Mentally ill man jailed for hospital arson has prison sentence quashed – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2012 in appeals, arson, mental health, news, sentencing by sally

“A severely mentally ill young man who tried to escape from a psychiatric unit by attempting to burn down a hospital door had an indefinite prison sentence quashed on Wednesday, after a two-year campaign by his mother.”

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The Guardian, 12th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted December 12th, 2012 in parliamentary papers by sally

Agreement on the Establishment of the Global Green Growth Institute, Cm 8512 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted December 12th, 2012 in law reports by sally

Supreme Court

Imperial Tobacco Ltd v The Lord Advocate (Scotland) [2012] UKSC 61 (12 December 2012)

A (A Child), Re [2012] UKSC 60 (12 December 2012)

X v Mid Sussex Citizens Advice Bureau & Anor [2012] UKSC 59 (12 December 2012)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Novartis AG v Generics (UK) Ltd (t/a Mylan) [2012] EWCA Civ 1623 (12 December 2012)

Cammish v Hughes [2012] EWCA Civ 1655 (12 December 2012)

Davisons Solicitors (a firm) v Nationwide Building Society [2012] EWCA Civ 1626 (12 December 2012)

Alliance Bank JSC v Aquanta Corporation & Ors [2012] EWCA Civ 1588 (12 December 2012)

Brown- Quinn & Anor v Equity Syndicate Management Ltd & Anor [2012] EWCA Civ 1633 (12 December 2012)

AM v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2012] EWCA Civ 1634 (12 December 2012)

High Court (Queen’s Bench)

Ford & Warren v Warring- Davies [2012] EWHC 3523 (QB) (12 December 2012)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Bushara, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for Home Department [2012] EWHC 3483 (Admin) (16 November 2012)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development Company v Al Refai & Ors [2012] EWHC 3539 (Comm) (12 December 2012)

Source: www.bailii.org

ASA reprimands PPI text message firm – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2012 in advertising, complaints, insurance, news, telecommunications by sally

“Complaints about a company based in India which sent text messages about reclaiming payment protection insurance (PPI) and compensation for accidents have been upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).”

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The Guardian, 12th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Permanent injunction against anti-vivisection protestors – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 12th, 2012 in harassment, injunctions, medical ethics, news, vivisection by sally

“The High Court has granted a medical testing laboratory a final injunction against anti-vivisectioners protesting outside their premises.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 12th December 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Consultation on proposed changes to the Patents Act 1977 – Intellectual Property Office

Posted December 12th, 2012 in consultations, intellectual property, news, patents by sally

“The Review of Intellectual Property and Growth published by Professor Hargreaves in 2011 recognised the important role the UK’s patent system plays in supporting innovation and economic growth. However, the review highlighted the need for the IP framework to be more adaptable and recognised a need for change in some aspects of the way the IP system operates. Such changes will ensure the IP system continues to encourage innovation and support those UK businesses which recognise the competitive advantage that can be gained through intellectual property (‘IP’) rights.”

Consultation (PDF)

Intellectual Property Office, December 2012

Source: www.ipo.gov.uk

British agents ‘facilitated the murder’ of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane during the Troubles – The Independent

Posted December 12th, 2012 in armed forces, murder, news, Northern Ireland, reports, solicitors, terrorism by sally

“Prime Minister David Cameron said today he was ‘deeply sorry’ for the extent of state collusion in the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane in 1989 following the publication of an independent review.”

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The Independent, 12th December 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Related link: Pat Finucane Report

The Court of Protection is subject to unprecedented scrutiny. But there’s still a long way to go – The Independent

“The Independent’s campaign to gain access to the court that deals with Britain’s most vulnerable has made great strides for open justice. Our reporter explains how.”

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The Independent, 12th December 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ombudsman report reveals the cost of complaint – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2012 in complaints, local government, news, ombudsmen, reports by sally

“Public organisations are wasting resources and causing financial hardship by taking too long to put right basic mistakes, says a new report by parliamentary ombudsman Dame Julie Mellor.”

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The Guardian, 12th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Related link: Responsive and Accountable? 2011-12

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted December 12th, 2012 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Sadighpour v R. [2012] EWCA Crim 2669 (11 December 2012)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

AN & FA (Children), R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2012] EWCA Civ 1636 (11 December 2012)

Suffolk County Council v Nottinghamshire County Council [2012] EWCA Civ 1640 (11 December 2012)

Singh & Ors v Ahluwalia [2012] EWCA Civ 1635 (11 December 2012)

Phillips & Co (a firm) v Bath Housing Co-Operative Ltd [2012] EWCA Civ 1591 (11 December 2012)

Davies v Davies [2012] EWCA Civ 1641 (11 December 2012)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Price v Powel & Ors [2012] EWHC 3527 (QB) (11 December 2012)

Harlan Laboratories UK Ltd & Anor v Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (“SHAC”) & Anor [2012] EWHC 3408 (QB) (07 December 2012)

Source: www.bailii.org

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted December 12th, 2012 in legislation by sally

The Charitable Incorporated Organisations (Insolvency and Dissolution) Regulations 2012

The Value Added Tax (Small Non-Commercial Consignments) Relief (Amendment) Order 2012

The Police (Amendment No. 5) Regulations 2012

The Excise Duties (Surcharges or Rebates) (Hydrocarbon Oils etc.) Order 2012

The Police Pensions (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2012

The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Fees) Order 2012

The Regional Strategy for the East of England (Revocation) Order 2012

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Leveson warns journalistic standards could slip if bloggers not subject to law – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2012 in enforcement, internet, media, news, publishing, regulations by sally

“Lord Justice Leveson has warned that unless criminal and civil law is enforced against bloggers, the quality of journalism in conventional media could deteriorate.”

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The Guardian, 12th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Immigration detention casework – poor casework must be addressed – HM Inspectorate of Prisons

Posted December 12th, 2012 in case management, delay, deportation, detention, immigration, news, prisons, reports by sally

“Immigration casework needs to improve so that people aren’t detained for longer than necessary, said Nick Hardwick, Chief Inspector of Prisons, and John Vine, Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, publishing the report of a thematic review of immigration detention casework.”

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HM Inspectorate of Prisons, 12th December 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Court of Appeal: Criminal Appeals Heard More Quickly – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted December 12th, 2012 in appeals, courts, news, statistics by sally

“The Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) heard appeals against conviction and sentence more quickly last year than in previous years according to the Court’s annual report published today (Tuesday 11 December).”

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Judiciary of England and Wales, 11th December 2012

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Phillips & Co (a firm) v Bath Housing Co-operative Ltd – WLR Daily

Posted December 12th, 2012 in civil justice, costs, law reports, legal profession, limitations, solicitors by sally

Phillips & Co (a firm) v Bath Housing Co-operative Ltd [2012] EWCA Civ 1591; [2012] WLR (D) 372

“A solicitors’ claim for costs, billed but not yet fixed by assessment or agreement, fell within the phrase ‘debt or other liquidated pecuniary claim’ in section 29(5)(a) of the Limitation Act 1980.”

WLR Daily, 11th December 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Whiplash crackdown – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 12th, 2012 in compensation, consultations, news, personal injuries, road traffic, small claims by sally

“New measures to bring down the number and cost of whiplash claims, including speculative and fraudulent applications has been announced today [11th December].”

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Ministry of Justice, 11th December 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

David Cameron hints at change of heart in secret courts policy – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2012 in bills, closed material, evidence, judiciary, news, private hearings by sally

“The government could be preparing to back down over whether judges or ministers should have the final say on legal evidence being heard in secret.”

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The Guardian, 11th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Changes to stamp duty land tax sub-sale rules will affect commercial transactions, said expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 12th, 2012 in bills, conveyancing, news, rent, stamp duty, tax avoidance by sally

“Changes to the stamp duty land tax (SDLT) sub-sale rules announced as part of the draft Finance Bill ‘will introduce complexity and uncertainty into commercial transactions’ said John Christian, a property tax expert at Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-law.com.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 11th December 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Model charity: ‘whatever happens, we’ll carry on, but it won’t be easy’ – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2012 in asylum, budgets, charities, homelessness, legal aid, news, refugees by sally

“Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group, which supports destitute refugees, may be hit by sweeping legal aid cuts.”

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The Guardian, 11th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Unmeritorious appeals ‘clogging the arteries’ of CoA – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 12th, 2012 in appeals, budgets, courts, legal aid, legal representation, news by sally

“Increasing numbers of ‘unmeritorious’ appeals could have the effect of ‘clogging the arteries’ of the court of appeal, the registrar of criminal appeals has warned.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 11th December 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk