Firm terminated retainer “without notice or good reason” – Litigation Futures

Posted October 31st, 2018 in fees, indemnities, insurance, law firms, news, notification, winding up by sally

‘A law firm’s decision to terminate its retainer without notice to the client – because it was closing down – was unreasonable and it could not claim the fees due before then, the High Court has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 31st October 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Ombudsman criticises council for housing 17 year old on campsite – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 31st, 2018 in homelessness, housing, local government, news, ombudsmen, young persons by sally

‘Cornwall Council has admitted that accommodating a homeless youth on a campsite “went on for too long”, after criticism from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 31st October 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Controlling bully’ gets 23 years for Haringey wife murder – BBC News

Posted October 31st, 2018 in domestic violence, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A “controlling bully” who strangled his wife and then stabbed her 49 times in front of her young son has been jailed for a minimum of 23 years for her murder.’

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BBC News, 29th October 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Stephen Tierney: Governing Northern Ireland without an Executive: Quick Fix or Constitutional Minefield? – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted October 31st, 2018 in bills, civil servants, constitutional law, news, Northern Ireland, public interest by sally

‘The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Bill, which arrives in the House of Lords today, is set to be enacted by way of fast-track legislative procedure this week. The Bill intends to facilitate the formation of an Executive in Northern Ireland while providing for the exercise of executive functions by civil servants in the interim. In effect, the Bill suspends the statutory duty on the Secretary of State to call a Northern Ireland Assembly election. This is little more than a continuation of the present situation in which the UK Government has kept administration in Northern Ireland ticking over since March 2017. Much more controversially, the Bill gives civil servants within Northern Ireland departments general powers for the administration of Northern Ireland, introducing a public interest test for the exercise of these powers.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 30th October 2018

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Removing blame from divorce will make it easier for separating couples to achieve a settlement – Family Law

Posted October 31st, 2018 in dispute resolution, divorce, news by sally

‘There is a sense of irony, perhaps even comedy, in a situation that sees government Ministers looking to make the process of divorce simpler – at the very time they’re struggling to come to terms with Brexit: the most complex divorce that UK policy makers have ever faced.’

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Family Law, 31st October 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Guidance issued to court staff on supporting media access – Transparency Project

Posted October 31st, 2018 in courts, media, news, reporting restrictions by sally

‘This week the Ministry of Justice issued Guidance to staff on supporting media access to courts and tribunals as “part of a wider effort to build stronger working relationships between courts and the press and maintain the principle of open justice as we increasingly digitise court services.”’

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Transparency Project, 28th October 2018

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

MPs and peers demand changes to Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill requires further changes to protect the human rights of vulnerable people, MPs and peers have warned.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 31st October 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Repairing patented equipment – what is allowed? – Technology Law Update

Posted October 31st, 2018 in news, patents, repairs by sally

‘The owner of an item embodying patented technology is allowed to have the item repaired, but if the repairing goes too far it can stray into “making” the item and infringe the patent. A recent ruling explores the boundary between making and repairing, providing some helpful pointers in relation to complex products.’

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Technology Law Update, 30th October 2018

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

Solicitor paid B&B and caravan park income into client account – Legal Futures

Posted October 31st, 2018 in client accounts, disciplinary procedures, fines, news, solicitors by sally

‘A solicitor who paid over £100,000 in income from her bed and breakfast and caravan park businesses into her firm’s client account has been fined £15,000 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).’

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Legal Futures, 30th October 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Jail sentences for assaults on NHS staff to double, health secretary to announce – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 31st, 2018 in assault, news, nurses, paramedics, sentencing by sally

‘Jail sentences for those who attack paramedics and casualty nurses are set to double in a bid to tackle record levels of violence against staff.’

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Daily Telegraph, 31st October 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Unmarried couples’ entitlements and cohabitation agreements – Family Law

Posted October 31st, 2018 in children, cohabitation, contracts, financial provision, news by sally

‘The number of cohabitating families has increased by almost 30% in the last decade, which has led to a rise in complex legal disputes after a break-up. It is a common misconception that cohabitants possess the same legal rights and obligations as a married couple or a civil partnership. There is no such thing as a “common law” husband or wife in the eyes of the Court and therefore it is important that cohabitants are aware of their rights, according to Danielle Bentley, a solicitor at Herrington & Carmichael LLP.’

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Family Law, 29th October 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

St Leonards man Craig Savage jailed for murdering wife and mother-in-law – BBC News

Posted October 31st, 2018 in murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man who murdered his estranged wife and mother-in-law in an execution-style shooting has been jailed for a minimum of 38 years.’

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BBC News, 29th October 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Father who ‘deliberately’ infected two women with HIV claims he was contaminated when a man sexually abused him – Daily Telegrpah

Posted October 31st, 2018 in grievous bodily harm, guilty pleas, HIV, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man who “deliberately” infected two women with the HIV told a court he got the virus when a man sexually abused him.’

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Daily Telegraph, 30th October 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Immigration Officials Attend Local Authority Meetings With Vulnerable Migrant Families – Rights Info

Posted October 31st, 2018 in government departments, housing, immigration, local government, news by sally

‘The Home Office is regularly attending local authority meetings with vulnerable migrant families to help collect data that can be used to remove the families from the UK.’

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Rights Info, 29th October 2018

Source: rightsinfo.org

CPS criticised as charges dropped over death of man in UK detention camp – The Guardian

‘The family of a man found dead in an immigration detention centre have reacted with fury to a decision to drop criminal charges against two private firms.’

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The Guardian, 30th October 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Philip Green and non-disclosure agreements: do we have a right to know? – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The circumstances in which a court should prevent the press from reporting information about famous people has long provoked debate. The decision of the Court of Appeal in ABC & Ors v Telegraph Media Group Ltd [2018] EWCA Civ 2329 is no exception, attracting extensive press coverage and comment from the #MeToo movement.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 30th October 2018

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Placement of a child outside their natural family – Family Law

Posted October 31st, 2018 in children, families, news, placement orders by sally

‘What factors does a court need to consider regarding the placement of a child away from their extended family? Amina Ahmed, barrister at Garden Court Chambers, explores the test used in deciding the correct balance for a child’s growing up in his culture of origin or in proximity with his family in the UK.’

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Family Law, 31st October 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Dylan Tiffin-Brown: Raphael Kennedy jailed for murder – BBC News

Posted October 31st, 2018 in child abuse, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A drug dealer who murdered his two-year-old son in a “savage and sustained attack” has been jailed for at least 24 years.’

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BBC News, 30th October 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Part 36 offer not a “trump card” to thwart court orders – Litigation Futures

‘A part 36 offer is not “some form of trump card” which overrides previous court orders, a High Court judge has made clear.’

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Litigation Futures, 30th October 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Rotherham grooming gang: seven men guilty of sexual offences – The Guardian

‘Seven men have been convicted of a series of sexual offences in the biggest prosecution of a Rotherham grooming gang by the National Crime Agency.’

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The Guardian, 29th October 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com