Child sex abuser given ‘preferential treatment’, says damning report – The Guardian

‘A top civil servant and a senior member of the royal household have both been criticised in an official report examining attempts by a victim of child sex abuse to have his abuser stripped of an honour.’

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The Guardian, 14th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Short lets and breach of lease – Nearly Legal

Posted March 16th, 2020 in holidays, housing, leases, news, tribunals by sally

‘A couple of First Tier Tribunal decisions to add to the growing pile of findings that short let use is in breach of lease.’

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Nearly Legal, 14th March 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

HMCTS issues guidance for courts and tribunals users during coronavirus outbreak – Local Government Lawyer

‘HM Courts and Tribunals Service has today (13 March) issued guidance for all court and tribunal users during the coronavirus outbreak.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Dishonesty “doesn’t need to persist” to be fundamental – Litigation Futures

‘A recorder was wrong to find that a personal injury claimant was not fundamentally dishonest because he did not persist with his dishonesty, the High Court has decided.’

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Litigation Futures, 16th March 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Coronavirus/COVID-19 – the impact on contracts – Technology Law Update

Posted March 16th, 2020 in contracts, coronavirus, health, insurance, news by sally

‘The COVID-19 outbreak is now causing widespread disruption in many countries, with increasing impact on supply chains and transport. What can you do if you or your counterparties are prevented from normal contractual performance by the disease?’

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Technology Law Update, 13th March 2020

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

Equality watchdog demands suspension of use of automated facial recognition and predictive algorithms in policing – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has called for the suspension of the use of automated facial recognition (AFR) and predictive algorithms in policing in England and Wales, “until their impact has been independently scrutinised and laws are improved”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Grenfell Inquiry: Aesthetics v safety v money – BBC News

‘Grenfell was the worst residential fire in UK peacetime history, with 72 people losing their lives. We now know what happened – the report on phase one of the public inquiry has been published – but the next phase is spending months investigating why it happened, and considering who might be to blame.’

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BBC News, 13th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

CPS failed to tell inspectors of internal review revealing rape case failings – The Guardian

‘The Crown Prosecution Service conducted a secret internal review that exposed its failings in rape cases – but failed to share it with inspectors who were conducting an official inquiry for a major government investigation into rape, the Guardian can reveal.’

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The Guardian, 15th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Councils and Electoral Commission welcome government decision to put May 2020 elections back by one year – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 16th, 2020 in delay, elections, health & safety, local government, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The government has decided to postpone the 7 May 2020 local and mayoral elections in England for one year.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Commercial Court ends “ready approval” of long witness statements – Litigation Futures

Posted March 16th, 2020 in Commercial Court, evidence, limitations, news, witnesses by sally

‘The current Commercial Court practice of readily granting applications seeking an extension of the 30-page limit for witness statements is to end, the judge in charge has said.’

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Litigation Futures, 12th March 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

SRA: “Solicitors conceal disability for fear of harming careers” – Legal Futures

‘Many disabled solicitors have downplayed the extent of their disability because they do not trust law firms to meet their needs, research has revealed.’

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Legal Futures, 16th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

New bill aims to protect UK shop workers from soaring abuse – The Guardian

Posted March 16th, 2020 in bills, news, police, sale of goods, statistics, threatening behaviour, violence by sally

‘Shop workers across the UK will be better protected from soaring levels of violence, verbal and physical abuse under proposed legislation to be put before the House of Commons.’

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The Guardian, 16th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judicial review: ‘Snarling’ not the way to get reform, says former top judge – BBC News

Posted March 16th, 2020 in brexit, judges, judicial review, news, parliament, prorogation by sally

‘”Shouting and snarling” is not the way to get judges to accept curbs to their powers, a former top judge has warned.’

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BBC News, 13th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Assisted dying law ‘lacks compassion’, Lord Falconer says – BBC News

Posted March 16th, 2020 in assisted suicide, news, suicide by sally

‘A terminally ill man who campaigned to change the law on assisted dying has won the support of the former head of the judiciary.’

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BBC News, 16th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Parties praised after first trial in capped costs pilot – Litigation Futures

Posted March 4th, 2020 in costs, leases, local government, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘The first case under the capped costs pilot reached trial last week, with the judge commending the parties for their “significant degree of collaboration” to make it work.’

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Litigation Futures, 2nd March 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

When the end is not the end…. Until clean break us do part – 5 SAH

Posted March 4th, 2020 in chambers articles, children, divorce, families, financial provision, news by sally

‘There are commonly two forms of maintenance obligations in a financial order – maintenance for the Wife (so called “periodical payments” or “pps”) and payments for the benefit of a child/ children. The order will prescribe the date for the first payment, the rates of pps and the date for termination of those pps. Termination of pps are commonly the first to occur of:

– the death of either party
– the receiving party’s remarriage
– the youngest child completing secondary education or attaining 18 years of age, whichever is the later or
– Further order of the court.’

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5 SAH, 26th February 2020

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

CA declares Heathrow expansion decision unlawful on climate change grounds – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 4th, 2020 in airports, appeals, climate change, environmental protection, news, planning by sally

‘Airport expansion has taken a long and winding road, not least at Heathrow. But the proponents of the 3rd runway at Heathrow would have been heartened by the Secretary of State’s decision in June 2018 to set out a policy which preferred Heathrow over Gatwick and which was designed to steer planning processes thereafter in support of the new runway.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 27th February 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Early advice enthusiast takes on legal aid brief at MoJ – Legal Futures

Posted March 4th, 2020 in barristers, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news, select committees by sally

‘A criminal law barrister who has called for the restoration of legal aid for early advice has become the new minister at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) responsible for legal aid.’

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Legal Futures, 4th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

HS2: Chris Packham launches legal challenge to rail link – BBC News

Posted March 4th, 2020 in budgets, climate change, delay, environmental protection, news, railways by sally

‘TV naturalist Chris Packham has launched a legal challenge to HS2 high-speed rail link.’

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BBC News, 3rd March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judge attacks S&G for “wholly unacceptable” failure – Legal Futures

A High Court judge has strongly criticised Slater & Gordon (S&G) for a “wholly unacceptable” failure to give him a crucial letter when applying for an urgent injunction in a police misconduct case.

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Legal Futures, 4th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk