News focus: Big Brother watch – time for intercept evidence to be admissible in court? – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 20th, 2022 in admissibility, encryption, evidence, investigatory powers, news, telecommunications by tracey

‘Intercepts remain inadmissible as evidence, which makes our jurisdiction an outlier. Is it time to allow their use, when this could boost transparency and build public confidence?’

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Law society's Gazette, 20th September 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Alexandra Wilson examines the Court of Appeal ‘Encrochat’ judgment: A, B, D & C v Regina [2021] EWCA Crim 128 – 5SAH

‘Alexandra Wilson provides an update on the latest Encrochat position following the judgment in A, B, D & C v Regina [2021] EWCA Crim 128.’

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5SAH, 18th February 2021

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

Implants, Interception and the Admissibility of EncroChat Data – Broadway House Chambers

‘On 05 February 2021, the Court of Appeal judgment in the case of A & Others [2021] EWCA Crim 128 was published. The judgment effectively dismissed arguments to stop the use of data obtained from the EncroChat communications network in legal proceedings. Put simply, judges ruled that the data obtained by French and Dutch law enforcement by hacking EncroChat servers did not constitute “interception” and therefore did not contravene the statutory provisions as set out in the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.’

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Broadway House Chambers, 8th February 2021

Source: broadwayhouse.co.uk

High Court upholds refusal by judge to admit witness statement from council officer in eviction proceedings brought by housing association – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 15th, 2020 in admissibility, appeals, evidence, housing, landlord & tenant, news, repossession, witnesses by tracey

‘The High Court has dismissed an application to overturn a judge’s refusal to allow tenants to rely on a witness statement from a council officer in eviction proceedings brought by a housing association.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th October 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

New Judgment: Shagang Shipping Company Ltd (in liquidation) v HNA Group Company Ltd [2020] UKSC 34 – UKSC Blog

‘This appeal arose out of a claim by the appellant under a guarantee of a contract, to charter a vessel which was met with a defence from the respondent that the contract was procured by bribery and that the guarantee was therefore unenforceable. The bribery allegation was based on evidence of confessions that the appellant alleged were obtained by torture and therefore inadmissible.’

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UKSC Blog, 5th August 2020

Source: ukscblog.com

Grenfell Tower inquiry backs protection for refurbishment firms giving evidence – BBC News

‘The chairman of the Grenfell Tower inquiry has backed a request from firms that refurbished the building that evidence they give should not be used against them in criminal prosecutions.’

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BBC News, 7th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Blow for Richard Freeman case after Sutton evidence ruled admissible – The Guardian

Posted December 6th, 2019 in admissibility, doctors, drug abuse, evidence, news, professional conduct, sport by sally

‘Shane Sutton’s evidence at the hearing of former Team Sky and British Cycling doctor Richard Freeman is admissible, a tribunal has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 6th December 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Covert recording in a PI claim: ramifications for Employment Tribunals? – 3PB

‘On 21 January 2014, a road traffic accident took place in Milton Keynes (liability having been conceded). The Claimant’s (hereinafter referred to as “C”) Honda Jazz was struck from behind by a Fiat Punto; there are 3 defendants (referred to collectively as “D”).’

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3PB, 4th November 2019

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Legal advice privilege – 3PB

Posted December 4th, 2019 in admissibility, disability discrimination, evidence, news, privilege, redundancy by sally

‘The Claimant was employed as a Senior Legal Counsel by Shell until his dismissal, allegedly for redundancy, in January 2017. Whilst employed by Shell, he submitted a grievance and commenced an employment tribunal claim (“the First Claim”) for disability discrimination. In March 2017, he commenced a second ET claim (“the Second Claim). In broad terms, he alleged that Shell relied on a planned re-organisation of its in-house legal department as a pretext by which to terminate his employment by way of redundancy such that his dismissal was unfair, and that this was also unlawful discrimination and victimisation as a result of the First Claim and his grievance.’

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3PB, 4th November 2019

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Legal Advice Privilege and Dismissal – Littleton Chambers

Posted November 19th, 2019 in admissibility, evidence, news, privilege, unfair dismissal by sally

‘Two recent cases have cast light on the issue of legal professional privilege in employment disputes.’

