Chalet firm Avon Estates wins all-year court appeal – BBC News

Posted May 18th, 2011 in local government, news, planning, time limits by tracey

“The owners of a Ceredigion holiday park have won a court ruling over the right to use their 42 chalets all year round.”

Full story

BBC News, 16th May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Hogan Lovells dismisses senior litigator over £1m of false expenses – The Lawyer

Posted May 18th, 2011 in dismissal, expenses, false accounting, news, solicitors by tracey

“Hogan Lovells senior litigator Christopher Grierson has been dismissed from the partnership after claiming over £1m in false expenses over the course of four years.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 17th May 2011

Source: www.thelawyer.com

OFT to act on ‘Big Four’ audit firms – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 18th, 2011 in accountants, competition, news, unfair commercial practices by tracey

“The ‘Big Four’ accountancy firms are to face regulatory intervention for anti-competitive behaviour, which would severely curb the industry’s most powerful companies and cost them hundreds of millions in revenue.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th May 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Guidelines on DNA samples unlawful – The Independent

Posted May 18th, 2011 in DNA, fingerprints, news, police by tracey

“Police guidelines allowing forces to retain the fingerprints and DNA samples of innocent people are unlawful, a panel of leading British judges ruled today. The ruling was made by the Supreme Court in London nearly three years after the European Court of Human Rights reached a similar conclusion.”

Full story

The Independent, 18th May 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Dunstable dog owner’s sentence reduced over attack – BBC News

Posted May 18th, 2011 in appeals, dogs, news, sentencing by tracey

“The owner of a Staffordshire bull terrier that attacked a nine-year-old girl in Bedfordshire has had his sentence reduced.”

Full story

BBC News, 18th May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Velcourt fined after farm worker electrocuted – BBC News

Posted May 18th, 2011 in fines, health & safety, news by tracey

“A firm has been fined £125,000 after admitting responsibility for the death of a man working on a Wiltshire farm.”

Full story

BBC News, 17th May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Stephen Lawrence murder suspects to stand trial – The Guardian

Posted May 18th, 2011 in evidence, murder, news, prosecutions, racism, trials by tracey

“Two men are to stand trial accused of being part of a racist white gang that ‘targeted and killed’ the black teenager Stephen Lawrence because of the colour of his skin, the appeal court has said.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th May 2011

Source; www.guardian.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted May 18th, 2011 in law reports by tracey

Supreme Court

GC v The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2011] UKSC 21 (18 May 2011)

McCaughey & Anor, Re Application for Judicial Review [2011] UKSC 20 (18 May 2011)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Khatib v Ramco International & Ors [2011] EWCA Civ 605 (18 May 2011)

Digicel (St. Lucia) Ltd & Ors v Cable & Wireless Plc & Ors [2011] EWCA Civ 606 (18 May 2011)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Davies, R. v [2011] EWCA Crim 1177 (17 May 2011)

DL v R. [2011] EWCA Crim 1259 (18 May 2011)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Lehman Brothers v International (Europe), Re [2011] EWHC 1233 (Ch) (17 May 2011)

High Court (Commercial Court)

A Nelson & Co Ltd & Anor. v Guna SPA [2011] EWHC 1202 (Comm) (16 May 2011)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Landmark Brickwork Ltd v Sutcliffe & Ors [2011] EWHC 1239 (QB) (17 May 2011)

Source: www.bailii.org

Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland, Landesverband Nordrhein Westfalen eV v Bezirksregierung Arnsberg, Trianel Kohlekraftwerk Lünen GmbH & Co KG, intervening – WLR Daily

Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland, Landesverband Nordrhein Westfalen eV v Bezirksregierung Arnsberg, Trianel Kohlekraftwerk Lünen GmbH & Co KG, intervening (Case C-115/09);  [2011] WLR (D)  160

“A member state was precluded under article 10a of Directive 85/337/EEC from withholding, from a non-governmental organisation promoting environmental protection, the right to rely before a national court on the infringement of a rule flowing from the environmental law of the European Union on the ground that that rule only protected the interests of the general public and not the interests of individuals. Such a non-governmental organisation could derive from article 10a the right to rely, before the courts, on the infringement of rules of national law flowing from Council Directive 92/43/EC even where national law did not permit this.”

WLR Daily, 12th May 2011

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Please note that once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted May 18th, 2011 in legislation by tracey

The Courts Act 2003 (Continuing Provision of Court-houses) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order 2011

The Transfer of Functions (Museum and Other Staff) Order 2011

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Sweeping House of Lords reforms announced by Nick Clegg – The Guardian

Posted May 18th, 2011 in constitutional reform, elections, news, parliament by tracey

“Nick Clegg has unveiled sweeping plans for elected members to take seats in a reformed House of Lords in the next parliament. The deputy prime minister announced proposals for a cut-down second chamber, with 80% of its 300 members elected by proportional representation.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Privacy law could help judges decide over gagging orders, says Ken Clarke – The Guardian

Posted May 18th, 2011 in injunctions, legislation, news, privacy by tracey

“Justice secretary says he will consider legislation, but admits there may be quicker, less controversial ways of tackling issue.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK cements position as ‘centre of legal excellence’ – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 18th, 2011 in legal services, press releases by tracey

“Plans to strengthen the UK’s reputation as a world leader in legal services were unveiled by Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke and Minister for Trade and Investment Lord Green today.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 16th May 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Radical reforms for parental leave and flexible working proposed – Home Office

Posted May 18th, 2011 in flexible working, news, parental rights, sex discrimination by tracey

“Theresa May, the Home Secretary and minister for women and equalities, today backed a consultation on modernising Britain’s workplace laws.”

Full press release

Home Office, 16th May 2011

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Sexual grooming of children far worse than thought, says minister – The Guardian

Posted May 18th, 2011 in child abuse, news, sexual grooming, trafficking in human beings by tracey

“The sexual grooming of children in the UK is a much bigger problem than has previously been recognised, the government has said.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lawyers demand pause in legal aid reforms – The Guardian

Posted May 18th, 2011 in Law Society, legal aid, news by tracey

“Law Society accuses ministers of ignoring consultation by pressing ahead with plans to remove legal help for vulnerable.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Northampton brawling benefits cheat is jailed – BBC News

Posted May 18th, 2011 in benefits, fraud, news, sentencing by tracey

“A benefits cheat who was caught on CCTV brawling with police, despite claiming he could not leave home without a walking stick, has been jailed.”

Full story

BBC News, 17th May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Derek Wiggett jailed for abusing boys in 70s and 80s – BBC News

Posted May 18th, 2011 in child abuse, guilty pleas, news, sentencing, sexual grooming by tracey

“A retired architect and former scout leader has been jailed for six years at Mold Crown Court for abusing two boys between 1976 and 1984.”

Full story

BBC News, 17th May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

50pc ‘discount’ in jail term for rapists who enter early guilty plea – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 18th, 2011 in guilty pleas, news, rape, sentencing by tracey

“Rapists could have their sentences cut in half if they plead guilty after being arrested.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th May 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Gypsy gang jailed for ‘sophisticated’ £800k benefit fraud – Daily Telegraph

“A gang of Romanian gypsies flew in and out of Britain to defraud taxpayers out of more than £800,000 through a series of benefit scams, a court has heard.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th May 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk