Ofgem turns up pressure on energy companies over unfair pricing – The Guardian

Posted December 16th, 2008 in consumer protection, energy, news by sally

“Energy industry regulator, Ofgem, this morning stepped up the pressure on Britain’s big six energy suppliers over unfair pricing. The regulator acknowledged the companies were on the way to stripping out up to £500m in unfair premiums for customers such as those using pre-payment meters, including many disadvantaged households, but said it wanted faster action. Today it announced that it is launching a consultation process to look at changes to the energy companies’s licences to ban unfair pricing and protect consumers.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th December 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Binge-drinking killer sentenced – BBC News

Posted December 16th, 2008 in complaints, homicide, news, police, sentencing, young offenders by sally

“A teenager has been sentenced to eight years in a young offenders’ institution for killing a man who tried to give medical help to his drunken friend.”

Full story

BBC News, 15th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Council to sue £21m over Bath Spa – BBC News

Posted December 16th, 2008 in building law, contracts, delay, news by sally

“Bath and North East Somerset Council is to sue a building firm for £21m after a luxury spa opened five years late.”

Full story

BBC News, 15th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Killing of Good Samaritan ‘could have been avoided’ after police blunder – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 16th, 2008 in complaints, homicide, news, police, young offenders by sally

“A teenager who kicked a Good Samaritan to death had carried out a similar brutal street attack two months earlier but police failed to deal with the initial crime properly, a court has heard.”

Full story 

Daily Telegraph, 15th December 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Man who tried to smother mother jailed – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 16th, 2008 in attempted murder, attempts, murder, news, sentencing by sally

“A man who tried to smother his elderly mother to claim an inheritance was jailed for five years.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th December 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Couple jailed after baby’s death – BBC News

Posted December 16th, 2008 in child cruelty, news by sally

“A couple have been jailed for three years for child cruelty following the death of their six-month-old baby.”

Full story

BBC News, 15th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pair jailed over sex trafficking – BBC News

Posted December 16th, 2008 in news, trafficking in human beings by sally

“Two people have been jailed for their part in the trafficking and exploitation of women for sex in Kent.”

Full  story

BBC News, 15th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted December 15th, 2008 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Mayers & Ors, R v [2008] EWCA Crim 1418 (12 December 2008)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Elton John v Guardian News & Media Ltd [2008] EWHC 3066 (QB) (12 December 2008)

Finch & Anor v Richardson [2008] EWHC 3067 (QB) (12 December 2008)

Warren v Hide [2008] EWHC 3049 (QB) (12 December 2008)

High Court (Technology and Construction  Court)

Farm Assist Ltd v Secretary of State for Environment Food & Rural Affairs [2008] EWHC 3079 (TCC) (12 December 2008)

High Court (Patents Court)

Research In Motion UK Ltd v Visto Corporation [2008] EWHC 3026 (Pat) (05 December 2008)

Research In Motion UK Ltd v Visto Corporation [2008] EWHC 3025 (Pat) (05 December 2008)

Source: www.bailii.org

Knowsley Housing Trust v White; Shepherds Bush Housing Association v Porter; Islington London Borough Council v Honeygan-Green – Times Law Reports

Posted December 15th, 2008 in law reports, repossession by sally

Knowsley Housing Trust v White; Shepherds Bush Housing Association v Porter; Islington London Borough Council v Honeygan-Green

House of Lords

“An assured tenancy subject to a possession order ended only when possession was delivered up.”

The Times, 15th December 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.

Improving Access to Justice through Collective Actions – Civil Justice Council

Posted December 15th, 2008 in class actions, press releases by sally

“Civil Justice Council publishes final recommendations to improve access to justice for consumers and small businesses in collective claims.”

Full press release

Civil Justice Council, 12th December 2008

Source: www.civiljusticecouncil.gov.uk

Innocent Britons ‘may be branded criminals abroad’ after Big Brother databases agreement – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 15th, 2008 in DNA, EC law, extradition, news by sally

“Innocent British citizens may be drawn into foreign criminal investigations after the Government agreed to EU-wide access to its ‘Big Brother’ databases, the Conservatives have warned.”

Full story 

Daily Telegraph, 15th December 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Privacy law will grow, bar chief predicts – The Guardian

Posted December 15th, 2008 in news, privacy by sally

“The law of privacy is likely to continue expanding, according to the Bar’s leader, as the media face escalating claims for damages and tougher restrictions.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th December 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Compensation for injured troops doubled by Ministry of Defence – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 15th, 2008 in armed forces, compensation, news, personal injuries by sally

“Compensation payouts to severely wounded soldiers are to be doubled after criticism the payouts were far lower than those given to injured civilians.”

Full story 

Daily Telegraph, 15th December 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Man who impersonated barrister faces jail – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 15th, 2008 in fraud, impersonating a barrister, news by sally

“A man with no legal qualifications who impersonated a barrister at a series of court cases will be sentenced today.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th December 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Extra judges drafted in to hear immigration appeals – The Times

Posted December 15th, 2008 in appeals, asylum, courts, immigration, news by sally

“Extra judges are being drafted in to deal with more than 8,000 asylum and immigration appeals a year that threaten to overload the courts.”

Full story 

The Times, 15th December 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Courts going too easy on knife crime – The Observer

Posted December 15th, 2008 in news, offensive weapons, sentencing by sally

“The government’s attempts to tackle knife crime are being undermined because the tough new sentences it introduced for those caught in possession of a blade are not being handed down in the courts.”

Full story 

The Observer, 14th December 2008

Source: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/

Straw off hook on late donation – BBC News

Posted December 15th, 2008 in elections, news, political parties by sally

“No action will be taken over a £3,000 donation which Justice Secretary Jack Straw declared more than four years late, electoral officials have said.”

Full story

BBC News, 12th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ruling frees asylum seekers to work – The Observer

Posted December 15th, 2008 in asylum, employment, human rights, news by sally

“A landmark legal ruling has paved the way for thousands of asylum seekers in the UK to be allowed to work. The High Court has ruled that current laws preventing an Eritrean asylum seeker from taking a job are incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.”

Full story

The Observer, 14th December 2008

Source: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/

Watchdogs ‘will destroy the police’ – The Observer

Posted December 15th, 2008 in news, police by sally

“Former Home Secretary Charles Clarke has warned that plans to overhaul how police forces are held accountable are ‘very dangerous to society’ and will ‘destroy’ efforts to tackle crime.”

Full story

The Observer, 14th December 2008

Source: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/

More solicitors to face tribunal over coalminers’ scandal – The Times

“Solicitors across Britain are bracing themselves for further sanctions over the coalminers’ compensation scandal that led to two lawyers being struck off for dishonesty.”

Full story

The Times, 13th December 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk