The courts will not be privatised but reform is needed, Lord Chancellor and top judges declare – Litigation Futures

Posted July 26th, 2013 in courts, judges, news by sally

“The courts will not be privatised, but ways to generate more income and capital for investment are under review – as are ‘difficult decisions’ about court fees, it emerged yesterday.”

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Litigation Futures, 26th July 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Construction industry disputes – Panopticon

“The balance of public interest was ‘very strongly’ in favour of maintaining the confidentiality of documents in order to “protect the course of justice” both in Jackson v Info Commissioner, EA 2012/0263, FTT Decision on 19 July 2013, and in ‘many other such disputes’ said Judge Hughes. The value of the disclosure of the material was limited. The adverse impact of disclosure on dispute resolution was substantial. Judge Hughes concluded: ‘If there were to be change in the arrangements underpinning construction dispute resolution then this should be explored through a careful process of public debate and consultation leading to an amendment of the statutory framework.'”

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Panopticon, 26th July 2013

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Adrian Locke drug deal stabbing: Two guilty of murder – BBC News

Posted July 26th, 2013 in DNA, drug abuse, murder, news, sentencing by sally

“Two men have been found guilty of murdering a man they stabbed to death when he tried to buy heroin from them.”

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BBC News, 25th July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted July 26th, 2013 in law reports by tracey

Court of Appeal  (Civil Division)

JSC BTA Bank v Ablyazov [2013] EWCA Civ 928 (25 July 2013)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Infederation Ltd v Google Inc & Ors [2013] EWHC 2295 (Ch) (26 July 2013)

High Court (Commercial Court)

SC DG Petrol SRL v Vitol Broking Ltd & Ors [2013] EWHC 2176 (Comm) (25 July 2013)

High Court (Family Division)

Sekhri v Ray [2013] EWHC 2290 (Fam) (23 July 2013)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Tchenguiz & Anor v Serious Fraud Office & Ors [2013] EWHC 2297 (QB) (26 July 2013)

Source: www.bailii.org

Expert highlights “worrying approach” in Justice Committee’s report on sentencing of environmental offenders – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 26th, 2013 in environmental protection, news, reports, select committees, sentencing by sally

“It is ‘worrying’ that a Justice Committee report suggests treating companies whose actions risk harm to the environment in the same way as those who cause actual harm, an expert has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 25th July 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

HS2 challenges fail but powerful dissent – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted July 26th, 2013 in appeals, EC law, environmental protection, news, planning, railways by sally

“HS2 is the proposed high speed rail link to Birmingham and beyond. Its opponents sought to challenge the decision to promote it by way of a hybrid Bill in Parliament, saying that the process as a whole breached the various EU rules, including the need for Strategic Environmental Assessment under the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive 2001/42/EC and the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 2011/92/EU.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 26th July 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

PC Chris Findley death: Dale Dixon, 19, sentenced – BBC News

Posted July 26th, 2013 in assault, guilty pleas, homicide, news, police, sentencing, young offenders by sally

“A teenager who killed an off-duty police officer has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in a young offenders institution.”

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BBC News, 25th July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Thief who stole from dying hospital patients jailed for three years – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 26th, 2013 in hospitals, news, sentencing, theft by sally

“A thief who stole from dying hospital patients, including one who was terminally ill with cancer, has been jailed for three years.”

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Daily Telegraph, 25th July 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Leicester Crown Court is ‘in crisis’ according to lawyers – BBC News

Posted July 26th, 2013 in courts, Crown Court, delay, judiciary, law firms, news by sally

“Victims of crime are being put through unnecessary extra stress because of a ‘crisis’ caused by a lack of judges at Leicester Crown Court, lawyers claim.”

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BBC News, 26th July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

20 law firms implicated in ‘secret’ phone hacking scandal – Daily Telegraph

“Lawyers were the biggest users of the private investigators behind the ‘secret’ phone-hacking scandal, it has been revealed.”

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Daily Telegraph, 26th July 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Judge: couple’s £850,000 divorce is financial suicide – The Guardian

Posted July 26th, 2013 in costs, divorce, judges, news by sally

“A high court judge has said a couple have committed ‘financial suicide’ by spending £850,000 on legal bills during their divorce.”

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The Guardian, 25th July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Stuart Hall should serve longer in jail for sex attacks, Attorney General tells Court of Appeal – The Independent

Posted July 26th, 2013 in appeals, attorney general, complaints, news, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

“The veteran broadcaster Stuart Hall’s 15-month prison sentence for indecently assaulting 13 girls was unduly lenient and he should serve longer in jail, the Attorney General told the Court of Appeal today.”

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The Independent, 26th July 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lover jailed for Diana Lee murder and mutilation in Cheshire – BBC News

Posted July 26th, 2013 in arson, fraud, murder, news, sentencing by sally

“A conman who murdered his lover and mutilated her body to cover his tracks has been sentenced to life, with a minimum prison term of 34 years.”

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BBC News, 26th July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Stuart Hall: judges review whether sentence for sex attacks was too lenient – The Guardian

Posted July 26th, 2013 in appeals, complaints, news, recidivists, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

“Three of Britain’s most senior judges are considering whether the 15-month sentence handed to Stuart Hall for a string of sex offences was unduly lenient.”

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The Guardian, 26th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

PC Keith Blakelock trial date set for next year – The Guardian

Posted July 26th, 2013 in murder, news, police, trials, violent disorder by sally

“A provisional trial date has been set at the Old Bailey for a 44-year-old man charged with the murder of PC Keith Blakelock during the Broadwater Farm riots in 1985.”

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The Guardian, 26th July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk