Victims’ law call amid falling confidence in criminal justice – BBC News

Posted February 24th, 2021 in codes of practice, criminal justice, Ministry of Justice, news, victims by sally

‘The victims’ commissioner for England and Wales has called for a law to ensure people affected by crime are treated properly as they wait for justice.’

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BBC News, 24th February 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ex-MP cleared of sexual harassment after complainant’s appeal dismissed – The Guardian

‘A former MP has been cleared of sexual harassment alleged to have taken place several years ago in a House of Commons bar, in the first ruling by a new body set up to investigate potential misbehaviour by parliamentarians.’

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The Guardian, 23rd February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court strikes out bid by councils to rescind loans from Barclays following ‘LIBOR’ rigging affair – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 24th, 2021 in banking, damages, fraud, loans, local government, misrepresentation, news, striking out by sally

‘A High Court judge has struck out claims brought by seven councils and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority for rescission of certain loans with Barclays which they said were affected by the LIBOR rigging affair of 2012.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 23rd February 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Covid: Scarborough woman jailed for coughing at police – BBC News

‘A woman who deliberately coughed at police investigating a breach of coronavirus restrictions has been jailed for four months.’

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BBC News, 23rd February 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Council misapplied its Allocation Scheme by treating a “preference” given to families with children as an automatic decision in their favour – Garden Court Chambers

Posted February 19th, 2021 in chambers articles, children, families, housing, judicial review, local government, news by sally

‘The Claimant lived with her three adult children, one of whom (Zakiya) had cerebral palsy and learning difficulties. Due to her disabilities, Zakiya needed to live in a property with various adaptations, including a level-access shower, access to stairs with bilateral handrails, and (preferably) a downstairs toilet.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 17th February 2021

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Committal for contempt: CPR Part 81 and recent cases – Guildhall Chambers

Posted February 19th, 2021 in chambers articles, civil procedure rules, contempt of court, news by sally

‘As Foxton J observed in Integral Petroleum SA v Petrogat FZE [2020] EWHC 558 (Comm) at [26], applications for committal for contempt of court have become an increasingly common feature of High Court litigation, particularly in the Business and Property Courts.’

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Guildhall Chambers, 12th February 2021

Source: www.guildhallchambers.co.uk

Contentious Wills & Probate Part III – Parklane Plowden Chambers

Posted February 19th, 2021 in chambers articles, forfeiture, news, probate, wills by sally

‘Last year there were two reported decisions in respect of the forfeiture rule. These are worth mention given the rarity of reported cases in this area.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 17th February 2021

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Environmental Law News Update – Six Pump Court

‘In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Charles Morgan, Noémi Byrd and Mark Davies consider a recent case involving the application of Energy National Policy Statements to nationally significant infrastructure projects, developments on legislation to curb sewage overflows and further delays for the Environment Bill.’

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Six Pump Court, 5th February 2021

Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk

Provision of support to trafficking victims following a negative conclusive grounds decision – Garden Court Chambers

‘In MN v SSHD [2020] EWCA Civ 1746 the Court of Appeal considered several linked cases brought by victims of trafficking who had received negative Conclusive Grounds decisions.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 17th February 2021

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Directors’ duties to disclose conflicts of interest: Fairford Water Ski Club v Cohoon & Craig Cohoon Watersports [2021] EWCA Civ 143 – Guildhall Chambers

‘On 9 February 2021, the Court of Appeal unanimously allowed Mr Cohoon and Craig Cohoon Watersports’ (“Watersports”) appeal against the decision of His Honour Judge Russen QC at first instance ([2020] EWHC 290 (Comm)).’

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Guildhall Chambers, 15th February 2021

Source: www.guildhallchambers.co.uk

Contentious Wills & Probate Case Law Roundup 2020: Part II – Parklane Plowden Chambers

Posted February 19th, 2021 in chambers articles, news, probate, wills by sally

‘Two validity cases in particular stood out last year and both turned on whether or not a testator suffered from “insane delusions” rendering their wills invalid. There are fewer reported cases giving guidance on this strand of the Banks v Goodfellow test (most cases I deal with revolve around old age psychiatry) so these recent cases are worth some scrutiny.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 12th February 2021

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Family Law Newsletter – Spire Barristers

‘Issue #43 of Spire Barristers’ Family Law Newsletter: edited by Connie Purdy and Taz Irshad; news and Case Reviews by Francesca Massarella. Francesca is due to begin pupillage at Spire Barristers in September 2021.’

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Spire Barristers, 16th February 2021

Source: spirebarristers.co.uk

Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Training – Pump Court Chambers

‘The Employment Appeal Tribunal has recently prescribed annual booster / refresher training for employers on Equality and Diversity in order to ensure that it is effective in eliminating harassment in the workplace.’

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Pump Court Chambers, 17th February 2021

Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com

Court refuses to approve tainted fiduciary decision making (Schumacher v Clarke) – New Square Chambers

Posted February 18th, 2021 in charities, conflict of interest, fiduciary duty, news, trusts, wills by sally

‘The court was faced with a category 2 and 3 Public Trustee v Cooper application principally for the approval of a momentous decision. The court was initially asked to approve the entirety of a settlement reached between four trustees split into two camps but later asked to approve only the dispositive elements of the settlement. The settlement unusually resolved disputes between the trustees rather than between trustees and beneficiaries or third parties. The court was concerned with mutual allegations of inappropriate action as fiduciaries and the failure of both sides to manage conflicts of interest in arriving at a settlement. After stressing that such factors could impair the decision reached and which the court was asked to approve, the court refused its approval of part of the settlement. Written by James Saunders, barrister, at New Square Chambers.’

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New Square Chambers, 11th February 2021

Source: www.newsquarechambers.co.uk

Free speech in Universities – Monckton Chambers

Posted February 18th, 2021 in chambers articles, compensation, freedom of expression, news, universities by sally

‘Free speech in Universities, or the lack thereof, is in the spotlight. On 16 February 2021, it is was reported in the mainstream media that the government is to bring forward legislation that will enable academics, students or visiting students who are “no-platformed” to sue universities for compensation where they feel they have suffered because their right to free speech has been curtailed. Apparently, the proposal is one of a number which will be put forward by the Secretary of State for Education, in order to protect free speech in universities in England. The Guardian reported that “the government wants to introduce a statutory tort for breaches of the free speech duty, which would enable academic staff or students who have been expelled, dismissed or demoted to seek redress through the courts.” The government is also proposing to appoint a “free speech champion”, who will be responsible for investigating potential infringements of free speech in the higher education sector.’

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Monckton Chambers, 17th February 2021

Source: www.monckton.com

Abuse of process? Res judicata and collateral attacks on prior decisions after Allsop v Banner Jones Ltd and another – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted February 18th, 2021 in abuse of process, chambers articles, negligence, news, res judicata, striking out by sally

‘In Allsop v Banner Jones Ltd and another, the Court of Appeal considered the application of Phosphate Sewage v Molleson to applications to strike out a claim on the basis of abuse of process. The decision is a detailed exploration of the scope of the doctrines of res judicata, collateral attacks of previous decision and abuse of process. As such it is valuable reading to litigators generally and particularly those in the field of professional negligence.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 12th February 2021

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Contentious Wills & Probate Case Law Roundup 2020: Part I – Parklane Plowden Chambers

Posted February 18th, 2021 in fees, financial provision, news, repossession, wills by sally

‘In Part I of our three-part series of key caselaw updates in contentious wills, Anna Metcalfe discusses the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 8th February 2021

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Breach of PSED in bringing possession proceedings cured by subsequent compliance – Garden Court Chambers

Posted February 18th, 2021 in disabled persons, equality, housing, local government, mental health, news, repossession by sally

‘Ms Taylor was the secure tenant of Slough Borough Council. She had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder in late 2011.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 17th February 2021

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

The modern family – the interpretation of children, spouses and civil partners in older trust deeds – Wilberforce Chambers

‘It has become cliché to say that modern familial arrangements are vastly different now to how they were 50 years ago, but that does not make it any less true. In 2019, almost half of all births were outside of a marriage or civil-partnership, and 3,440 children were adopted from local authority care. With the passage of the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act 2013, and the Civil Partnership (Opposite Sex Couples) Regulations 2019, the range of relationships that can be legally recognised, and the form that this recognition takes are also very different. Given the age of many settlements, traditional definitions of “children” or “spouse” can cause real difficulties.’

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Wilberforce Chambers, 17th February 2021

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk

Okpabi & others v Royal Dutch Shell Plc and another – Blackstone Chambers

‘The Supreme Court has given judgment in a high-profile appeal which raises important issues regarding the proper approach to jurisdictional challenges and the potential liability of parent companies in respect of damage caused by their subsidiaries.’

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Blackstone Chambers, 12th February 2021

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com