Court Service to test ‘virtual hearing’ prototype – Legal Futures

‘HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is working with Microsoft to build a prototype for a fully virtual hearing, which will tested in October, it has emerged.’

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Legal Futures, 15th August 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Nottingham man jailed for deliberately infecting lovers with HIV – The Guardian

Posted August 16th, 2017 in grievous bodily harm, HIV, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man has been jailed for infecting two former lovers with HIV after purposely not telling them he had the virus.’

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The Guardian, 15th August 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Appeal judges uphold indemnity costs order in “long and acrimonious” neighbour dispute – Litigation Futures

Posted August 16th, 2017 in appeals, costs, dispute resolution, indemnities, judges, news, part 36 offers, utilities by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has backed the order of indemnity costs against a retired couple involved in a battle over access to gas and electricity meters, who “had not come to court to assist the court in resolving the dispute but to assist themselves”.’

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Litigation Futures, 15th August 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Maternity ‘must improve’ at baby-deaths hospital trust – BBC News

Posted August 16th, 2017 in birth, health, hospitals, inquiries, news by sally

‘Maternity services at a health trust at the centre of a baby deaths inquiry must improve, inspectors have said.’

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BBC News, 16th August 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

DPP raps ‘inaccurate’ press reports of rape prosecutions – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 15th, 2017 in Crown Prosecution Service, media, news, prosecutions, rape by sally

‘The director of public prosecutions has today condemned ‘inaccurate’ media coverage of the Crown Prosecution Service’s approach to rape cases, stressing that prosecutions and convictions have significantly increased.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 14th August 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘Professional’ trustees likely to receive higher penalties for wrongdoing, says Pensions Regulator – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 15th, 2017 in enforcement, news, penalties, pensions, trusts by sally

‘Pension scheme trustees that are considered to be ‘professional trustees’ can expect higher penalties for wrongdoing, The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 14th August 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Appeal to proceed in £14bn landmark Mastercard action – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 15th, 2017 in appeals, class actions, competition, consumer credit, news, tribunals by sally

‘A record-breaking £14bn collective action against Mastercard is set to rumble on after the former ombudsman who brought the case on behalf of 46 million consumers seeks to appeal last month’s Competition Appeal Tribunal ruling.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 14th August 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Drunk air passenger arrests up 50% – BBC News

Posted August 15th, 2017 in airlines, alcohol abuse, news, statistics by sally

‘Arrests of passengers suspected of being drunk at UK airports and on flights have risen by 50% in a year, a BBC Panorama investigation suggests.’

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BBC News, 14th August 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK watchdog seeks to quell fears about heavy fines under the GDPR – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 15th, 2017 in data protection, fines, news by sally

‘Businesses that are responsible for “minor infringements” of new EU data protection laws shortly after they come into effect will not be made an example of, the UK’s information commissioner has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 14th August 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Three men jailed for running cannabis factory in ex-nuclear bunker – The Guardian

‘Three men have been jailed for their part in running a vast underground cannabis farm in a former nuclear bunker in Wiltshire, staffed by young Vietnamese workers who were held in slave-like conditions.’

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The Guardian, 11th August 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Worrying trend’ of freedom of the press in the UK as country ranks 40 in latest Reporters Without Borders index – The Independent

Posted August 15th, 2017 in freedom of expression, media, news, reports by sally

‘A “heavy handed approach” often in the name of national security has seen the UK slip in the rankings of countries with the world’s freest press, according to a new report by Reporters Without Borders.’

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The Independent, 14th August 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Illegal subletting – an ‘elaborate farrago of lies’ – Nearly Legal

Posted August 15th, 2017 in appeals, benefits, housing, landlord & tenant, news, repossession, social security by sally

‘Ms Afsana Begum and Mr Mohammed Rohim were the joint assured tenants of Poplar Housing from October 2014. The property was a two bed flat. The rent was paid in full by housing benefit. In August 2015, Poplar received a tip off that the property was being sub let. On investigation, Ms B had financial links to another flat nearby, her mother’s.’

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Nearly Legal, 13th August 2017

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Woman refused divorce will tell Supreme Court she should not have to prove ‘unreasonable’ behaviour – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 15th, 2017 in appeals, divorce, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘A woman refused a divorce from her millionaire husband will argue that she should not have to prove “unreasonable” behaviour as she takes her fight to the Supreme Court.’

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Daily Telegraph, 14th August 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ann Maguire’s family lose legal challenge over inquest evidence – BBC News

Posted August 15th, 2017 in evidence, families, inquests, news, school children, witnesses by sally

‘The widower and children of a teacher murdered by a student have lost their legal challenge against a coroner’s decision not to call pupils as witnesses at a forthcoming inquest.’

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BBC News, 14th August 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tougher laws to protect 10 million Britons who book holidays online – The Guardian

Posted August 15th, 2017 in consultations, consumer protection, holidays, internet, news by sally

‘Travellers booking package holidays online are to receive greater protection if a holiday company goes bust, under government proposals to strengthen rules.’

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The Guardian, 14th August 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government to consider laser pen licence after attack rise – BBC News

Posted August 14th, 2017 in aircraft, consultations, government departments, licensing, news, weapons by sally

‘Buying powerful laser pens could require a licence in future, the government has said, amid concerns over the number of attacks on aircraft.’

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BBC News, 12th August 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Publishing salacious material as public interest besmirches press freedom – The Guardian

‘Seedy legal plea to name couple filmed having sex by police officer Adrian Pogmore is anything but a matter of high principle.’

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The Guardian, 13th August 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Justice secretary told to ‘get a grip’ on backlog of prisoners held beyond sentence – The Guardian

‘The chair of the Parole Board has expressed his frustration at the government’s failure to “get a grip” on the issue of prisoners serving indeterminate sentences under the discredited imprisonment for public protection (IPP) programme.’

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The Guardian, 14th August 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ellie Butler’s parents appear at inquest hearing via video from prisons – The Guardian

‘The parents of murdered six-year-old Ellie Butler have appeared via video link from their respective prisons at an inquest hearing into the death of their daughter, and interrupted the proceedings several times.’

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The Guardian, 11th August 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Dwelling in temporary accommodation – Nearly Legal

Posted August 14th, 2017 in housing, local government, news, repossession, statutory interpretation by sally

‘When is temporary accommodation provided under the Housing Act 1996 Section 193(2) duty occupied ‘as a dwelling’ fo the purposes of Section 3 Protection from Eviction Act 1977?’

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Nearly Legal, 13th August 2017

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk