Prisoners’ legal bill ‘colossal’ – BBC News

Posted February 10th, 2009 in legal aid, news, prisons by sally

“The cost to taxpayers of funding legal action brought by prisoners is almost 20 times higher than it was seven years ago, new figures have shown.”

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BBC News, 10th February 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Why solicitors need lessons in complaining – The Times

Posted February 10th, 2009 in delay, judgments, judiciary, news by sally

” The wheels of justice famously grind slow – but these days there are limits even to judicial slowness. More than 2,000 judges in England and Wales have been issued with a deadline for delivering their judgments and if they are late, must explain why.”

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The Times, 10th February 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Woman uses new forced marriage laws against father – The Independent

Posted February 10th, 2009 in forced marriages, news by sally

“A 22-year-old woman has used new legislation to protect herself from being married against her will in Pakistan.”

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The Independent, 10th February 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Digital Britain report: Why Lord Carter should get real – The Guardian

Posted February 10th, 2009 in internet, news by sally

“Last month’s release of Lord Carter’s ‘interim’ Digital Britain report sparked howls of outrage from network wonks across the land. Even as Gordon Brown gushed about the potential of the internet to be as important to Britain’s industrial and economic future as roads and bridges, the Carter report’s recommendations proposed to turn tomorrow’s road-and-bridge infrastructure over to the selfish mismanagement of special interests who want to be sure that their buggies won’t be crowded off the digital byways.”

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The Guardian, 10th February 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted February 10th, 2009 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Ferguson v British Gas Trading Ltd. [2009] EWCA Civ 46 (10 February 2009)

Zipher Ltd v Markem Systems Ltd & Anor [2009] EWCA Civ 44 (10 February 2009)

Matuszowicz v Kingston Upon Hull City Council [2009] EWCA Civ 22 (10 February 2009)

Guy v Pannone Llp [2009] EWCA Civ 30 (10 February 2009)

Ugiagbe v London Borough of Southwark [2009] EWCA Civ 31 (10 February 2009)

Liverpool City Council, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Hillingdon & Anor [2009] EWCA Civ 43 (10 February 2009)

Office of Communications & Anor v Floe Telecom Ltd [2009] EWCA Civ 47 (10 February 2009)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Mireskandari v The Law Society & Ors [2009] EWHC 185 (Ch) (09 February 2009)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Kamal XXVI, The Owners of v Ariela, The Owners of [2009] EWHC 177 (Comm) (10 February 2009)

Source: www.bailii.org

Fund managers win libel damages over £1bn ‘hoodwink’ claim – The Times

Posted February 10th, 2009 in defamation, news by sally

” Fund managers accepted a public apology and ‘substantial’ undisclosed libel damages today over newspaper allegations that they intended to keep £1 billion of their investors’ money for themselves.”

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The Times, 10th February 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Conflicting Rights – BBC News

Posted February 10th, 2009 in human rights, news by sally

“What happens when the rights of two people collide and how does the law deal with the issue?”

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BBC News, 6th February 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal aid and prisoners – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 10th, 2009 in legal aid, news, prisons by sally

“Justice Minister Lord Bach has today made a written ministerial statement on a consultation on legal aid and prisoners.”

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Ministry of Justice, 10th February 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Payment Services Regulations laid before Parliament – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 10th, 2009 in consumer credit, news by sally

“The regulation of credit and debit cards and other payment services will be tightened in the UK from November. New rules were laid before Parliament yesterday that aim to deliver greater competition in the market for payment services.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 10th February 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted February 10th, 2009 in law reports by sally

High Court (Chancery Division)

P, Re [2009] EWHC 163 (Ch) (09 February 2009)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Lord-Castle v Director of Public Prosecutions [2009] EWHC 87 (Admin) (23 January 2009)

Source: www.bailii.org

Bankers consider legal action over bonuses – The Times

Posted February 10th, 2009 in news, remuneration by sally

“Banks could face legal action by disgruntled workers if they are denied bonuses, a leading employment lawyer said.”

