleton) Ltd, Main Street Midleton, Co Cork, had challenged a determination of the Pensions Ombudsman requiring the company to pay €69,000 to the family of the late Pawel Szeefs.

In judicial review proceedings, the company claimed the ombudsman’s decision was in breach of natural justice, perverse and unreasonable.

The ombudsman denied the claims.

€21 billion increase in household assets

The financial assets of Irish households rose by €21 billion in 2009, while liabilities fell, according to the Central Statistics Office. Household assets such as bank deposits, shares, life insurance and pension fund assets grew in value from €283.5 billion in 2008 to €304.5 billion last year, a 7.4 per cent increase. This includes assets of non-profit organisations. However, the figures do not include physical assets such as housing.

Household loans and other liabilities fell by €6.2 billion, leading to a gain of €27.2 billion in net financial assets.

US approves 'Open Internet' rules

US communications regulators have adopted internet traffic rules that prevent providers from blocking lawful content but still let them ration access to their networks.

The Federal Communications Commission approved the "Open Internet" order which aims to strike a balance between the interests of internet service providers, content companies and consumers, but some industry analysts believe that a court challenge is still likely.

At issue is whether regulators need to guarantee that all stakeholders continue to have reasonable access to the internet, a principle often called "net neutrality", or whether the internet is best left to flourish unregulated. – (Reuters)