Comedian Tom Binns given suspended sentence over child abuse images – The Guardian

‘A comedian who has appeared on Channel 4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown has been sentenced after being found with more than 35,000 indecent images of children.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 17th August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

MQM London member wins in Court of Appeal – EIN Blog

Posted August 18th, 2023 in appeals, asylum, government departments, immigration, news, Pakistan by sally

‘In a difficult case, Elisabeth Laing LJ allowed the appeal of “WAS” against the dismissal of his asylum claim by the Upper Tribunal owing to the fact that UTJ McWilliam “failed properly” to consider the factors relevant to WAS’s commitment to the notorious person of Altaf Hussain (founder of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement or “MQM”) and the effect on risk to him from the Pakistani authorities applying the historic judgment in HJ (Iran) v SSHD [2010] UKSC 31. The appeal was also allowed on the basis that the UT’s findings were contrary to the FTT’s preserved findings and contrary to the UT’s own conclusions. WAS entered the UK in June 2012 as student. In December 2015 he made an application for further leave to remain (as the spouse of a British citizen) which was refused in 2016. He then made a protection claim in October 2017 on the basis of his actual or perceived political opinion. He said that he was a member of the MQM, an opposition movement in Pakistan. The protection claim was refused in April 2018. The FTT dismissed his appeal in June 2018 and found that he was an active member of MQM in Pakistan for about 3 years from 2009 to 2012 and that his father is an active supporter of MQM. The FTT said that his credibility was damaged by the fact that he had not claimed asylum until October 2017 in circumstances where his political affiliations had not changed.’

Full Story

EIN Blog, 17th August 2023

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Judge criticises approach of firm acting on hundreds of mesh claims – Legal Futures

Posted August 18th, 2023 in compensation, costs, law firms, medical treatment, news, personal injuries by sally

‘A law firm acting for hundreds of women who claim to have been harmed by vaginal mesh implant surgery has had its costs slashed by an unimpressed judge.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 18th August 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Medical neglect by London NHS trust contributed to suicide of girl, 12, rules coroner – The Guardian

‘Medical neglect and “gross failures” by a mental health trust contributed to the suicide of a 12-year-old girl in a case that has highlighted national concerns about underfunding, a coroner has ruled.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 17th August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Alerter by Thomas Evans – Potential Group Action stayed for ADR – Henderson Chambers

‘The High Court has stayed a potential group action against University College London, which cancelled in-person teaching (due to industrial action and Covid-19) but without making any fee adjustments. Whilst the High Court did not require the parties to engage in any particular form of ADR, the stay was imposed in the context of the defendant’s proposal that the claimants should submit complaints to a statutory adjudication scheme. The stay was imposed against the wishes of the claimants, who – whilst expressing a willingness to engage in ADR – did not want to participate in the particular form of ADR proposed by the defendants.’

Full Story

Henderson Chambers, 27th July 2023

Source: www.hendersonchambers.co.uk

Fresh Inquest into Death by Suicide Following Cessation of Benefits is Granted – QMLR

‘This case concerned Ms Whiting, who had a history of spinal conditions, mental health problems, and suicidal ideation. In September 2016, Ms Whiting needed a reassessment for her ESA benefit allowance. She requested a home visit due to her mobility problems and anxiety. The DWP failed to action this, and required her to attend an appointment in person. Ms Whiting was unable to do so, at that time being housebound with pneumonia.’

Full Story

QMLR, 18th July 2023

Source: 1corqmlr.com

Met wins battle with NHS over not attending mental health calls – The Guardian

Posted August 18th, 2023 in London, mental health, news, police by sally

‘The Metropolitan police has won its battle to stop attending most of the mental health calls it receives after a tense behind-the-scenes row with the health service, the Guardian has learned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 17th August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Vulnerable children left in home with damp and mould after complaint handling failures by city council, Ombudsman finds – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Housing Ombudsman has found severe maladministration from Stoke-on-Trent City Council for a lack of stage one complaint response on two separate occasions, which left a resident and her two vulnerable children in a home with damp and mould.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 15th August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

McGaughey v USS Ltd – derivative actions against directors of a corporate pension trustee – Pensions Barrister

‘In McGaughey v USS Ltd [2023] EWCA Civ 873, two active members of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (the “USS”) applied for permission to continue a derivative action on behalf of the corporate trustee of the USS, Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited (“USSL”), against its current and former directors. USSL is a company limited by guarantee of which its directors were the members. By the derivative action, the two USS active members sought to cause USSL to sue the corporation’s directors for alleged breaches of the duties owed by the directors to USSL. The Court of Appeal refused to permit the claim to go forward.’

Full Story

Pensions Barrister, August 2023

Source: www.pensionsbarrister.com

‘Game, Set-Aside and Match’: Applications To Set Aside Default Judgment and the Decision in FXF v English Karate Federation Ltd – Ropewalk Chambers

‘On 26 July 2023, the Court of Appeal handed down its decision in the case of FXF v English Karate Federation Ltd [2023] EWCA Civ 891, regarding the correct approach to dealing with applications to set aside default judgments. Specifically, the court addressed the issue whether the well-trodden criteria from Denton v TH White Ltd [2014] 1 WLR 3926 regarding relief from sanctions should be applied in applications to set aside judgments in default.’

Full Story

Ropewalk Chambers, 28th July 2023

Source: ropewalk.co.uk

“Consent – does it matter?” – Karen Lennon and Oliver Latham discuss the decision of Knowles J in F v M and the approach to rape allegations in Family Law proceedings – Park Square Barristers

‘In March 2021, the Court of Appeal handed down its now oft cited decision in Re HN [2021] EWCA Civ 448. That case is famous amongst family lawyers as the architect of the modern approach to umbrella allegations of coercive and controlling behaviour. The focus of this article however is on sexual abuse allegations, in particular those of rape.’

Full Story

Park Square Barristers, 11th July 2023

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Campaigner given green light to appeal High Court ruling over Department for Transport guidance on tactile paving and kerb heights – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 17th, 2023 in appeals, consultations, disabled persons, dogs, footpaths, news, roads by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has granted a disability rights campaigner permission to appeal in her ongoing legal challenge against the Secretary of State for Transport regarding guidance on the use of tactile paving.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 15th August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Consultation on Permitted Development: Relaxing the Rules – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

‘On Monday 24 July 2023, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, announced new proposals from the Government to support housing development.’

Full Story

4-5 Gray's Inn Square, 27th July 2023

Source: www.4-5.co.uk

UK sustainability disclosure standards expected by July 2024 – OUT-LAW.com

‘New UK sustainability corporate disclosure standards are expected to be endorsed by the UK government by July 2024.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 16th August 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Anti-racist judges need to “speak out” and counsel must challenge bench – Legal Futures

Posted August 17th, 2023 in barristers, judiciary, news, racism by sally

‘Judges needed to “speak out” over racism in the judiciary and counsel should challenge the bench when they witness it, two leading barristers have argued.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 17th August 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘An activist blob’: Tory party attacks on lawyers – a timeline – The Guardian

‘Critical language used to blame lawyers for thwarting immigration policy dates back to Boris Johnson era.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 16th August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fordham’s Ten Principles of the Duty of Candour in Judicial Review – Essex CAJI

Posted August 17th, 2023 in disclosure, equality, judicial review, news, police, remuneration by sally

‘The duty of candour is the pre-eminent procedural duty that governs the evidence base in judicial reviews. It requires all parties to assist the court with full and accurate explanations of all the facts relevant to the issue under review. The duty of candour is a common law duty. It has been helpfully summarised in several guides, including the Treasury Solicitor Guidance on Discharging the Duty of Candour and Disclosure in Judicial Review Proceedings (2010), which acts as practical guidance to government departments and lawyers, and the Administrative Court Judicial Review Guide 2022. What will be required of parties to meet their duty of candour is highly context sensitive. Public law litigants must, at each stage of proceedings, be aware of the information and documents which might be relevant. In many judicial reviews, say those that involve a challenge to an administrative decision made against an individual claimant, for which there is a clear and concise paper trail, compliance with the duty of candour will usually be straightforward. Candid disclosure is, however, a thornier task in complex judicial reviews, such as policy or systemic challenges, where there might be extensive and sensitive documents to potentially consider, sometimes stretching across multiple government departments.’

Full Story

Essex CAJI, 16th August 2023

Source: essexcaji.org

One in four complaints to Legal Ombudsman outside new time limits – Legal Futures

‘More than a quarter (27%) of complaints made to the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) are outside the new time limits introduced at the beginning of April, it has emerged.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 16th August 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Statement of brave 13-year-old gets rapist more than 19 years in prison – BBC News

Posted August 16th, 2023 in child abuse, children, imprisonment, news, rape, sentencing, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘A man who subjected a young girl to a three-year “campaign of rape” has been jailed for over 19 years.’

Full Story

BBC News, 15th August 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police and CPS had key DNA evidence 16 years before Andrew Malkinson cleared of rape – The Guardian

‘Police and prosecutors in the Andrew Malkinson case knew there was another man’s DNA on the victim’s clothes in 2007 – three years after he was wrongly convicted of rape – but he remained in prison for another 13 years.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 15th August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com