Elton John loses landmark irony libel case – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 18th, 2008 in defamation, news by sally

“A spoof newspaper diary which claimed that Elton John’s fundraising efforts were principally designed to give him a chance to meet other celebrities and engage in self-promotion was not libellous, the High Court has ruled.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 17th December 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

ISP can use unfair practices law to back unlawful interference claim, rules judge – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 18th, 2008 in internet, news, unfair commercial practices by sally

“An internet service provider (ISPs) can use an alleged breach of new laws on unfair commercial practices, laws that it has no powers to enforce directly, as the basis of a common law claim of ‘unlawful interference’, the High Court has ruled.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 17th December 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Family courts: a free-for-all? No, we will still protect children – The Times

Posted December 18th, 2008 in children, family courts, news by sally

“The announcement by Jack Straw that the media are to be given access to the courts at all levels is likely to be welcomed by the judiciary. At last they will be able show the world at large that there is no conspiracy or injustice going on.”

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The Times, 18th December 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Why only radical reform will regain the public’s confidence – The Times

Posted December 18th, 2008 in coroners, inquests, news by sally

“The inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes illustrates dramatically a serious flaw in the framework governing coroners’ investigations — the inclusion in inquest findings of short-form verdicts such as accidental death, misadventure, natural causes, lawful killing and unlawful killing.”

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The Times, 18th December 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Rapist caught by DNA given life – BBC News

Posted December 18th, 2008 in DNA, news, rape, sentencing by sally

“A 55-year-old man whose DNA linked him to two sex attacks committed nine years apart has been jailed for life.”

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BBC News, 17th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law lords back ‘post-nuptial’ divorce settlements – The Independent

Posted December 18th, 2008 in divorce, news by sally

“England’s highest judges have given rich people who marry someone poorer a way to avoid an expensive divorce. In future, husbands will be urged to wait until after the honeymoon to negotiate a ‘post-nuptial’ deal. If it is signed without pressure and with legal advice, judges will treat it as binding.”

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The Independent, 18th December 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Girlfriend who falsely cried rape is jailed – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 18th, 2008 in news, perverting the course of justice, rape by sally

“A woman who tried to frame two men for rape after a row with her boyfriend has been jailed for four months.”

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Daily Telegraph, 18th December 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Rap fan given Asbo – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 18th, 2008 in ASBOs, news, noise by sally

“A man has been given an Asbo for playing loud rap music for up to 22 hours a day.”

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Daily Telegraph, 18th December 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Madonna backtracks on ‘inaccurate and misleading’ divorce payout statement – The Times

Posted December 18th, 2008 in divorce, news by sally

“Madonna claimed today that a statement issued by her own spokeswoman that she had agreed to pay £60 million to her former husband Guy Ritchie as part of the couple’s divorce was ‘misleading and inaccurate’.”

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The Times, 17th December 2008

source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Gay father hunts for lesbian mother who vanished with son – The Times

Posted December 18th, 2008 in anonymity, child abduction, news by sally

“A gay father whose son was ‘snatched’ away by his lesbian mother during family court proceedings was finally able to appeal publicly for his safe return yesterday after restrictions on identifying the parties was lifted.”

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The Times, 18th December 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Father guilty over children’s crash deaths – The Guardian

Posted December 18th, 2008 in dangerous driving, news by sally

“A father was yesterday convicted of causing the deaths of four of his children when the Land Rover he had ‘incompetently’ modified plunged into a river.”

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The Guardian, 18th December 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal move to crack down on climate protesters – The Guardian

Posted December 18th, 2008 in demonstrations, news by sally

“The attorney general is considering asking the courts to clamp down on high-profile, direct-action protests on issues such as climate change, the Guardian can exclusively reveal.”

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The Guardian, 18th December 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK consults on copyright reform – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 17th, 2008 in consultations, copyright, news by sally

“The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is asking whether laws on copyright exceptions and the current system for rights clearance are too complicated. A consultation on reforming the regime was published today.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 16th December 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Gowers attacks Government plan to extend copyright for performers – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 17th, 2008 in copyright, news by sally

“The Government plans to extend the term of copyright for performers from 50 years to ‘something like 70 years,’ according to Culture Secretary Andy Burnham. That proposal was criticised today as ‘silly and out of touch’  by former FT editor Andrew Gowers.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 15th December 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Man jailed for houseboat killing – BBC News

Posted December 17th, 2008 in domestic violence, homicide, sentencing by sally

“A 55-year-old man has been jailed for stabbing his partner to death on their houseboat on the River Medway in Kent.”

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BBC News, 17th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Brothers lose appeal over murder – BBC News

Posted December 17th, 2008 in appeals, murder, news by sally

“Two Somerset men jailed for life for killing a Cornish couple have lost their appeal against their convictions.”

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BBC News, 17th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Breast cancer mother cleared of allowing son to truant – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 17th, 2008 in news, parental responsibility, truancy by sally

“A mother fighting breast cancer has been cleared of failing to send her son to school after a court was told the teenager stayed at home to look after her.”

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Daily Telegraph, 17th December 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Killer nurse to appeal conviction – BBC News

Posted December 17th, 2008 in appeals, murder, news, nurses by sally

“A hospital nurse who was found guilty of murdering two of his patients is to appeal against his conviction.”

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BBC News, 17th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jailed fan ‘can get free pardon’ – BBC News

Posted December 17th, 2008 in attempted murder, attempts, murder, news, pardons by sally

“Jailed Liverpool fan Michael Shields has won an important battle at the High Court in London in his bid for a free pardon.”

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BBC News, 17th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

British opt-out from 48-hour working week defeated in Strasbourg – The Times

Posted December 17th, 2008 in EC law, news, working time by sally

“Britain’s opt-out from the EU’s 48-hour working week was soundly defeated in a vote by the European Parliament today, with many Labour MEPs voting against the Government’s attempts to keep the measure first won by John Major in 1993.”

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The Times, 17th December 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk