Supreme court denies government pressure to select a woman – The Guardian

Posted February 15th, 2013 in judiciary, news, Supreme Court, women by sally

“The UK supreme court has denied rumours that it has come under pressure from the government to select a woman for appointment to one of three current vacancies.”

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The Guardian, 15th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

European Court awards damages to prisoner after Parole Board backlog – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 15th, 2013 in damages, delay, human rights, news, parole by sally

“On 29 January the Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights held that convicted rapist Samuel Betteridge’s Article 5(4) rights had been breached due to delays in his cases being considered by the Parole Board, and awarded him damages for his ‘frustration’.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 15th February 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

LSB recommends regulation of will-writing activities – Legal Services Board

Posted February 15th, 2013 in consumer protection, legal services, Legal Services Board, news, wills by sally

“The Legal Services Board is today [13 February] recommending to the Lord Chancellor that will writing activities should be made subject to regulation, so that the significant risks consumers currently face when using these critical services is reduced.”

Full story (PDF)

Legal Services Board, 13th February 2013

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

Disgraced peer Lord Hanningfield wins damages from Essex Police over arrest – The Independent

Posted February 15th, 2013 in damages, expenses, false accounting, news, police, warrants by sally

“A former Tory peer who was jailed over the parliamentary expenses scandal has won £3,500 damages from Essex Police.”

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The Independent, 15th February 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Google countersues BT over patents – The Guardian

Posted February 15th, 2013 in internet, news, patents, telecommunications by sally

“Web giant calls telecoms company’s lawsuit ‘meritless’, and claims its own intellectual property has been infringed.”

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The Guardian, 14th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted February 15th, 2013 in parliamentary papers by sally

Scotland analysis: Devolution and the implications of Scottish independence, Cm 8554 (PDF)

Publication of Draft Legislation Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions), Cm 8563 (PDF)

Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan concerning the procedure for the ground transit of cargo from the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan through the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan in connection with the participation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in efforts to ensure the Security, Stabilisation and Reconstruction of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan with mandatory involvement of the state joint-stock Railway company “Uzbekiston temir yullari”, Cm 8522 (PDF)

Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on procedures for implementing transit through the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan of Motorised Armoured Vehicles (without weapons) being transported out of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in connection with the participation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in efforts to ensure the Security, Stabilisation and Reconstruction of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Cm 8523 (PDF)

Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the Air Transit of cargo and personnel through the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan in connection with the participation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in efforts to ensure the Security, Stabilisation and Reconstruction of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Cm 8524 (PDF)

Transforming Youth Custody: Putting education at the heart of detention, Cm 8564 (PDF)

Memorandum to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee: Post-Legislative Assessment of the Commons Act 2006, Cm 8551 (PDF)

Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Albania on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, Cm 8559 (PDF)

Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines Concerning Air Services, Cm 8560 (PDF)

Protocol between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius to amend the Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital Gains, Signed at London on 11 February 1981, as amended by the Protocols Signed at Port Louis on 23 October 1986 and 27 March 2003, Cm 8561 (PDF)

Protocol between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of South Africa to amend the Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital Gains, Signed at London on 4 July 2002, Cm 8562 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

Subsidiaries as “branches” for undertakings: a new route to jurisdiction under Article 5(5) of the Brussels Regulation? – Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

Posted February 15th, 2013 in competition, conflict of laws, EC law, jurisdiction, news, subsidiary companies by sally

“Stand alone, follow on and hybrid damages claims arising out of multijurisdictional cartels are generating some of the most novel and interesting current problems in conflicts of laws, both in relation to issues of jurisdiction and applicable law. On the jurisdictional side conventional wisdom has it that there are three main routes by which Claimants can seize English jurisdiction.”

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Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 14th February 2013

Source: www.competitionbulletin.com

Google must act quickly on libellous Blogger posts, says appeal court – The Guardian

Posted February 15th, 2013 in defamation, internet, news by sally

“Google may have to act quicker to remove potentially libellous posts from its Blogger platform following a court of appeal ruling in London.”

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The Guardian, 14th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

What is a good reason for departing from a mandatory costs budget? A practical view from the Bar – Littleton Chambers

Posted February 15th, 2013 in budgets, costs, defamation, news by sally

“The costs budgeting provisions of the Jackson Report are among the most significant issues facing litigators today. One key concern has been that parties and their legal advisers face having otherwise recoverable costs disallowed if they fail to comply with the requirements concerning costs budgets. Those concerns were heightened by the decision in Sylvia Henry v News Group Newspapers Ltd [2012] EWHC 90218 (Costs) to disallow £268,832 of costs on the grounds that the claimant had failed to comply with rules concerning costs budgeting in PD 51 (see Legal update, Costs management: first decision under Defamation Proceedings Pilot Scheme). Those rules formed part of the Defamation Proceedings Pilot Scheme, on which the case was the first decided authority. The decision was taken to have considerably wider significance because of the similarity between the provisions of that pilot scheme and the main elements of the impending Jackson reforms.”

Full story (PDF)

Littleton Chambers, 6th February 2013

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

Bypassing lawyers would save £1.5bn, insurer claims – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 15th, 2013 in insurance, legal services, news, personal injuries, road traffic by sally

“Removing lawyers altogether from the small-claims process would save each motorist an average £60 a year on their car insurance premiums, a major insurer today [14 February] claimed.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 14th February 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Sensitivity of personal data should be determined by processing purpose and context not through categorisation, says ICO – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 15th, 2013 in consent, data protection, EC law, news, regulations by sally

“The sensitivity of personal information should be determined by the reasons behind why the information is to be processed, the UK’s data protection watchdog has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 14th February 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Bradford prostitute rape gang members jailed – BBC News

Posted February 15th, 2013 in conspiracy, news, prostitution, rape, sentencing by sally

“Three members of a gang who targeted and raped prostitutes in Bradford have been jailed for 12 years.”

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BBC News, 14th February 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bloody Sunday families offered £50,000 compensation by MoD – The Guardian

Posted February 15th, 2013 in armed forces, compensation, demonstrations, news, Northern Ireland by sally

“The families of those shot dead by Parachute Regiment soldiers on Bloody Sunday in 1972 have been offered around £50,000 each in compensation by the Ministry of Defence.”

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The Guardian, 14th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted February 15th, 2013 in legislation by sally

The Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) (England) Regulations 2013

The Civil Legal Aid (Preliminary Proceedings) Regulations 2013

The Finance Act 2012, Schedule 38 (Tax Agents: Dishonest Conduct) (Appointed Day and Savings) Order 2013

The Finance Act 2009, Section 101 (Tax Agents: Dishonest Conduct) (Appointed Day) Order 2013

The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013

The Electricity (Competitive Tenders for Offshore Transmission Licences) Regulations 2013

The Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (Commencement No. 11) Order 2013

The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Transitional Provision) (England) Regulations 2013

The Immigration (Procedure for Marriage) (Amendment) Regulations 2013

The Immigration (Procedure for Formation of Civil Partnerships) (Amendment) Regulations 2013

The Public Bodies (Abolition of the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board) Order 2013

The Legislative Reform (Hallmarking) Order 2013

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Family Rights at Work – Cloisters

Posted February 15th, 2013 in employment, families, flexible working, maternity leave, news, paternity leave by sally

“The Government has published its response to the ‘Modern Workplaces’ consultation on the overhaul of family rights at work, including shared parental leave, extended flexible working and new rights for surrogate parents. Rachel Crasnow explains the issues.”

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Cloisters, 17th January 2013

Source: www.cloisters.com

Met police loses bid to overturn award to autistic teenager – The Guardian

“The court of appeal has rejected an attempt by the Metropolitan police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe to overturn an award of £28,250 in damages to a severely autistic teenager who was put in handcuffs and leg restraints and held in a police van after jumping into a swimming pool.”

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The Guardian, 14th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Commission launches guidance on managing religion or belief in the workplace – Equality and Human Rights Commission

Posted February 15th, 2013 in employment, homosexuality, human rights, marriage, news, religious discrimination by sally

“Equality and Human Rights Commission has published new guidance today to help employers and employees deal with the expression of religion or belief at work and avoid conflict and costly court cases.”

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14th February 2013

Source: www.equalityhumanrights.com

Greater transparency at the heart of the Regulator’s determinations guidelines – 11 Stone Buildings

Posted February 15th, 2013 in consultations, disclosure, news, pensions by sally

“The Pensions Regulator has published revisions to the current Determinations Panel procedure as well as a separate Case Team procedure following a period of consultation. The procedures detail the processes used by the Determinations Panel and the regulator’s case teams in cases where the final decision rests with the Panel. Thomas Robinson, barrister at 11 Stone Buildings, explains the key changes and their potential impact on pension schemes.”

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11 Stone Buildings, February 2013

Source: www.11sb.com

LSB warns regulators over mis-selling risk with damages-based agreements – Litigation Futures

Posted February 15th, 2013 in consumer protection, costs, damages, fees, legal services, news by sally

“The Solicitors Regulation Authority, Bar Standards Board and other regulators must consider whether action is needed to ensure that damages-based agreements (DBAs) are not mis-sold to consumers, the Legal Services Board has warned.”

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Litigation Futures, 15th February 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Letting agents: new laws needed to protect tenants and landlords, says OFT – The Guardian

Posted February 15th, 2013 in consumer protection, landlord & tenant, news by sally

“The government should consider new laws for lettings agents to improve the rights of tenants and landlords, the Office of Fair Trading has said.”

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The Guardian, 14th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk