Unhappy couples rushing to divorce lawyers ahead of legal aid cuts – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in divorce, legal aid, news by sally

“Unhappy couples have been rushing to file for divorce before legal funding is cut next week, law firms claim.”

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Daily Telegraph, 30th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Hillsborough families have to wait two more years for investigations to be concluded – The Independent

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in complaints, delay, families, health & safety, inquiries, news, police, sport by sally

“Anger over delays that will see bereaved families have to wait more than two years for investigations into Hillsborough to be concluded have prompted campaigners to abandon a meeting with the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) planned this week.”

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The Independent, 31st March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Our justice system is being turned into Profit & Growth plc – The Guardian

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in criminal justice, legal profession, news, quality assurance, tenders by sally

“Under Chris Grayling’s plans, lawyers will become unit-shifters employed by large corporations.”

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The Guardian, 1st April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

£400,000 for teacher hurt in filing cabinet – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in accidents, compensation, news, personal injuries, teachers by sally

“The payout was the largest given to teachers last year. It was secured by the Nation Union of Teachers after the employee, from the South West, was left with chronic pain and forced to quit his job.”

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Daily Telegraph, 29th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

You are not Rumpole of the Bailey: As more people represent themselves in court, the Bar Council has issued some pressing advice – The Independent

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in litigants in person, news by sally

“People who are forced to represent themselves in court as legal aid budgets are cut should not attempt to imitate the fast-talking lawyers they see on television, according to a new ‘idiot’s guide’.”

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The Independent, 1st April 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

University of Sussex protesters to be evicted – BBC News

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in demonstrations, news, repossession, universities by sally

“The High Court has ruled that protesters should be evicted from part of the University of Sussex.”

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BBC News, 29th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Met Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe calls for tougher action on drivers who use their mobile phone at the wheel – The Independent

“Britain’s most senior police officer has backed higher penalties for drivers who use their mobile phone at the wheel.”

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The Independent, 29th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Andrew Mitchell issues libel writ against Sun over ‘plebgate’ – The Guardian

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in complaints, defamation, media, news, police by sally

“Former cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell is taking legal action against the Sun over its reporting of his verbal altercation with police officers in Downing Street.”

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The Guardian, 29th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Barnsley curfew for under-16s is discriminatory, say campaigners – The Guardian

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in age discrimination, human rights, lobbying, news, time limits, young persons by sally

“Civil rights campaigners have condemned a council curfew banning all unaccompanied young people from a town centre at night as unlawful.”

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The Guardian, 30th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rise in teachers’ injury payouts – The Guardian

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in accidents, assault, compensation, news, personal injuries, teachers by sally

“Teachers won record amounts of compensation last year after suffering accidents, injuries or assaults at school, figures show.”

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The Guardian, 29th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Kevin Lane could face full appeal hearing – The Guardian

“Kevin Lane was jailed for life for the 1994 murder of Robert Magill, and given a tariff of eighteen years. As his daily updated website indicates, he has now completed that tariff plus 46 days. However, he has not yet been released because he continues to protest his innocence.”

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The Guardian, 26th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Chetham’s music teacher Michael Brewer jailed for sexually abusing pupil – The Guardian

Posted March 26th, 2013 in news, sentencing, sexual offences, teachers by sally

“A music teacher at one of the UK’s most prestigious music schools has been jailed for six years after being found guilty of sexually abusing a pupil.”

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The Guardian, 26th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The Government’s response to Lord Carlile’s report on the Edlington case – Department for Education

Posted March 26th, 2013 in child abuse, child neglect, children, news, reports, social services by sally

“In March 2012 the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education, asked Lord Carlile to conduct an independent review of the case of the ‘J’ children in Edlington. The ‘J’ children had committed a very serious assault on two young victims in April 2009, having assaulted another young victim the previous weekend.”

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Department for Education, March 2013

Source: www.education.gov.uk

The Legal Ombudsman Scheme: how it works and how firms can challenge it – 4 New Square

Posted March 26th, 2013 in appeals, complaints, law firms, legal ombudsman, news by sally

“The Legal Ombudsman (‘LeO’) publishes brief summaries of its decisions on its website. Where awards have been made against lawyers to date the amounts have usually been very modest: hundreds rather than thousands of pounds. There has not been much for lawyers or their insurers to worry about. But things could be about to change.”

Full story (PDF)

4 New Square, 21st March 2013

Source: www.4newsquare.com

Assessment Notices under the Data Protection Act 1998 – Extension of the Information Commissioner’s Powers – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 26th, 2013 in consultations, data protection, health, hospitals, news by sally

“This consultation paper sets out our proposal to extend the powers of the Information Commissioner to carry out compulsory assessments of NHS bodies’ compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and its data protection principles. It seeks views from NHS data controllers across the United Kingdom. The proposals are informed by the Information Commissioner’s experience working with NHS bodies to improve their compliance with data protection law.”

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Ministry of Justice, 25th March 2013

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted March 26th, 2013 in law reports by sally

The Regional Strategy for the North East (Revocation) Order 2013

The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations 2013

The Automatic Enrolment (Earnings Trigger and Qualifying Earnings Band) Order 2013

The Free School Lunches and Milk (Universal Credit) (England) Order 2013

The Housing (Right to Buy) (Limit on Discount) (England) Order 2013

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 (Commencement No. 5, Transitional, Savings and Transitory Provisions) Order 2013

The Children, Schools and Families Act 2010 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2013

The Trusts (Capital and Income) Act 2013 (Commencement No.1) Order 2013

The National Health Service Trusts (Trust Funds: Appointment of Trustees) (Amendment) Order 2013

The Local Transport Act 2008 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2013

The Rookery South (Resource Recovery Facility) Order 2011

The Public Bodies (Abolition of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Arbitration Tribunal) Order 2013

The Public Bodies (Abolition of British Shipbuilders) Order 2013

The Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2013

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Cold-calling prosecutions planned – Law Society’s Gazette

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is ready to prosecute up to a dozen more companies who carry out cold-calling and send spam text messages.

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Law Society’s Gazette, 22nd March 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted March 26th, 2013 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Mahmood v R [2013] EWCA Crim 325 (22 March 2013)

Love & Anor, R. v [2013] EWCA Crim 257 (13 February 2013)

Jackson v R. [2013] EWCA Crim 163 (28 February 2013)

Applied Language Solutions Ltd, R v [2013] EWCA Crim 326 (25 March 2013)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Braganza v BP Shipping Ltd & Ors [2013] EWCA Civ 230 (22 March 2013)

ACE European Group Ltd & Ors v Chartis Insurance UK Ltd [2013] EWCA Civ 224 (22 March 2013)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Cockbill v Riley [2013] EWHC 656 (QB) (22 March 2013)

Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust v Acres [2013] EWHC 652 (QB) (22 March 2013)

Gaskin v Norwich City Council & Ors [2013] EWHC 623 (QB) (22 March 2013)

Norbrook Laboratories Ltd & Anor v Carr [2013] EWHC 476 (QB) (22 March 2013)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Mengiste & Anor v Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray & Ors [2013] EWHC 598 (Ch) (22 March 2013)

Turner v Phythian & Anor [2013] EWHC 499 (Ch) (15 March 2013)

Mengiste & Anor v Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray & Ors [2013] EWHC 599 (Ch) (22 March 2013)

Magical Marking Ltd & Anor v Ware & Kay LLP & Anor [2013] EWHC 636 (Ch) (20 March 2013)

High Court (Family Division)

S (A Child), Re [2013] EWHC 647 (Fam) (25 March 2013)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Wainhomes (South West) Holdings Ltd v The Secretary of State for Communities And Local Government [2013] EWHC 597 (Admin) (25 March 2013)

Core Issues Trust v Transport for London [2013] EWHC 651 (Admin) (22 March 2013)

Bauer & Ors v The Director of Public Prosecutions [2013] EWHC 634 (Admin) (22 March 2013)

London Borough of Islington v The Unite Group Plc [2013] EWHC 508 (Admin) (22 March 2013)

Source: www.bailii.org

Interpreter company wins costs order appeal – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 26th, 2013 in appeals, costs, interpreters, news, third parties by sally

“The company contracted by the Ministry of Justice to provide court interpreters has won an appeal against a decision to award a third-party costs order after a sentencing hearing was adjourned due an interpreter’s non-appearance.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 26th March 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Charges under Reg 8 EIR: a Power Cut for Public Authorities – Panopticon

Posted March 26th, 2013 in local government, news, regulations, tribunals by sally

“In Kirklees Council v IC & Pali Ltd [2011] UKUT 104 (AAC) the Upper Tribunal held, in the context of property search information, that reg 8(2) EIR precluded an authority from charging for allowing applicants to inspect information in situ and that a charge was only permissible if copy documents were provided to the applicant or the information was accessed other than by means of in situ inspection. The First-tier Tribunal has revisited the application of the charging rule in reg 8 EIR, again in the context of property search information, in Leeds City Council v IC & APPS Claimants (EA/2012/0020-21) (judgment of 22 March 2013).”

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Panopticon, 23rd March 2013

Source: www.panopticonblog.com