Sisters lose European tax battle – BBC News

Posted April 29th, 2008 in inheritance tax, news by sally

“Two elderly British sisters have lost their final battle to avoid paying a massive inheritance tax bill.”

Full story

BBC News, 29th April 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Office of Fair Trading v Abbey National plc and Others – Times Law Reports

Posted April 29th, 2008 in banking, consumer protection, contracts, law reports by sally

Office of Fair Trading v Abbey National plc and Others

Queen’s Bench Division

“Terms in standard form contracts between bank and customer providing for relevant charges were not exempt from assessment as to fairness.”

The Times, 29th April 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

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

Secretary of State for the Home Department v British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection and another – WLR Daily

Posted April 29th, 2008 in confidentiality, disclosure, freedom of information, law reports by sally

Secretary of State for the Home Department v British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection and another; [2008] WLR (D) 129

“Where a public official reasonably believed that information had been given under a statutory procedure in circumstances which gave rise at that time to a reasonable expectation of privacy, and the statute prohibited disclosure for purposes other than those to which the Act related, that information was exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.”

WLR Daily, 28th April 2008

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.

ITV faces record £4m fine for phone-in scandal – The Guardian

Posted April 29th, 2008 in fraud, media, news, telecommunications by sally

“The media watchdog Ofcom plans to record a damning verdict and hand down a record seven-figure fine after a six-month investigation into premium phone line deception on some of ITV’s biggest shows.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MI5 accused of colluding in torture of terrorist suspects – The Guardian

Posted April 29th, 2008 in news, terrorism, torture by sally

“Officers of the Security Service, MI5, are being accused of ‘outsourcing’ the torture of British citizens to a notorious Pakistani intelligence agency in an attempt to obtain information about terrorist plots and to secure convictions against al-Qaida suspects.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Fear keeps you on your toes’ – The Times

Posted April 29th, 2008 in banking, barristers, special report by sally

” The commercial court of Mr Justice Andrew Smith was stuffed with barristers last Thursday, but one QC was the main focus of attention. The case was the challenge to bank charges that could affect every bank current account holder in Britain. At the original hearing in February, Laurence Rabinowitz represented the Royal Bank of Scotland, one of eight lenders accused of levying unfair overdraft charges. It also fell to him to put the lead argument to the court for all the banks, saying that the alternative would be to charge on every transaction.”

Full story

The Times, 29th April 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Brown warned that cannabis decision may face legal challenge – The Guardian

Posted April 29th, 2008 in drug offences, news by sally

“Gordon Brown’s decision to overturn the advice of his own group of drug experts by pressing ahead with a tougher policy on cannabis could face a high court challenge from campaigners.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government putting a price on the future of children – The Times

Posted April 29th, 2008 in care orders, family courts, fees, special report by sally

” While the Government digests the disastrous effects of the Domestic Violence, Crime & Victims Act 2004, introduced in July last year, on the protection of the victims of domestic violence, it might also give consideration to another legislative time-bomb affecting family proceedings.”

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The Times, 28th April 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

‘Culture of complacency’ in criminal justice system – The Independent

Posted April 29th, 2008 in criminal justice, news by sally

” The criminal justice system was condemned for its ‘culture of complacency’ tonight (28th April).”

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The Independent, 28th April 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Teenagers jailed for life for killing goth woman – The Guardian

Posted April 29th, 2008 in murder, news, sentencing, young offenders by sally

“Two teenagers were given life sentences today for murdering 20-year-old Sophie Lancaster because she was a goth.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lords defy Government by proposing criminalisation of data rogues – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 29th, 2008 in data protection, news by sally

“The House of Lords has proposed making it a criminal offence to disclose personal information intentionally or recklessly. The Lords passed an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill, defeating the Government.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 28th April 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

BSB eyes ‘cab rank rule’ in latest review – Legal Week

Posted April 29th, 2008 in barristers, news by sally

“The ‘cab rank rule’ governing barristers’ acceptance of instructions is under the spotlight again after the Bar Standards Board (BSB) launched a new consultation on proposals to amend the conditions under which counsel can withdraw from a case.”

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Legal Week, 28th April 2008

Source: www.legalweek.com

Swift royal law reforms ruled out – BBC News

Posted April 29th, 2008 in news, royal family, succession by sally

“The government has said it has no immediate plans to scrap a 300-year-old law that gives males precedence in the royal line of succession.”

Full story

BBC News, 29th April 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk