Stalker jailed for manslaughter of former partner who killed herself – The Guardian

‘A man whose campaign of threats and harassment caused his former partner to kill herself has been jailed for manslaughter.’

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The Guardian, 28th July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Controlled drugs, religion and Article 9: Beneficent Spiritist Center União Do Vegetal – Law & Religion UK

Posted July 31st, 2017 in drug offences, human rights, licensing, news, treaties by sally

‘The Beneficent Spiritist Center União do Vegetal is a religion with Christian and reincarnationist foundations; its declared objective to contribute to the spiritual development of the human being and the improvement of his or her intellectual qualities and moral virtues, without distinction of race, sex, creed, social class or nationality. In its rituals it uses hoasca tea (also known as ayahuasca). The tea is prepared from two Amazonian plants: the Mariri vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) and the leaves of the Chacrona bush (Psicotria viridis). In the União do Vegetal (UDV), hoasca tea is also known as “vegetal”; and the congregations drink it for the purpose of mental concentration. The plant materials from which the tea is made contain dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a class A controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 [1-3].’

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Law & Religion UK, 31st July 2017

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Negligent hospitals to get free pass at inquests under costs cap – warning – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 31st, 2017 in compensation, coroners, costs, hospitals, inquests, negligence, news by sally

‘NHS hospitals responsible for patient deaths will get a free pass at inquests under Government proposals to cap legal costs, the lawyer for victims of the Bristol heart scandal has warned.’

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Daily Telegraph, 30th July 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The cost of resisting disclosure of sensitive police material in family proceedings – UK Police Law Blog

‘Who pays the costs of Special Advocates where closed material procedures are required to consider sensitive police documents in family proceedings? The police, according to Cobb J in Re R (Closed Material Procedure: Special Advocates: Funding) [2017] EWHC 1793 (Fam).’

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UK Police Law Blog, 30th July 2017

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

Four fold increase in fines under ‘busybody charter’ – Daily Telegraph

‘A four-fold increase in the number of fines issued under the “busybody charter” has been described as “utterly alarming”, with councils cracking down on activities such as feeding birds, walking dogs and playing loud bhangra music.’

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Daily Telegraph, 31st July 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Record number of criminals have sentences increased – The Guardian

Posted July 31st, 2017 in attorney general, criminal justice, news, sentencing, statistics, victims by sally

‘A record number of criminals have had their sentences increased after victims and their families complained that they had been treated too leniently.’

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The Guardian, 30th July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Gender identity: What do legal changes have to do with women’s rights? – BBC News

Posted July 31st, 2017 in consultations, equality, gender, news, transgender persons, women by sally

‘Trans activists have welcomed moves from the government to “streamline and de-medicalise the process” of changing legal gender. But some women are worried about the potential impact on their own legal rights.’

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BBC News, 31st July 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Trojan Horse affair: remaining disciplinary proceedings dropped – The Guardian

‘The government has given up its two-year-long attempt to ban teachers caught up in the Trojan Horse affair in Birmingham, after those in the remaining cases were told disciplinary action against them has been halted.’

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The Guardian, 28th July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Disgraced surgeon Ian Paterson struck off by tribunal – BBC News

Posted July 26th, 2017 in disciplinary procedures, doctors, news by sally

‘Disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson who carried out unnecessary cancer operations has been struck off.’

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BBC News, 25th July 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Stephen Lawrence killer gets legal aid for compensation claim – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 26th, 2017 in assault, compensation, legal aid, news, personal injuries, prisons by sally

‘One of the killers of Stephen Lawrence has been granted legal aid in a battle to get compensation from the Government after he was allegedly beaten up in prison.’

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Daily Telegraph, 25th July 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted July 26th, 2017 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

High Court (Chancery Division)

High Court (Commercial Court)

High Court (Family Division)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Source: www.bailii.org

Mike Ashley wins high court battle over ‘£15m pub deal’ – The Guardian

Posted July 26th, 2017 in contracts, enforcement, news by sally

‘Newcastle United owner and Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley has won a high court battle with investment banker Jeffrey Blue over a £15m deal allegedly made in a London pub.’

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The Guardian, 26th July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Personal injury: Untraced drivers and rights – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 26th, 2017 in costs, limitations, Motor Insurers’ Bureau, news, personal injuries by sally

‘In Howe v Motor Insurers’ Bureau [2017] EWCA obligation 932, Mr Howe was driving a lorry in France on 30 March 2007 when a wheel detached from a lorry in front of him. The resulting accident left him paraplegic. Neither the other vehicle nor its driver was ever traced. He submitted a claim to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau and its French equivalent, but after a time he was told by the French that his claim was out of time. Consequently, he issued proceedings against the British MIB directly, seeking to enforce his rights under regulation 13 of the Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) (Information Centre and Compensation Body) Regulations 2003 (the regulations). That claim was struck out because it was out of time. The MIB now sought to recover its costs of defending the proceedings.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 24th July 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK to require drones and their operators to be registered – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 26th, 2017 in aircraft, health & safety, news by sally

‘All drones weighing at least 250g, as well as the people operating them, will need to be registered under new regulatory proposals outlined by the UK government.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 25th July 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

‘Bombastic’ pensioners could lose their home after £200,000 legal battle over shared gas meter – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 26th, 2017 in easements, news, utilities by sally

‘In elderly couple described as “troublemaking” and “bombastic” face giving up their home after losing a £200,000 legal fight to prevent neighbours accessing a shared utilities meter.’

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Daily Telegraph, 25th July 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

UK litigation ‘cost effective’, LCJ declares – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 26th, 2017 in brexit, costs, EC law, enforcement, fees, news by sally

‘Litigation costs are more favourable in the UK than elsewhere, the lord chief justice has said, outlining an optimistic view of the UK’s legal reputation post Brexit.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 25th July 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Court of Appeal overturns ruling in favour of claimant that accepted part 36 offer late – Litigation Futures

‘Uncertainty regarding a claimant’s prognosis is part of the usual risk of personal injury litigation and not enough to justify disapplying the usual consequences of accepting a part 36 offer out of time, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 26th July 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

I’m an LGBT rights lawyer, and these are some of the strangest cases I’ve had to fight in court – The Independent

Posted July 26th, 2017 in divorce, equality, homosexuality, marriage, news, surrogacy, transgender persons by sally

‘If you are a same sex married couple you cannot get divorced on the grounds of adultery, because ‘adultery’ in UK law still takes a biblical definition meaning a man and a woman. One of my clients couldn’t divorce her husband because he’d been cheating with a man, so it didn’t count as ‘adultery’. Another ran into serious problems with surrogacy.’

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The Independent, 25th July 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

House of Lords launches inquiry into post-Brexit competition policy – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 26th, 2017 in brexit, competition, EC law, inquiries, news, select committees by sally

‘The House of Lords’ EU Internal Market Sub-Committee has launched an inquiry into the implications of Brexit on UK competition policy.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 25th July 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Supreme Court rules employment tribunal fees are unlawful – The Independent

Posted July 26th, 2017 in employment tribunals, fees, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘The Supreme Court has ruled that workplace tribunal fees are unlawful, forcing the Government to repay more than £27m paid by employees for cases around unfair dismal, discrimination and other workplace issues since July 2013.’

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The Independent, 26th July 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk