Power cut kills Pembroke nursing home man on ventilator – BBC News

Posted October 20th, 2011 in care homes, electricity lines, health & safety, medical treatment, news by tracey

“A power cut during the night killed a man with muscular dystrophy as nursing home staff were unable to connect a back-up power supply, an inquest heard.”

Full story

BBC News, 19th October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Kent Policewoman not guilty of false attack claim – BBC News

Posted October 20th, 2011 in assault, disciplinary procedures, news, police, wasting police time by tracey

“A Kent police officer who was accused of falsely claiming she was attacked while on duty has been cleared of wasting police time.”

Full story

BBC News, 19th October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Stem cell reseach thrown into disarray by European patent ruling – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 20th, 2011 in EC law, embryology, medical treatment, news, patents by tracey

“Cutting-edge research into new medical treatments in Britain was thrown into disarray on Tuesday as the highest European court ruled that stem cells from human embryos cannot be patented.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th October 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Former Met police detectives cleared as retrial collapses – The Guardian

Posted October 20th, 2011 in conspiracy, corruption, drug offences, news, police, retrials by tracey

“One of the most significant police anti-corruption cases in modern times collapsed on Wednesday, after two former detectives, who had both served lengthy jail sentences, were cleared at a retrial.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Downing Street brings forward Commons vote on EU referendum – The Guardian

Posted October 20th, 2011 in EC law, news, parliament, referendums by tracey

“Downing Street has brought forward a sensitive House of Commons vote on Europe next week amid fears that Tory MPs were planning to use David Cameron’s absence on an overseas visit to stage a large rebellion.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Liam Fox breached Ministerial Code – The Independent

Posted October 20th, 2011 in ministers' powers and duties, news, reports by tracey

“Liam Fox’s contacts with his self-styled adviser Adam Werritty constituted a clear breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct, the Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell said today.”

Full story

The Independent, 18th October 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Centuries of open justice threatened by secret courts – The Independent

Posted October 20th, 2011 in intelligence services, international relations, news, private hearings by tracey

“Secret justice looks set to be a regular feature of British courts and tribunals when the intelligence services want to protect their sources of information.  Civil courts, immigration panels and even coroner’s inquests would go into secret session if the Government rules that hearing evidence in public could be a threat to national security. The proposals, which run counter to a centuries-old British tradition of open justice, were introduced to a sparsely attended House of Commons yesterday by the Justice Secretary, Ken Clarke – and met almost no opposition. The planned changes to the British justice system follow lobbying of the Government by the CIA.”

Full story

The Independent, 20th October 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police chiefs ‘authorised undercover police officers to give false evidence in court’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 20th, 2011 in evidence, news, perjury, police by tracey

“Senior police chiefs authorised undercover police officers to give false evidence in court to protect their cover as environmental protesters, it was claimed last night.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 20th October 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Courts need not be bound by Europe, says top judge – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 20th, 2011 in human rights, judges, judgments, news, precedent by tracey

“Lord Judge, the Lord Chief Justice, said the UK need only ‘take account’ of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights but not necessarily follow it.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 20th october 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Top Gear did not libel carmaker Tesla, high court rules – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2011 in defamation, malicious falsehood, media, news by sally

“Electric sports carmaker Tesla Motors has lost a major part of its high court libel claim against the BBC’s Top Gear programme, but is still suing the corporation for malicious falsehood over an episode that showed the company’s Roadster model running out of battery in a race.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Energy efficiency scheme will begin in a year as Energy Act comes into force – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 19th, 2011 in carbon dioxide emissions, energy, legislation, news by sally

“The Energy Act has become law, putting in place a Government-backed scheme that will enable new energy efficiency measures in both domestic and commercial properties to be undertaken at no up-front cost. Costs will be paid over time through energy bills.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 19th October 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Lawyer explains why hacking victim won £425,000 – The Independent

Posted October 19th, 2011 in compensation, interception, media, news, privacy by sally

“The lawyer who advised News Group to pay £425,000 to Gordon Taylor said today the company was in an unprecedented position because the Professional Footballers Association chief had evidence that his phone had been hacked.”

Full story

The Independent, 19th October 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ken Clarke plans secret court hearings to avoid revealing intelligence – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2011 in courts, disclosure, intelligence services, news, private hearings by sally

“Intelligence gathered by MI5 and MI6, even if obtained by torture, will never be disclosed in court proceedings under proposals published by the justice secretary, Kenneth Clarke.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Go-ahead for Brent library closure appeal – The Independent

Posted October 19th, 2011 in appeals, budgets, demonstrations, judicial review, libraries, local government, news by sally

“A judge has ordered an urgent hearing of an appeal against a landmark decision giving the go-ahead for the closure of six libraries.”

Full story

The Independent, 19th October 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Libel reform: final report of the joint committee on the draft defamation bill – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2011 in bills, defamation, news, trial without jury by sally

“Read MPs and peers’ verdict on the government’s plans to reform libel law.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Libel reform: juries should be dropped for most trials, says committee – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2011 in bills, defamation, news, trial without jury by sally

“Libel trials by jury should be abolished for all but exceptional cases involving public figures, a parliamentary committee has recommended.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Three articles on the Localism Bill – 11 KBW

Posted October 19th, 2011 in bills, local government, news by sally

Localism Bill: Senior Pay and Referenda (PDF)

The Localism Bill and the General Power of Competence (PDF)

Localism Bill: Commercial Purpose, Governance and Conduct (PDF)

11 KBW, 12th October 2011

Source: www.11kbw.com

Discount Rates: Why are we here and where are we going? – Byrom Street Chambers

Posted October 19th, 2011 in damages, indexation, news, personal injuries by sally

“This paper is presented as part of a lecture providing an overview of Discounts Rates. The first part of the lecture will provide the background to where we are with the use of discount rates in assessing damages in personal injury cases. The second part of the talk will be delivered by Ian Gunn and Richard Cropper, of Personal Financial Planning Ltd, and is going to examine the indexation and investment options that the Lord Chancellor may wish to consider in resetting the discount rate currently under review. In the third part we will address the considerations that need to be taken account of when advising clients.”

Full story (Word)

Byrom Chambers, 6th October 2011

Source: www.byromstreet.com

Sovereign Grant Act 2011 – legislation.gov.uk

Posted October 19th, 2011 in legislation, royal family by sally

Sovereign Grant Act 2011 published

Full text of Act

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Energy Act 2011 – legislation.gov.uk

Posted October 19th, 2011 in carbon dioxide emissions, energy, legislation by sally

Energy Act 2011 published

Full text of Act

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk