Curtains for the French Blocking Statute? – Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

Posted November 5th, 2013 in appeals, competition, disclosure, foreign jurisdictions, news by sally

“Never the most celebrated actor on the stage of English litigation, the French Blocking Statute nonetheless has its fans, particularly among competition lawyers. The recent decision of the Court of Appeal in Secretary of State for Health v Servier Laboratories [2013] EWCA Civ 1234, however, may prove the Statute’s final curtain call in this jurisdiction.”

Full story

Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers,

Source: www.competitionbulletin.com

Cookie-replacement tracking technology would be subject to same ‘cookie law’ rules, says ICO – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 5th, 2013 in advertising, consent, data protection, internet, news, privacy by sally

“Businesses that track internet users’ behaviour in order to serve them with personalised content, such as adverts, using technology that will replace ‘cookies’ will still be subject to UK privacy laws, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 4th November 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Security pair jailed for Birmingham Airport smuggling – BBC News

Posted November 5th, 2013 in airports, conspiracy, fraud, gangs, immigration, news, sentencing by sally

“Two security workers have been jailed for helping to smuggle illegal immigrants through Birmingham Airport.”

Full story

BBC News, 4th November 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lord Falconer’s right-to-die bill a ‘blank cheque’ for suicide, says Baroness Butler-Sloss – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 5th, 2013 in bills, euthanasia, news, suicide by sally

“Peers led by Baroness Butler-Sloss say Lord Falconer’s Assisted Dying Bill would be a ‘blank cheque’ for euthanasia and threaten basic public safety.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 5th November 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Kurt Delves jailed for killing crying baby daughter – BBC News

Posted November 5th, 2013 in children, homicide, news, sentencing by sally

“A man has been jailed for shaking his 10 week-old daughter to death because she would not stop crying.”

Full story

BBC News, 4th November 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Downton Abbey rape scene will not face investigation despite complaints – The Guardian

Posted November 5th, 2013 in complaints, media, news, rape by sally

“The controversial rape scene in ITV drama Downton Abbey will not be investigated by media regulator Ofcom despite more than 400 complaints from viewers.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th November 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lt Col Mark Smyth jailed for indecent pictures at beach – BBC News

“A high-ranking army officer has been jailed for taking pictures of children as they changed on a Pembrokeshire beach.”

Full story

BBC News, 4th November 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Banker labelled ‘crazy miss cokehead’ wins harassment claim – Daily Telegraph

“A Cambridge graduate and high flying banker could claim millions in compensation from the Russian bank she worked at after a tribunal found she was subjected to sexual harassment by her male colleagues.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 5th November 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Conman John Bush jailed for sex with abducted 14-year-old girl – The Independent

Posted November 5th, 2013 in child abduction, news, sentencing, sexual offences, suspended sentences by sally

“A serial fraudster who went on the run for five days with a 14-year-old girl has been jailed for six years.”

Full story

The Independent, 5th November 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Crime victims should have better support, says new top prosecutor – The Guardian

Posted November 5th, 2013 in criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, news, victims by sally

“Victims will be provided with better explanations of how their cases are being handled in order to boost public confidence in the criminal justice system, the new director of public prosecutions (DPP) has pledged.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th November 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

East Europeans jailed for fraud over £750,000 ‘benefit tourists’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 5th, 2013 in benefits, conspiracy, fraud, news, sentencing, social services by sally

“Three Eastern Europeans who flew friends and family into Britain and claimed £750,000 in tax credits have been jailed for a total of 12 years.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 4th November 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted November 4th, 2013 in law reports by sally

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Rufus v Elliott [2013] EWHC 3355 (QB) (01 November 2013)

High Court (Chancery Division)

J.W. Spear & Sons Ltd Mattel, Inc & Anor v Zynga Inc [2013] EWHC 3348 (Ch) (01 November 2013)

Straw & Anor v Jennings & Ors [2013] EWHC 3290 (Ch) (01 November 2013)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Sky Blue Sports & Leisure Ltd & Ors v Coventry City Council & Ors [2013] EWHC 3366 (Admin) (01 November 2013)

Fletcher v Leicestershire Constabulary [2013] EWHC 3357 (Admin) (01 November 2013)

Castletown Estates Ltd & Anor v Welsh Ministers [2013] EWHC 3293 (Admin) (01 November 2013)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Vitol Bahrain EC v Nasdec General Trading Llc & Ors [2013] EWHC 3359 (Comm) (01 November 2013)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Squibb Group Ltd v London Pleasure Gardens Ltd & Anor [2013] EWHC 3275 (TCC) (01 November 2013)

Source: www.bailii.org

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted November 4th, 2013 in legislation by sally

The Unauthorised Unit Trusts (Tax) Regulations 2013

The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2013

The Public Service Pensions Act 2013 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013

The Hackney (Electoral Changes) Order 2013

The Arun (Electoral Changes) Order 2013

The Rushcliffe (Electoral Changes) Order 2013

The Criminal Defence Service (Very High Cost Cases) (Funding) Order 2013

The Criminal Legal Aid (Determinations by a Court and Choice of Representative) (Amendment) Regulations 2013

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Views sought on guideline hourly rates – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted November 4th, 2013 in consultations, law firms, news, remuneration by sally

“The Costs Committee of the Civil Justice Council (CJC) has issued a call for evidence to assist it in making recommendations for Guideline Hourly Rates (GHR) for 2014.”

Full story

Judiciary of England and Wales, 1st November 2013

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Attorney General urges barristers to think again over QASA boycott and returning legal aid briefs – Legal Futures

Posted November 4th, 2013 in advocacy, barristers, news, quality assurance by sally

“The Attorney General has urged barristers not to boycott the controversial Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA), and warned that if they refuse instructions they have already accepted in protest at the new legal aid rates, the government may ‘look elsewhere’.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 4th November 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Major shake up to prisoner incentives – Ministry of Justice

Posted November 4th, 2013 in disciplinary procedures, news, prisons, rehabilitation by sally

“Significant reforms to the Incentive and Earned Privileges (IEP) policy across prisons in England and Wales have been brought into force today.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 1st November 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Legislation strengthens independent oversight of undercover police operations – Home Office

Posted November 4th, 2013 in investigatory powers, news, police, professional conduct by sally

“Policing Minister announces the government’s intention to increase the independent supervision of undercover operations.”

Full story

Home Office, 31st October 2012

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Education and training: learning curve – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 4th, 2013 in legal education, news, solicitors by sally

“The profession’s regulators face complex and overlapping challenges in creating a legal education system which shifts the focus from the ‘journey’ to the point of qualification.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 4th November 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Anything Goes? – Criminal Law and Justice Weekly

Posted November 4th, 2013 in enforcement notices, guilty pleas, judicial review, magistrates, news, planning by sally

“Has Rahmdezfouli stemmed the march against formalism, asks Dan Bunting.”

Full story

Criminal Law and Justice Weekly, 2nd November 2013

Source: www.criminallawandjustice.co.uk

Government launches probe into maternity discrimination at work after surge in complaints – The Independent

Posted November 4th, 2013 in news, pregnancy, sex discrimination, unfair dismissal by sally

“The Government has launched a £1m investigation into the discrimination faced by women in pregnancy and its impact on families and the economy.”

Full story

The Independent, 4th November 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk