Windrush scandal: only 60 victims given compensation so far – The Guardian

‘Only 60 people have received Windrush compensation payments during the first year of the scheme’s operation, with just £360,000 distributed from a fund officials expected might be required to pay out between £200m and £500m.’

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The Guardian, 28th May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tim Cochrane: The Impact of the CLOUD Act Regime on the UK’s Death Penalty Assurances Policy – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘This post discusses the impact of the new CLOUD Act international data sharing regime on the UK’s death penalty assurances policy. This regime—named after its enabling US legislation, the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act—is due to come into force in July 2020 following the signing of a bilateral US–UK agreement in October 2019 (US-UK Agreement). It provides a quicker alternative for law enforcement seeking access to electronic data overseas, beyond the existing mutual legal assistance (MLA) process, which operates through MLA treaties (MLATs) and other mechanisms. However, while the CLOUD Act regime has an admirable aim, its implementation weakens the UK’s existing death penalty assurances policy and thus risks exposing the UK and others to significant liability, as discussed below.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 1st June 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Covid causes child detention crisis, and a ‘timebomb’ in adult prisons – The Guardian

‘Serious concerns are emerging over the treatment of children in custody during the coronavirus pandemic, after evidence that some have been spending as little as 40 minutes a day out of their cell.’

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The Guardian, 31st May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (‘SEISS’)- Old Square Chambers

‘With the scheme going live on 13 May 2020, Giles Powell and Conor Kennedy consider the SEISS and its effects.’

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Old Square Chambers, 12th May 2020

Source: www.oldsquare.co.uk

C-19 damage: does international law hold any answers? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted June 1st, 2020 in China, coronavirus, damages, human rights, international law, news by sally

‘What is international law for, if it cannot be enforced against the country responsible for breach? That is the question raised by a recent report documenting a series of steps by the Chinese Communist party to conceal from the World Health Organisation and the rest of the world the outbreak and human-to-human transmission of coronavirus. If we want a rules-based international order to mean anything, the authors of the report point out, it must be upheld.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 1st June 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Roberts Case Summary – No. 5 Chambers

‘The name of this case may seem familiar; perhaps too familiar given the time it usually takes for matters to proceed through our court system. However, you’d be right. This is the third preliminary issue in the matter of Harry Roberts (a minor and a protected party by his mother and litigation friend Mrs Lauren Roberts) v Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (1), Ministry of Defence (2) and Allegemeines Krankenhaus Viersen GMBH (3) [2020] EWHC 994 (QB) to be determined by the High Court and the second in less than twelve months.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 18th May 2020

Source: www.no5.com

Solicitor and firm sanctioned over property work – Legal Futures

‘A law firm earned some £800,000 in fees on three failed property development schemes as well as ‘quick sale’ conveyancing where it acted for both sides, a tribunal has heard.’

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Legal Futures, 1st June 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The Implied Term of Trust and Confidence and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: a Reply – Old Square Chambers

‘On 14 April 2020, our colleague Stuart Brittenden published an article arguing that the implied term of mutual trust and confidence (“the implied term”) requires employers to make use of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“CJRS”) for agency workers, zero-hour contract workers, and employees, generally.’

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Old Square Chambers, 19th May 2020

Source: www.oldsquare.co.uk

Equal Pay Act: Why Are Women And Minorities Still Paid Unfairly 50 Years On? – Each Other

‘“Whether it’s being denied flexible working and having to work fewer hours as a result, or finding out you’re paid £3,000 less than a white man with the same job title and fewer responsibilities; it’s always crushing being treated worse than your peers.”

Those are the words of Sophia Moreau, who has experienced unequal pay repeatedly throughout her late teens and early 20s. The journalist and campaigner said that she has come to a “sad realisation” that, as a black woman, she cannot expect fair treatment.’

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Each Other, 29th May 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Time Limits for Tender Challenges: test for extending time to bring a public procurement challenge – Henderson Chambers

‘In Riverside Truck Rental Ltd-v-Lancashire County Council [2020] EWHC 1018 (TCC) the High Court confirmed the strict application of the rules governing the time limits for bringing a claim for breach of the EU Public Procurement regime, whether it be in the High Court (TCC) by way of a claim under the regulation 91 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, or in the Administrative Court by way of a claim for judicial review.’

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Henderson Chambers, 14th May 2020

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Prison release schemes almost impossible to deliver, says watchdog – The Guardian

‘Prisoners in England and Wales have been left confused by high-profile government announcements that led them to believe thousands of inmates would be temporarily released to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus behind bars, a prison deaths watchdog has said.’

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The Guardian, 31st May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coronavirus: Death of Belly Mujinga ‘not linked to spit attack’ – BBC News

Posted June 1st, 2020 in assault, coronavirus, news, unlawful killing by sally

‘The death of a railway worker who was spat at by a man claiming to have coronavirus was not linked to the attack, police have concluded.’

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BBC News, 29th May 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Coronavirus: Trial backlog ‘adding to risk of mob justice’ – BBC News

Posted June 1st, 2020 in coronavirus, courts, criminal justice, delay, legal aid, news, public order by sally

‘ “Mob justice” could increase in England and Walesunless more money is made available to clear the backlog of court cases swollen by coronavirus, the government has been warned.’

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BBC News, 29th May 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The power to make a Public Path Diversion Order – No. 5 Chambers

Posted June 1st, 2020 in chambers articles, footpaths, local government, news by sally

‘The recent decision of the High Court (Lieven J.) in The Open Spaces Society v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [2020] EWHC 1085 (Admin) “the OSS case”) considered the relevant considerations to be taken into account by a council when determining whether to exercise the power to make a Public Path Diversion Order (PPO) pursuant to section 119 of the Highways Act 1980 (as amended). The decision raises points for councils, vendors, purchasers and owners of adjacent land.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 19th May 2020

Source: www.no5.com

A dog’s breakfast; defective trust instruments rescued – Bowack v Saxton [2020] EWHC 1049 (Ch) – New Square Chambers

Posted June 1st, 2020 in chambers articles, documents, news, trusts by sally

‘In 2013 the Claimants paid £750,000 to establish two discretionary trusts containing AXA offshore bonds in the Isle of Man. In a meeting with a financial planner from Hargreaves Lansdown, they both executed standard form declarations of trust intended to appoint themselves and their daughter as trustees, and their daughter as principal beneficiary.’

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New Square Chambers, 26th May 2020

Source: www.newsquarechambers.co.uk

Privacy group prepares legal challenge to NHS test-and-trace scheme – The Guardian

‘Privacy campaigners are preparing a legal challenge to the NHS’s coronavirus test-and-trace programme as concerns grow about the amount of contact data that will be collected and retained by government.’

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The Guardian, 31st May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Residential property – the complications of renting to a healthcare company to enable care of an individual – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted May 29th, 2020 in agreements, care homes, landlord & tenant, news by sally

‘A healthcare company intends to rent a residential property for permitted officers or employees to occupy, on a weekly rota basis. However, an individual who is neither an officer nor an employee of the company (but is a person who will be cared for by the officers or employees) will live at the property, together with the officers or employees who are “on duty”. What will be the status of the individual occupier and the employees or officers if the (non-AST) tenancy agreement is terminated?’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 29th May 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Travel and Holiday Claims amid a Global Lockdown – Henderson Chambers

Posted May 29th, 2020 in airlines, contracts, coronavirus, EC law, holidays, hotels, news, regulations, transport by sally

‘The world-wide lockdown in response to the Covid-19 pandemic will have an unprecedented financial impact, not only on businesses in all areas of the economy but also on consumers. Public gatherings are banned or strictly limited and events have been cancelled or postponed. Future travel plans remain uncertain, with the borders of many other countries remaining closed to travellers from the UK and strict 14-day quarantine measures set to be imposed on those entering the UK from the end of May. Many companies are refusing or delaying offering refunds to affected consumers, who may have to resort to litigation to protect their rights. This alerter provides a broad overview of several affected areas, including package holidays, travel, holiday accommodation and events.’

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Henderson Chambers, 19th May 2020

Source: www.hendersonchambers.co.uk

“But I’ll Lose My Job!” New Guidelines to Provide Clarity on What Amounts to ‘Exceptional Hardship’ in Totting Up Disqualification Cases – KCH Garden Sq

Posted May 29th, 2020 in disqualification, news, road traffic offences, sentencing by sally

‘From 22nd January 2020 through to 15th April 2020, the Sentencing Council ran a public consultation on the proposed changes to sentencing guidelines for driving offences disqualifications, breach of community orders and clarifications to some explanatory materials.’

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KCH Garden Sq, 11th May 2020

Source: kchgardensquare.co.uk

School fees in times of Covid: Tips for schools and parents – Monckton Chambers

Posted May 29th, 2020 in contracts, coronavirus, education, fees, news, school children by sally

‘The lockdown has posed inordinate challenges for education – with schools and universities adjusting to remote learning on extremely short notice. For private schools and universities, there have been tough choices between furloughing staff, deciding which lessons and courses to continue and justifying the level of fees, when many parents are in financial difficulty themselves. Boarding schools and universities have additional problems as they have a high level of sunk costs in infrastructure for overseas students that, at present, are not allowed to travel.’

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Monckton Chambers, 19th May 2020

Source: www.monckton.com