My father is in a care home. We are a large family of six children of my father and late mother, and I feel as if I am being left out of the loop. My father had a heart attack in the home, a mild one, but worrying enough, but I was never told. I have complained to the home but they say that they are not obliged to ring me to give this kind of report. They say my brother is next-of-kin but surely all children are equal in this?

Children are equal in law, but it is not practical for a nursing home to keep in contact with everyone. In this case next-of-kin means that person nominated by your father as the person to be kept in touch and to assist in making decisions. Indeed better if that person also has a power of attorney granted by your father if he is still of sound enough mind. It is then a family matter, not a legal one, as to how the chosen child passes information round the family.

My mother is a tenant. After a three year fight to get a new kitchen it was finally done. While doing the kitchen a workman broke my mother’s cooker. An inspector came to assess the damage and told her to put a claim in for a new one which she did. She borrowed £200 from a friend to get a new cooker and two months later they offered her £75, but because she owes council tax they want to put the money towards that. Are they within their rights to do this?

Council tax has no bearing on the settlement of that self-contained legal matter. However, if the factor/landlord is the agent for the council in respect of council tax, they may be able to set-off the money coming in against another debt, in this case council tax. Ask for a copy of your factoring agreement and/or check your lease before either agreeing anything - or challenging anything. Also consult Citizens Advice Bureau

I have been cited to court as a witness. Can I call up and say I don’t remember anything. I do not want involved.

No. Getting witness citation gives you a legal duty to attend court and answer questions truthfully. If you don’t you could end up in prison yourself for contempt of court

I was a bus passenger thrown from my seat when the driver braked suddenly. He said an old lady had walked off the pavement into his path and he had no choice. He missed her. I have tried to make a claim but the bus company's insurance says it was not his fault.

Bus drivers have a duty to drive with due care and attention for ALL affected by their driving including you, and it is reasonably foreseeable that sharp braking will cause passengers to lose balance if there are no seat belts. Was he driving too fast? Was he not paying sufficient attention to the possibility of pedestrians in a built-up area? I think more investigation is needed before you let them away with it.