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Littleton Chambers, 12th November 2019

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

Master urges APIL and FOIL to agree recordings protocol – Litigation Futures

‘A High Court master has urged the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and the Forum of Insurance Lawyers to agree a protocol to govern the recording of medico-legal examinations.’

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Litigation Futures, 15th October 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Cheryl Grimmer case won’t go ahead as police interview ruled inadmissible – The Guardian

‘The trial of a man accused of murdering UK-born toddler Cheryl Grimmer almost 50 years ago will not go ahead, after a judge ruled his 1971 police interview was not admissible.’

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The Guardian, 15th February 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Confidentiality, Costs and Mediation – Garden Court Chambers

‘That mediation proceedings are confidential is taken as axiomatic. What is said and done in the course of a mediation remains there. The same goes for documents of whatever kind, and their contents, created for the purposes of the mediation. In the above case Master Howarth appears to have qualified these propositions to some extent.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 31st January 2017

Source: www.gardencourtmediation.co.uk

Sexual history evidence: fair game? – Counsel

Posted December 9th, 2016 in admissibility, consent, evidence, interpretation, news, rape, retrials by sally

‘Ali Naseem Bajwa QC and Eva Niculiu examine the issues raised by use of the complainant’s sexual history in the Ched Evans rape retrial.’

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Counsel, December 2016

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

The Taxonomy of Evidence: Experts, Facts, Opinions and the Courts by Grahame Anderson – Littleton Chambers

Posted December 1st, 2016 in admissibility, evidence, expert witnesses, news, opinions by sally

‘In Darby Properties Limited and another v Lloyds Bank plc, Master Matthews has given judgment in a case concerning the admissibility of expert evidence in an interest rates hedging products case.’

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Littleton Chambers, 24th November 2016

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

Supreme Court gives guidance on the admissibility and use of expert evidence – Cloisters

‘Rachel Barrett discusses Kennedy v Cordia (Services) LLP, in which the Supreme Court has given detailed and practical guidance on the admissibility and use of expert evidence in the course of a judgment concerning the remit of employers’ duties to take care for their employees’ safety at work.’

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Cloisters, 10th February 2016

Source: www.cloisters.com

Kennedy (Appellant) v Cordia (Services) LLP (Respondent) (Scotland) – Supreme Court

Kennedy (Appellant) v Cordia (Services) LLP (Respondent) (Scotland) [2016] UKSC 6 (YouTube)

Supreme Court, 10th February 2016

Source: www.youtube.com/user/UKSupremeCourt

Regina v Bhatti – WLR Daily

Posted August 4th, 2015 in admissibility, appeals, consumer credit, crime, evidence, law reports by sally

Regina v Bhatti [2015] EWCA Crim 1305; [2015] WLR (D) 346

‘Where the police obtained financial information from a credit ratings agency in reliance on section 29(1) of the Data Protection Act 1998, such information having been obtained by the agency from customers who had expressly agreed in their credit applications and agreements that their data might be shared for the purpose of crime detection, prevention and prosecution, the procedural requirements of Schedule 1 to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 were not bypassed and the information was lawfully obtained, so that it was not precluded from admissibility in criminal proceedings.’

WLR Daily, 30th July 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Are Covert Recordings Admissible? – No. 5 Chambers

‘Charles Crow reviews recent decisions in relation to covert recordings by employees and the implications for Tribunals and employers.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 12th January 2015

Source: www.no5.com

Regina (Bancoult) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (No 3) – WLR Daily

Regina (Bancoult) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (No 3) [2014] EWCA Civ 708; [2014] WLR (D)  237

‘A leaked diplomatic cable published on the internet by a third party did not violate the archive and documents of the diplomatic mission which sent the cable since it had already been disclosed to the world by a third party. On that narrow ground it was admissible as evidence in court. However, even if the evidence in question had been admitted, it would not have led to a different decision and therefore was not a ground for allowing the appeal.’

WLR Daily, 23rd May 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk