Covert recordings may be admissible in Employment Tribunals – Technology Law Update

Posted March 19th, 2013 in admissibility, employment tribunals, evidence, news, video recordings by tracey

“As technology becomes more sophisticated, so do the challenges faced by employers.  A seemingly common query relates to the legality of covert recordings made by employees of face to face meetings with managers or colleagues on smart phones or tablets.”

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Technology Law Update, 15th March 2013

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

Court of Appeal rules on damages for frustration at DPA breach – Panopticon

Posted March 19th, 2013 in appeals, damages, data protection, news by tracey

“On a day in which the remedying of privacy breaches of the kind considered by Leveson LJ dominated parliamentary debate, the Court of Appeal (Arden LJ, Lloyd LJ and Ryder J) delivered an interesting judgment on remedies for privacy breaches of the data protection variety.”

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Panopticon, 18th March 2013

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Barnet council faces high court review of budget cuts – The Guardian

Posted March 19th, 2013 in budgets, disabled persons, judicial review, local government, news by tracey

“The ‘easyCouncil’ model of no-frills local services faces a high court challenge today, with locals from the London Borough of Barnet, including the disabled resident Maria Nash who is bringing the action, calling for a £320m privatisation deal to be scrapped.”

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The Guardian, 19th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Black belt judo instructor fraudulently claimed £18,000 in disability benefits – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 19th, 2013 in benefits, disabled persons, fraud, news, social security by tracey

“David Roberts, 48, falsely claimed more than £18,000 disability living allowance. He claimed he was in severe discomfort after walking a few steps, needed help getting dressed and getting in and out of bed. But the sensei and black belt judo and martial arts instructor was filmed by Department of Work and Pensions investigators throwing adults over his shoulder and holding opponents in leg and arm locks, in Runcorn, Cheshire.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Gagged NHS whistleblowers will be allowed to speak out, Sir David Nicholson says – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 19th, 2013 in compromise, contracts, health, news, select committees, whistleblowers by tracey

“Hundreds of whistleblowers are now free to come forward with damaging
disclosures about the NHS after their gagging orders were retrospectively
lifted, Sir David Nicholson has told MPs.”

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Daily Telegraph, 18th March 2013

Soruce: www.telegraph.co.uk

Sky News reporter cleared over canoe man email hacking – The Guardian

Posted March 19th, 2013 in electronic mail, interception, media, news, public interest by tracey

“Sky News correspondent Gerard Tubb will not face prosecution for hacking the email account of ‘canoe man’ John Darwin, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced.”

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The Guardian, 18th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bloggers may face libel fines under press regulation deal – The Guardian

Posted March 19th, 2013 in bills, defamation, fines, internet, news, publishing by tracey

“Bloggers could face high fines for libel under the new Leveson deal with exemplary damages imposed if they don’t sign up to the new regulator, it was claimed on Tuesday.”

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The Guardian, 19th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Cash-for-crash’ scam in Durham ‘put car insurance up by £100’ – BBC News

Posted March 19th, 2013 in fraud, gangs, insurance, news, sentencing by tracey

“A ‘crash-for-cash’ scam run by a 60-strong gang swindled so much money car insurance firms raised bills of people in the area by about £100 a year. The fraud in County Durham involved faking accidents and making false whiplash compensation claims. The 60 either admitted or were found guilty during hearings held at Newcastle Crown Court since last March.”

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BBC News, 18th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Unfair terms in consumer contracts – Law Commission

“The Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission have today recommended reforms to provide better protection for consumers from unfair charges in small print.”

Full report

Law Commission, 19th March 2013

Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission

Law commissions urge tougher action on hidden charges – BBC News

“Consumers need more protection against hidden charges often tucked away in the
small print, according to two bodies responsible for promoting law reform.”

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BBC News, 19th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Politicians agree deal on post-Leveson Royal Charter for press regulation – but Daily Mail Group, News International and Telegraph Media Group refuse to sign up – The Independent

Posted March 19th, 2013 in charters, internet, legislation, media, news, parliament by tracey

“Britain’s largest newspaper groups are on a collision course with the Government over press regulation, after last night signalling their anger at the imposition of ‘several deeply contentious’ issues in a Royal Charter announced in Parliament by the Prime Minister.”

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The Independent, 19th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Snap inspections expose scandal of ‘institutionalised abuse’ in care homes and hospitals – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 19th, 2013 in care homes, elderly, hospitals, news, quality assurance by tracey

“A landmark programme of unannounced inspections in hospitals and care homes has
found that more than a third are still failing to respect elderly people’s basic
dignity, despite a series of scandals.”

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Daily Telegraph, 19th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

No tax for Castle Howard painting as judge rules it is ‘plant or machinery’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 19th, 2013 in artistic works, capital gains tax, news, taxation by tracey

“The custodians of North Yorkshire stately home Castle Howard have won a tribunal
battle to avoid paying tax on the £9.4m sale of a painting, after a judge ruled
it a piece of ‘plant or machinery’ integral to attracting visitors.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 19th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Are Bills of Rights Necessary in Common Law Systems? – Justice Dyson Heydon AC

Posted March 18th, 2013 in human rights, legislation, news by sally

Are Bills of Rights Necessary in Common Law Systems?

Justice Dyson Heydon AC

Inner Temple Reader’s Lecture Series, 21st January 2013

Source: www.innertemple.org.uk

Huntsman Brian Fraser jailed over unlicensed gun after he was cleared of shooting ex-lover – The Independent

Posted March 18th, 2013 in DNA, evidence, firearms, grievous bodily harm, news, restraining orders by sally

“A huntsman who was cleared of shooting his former lover outside her country home has been jailed for eight months for possessing a firearm without a licence.”

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The Independent, 18th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Labour MP given ‘substantial damages’ after Sun accessed text messages – The Guardian

Posted March 18th, 2013 in damages, inquiries, interception, media, news, privacy, telecommunications, victims by sally

“The Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh has accepted ‘very substantial damages’ from News International, with the Sun admitting that it accessed text messages from her mobile phone after it was stolen, the high court has heard.”

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The Guardian, 18th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jacob Rowbottom: Entrenching a Royal Charter – some initial thoughts – UK Constitutional Law Group

Posted March 18th, 2013 in bills, charters, legislation, media, news, parliament by sally

“After much political manoeuvring over the weekend, a deal has been struck on the Royal Charter to implement Leveson. A key point is that it will prevent the Charter being unilaterally changed by future governments.”

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UK Constitutional Law Group, 18th March 2013

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Landlord jailed over ‘sophisticated’ Gumtree lettings scam – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 18th, 2013 in fraud, internet, landlord & tenant, news, sentencing by sally

“A landlord who conned would-be tenants out of more than £6,000 by advertising on the Gumtree listings website in a ‘highly sophisticated scam’ has been jailed for two years.”

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Daily Telegraph, 18th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Armed protection officer who bunked off work to meet lover sentenced to nine months in prison – The Independent

“An armed diplomatic security officer who abandoned his duties for extra-marital sex has been sentenced to nine months in prison.”

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The Independent, 18th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Brumder v Motornet Service and Repairs Ltd and another – WLR Daily

Brumder v Motornet Service and Repairs Ltd and another [2013] EWCA Civ 195; [2013] WLR (D) 102

“In a personal injury claim, it did not lie in the mouth of a claimant who was a defendant company’s sole director and shareholder to assert that the company had not proved that it had done all it could to ensure compliance with safety regulations when it was only through the claimant that the company could act. In such a case the company would be entitled to raise a defence to that effect.”

WLR Daily, 14th March 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk