Gulf War soldier takes on MoD over vaccines – BBC News

Posted May 6th, 2014 in armed forces, legal aid, medical treatment, news, vaccination by tracey

‘A soldier has won legal aid in his fight to find out what the Ministry of Defence knew of the health risks of the vaccinations given to troops ahead of the first Gulf War.’

Full story

BBC News, 3rd May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Detention ruling shackles troops, says Philip Hammond – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 6th, 2014 in armed forces, detention, news by tracey

‘The detention policy used by the Armed Forces in Afghanistan was unlawful, the High Court has said. After the ruling, Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, said the decision would tie the hands of soldiers abroad.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 3rd May 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Abuse claim Beechwood children’s home residents awarded compensation – BBC News

‘Former residents at a children’s care home have been awarded compensation after claims they were sexually abused.’

Full story

BBC News, 3rd May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Fraud lawyers not underpaid despite legal aid cuts, says justice minister – The Guardian

Posted May 6th, 2014 in barristers, financial regulation, legal aid, news, remuneration, trials by tracey

‘Lawyers in complex fraud trials are not underpaid and the government is taking steps to prevent cases collapsing, the justice minister, Simon Hughes, has said. The Liberal Democrat, a critic of the legal aid cuts before entering government, said the row over very high cost cases (VHCCs) did not involve “hard-up” lawyers at the start of their careers.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th May 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Pre-signing abortion forms is illegal, General Medical Council admits – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 6th, 2014 in abortion, consent, crime, doctors, documents, illegality, news by tracey

‘More than 60 doctors who pre-signed abortion forms without knowing anything about the women concerned did break the law, the head of the General Medical Council admitted last night as pressure grew on police to investigate.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 5th May 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Review after ‘Skull Cracker’ Michael Wheatley absconds – BBC News

Posted May 6th, 2014 in fugitive offenders, news, prisons, release on licence by tracey

‘A review has been ordered after an armed robber dubbed “the Skull Cracker” went missing when he was temporarily allowed out of an open prison.’

Full story

BBC news, 5th May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Train driver traumatised by death on tracks fights loss of compensation – The Independent

‘It was around midday on 31 March 2012 that Nik Douglas’s life changed forever. The 37-year-old train driver was travelling through Northallerton station on the way to Newcastle when he saw a man in his sixties standing alone on the platform. He thought nothing of the lone figure, turning instead to check the opposite platform. By the time Mr Douglas looked back again, the man was crouching on the tracks in front of his train. But because of a recent change in the law, Mr Douglas could be the last person in the country to receive compensation for such trauma.’

Full story

The Independent, 5th May 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Tougher sentences for banned drivers who cause deaths – BBC News

‘Tougher sentences for banned drivers who cause death on the roads and a new offence of causing serious injury while disqualified are to be introduced.’

Full story

BBC News, 6th May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Max Clifford jailed for eight years for indecent assaults – BBC News

Posted May 2nd, 2014 in news, sentencing, sexual offences by tracey

‘Disgraced celebrity publicist Max Clifford has been jailed for a total of eight years for a string of indecent assaults against girls and young women.’

Full story

BBC News, 2nd May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mark Elliott: Judicial Review Reform — The Report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘Earlier this week, the parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights has published its report on The implications for access to justice of the Government’s proposals to reform judicial review (HL 174 HC 868 2013-14). The report is, perhaps unsurprisingly, generally critical of the proposals and of the way in which they have been or are being introduced. I have already summarised the proposals and commented on some of them in earlier posts. In this post, I draw attention to some key passages in the JCHR’s report, commenting on them briefly and, at the end of the piece, offering some reflections on some of the underlying constitutional issues highlighted by the Committee.’

Full story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 1st May 2014

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Constance Briscoe jailed for 16 months for lying to police – BBC News

‘Barrister Constance Briscoe has been jailed for 16 months for lying to police in ex-cabinet minister Chris Huhne’s speeding points case.’

Full story

BBC< News, 2nd May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Global Witness and the journalism exemption: ICO to have the first go? – Panopticon

Posted May 2nd, 2014 in data protection, news, rectification, stay of proceedings by tracey

‘Panopticon has previously reported on the novel and important data protection case Steinmetz and Others v Global Witness [2014] EWHC 1186 (Ch). The High Court (Henderson J) has now given a judgment on a procedural point which will set the shape for this litigation.’

Full story

Panopticon, 30th April 2014

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

High Court challenge to Solihull Local Plan succeeds in relation to housing numbers and green belt boundaries – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 2nd, 2014 in environmental protection, housing, news, planning by tracey

‘A planning inspector’s approach to the policy requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in relation to housing provision in a local plan was not correct or lawful, a High Court judge has ruled.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 1st May 2014

Source: www.out-law.com

Operation Cotton – what next? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

‘When does the same Government that decides to prosecute someone have an obligation to ensure that that individual has representation? That was the question that HHJ Leonard had to answer at Southwark Crown Court on 1 May 2014. The case is called “Operation Cotton” and, as the argument proceeded, featured five legally aided defendants. The argument got more media attention this week than it perhaps otherwise would because the legally aided defendants were represented by Alexander Cameron QC, who happens to be the brother of the Prime Minister (Cameron QC was acting for free, which his brother would surely applaud as an example of the “Big Society” in action).’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 1st May 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Judge quashes licensing decision after “serious procedural irregularity” – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 2nd, 2014 in judicial review, licensing, local government, news, sex establishments by tracey

‘A council’s decision to refuse to renew a lap-dancing club’s sexual entertainment venue licence must be quashed because of a “serious procedural irregularity” which led to it being taken by the wrong persons, a High Court judge has ruled.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 1st May 2014

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judge’s despair as costs hit £16,000 in dispute over £15 – Litigation Futures

Posted May 2nd, 2014 in costs, news, personal injuries, proportionality, road traffic, solicitors by tracey

‘A district judge has been driven to despair as solicitors cranked up over £16,000 in costs in a dispute over an outstanding amount of only £15.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 1st May 2014

Source:  www.litigationfutures.com

Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 – Home Office

Posted May 2nd, 2014 in animals, consultations, experiments by tracey

‘This paper sets out the government’s proposals for the review and indicates our preferred option. This consultation is seeking views on our proposals and invites suggestions as to whether they are appropriate, how they may work in practice and any alternatives available. We also seek advice to help quantify the potential impacts associated with the chosen options.’

Full text

Home Office, 1st May 2014

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Statement from Bar Leaders on Very High Costs Cases – The Bar Council

Posted May 2nd, 2014 in barristers, contracts, costs, fees, press releases by tracey

‘The leaders of the Bar, who represent barristers in England and Wales, have published the following joint statement.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 1st May 2014

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted May 2nd, 2014 in legislation by tracey

The European Parliamentary Election Petition (Amendment) Rules 2014

The Anonymous Registration (Northern Ireland) Order 2014

The Consular Marriages and Marriages under Foreign Law Order 2014

The Overseas Marriage (Armed Forces) Order 2014

The Lymington Harbour Revision Order 2014

The Electricity and Gas (Energy Companies Obligation) (Amendment) Order 2014

The Aerosol Dispensers (Amendment) Regulations 2014

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted May 2nd, 2014 in law reports by tracey

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

KP, Re [2014] EWCA Civ 554 (01 May 2014)

Lee-Hirons, R (On the Application Of) v The Secretary of State for Justice [2014] EWCA Civ 553 (01 May 2014)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Cox v R. [2014] EWCA Crim 804 (01 May 2014)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Uba v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2014] EWHC 1166 (Admin) (01 May 2014)

Forest of Dean Friends of the Earth v Forest of Dean District Council & Anor [2014] EWHC 1351 (Admin) (01 May 2014)

Bridgerow Ltd, R (on the application of) v Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council [2014] EWHC 1187 (Admin) (30 April 2014)

Gallagher Homes Ltd & Anor v Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council [2014] EWHC 1283 (Admin) (30 April 2014)

Zhang, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2014] EWHC 1310 (Admin) (29 April 2014)

Njie v Nursing and Midwifery Council [2014] EWHC 1279 (Admin) (25 April 2014)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Vodafone Group Plc, Re [2014] EWHC 1357 (Ch) (01 May 2014)

Olympus UK Ltd & Ors [2014] EWHC 1350 (Ch) (01 May 2014)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Starbev Gp Ltd v Interbrew Central European Holdings BV [2014] EWHC 1311 (Comm) (29 April 2014)

Tchenguiz & Anor v Director of the Serious Fraud Office [2014] EWHC 1315 (Comm) (29 April 2014)

Otkritie International Investment Management Ltd & Ors v Urumov & Ors [2014] EWHC 1323 (Comm) (29 April 2014)

High Court (Family Division)

London Borough of Haringey v Musa [2014] EWHC 1341 (Fam) (16 April 2014)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Contostavlos & Anor v News Group Newspapers Ltd [2014] EWHC 1339 (QB) (01 May 2014)

Source: www.bailii.org