Court modernisation “undermining access to justice”, lawyers tell MPs – Legal Futures

‘Criminal and civil lawyers have spelt out to MPs on the justice select committee a catalogue of ways in which court modernisation is undermining access to justice.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Secret ‘Torture Loophole’ Raises Serious Questions For Government, MP David Davis And Barrister Say – Rights Info

‘The government must be asked “serious questions” on how a secret policy allowing ministers to approve actions that could lead to torture was signed off, a leading QC and Tory MP have said.’

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Rights Info, 20th May 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

New APIL chief: Falling PI damages “an affront to justice” – Litigation Futures

‘Trends in personal injury claims since LASPO, with damages falling, are an “affront to justice”, the new president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has claimed.’

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Litigation Futures, 21st May 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Meals on wheels driver jailed for elderly woman’s murder 24 years on after DNA breakthrough – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 22nd, 2019 in burglary, DNA, evidence, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A meals on wheels delivery driver has been jailed for life 24 years after he murdered an elderly woman, following a DNA breakthrough.’

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Daily Telegraph, 21st May 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Turkey seeks extradition of UK barrister over Twitter activity – The Guardian

‘A British barrister who has given evidence to parliament is facing possible extradition to Turkey on terrorism charges over his Twitter activity.’

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The Guardian, 20th May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK’s First Human Rights Ambassador Could Become A ‘Laughing Stock’, Barrister Warns – Rights Info

Posted May 22nd, 2019 in barristers, diplomats, human rights, news, standards by sally

‘The UK’s first ever international human rights ambassador will become a “laughing stock” if the government does not practice what it preaches, a former chairwoman of the Bar human rights committee has warned.’

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Rights Info, 20th May 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

Guidance on libel for the social media age – Law Society’s Gazette

‘”He tried to strangle me” – hardly innocuous words. But when Nicola Stocker posted them on Facebook in 2012 she could not have known it was the start of a 76-month libel dispute over two simple questions – questions that would reach the Supreme Court as Stocker v Stocker [2019] UKSC 17.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 20th May 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judge reprimands solicitors for “imbeclic request” comment – Litigation Futures

‘A judge has criticised solicitors in a copyright infringement claim for describing a disclosure request made by the opposing side as “imbecilic”.’

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Litigation Futures, 20th May 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Law firm “sacked staff member by WhatsApp”, tribunal finds – Legal Futures

‘A small law firm sacked its administrator by sending him a brief WhatsApp message – and then backdated his P45 to support an argument that he was actually fired earlier and so his claim was out of time, an employment tribunal has found.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Financial regulators focus on climate change risk – OUT-LAW.com

‘In early May the UK government became the first in the world to declare an environment and climate change emergency. The impact of climate change will affect every aspect of daily life, and generates a number of significant financial risks.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 21st May 2019

Source: www.out-law.com

Contaminated blood inquiry: Victim’s ‘life of fear and anger’ – BBC News

Posted May 22nd, 2019 in blood products, hospitals, medical treatment, mental health, news, victims by sally

‘A man who was infected by contaminated blood has told a public inquiry of a life of fear, paranoia and anger.’

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BBC News, 21st May 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Maternity rights bill could make things worse, campaigner says – BBC News

‘A bill which aims to protect women’s jobs when they return to work after giving birth will have little impact, a pregnancy rights campaigner says.’

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BBC News, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judge “bullied” litigant in person, Court of Appeal rules – Litigation Futures

‘A High Court judge “seriously transgressed” the core principle that he remain neutral during the evidence and used bullying language against a litigant in person, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 20th May 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

No more reasonable doubt in suicide inquests – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted May 22nd, 2019 in appeals, codes of practice, inquests, news, proof, suicide, unlawful killing by sally

‘In R (Maughan) v Her Majesty’s Senior Coroner for Oxfordshire v The Chief Coroner for England Wales [2019] EWCA Civ 809, the Court of Appeal conclusively held that the standard for proof for both short form and narrative conclusions concerning suicide was the civil balance of probabilities test, rather than the criminal beyond reasonable doubt.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 20th May 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

What are the rules for donating to UK political parties? – The Guardian

Posted May 22nd, 2019 in budgets, elections, financial regulation, internet, news, political parties by sally

‘The Brexit party funding row shows how technology has outpaced electoral law.’

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The Guardian, 21st May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted May 22nd, 2019 in legislation by tracey

The Tobacco Products (Descriptions of Products) (Amendment) Order 2019

The Armed Forces Act 2016 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2019

The Value Added Tax (Reduced Rate) (Energy-Saving Materials) Order 2019

The Cyber-Attacks (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2019

The Cattle Compensation (England) Order 2019

The Wireless Telegraphy (Register) (Amendment) Regulations 2019

The Wireless Telegraphy (Mobile Spectrum Trading) (Amendment) Regulations 2019

The Wireless Telegraphy (Spectrum Trading) (Amendment) Regulations 2019

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted May 22nd, 2019 in law reports by tracey

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Thakrar v Crown Prosecution Service [2019] EWCA Civ 874 (21 May 2019)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Kenson Contractors (Benington) Ltd v London Borough of Haringey [2019] EWHC 1230 (Admin) (20 May 2019)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Global Energy Horizons Corporation v Gray [2019] EWHC 1260 (Ch) (21 May 2019)

First National Trustco (UK) Ltd & Anor v Page & Ors [2019] EWHC 1187 (Ch) (20 May 2019)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Punjab National Bank (International) Ltd v Boris Shipping Ltd & Ors [2019] EWHC 1280 (QB) (21 May 2019)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Indigo Projects London Ltd v Razin & Anor [2019] EWHC 1205 (TCC) (17 May 2019)

Source: www.bailii.org