12/01/2021 – Current Awareness

HMRC v IGE USA Investments Ltd [2020] EWHC 1716 (Ch) – the role of statements of case and Lists of Issues for Disclosure in applications to vary an order for Extended Disclosure under the Disclosure Pilot Scheme – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted January 12th, 2021 in case management, civil procedure rules, disclosure, jurisdiction, misrepresentation, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘Whilst Standard Disclosure (under CPR 31) remains in force, the Disclosure Pilot has provided a more flexible menu of disclosure options for the majority of cases in the Business and Property Courts. There is a degree of overlap between CPR 31 and the Pilot Scheme, but there are some significant divergences. One of those is paragraph 18 of the Pilot Scheme, which allows variations of pre-existing orders for Extended Disclosure. The scope of the court’s jurisdiction under paragraph 18 of the Disclosure Pilot was central to this appeal.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 8th January 2021

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Work Rights in the Nursery: Au pairs entitled to the NMW (but in respect of which hours?) – Littleton Chambers

Posted January 12th, 2021 in EC law, employment tribunals, equal pay, minimum wage, news, women, working time by sally

‘The employment tribunal has disapplied the “family worker” exemption, in effect holding that au pairs and other domestic workers who live in the home are entitled to the protections of the National Minimum Wage (“NMW”) regime. If this tribunal decision stands, it gives rise to another significant question: which hours should count towards the NMW for domestic workers?’

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Littleton Chambers, 4th January 2021

Source: littletonchambers.com

Anonymous witness evidence and the right to a fair trial – Carmelite Chambers

Posted January 12th, 2021 in anonymity, criminal procedure, evidence, news, witnesses by sally

‘Anonymous witness orders are most commonly sought by the prosecution in cases involving undercover police officers. There are outliers however, cases of complexity that call for closer attention, particularly those involving allegations or fears of witness intimidation.’

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Carmelite Chambers, 11th January 2021

Source: www.carmelitechambers.co.uk

N v N (Afghanistan: Validity of an Overseas Marriage: Procedure)[2020] EWFC B55 – Pump Court Chambers

Posted January 12th, 2021 in divorce, foreign jurisdictions, marriage, news, service, time limits by sally

‘An important Judgment on the validity of an overseas marriage, and compliance with the significant procedural rules which apply if one wishes to defend divorce petitions, has recently been handed down in the case of N v N (Afghanistan: Validity of an overseas marriage: Procedure) [2020]. Jennifer Lee of Pump Court Chambers acted for the successful petitioner, who was seeking a divorce from the respondent. The parties disagreed over whether a marriage ceremony (held by proxy) in the 1980s had taken place, and whether it should be recognised as a valid marriage in this jurisdiction. There were procedural difficulties stemming from a marriage certificate not having been attached to the petition and non-compliance with the FPR and court orders by the respondent. The Court noted that there were many reasons why a valid marriage certificate might not be available, and the FPR clearly contemplated such a situation and provided for it. There was nothing in the FPR or the authorities cited which provided for there being no requirement to file an acknowledgement of service or an answer where a petitioner had not filed a valid marriage certificate.’

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Pump Court Chambers, 8th January 2021

Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com

Council provided “object lesson” in how not to respond to JR – Litigation Futures

Posted January 12th, 2021 in disabled persons, housing, judicial review, local government, news by sally

‘The High Court has described how Birmingham City Council provided an “object lesson in how a public body should not respond to public law proceedings” in its mishandling of a housing judicial review.’

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Litigation Futures, 12th January 2021

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Ep 134: The Most Significant Cases Of 2020 – Law Pod UK

Posted January 12th, 2021 in news, podcasts by sally

‘In Episode 134, Emma-Louise Fenelon speaks to Jon Metzer and Michael Spencer about the most significant cases of a most bewildering year.’

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Law Pod UK, 11th January 2021

Source: audioboom.com

Supreme Court lowers the bar – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 12th, 2021 in class actions, compensation, competition, consumer credit, consumer protection, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘On 11 December, in a long-awaited judgment (and in perhaps unique circumstances), the Supreme Court dismissed Mastercard’s appeal in the “gargantuan” collective action brought by Walter Merricks CBE. In doing so, the court has markedly lowered the bar to be applied at the certification stage for competition collective actions. This judgment will have a significant impact on collective actions – which are still in their relative infancy – for years to come. Merricks’ claim will now return to the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), which will decide again (now with clear guidance from the Supreme Court) whether to certify the claim by granting a collective proceedings order (CPO).’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th January 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The Overseas Operations Bill ‘Does nothing to protect soldiers and breaches international law’ – Each Other

Posted January 12th, 2021 in armed forces, bills, international courts, international law, limitations, news, prosecutions, time limits, torture, war crimes by sally

‘A former senior legal officer for the British Army has spoken out against The Overseas Operations Bill currently on its way through parliament, saying it does nothing to protect soldiers and breaches international law.’

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Each Other, 12th January 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

David Feldman: Departing from Retained EU Case law – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted January 12th, 2021 in brexit, EC law, judiciary, news, practice directions, precedent, Supreme Court by sally

‘Following the end of the UK’s transition period for withdrawing from the EU, the status of earlier case law on retained EU law is somewhat complicated. Section 6(3) and (4)(a) and (b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended by the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020, provides that the Supreme Court and in criminal matters the High Court of Justiciary are not to be bound by any retained EU case law, but other courts and tribunals are to determine issues of retained EU law in accordance with retained EU case law. In relation to certain aspects of competition law, section 60A(7) of the Competition Act 1998, inserted by reg. 23 of the Competition (Amendments etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, SI 93 of 2019, provides that any court or tribunal, the Competition and Markets Authority, and anyone acting on behalf of the Authority, may depart from retained EU case law. In addition, section 6(5A) of the 2018 Act allows regulations to be made to designate other courts and tribunals as “relevant courts” or “relevant tribunals” which, by virtue of section 6(4)(ba), are not to be bound by retained EU case law to the extent specified in the regulations.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 11th January 2021

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

High Court judge dismisses challenge over lack of public consultation on NHS hospital reconfiguration in Hertfordshire – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 12th, 2021 in consultations, hospitals, judicial review, news, statutory duty by sally

‘A High Court judge has dismissed a judicial review challenge over the reorganisation of hospital provision in Hertfordshire.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th January 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Errol Graham: Starved man’s family take benefits case to court – BBC News

Posted January 12th, 2021 in benefits, equality, government departments, human rights, inquests, judicial review, mental health, ministers' powers and duties, news by sally

‘The family of a mentally ill man who starved to death after his benefits were stopped will take on the government at the High Court later.’

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BBC News, 12th January 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Reading attacker Khairi Saadallah given whole-life prison sentence – The Guardian

Posted January 12th, 2021 in attempted murder, guilty pleas, murder, news, sentencing, terrorism by sally

‘A man who murdered three men in 10 seconds on a summer evening in a Reading park, has been sentenced to die in prison after a judge determined it was a jihadist attack.’

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The Guardian, 11th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com