A new understanding of ‘professionalism’ – Legal Voice

‘Many lawyers are in denial about the toll traumatic cases can take on them and their work. Time to drop the stiff upper lip, says Lee Moore.’

Full story

Legal Voice, 11th May 2017

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Supreme Court hands down key ruling over meaning of planning framework – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 12th, 2017 in housing, local government, news, planning, Supreme Court by sally

‘Two local authorities have lost appeals today to the Supreme Court, although judges did back the councils’ interpretation of a key part of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 10th May 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Police dog Finn stabbing: Boy, 16, found guilty – BBC News

Posted May 12th, 2017 in assault, criminal damage, dogs, news, offensive weapons, police, young offenders by sally

‘A teenage boy has been found guilty of stabbing a police dog and wounding his handler during a chase’

Full story

BBC News, 11th May 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Supreme Court: Simultaneous weather events did not put charterers in breach of ‘safe port’ warranty – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 12th, 2017 in charterparties, harbours, insurance, news, shipping law by sally

‘The rare simultaneous occurrence of two otherwise common events was an ‘abnormal occurrence’, which did not put the charterers of a ship which ran aground in port in breach of the ‘safe port’ warranty they gave to the owners.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 11th May 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Nuisance marketing company that made 100m cold calls receives record fine – Legal Futures

Posted May 12th, 2017 in complaints, fines, news, nuisance, telecommunications by sally

‘A company behind 100m nuisance calls has been fined a record £400,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) after more than 1,000 people complained about automated calls.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 11th May 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Cyril Smith abuse inquiry will not require specific findings on MP – The Guardian

Posted May 12th, 2017 in child abuse, inquiries, news, sexual offences by sally

‘The child sexual abuse inquiry will investigate whether Cyril Smith targeted boys in Rochdale care homes but will not be required to make “specific findings” against the dead former Liberal MP.’

Full story

The Guardian, 10th May 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man jailed after raping 13-year-old and punching baby – The Independent

Posted May 12th, 2017 in assault, child abuse, news, rape, sentencing, young offenders by sally

‘A man has been found guilty of having sex with a 13-year-old girl and assaulting a baby by a court in Newcastle.’

Full story

The Independent, 12th May 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Supreme Court favours narrow interpretation of ‘relevant policies for supply of housing’ – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 12th, 2017 in housing, local government, news, planning, Supreme Court by sally

‘Only those local planning policies dealing with housing-specific questions, such as numbers and distribution of housing, will be deemed out of date in the absence of a five year supply of deliverable sites for housing in a particular area, the UK’s highest court has ruled.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 11th May 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Fox News must let Ofcom meet harassment victims, lawyer says – The Guardian

‘Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox should waive gagging orders on victims of alleged racial and sexual harassment at Fox News so they can speak to the UK media watchdog, a lawyer representing the victims has said.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th May 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

High Court again overturns SDT ruling that cleared solicitor over Axiom fund borrowing – Legal Futures

Posted May 12th, 2017 in disciplinary procedures, loans, news, solicitors by sally

‘The High Court has overturned a decision by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) to clear a solicitor who borrowed money from the controversial Axiom Legal Financing Fund of charges of misconduct – five months after a ruling that cleared two other solicitors who took an Axiom loan was also reversed.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 11th May 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Mother and daughter in terror plot case ordered to lift veils by magistrate who demands to see their eyes – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 12th, 2017 in conspiracy, court dress, Islam, magistrates, news, terrorism by sally

‘A woman and her daughter charged in connection with what is thought to be Britain’s first all-female alleged terror plot were told to lift their veils in court by a magistrate who asked to see their eyes.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 11th May 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Estranged wife gets £453m in one of biggest UK divorce settlements – The Guardian

Posted May 12th, 2017 in divorce, financial provision, news by sally

‘The former wife of an oil and gas trader has been awarded £453m in one of the largest divorce settlements ever agreed by a UK court. It confirms London’s status as the favoured location to bring divorce claims against super-rich spouses.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th May 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted May 11th, 2017 in legislation by Verity

The Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officer’s Charges) (Northern Ireland) Order 2017

The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) (England, Wales and Scotland) Regulations 2017

The Misuse of Drugs (Designation) (Amendment) (England, Wales and Scotland) Order 2017

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Supreme and Strasbourg Courts square off on Art. 6 and housing – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted May 11th, 2017 in homelessness, housing, human rights, local government, mental health, news by tracey

‘Poshteh v Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea S [2017] UKSC 36, 10 May 2017. For the last 15 years, whether the right of the homeless to suitable council accommodation is an Art.6(1) ECHR civil right has been argued over in the courts. And the question arose again in today’s judgment of the Supreme Court.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 10th May 2017

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted May 11th, 2017 in law reports by tracey

Supreme Court

Gard Marine and Energy Ltd & Anor v China National Chartering Company Ltd & Anor [2017] UKSC 35 (10 May 2017)

Poshteh v Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea [2017] UKSC 36 (10 May 2017)

Suffolk Coastal District Council v Hopkins Homes Ltd & Anor [2017] UKSC 37 (10 May 2017)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Clegg v The Estate & Personal Representatives of Andrew Gregory Pache & Ors [2017] EWCA Civ 256 (11 May 2017)

OO (Nigeria), R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] EWCA Civ 338 (10 May 2017)

Amirteymour v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] EWCA Civ 353 (10 May 2017)

Glaxo Wellcome UK Ltd (t/a Allen & Hanburys) & Anor v Sandoz Ltd [2017] EWCA Civ 335 (10 May 2017)

Orientfield Holdings Ltd v Bird & Bird LLP [2017] EWCA Civ 348 (09 May 2017)

LC (Albania) v The Secretary of State for the Home Department & Anor [2017] EWCA Civ 351 (09 May 2017)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Vrang v Revenue And Customs [2017] EWHC 1055 (Admin) (09 May 2017)

Moulton Parish Council & Anor v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government [2017] EWHC 1047 (Admin) (09 May 2017)

EL, R (On the Application Of) v Essex County Council [2017] EWHC 1041 (Admin) (08 May 2017)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Baturina v Chistyakov [2017] EWHC 1049 (Comm) (10 May 2017)

High Court (Family Division)

B v B (Maintenance Regulation -Stay) [2017] EWHC 1029 (Fam) (09 May 2017)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Serious Fraud Office (SFO) v Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation Ltd [2017] EWHC 1017 (QB) (08 May 2017)

Source: www.bailii.org

Council “did not have power to prosecute alleged legal aid fraud”: Court of Appeal – Local Government Lawyer

‘Thurrock Council did not have power to bring prosecution proceedings on behalf of the Legal Aid Agency in relation to an alleged legal aid fraud, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 9th May 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Supreme Court backs decision of reviewing officer over accommodation offer – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Supreme Court has upheld a reviewing officer’s decision that it was reasonable for a refugee to accept an offer of accommodation which she claimed reminded her of prison in Iran.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 10th May 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court rejects litigation privilege claim in test case – Litigation Futures

Posted May 11th, 2017 in civil justice, crime, disclosure, documents, fraud, news, privilege, prosecutions, trials by tracey

‘The High Court has rejected a mining company’s claim for litigation privilege in a test case which for the first time involves potential criminal, rather than civil, litigation.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 10th May 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Fixed-cost plans for clinical negligence “will prevent many cases being brought”, CJC warns – Litigation Futures

‘Government plans to impose fixed costs on clinical negligence cases worth up to £25,000 “will prevent many cases being brought”, the Civil Justice Council (CJC) has warned.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 11th May 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

CPS statement on election expenses – Crown Prosecution Service

‘Nick Vamos, CPS Head of Special Crime, said: “We have considered files of evidence from 14 police forces in respect of allegations relating to Conservative Party candidates’ expenditure during the 2015 General Election campaign.”‘

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 10th May 2017

Source: www.cps.gov.uk