Derby men jailed for giving out gay death call leaflets – BBC News
“Three Derby men have been jailed for giving out leaflets calling for homosexual people to be executed.”
BBC News, 10th February 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Month: February 2012
Human rights abuses could be covered up under new justice bill proposals – The Guardian
“Ministers and the intelligence services will be able to cover up sensitive information relating to the state’s complicity in torture and secret rendition, under controversial plans likely to be included in the Queen’s Speech in May.”
The Guardian, 11th February 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Media interest in celebrities’ lives is legitimate, European court rules – The Guardian
“The private lives of celebrities are of legitimate interest to the media, the European court of human rights (ECHR) has ruled in landmark judgments involving a cocaine-possessing German TV actor and Princess Caroline of Monaco. The decisions by the Strasbourg court establish significant legal precedents for privacy cases in British courts, tipping the balance back towards freedom of expression.”
The Guardian, 7th February 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
The bar can bridge the gap – The Guardian
“Barristers should stop insulting solicitor advocates and take steps to merge the two professions.”
The Guardian, 8th February 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Landmark judgment on fixed-share partner rights – Law Society’s Gazette
“Fixed-share partners of law firms are not employees and cannot claim employment rights before a tribunal, the Court of Appeal has ruled. However the ruling, in a case brought by Martin Tiffin against southern England law firm Lester Aldridge (LA), applies only when fixed-share partners enjoy some of the ‘obligations and responsibilities’ of full equity partnership.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 9th February 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Protect legal privilege, bar urges government – Law Society’s Gazette
“The Bar Council has urged the government to protect the right of citizens to hold private conversations with their lawyers. The call, supported the Law Society, comes as the proposed Protection of Freedoms Bill, intended to protect people from unwarranted state intrusion in their private lives, goes through parliament.”
Law Society’s Gazette. 9th February 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Council loses court battle over prayer sessions before meetings – The Guardian
“National Secular Society’s victory over Bideford council may force half of local authorities to review practice of holding prayers.”
The Guardian, 10th February 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Christian B&B owners lose appeal over turning away gay guests – The Guardian
“Two Christian guesthouse owners who were ordered to pay damages after refusing to allow a gay couple to stay in a double room have lost their appeal. The challenge by Peter and Hazelmary Bull, who run Chymorvah House in Marazion, Cornwall, was rejected by three judges in the court of appeal in London.”
The Guardian, 10th February 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Nathaniel Rothschild loses High Court libel battle – Daily Telegraph
“Nathaniel Rothschild, the billionaire financier, has lost a High Court libel action over a claim that he was the ‘puppet-master’ behind a deal involving Lord Mandelson and a Russian oligarch.”
Daily Telegraph, 10th February 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
BAILII: Recent Decisions
Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
Lloyds Tsb Bank Plc v Markandan & Uddin (a firm) [2012] EWCA Civ 65 (09 February 2012)
Foss v Secretary of State for Work & Pensions [2012] EWCA Civ 80 (09 February 2012)
Cambridge v Makin [2012] EWCA Civ 85 (09 February 2012)
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
Court, R. v [2012] EWCA Crim 133 (09 February 2012)
MJ, R v [2012] EWCA Crim 132 (09 February 2012)
High Court (Administrative Court)
High Court (Chancery Division)
Bieber & Ors v Teathers Ltd [2012] EWHC 190 (Ch) (09 February 2012)
Wright Hassall Llp v Morris [2012] EWHC 188 (Ch) (09 February 2012)
High Court (Commercial Court)
Navios International Inc v Sangamon Transportation Group [2012] EWHC 166 (Comm) (08 February 2012)
Source: www.bailii.org
Regina v Court and another – WLR Daily
Regina v Court and another: [2012] EWCA Crim 133; [2012] WLR (D) 27
“The ingredients of the common law offence of keeping a disorderly house required that the services provided were open to members of the public and were of such a character and conducted in such a manner that their provision amounted to an outrage to public decency. The provision of straightforward sexual intercourse was not sufficient to constitute the offence.”
WLR Daily, 9th February 2012
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
Blight and others v Brewster – WLR Daily
Blight and others v Brewster: [2012] EWHC 165 (Ch); [2012] WLR (D) 26
“Bankrupts who were subject to an order for enforcement of a judgment had to take both the benefits and burdens of their bankruptcy and should not be allowed to hide their assets in pension funds when they had a right to withdraw monies needed to pay their creditors.”
WLR Daily, 9th February 2012
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Cotter – WLR daily
Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Cotter: [2012] EWCA Civ 81; [2012] WLR (D) 25
“Where the revenue decided to challenge matters contained in a self assessment tax return in response to the particulars sought by the return, it should use either the procedure in section 9A of the Taxes Management Act 1970 or seek to make a correction to the return under section 9ZB, if applicable, therefore entitling the taxpayer to a right of appeal to the First Tier Tribunal. The court did not have jurisdiction to determine in collection proceedings whether a taxpayer was entitled to include in his tax return a claim for relief and so rely on it as a defence to the claim for immediate payment.”
WLR Daily, 8th February 2012
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk
The City of Wakefield (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012
The City of Sheffield (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012
The City of Nottingham (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012
The City of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012
The City of Manchester (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012
The City of Leeds (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012
The City of Coventry (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012
The City of Bristol (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012
The City of Bradford (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012
The City of Birmingham (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012
The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums)(England) Regulations 2012
Source: www.legislation.gov.uk
Abu Qatada relased on “very restrictive” bail conditions – UK Human Rights Blog
“Mitting J has ruled that in the light of the recent Strasbourg ruling that the appellant could not be returned to Jordan, his detention could not continue. Under the so-called ‘Hardial Singh’ principles, the Secretary of State must intend to deport the person and can only use the power to detain for that purpose, and the deportee may only be detained for a period that is reasonable in all the circumstances.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 9th February 2012
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Call for evidence on the European Commission’s data protection proposals – Ministry of Justice
“The Government is seeking evidence on new legislative proposals for data protection which were published by the European Commission on 25 January 2012.”
Ministry of Justice, 7th February 2012
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Ofcom targets phone and broadband switching ‘slammers’ – BBC News
“Landline phone and internet providers which switch customers to their service without their consent – a process known as ‘slamming’ – are being targeted by Ofcom.”
BBC News, 9th February 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Winterbourne View staff admit abuse of patients with learning difficulties – The Guardian
“Three members of staff have admitted mistreating patients at a private hospital for people with learning difficulties.”
The Guardian, 9th February 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Government targets illegal firearms – Home Office
“A consultation on strengthening the law on illegal firearms was launched by Home Secretary Theresa May today as part of the government’s drive to end gang and youth violence.”
Home Office, 8th February 2012
Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk
