Two charged over BNP members leak – BBC News

Posted August 21st, 2009 in data protection, news, political parties by sally

“Two people have been charged with breaching the Data Protection Act after a British National Party membership list was leaked on the internet.”

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BBC News, 21st August 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High court rejects Lehman asset recovery plan – The Times

Posted August 21st, 2009 in news by sally

“Creditors of Lehman Brothers, the investment bank that collapsed almost a year ago, are facing further delays in recovering their assets after the High Court today refused to sign off administrators’ plans for the bank’s European arm.”

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The Times, 21st August 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Violent partners set to face restraining orders – The Guardian

Posted August 21st, 2009 in domestic violence, news, restraining orders by sally

“Abusive partners could face restraining orders, even if they are acquitted of assault under new powers to be introduced next month.”

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The Guardian, 21st August 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted August 21st, 2009 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Yemoh & Ors v Regina [2009] EWCA Crim 1775 (20 August 2009)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Heald & Ors v London Borough of Brent [2009] EWCA Civ 930 (20 August 2009)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Nude Brands Ltd.v Stella MccArtney Ltd & Ors [2009] EWHC 2154 (Ch) (20 August 2009)

Butters & Ors v BBC Worldwide Ltd & Ors [2009] EWHC 1954 (Ch) (20 August 2009)

Source: www.bailii.org

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted August 21st, 2009 in legislation by sally

The Social Security (State Pension and National Insurance Credits) Regulations 2009

The National Health Service (Miscellaneous Amendments Relating to Community Pharmaceutical Services and Optometrist Prescribing) Regulations 2009

The National Health Service (Prescribing and Charging Amendments Relating to Pandemic Influenza) Regulations 2009

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Is the legal profession to blame for the fall in social mobility? – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 21st, 2009 in legal profession, news by sally

“When the Cabinet Office issued its call for evidence for an investigation into social mobility and the professions, it was very clear on one point: it did not want any backchat on the impact of an unequal society on social mobility.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 20th August 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar Council Statement in Response to Ministry of Justice Consultation on Legal Aid Funding Reforms – The Bar Council

Posted August 21st, 2009 in barristers, legal aid, news by sally

“Desmond Browne QC, Chairman of the Bar Council, commenting on the publication today of the Ministry of Justice consultation ‘Legal Aid: Funding Reforms’ said:

‘It is a total misuse of language for Lord Bach to talk about ‘efficiency savings’. These are cuts in spending, pure and simple, to what is an integral part of the welfare state. It is horrifying that the Ministry can even contemplate such measures during the 60th anniversary of the Legal Aid Act. Cuts on this scale will not merely drive down quality, they will force practitioners out of legal aid work. The Minister knows this has already happened with family legal aid work, as the Bar recently demonstrated with a report from King’s College, London.'”

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The Bar Council, 20th August 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Legal aid reforms – Ministry of Justice

Posted August 21st, 2009 in legal aid, news by sally

“The Ministry of Justice today set out proposals to rebalance the legal aid budget to ensure that the £2 billion currently spent every year goes as far as possible in favour of civil help for those who need it most.”

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Ministry of Justice, 20th August 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Human rights: clarifying the law on assisted suicide – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 21st, 2009 in assisted suicide, judicial review, news by sally

“There are several remarkable features about the case of Debbie Purdy. For one, the case started with judicial review proceedings in April 2008, concluding with the House of Lords judgment on 30 July 2009 – less than 15 months later.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 20th August 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Regina (Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd) v Wolverhampton City Council – Times Law Reports

Posted August 21st, 2009 in law reports by sally

Regina (Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd) v Wolverhampton City Council

Court of Appeal

“A planning authority considering exercising its compulsory purchase powers could have regard to wider benefits, which might include benefits deriving from the redevelopment of a site not within the proposed development itself.”

The Times, 21st August 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

O’Donnell v Shanahan and Another – Times Law Reports

Posted August 21st, 2009 in law reports by sally

O’Donnell v Shanahan and Another

Court of Appeal

“A director had a duty to inform his company of a relevant business opportunity and it was not for the director to make his own decision that the company would not be interested and appropriate the opportunity to himself.”

The Times, 21st August 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Tobacco smugglers ‘due payouts’ – BBC News

Posted August 21st, 2009 in compensation, confiscation, customs and excise, news by sally

“Thousands of tobacco smugglers could be due compensation because their assets were wrongly confiscated, customs officials have admitted.”

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BBC News, 20th August 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Understand clients, know what they want and find a solution’ – The Times

Posted August 21st, 2009 in news by sally

“For 36 years Tony Wade has been a sole practitioner. Will the Legal Services Act turn him into a legal dinosaur?”

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The Times, 20th August 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Baby P three in sentence appeal – BBC News

“The three people responsible for the death of baby Peter Connelly have appealed against their sentences.”

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BBC News, 20th August 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tougher stance on domestic abuse – BBC News

Posted August 21st, 2009 in domestic violence, news, victims by sally

“Domestic violence victims will be able to get greater protection from courts in England and Wales from next month.”

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BBC News, 21st August 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Loophole may help Danny Fitzsimons to escape the death penalty – The Times

Posted August 21st, 2009 in news by sally

“The lawyers representing Danny Fitzsimons, the British security guard accused of killing two of his colleagues in Baghdad, have discovered a legal loophole allowing him to stand trial in Britain rather than Iraq, where he faces the death penalty.”

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The Times, 21st August 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Judge condemns CPS for ‘lamentable’ housewife prosecution – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 21st, 2009 in assault, Crown Prosecution Service, news, prosecutions by sally

“A judge has criticised the ‘lamentable’ decision by the CPS to prosecute Susannah Marmot, a housewife, over claims she assaulted a nuisance neighbour in a row over her children’s football.”

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Daily Telegraph, 20th August 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Barristers’ fees slashed in Government squeeze on legal aid bill – The Times

Posted August 21st, 2009 in barristers, fees, legal aid, news by sally

“Defence barristers face swingeing cuts of up to 25 per cent in their fees under government moves to freeze the £2 billion annual legal aid bill. Payments for some expert witnesses giving their opinions in cases will also fall by up to 20 per cent in an attempt to reduce a £192 million-a-year bill.”

Full story

The Times, 21st August 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk