Council wins Upper Tribunal battle over service charge and replacement central heating – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has ruled that the London Borough of Southwark can recover a service charge for work in a leaseholder’s flat after the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) said nothing was payable.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th March 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Court of Appeal rejects legal duty for council tax purposes to disclose fact of residence – Local Government Lawyer

‘No legal duty exists that requires a resident to notify a council of their residence at a particular address for council tax purposes, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th March 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Tribunal orders defunct law firm to pay staff outstanding wages – Legal Futures

‘A defunct family law firm has been ordered by an employment tribunal to pay two female members of staff unpaid wages and damages.’

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Legal Futures, 7th March 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Former football coach jailed for offences against young boys – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A former youth football coach has been jailed for 13-and-a-half years for sexual offences against two young boys. He was also issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 6th March 2019

UK court ruling raises hopes of asylum for torture survivors – The Guardian

Posted March 7th, 2019 in appeals, asylum, expert witnesses, immigration, news, torture by tracey

‘Tens of thousands of torture survivors could find it easier to secure sanctuary in the UK after a ruling by the supreme court.’

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The Guardian, 6th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

No Fault divorces: a new reality? – Family Law

Posted March 7th, 2019 in consultations, divorce, families, marriage, news, reasons by tracey

‘Following mounting criticism from campaigners, the UK could witness the arrival of ‘no-fault divorces’ in the coming months, writes LexisNexis’ Catherine Gleave. The government is preparing a consultation to review the current divorce system, with a view to introduce a reform offer to estranged couples and give them the opportunity to end their marriage without the acrimony of fault-finding divorce proceedings. With such monumental change on the horizon, we discuss the impact of no-fault divorces and make predictions about what the change could mean for the legal world.’

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Family Law, 6th March 2019

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Court of Appeal discharges injunction banning firm from VW group action – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal by group action specialists Harcus Sinclair challenging the enforceability of a non-disclosure agreement it entered into with a Derbyshire firm regarding the Volkswagen group litigation.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 6th March 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Home Office to amend registration rules for vulnerable EU citizens – The Guardian

‘The Home Office has reached an out-of-court settlement with a charity that had threatened a judicial review over the registration system for EU citizens. The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) agreed to drop its application for a judicial review after Sajid Javid’s department made changes to its guidance to caseworkers in relation to vulnerable citizens.’

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The Guardian, 6th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Equality watchdog to decide if Labour broke law over antisemitism – The Guardian

‘Britain’s equality watchdog is close to deciding if it will launch an inquiry into whether the Labour party’s handling of antisemitism cases complies with equalities law.’

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The Guardian, 6th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Grenfell survivors’ anger as police say no charges until 2021 Grenfell survivors’ anger as police say no charges until 2021 – The Guardian

‘Survivors and the bereaved from the Grenfell Tower fire have expressed their “extreme frustration” at the pace of justice after Scotland Yard admitted no charges were likely for at least two years.’

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The Guardian, 7th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fracking: Government guidance ‘unlawful’ rules High Court – BBC News

‘New government guidance on fracking is unlawful, the High Court has ruled.’

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BBC News, 6th March 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Father jailed for ‘monstrous’ acid attack on his three-year-old son – Daily Telegraph

‘A father plotted a “monstrous” acid attack against his three-year-old son in bid to win custody from his mother, a court has ruled.’

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Daily Telegraph, 6th March 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Home Office pays £1m to civil servants in discrimination case – The Guardian

‘Nearly 50 civil servants who accused the Home Office of discrimination because of their age or ethnicity have secured more than £1m in compensation following a tribunal.’

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The Guardian, 6th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lewis Ludlow trial: Man who plotted ‘spectacular’ terror attack on London’s Oxford Street jailed for 15 years – The Independent

Posted March 7th, 2019 in Islam, news, religiously aggravated offences, sentencing, terrorism by tracey

‘Lewis Ludlow – nicknamed “The Eagle” – has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 15 years for planning a “spectacular” terror attack on Oxford Street in London.’

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The Independent, 6th March 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Cricklewood Islamic Centre: Man who drove at worshippers jailed – BBC news

‘A man who deliberately drove at worshippers leaving an Islamic community centre has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 6th March 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court sets June date for judicial review hearing over SEND funding policy – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 6th, 2019 in budgets, judicial review, news, special educational needs by sally

‘A High Court judge has granted three families permission to bring a judicial review challenge over the Government’s special education needs (“SEND”) funding policy.’

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Local Government Lawyer, March 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Momentum fined £16,700 for ‘multiple electoral law breaches’ – BBC News

Posted March 6th, 2019 in elections, fines, news, political parties by sally

‘The Labour-supporting Momentum group has been fined £16,700 for “multiple breaches of electoral law”, the Electoral Commission has said.’

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BBC News, 6th March 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Autistic people angry at having to disclose diagnosis to DVLA even if driving not affected – The Guardian

‘The National Autistic Society (NAS) is challenging a decision by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to force autistic people to inform them of their diagnosis even if it does not affect their driving.’

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The Guardian, 3rd March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court rejects appeal by cyclist over dismissal of claim following pothole accident – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 6th, 2019 in appeals, bicycles, local government, news, personal injuries, roads by sally

‘A High Court judge has rejected a claim against a highways authority brought by a cyclist who was injured after she hit a pothole near a roundabout.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 5th Mach 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Now, a win for the Chagossians – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 6th, 2019 in Chagos Islands, colonies, international courts, international law, news by sally

‘The International Court of Justice has given a near-unanimous opinion that the separation in 1965 of the Chagos archipelago from the then British colony of Mauritius was contrary to the right of self determination, and that accordingly the de-colonisation of Mauritius by the United Kingdom had not been in accordance with international law. The ICJ held that Britain’s continued administration of the archipelago was an internationally wrongful act, which should cease as soon as possible.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 4th March 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com