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The Times, 10th February 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Surveillance needs better control, warn Lords – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 10th, 2009 in investigatory powers, news, privacy by sally

“The fundamental relationship between Government and the people of the UK is at risk because of the increasing surveillance being carried out by the state and by private bodies, a House of Lords Committee has said.”

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OUT-LAW, 10th February 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted February 10th, 2009 in legislation by sally

The Occupational Pension Schemes (Levy Ceiling – Earnings Percentage Increase) Order 2009

The Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment, Use and Certification) (Amendment) Regulations 2009

The European Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Regulations 2009

The Aerodromes (Designation) (Chargeable Air Services) (Revocation) Order 2009

The Air Passenger Duty (Rate) (Qualifying Territories) (Variation of Description) Order 2009

The Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (Investment Exchanges and Clearing Houses) Regulations (No. 2) 2009

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

O’Brien v Department for Constitutional Affairs – Times Law Reports

Posted February 10th, 2009 in judiciary, law reports, pensions by sally

O’Brien v Department for Constitutional Affairs

Court of Appeal

“A part-time fee-paid judicial office holder was not entitled to claim that he had been subjected to less favourable treatment when he was refused a pension on retirement from office.”

The Times, 10th February 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note that the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Yearworth and Others v North Bristol NHS Trust – Times Law Reports

Posted February 10th, 2009 in bailment, human tissue, law reports, negligence, psychiatric damage by sally

Yearworth and Others v North Bristol NHS Trust

Court of Appeal

“A sample of sperm from a person undergoing chemotherapy, which a hospital stored in case he became infertile after the treatment, was that person’s property and its loss or damage was capable of establishing a claim in negligence.”

The Times, 10th February 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note that the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Child Support Agency v Truman – WLR Daily

Posted February 10th, 2009 in disability discrimination, law reports by sally

Child Support Agency v Truman; [2009] WLR (D) 40

“The test for the correct comparator in cases of disability-related discrimination in the employment field under s 3A of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, was the same as that applied to the housing provisions of the Act by the House of Lords in Lewisham London Borough Council v Malcolm (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) [2008] AC 1399, and not the test as previously stated in Clark v Novacold Ltd [1999] ICR 951.”

WLR Daily, 9th February 2009

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Oak Investment Partners XII v Boughtwood and others – WLR Daily

Posted February 10th, 2009 in company law, law reports, shareholders, unfairly prejudicial conduct by sally

Oak Investment Partners XII v Boughtwood and others [2009] EWHC 176 (Ch); [2009] WLR (D) 39

“In an appropriate case, where a significant shareholder, who, as a result of being such a shareholder, was appointed to a management role within the company, then engaged in a course of conduct in that role involving improper assertion of rights of control over the practical management of the affairs of the company, that conduct was capable of being conduct of the affairs of the company in an unfairly prejudicial manner for the purposes of s 994 of the Companies Act 2006.”

WLR Daily, 9th February 2009

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Freshfields puts the brake on spiral of law salaries – The Times

Posted February 10th, 2009 in law firms, news, remuneration by sally

“Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, one of Britain’s oldest law firms, yesterday called a ceasefire in a pay war in which starting salaries for City lawyers have risen to more than £90,000.”

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The Times, 10th February 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Low-alcohol wine manufacturer fights ban – The Times

Posted February 10th, 2009 in alcohol abuse, EC law, food, news by sally

“The food standards watchdog was accused yesterday of a ‘heavy handed abuse of power’ in banning a new low-alcohol wine in the face of Government policy urging people to drink sensibly.”

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The Times, 10th February 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Complaint lodged with watchdog over Smith’s expenses – The Independent

Posted February 10th, 2009 in expenses, news, parliament by sally

“A complaint has been made to the parliamentary sleaze watchdog about Home Secretary Jacqui Smith claiming allowances for a second home while living as a lodger with her sister, it was confirmed today.”

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The Independent, 9th February 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk