Civil Justice Council decides against new housing court – Litigation Futures

‘The Civil Justice Council (CJC) has decided not to back a new housing court to deal with all property disputes, despite support for the move among lawyers in the sector.’

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Litigation Futures, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Confidential Communication With Lawyers Is A Human Right, Even For Prisoners – RightsInfo

‘Part of being in prison is that your rights and freedom are restricted. But prisoners do retain some rights – this was re-confirmed by the highest UK court 15 years ago today.’

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RightsInfo, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.rightsinfo.org

UK competition authorities to be given ‘more powers’ – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 23rd, 2016 in auditors, bills, competition, consultations, EC law, enforcement, news by sally

‘Competition authorities in the UK are to be given new powers to combat anti-competitive behaviour, according to plans set out in the Queen’s Speech on Wednesday.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 19th May 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Businesswoman jailed for paying employees to take her speeding points – Daily Telegraph

‘A top businesswoman roped 10 employees into a speeding point scam after she clocked up dozens on multiple Range Rovers, a court heard.’

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Daily Telegraph, 20th May 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

UK plans full throttle on driverless cars and broadband reform – Technology Law Update

‘Amongst the political noise of the Brexit campaign, the UK’s legislative plans set out in the Queen’s speech yesterday received less attention than usual. But there were some important points to note for the technology sector.’

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Technology Law Update, 19th May 2016

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

If you’re going to go down a steep slope, make sure you do it on your bottom! – Zenith PI Blog

‘In a decision handed down last week in English Heritage v Taylor [2016] EWCA Civ 448 the Court of Appeal upheld a first instance decision of a finding of breach of duty under section 2 of the Occupier’s Liability Act 1957 and a finding of 50% contributory negligence against the claimant. The issues centred around what was an obvious danger.’

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Zenith PI Blog, 20th May 2016

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

Senior judges oppose singling out clin neg for fixed costs as consultation nears – Litigation Futures

‘The senior judiciary agrees with Lord Justice Jackson that fixed recoverable costs should not be introduced in clinical negligence cases in isolation, but as part of their extension across the entire fast-track and ‘lower’ end of the multi-track, it has emerged.’

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Litigation Futures, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Teenage girls given 12 months youth detention over Facebook baby kidnap plot – The Independent

‘Two teenage girls have been sentenced to 12 months youth detention for conspiracy to kidnap babies in September last year.’

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The Independent, 21st May 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Four Latvians jailed in UK for exploiting vulnerable migrants – The Guardian

Posted May 23rd, 2016 in fraud, gangs, immigration, marriage, money laundering, news, sentencing by sally

‘Four members of a Latvian organised crime gang who used vulnerable fellow migrants to launder stolen money and offered their indebted female eastern European workers as brides for hire have been sentenced to a total of 23 years in prison at Huntingdon crown court.’

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The Guardian, 20th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bereavement damages: Unmarried Chorley woman’s legal fight – BBC News

‘A woman is taking the government to court for breaching her human rights in denying her bereavement damages after her partner died.’

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BBC News, 22nd May 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mother jailed for poisoning daughter with painkillers in breast milk – Daily Telegraph

‘A mother jailed for seven years for poisoning her one-year-old daughter by putting a powerful painkiller in her breast milk tried to blame the toddler’s father, leaving him “scarred for life”.’

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Daily Telegraph, 20th May 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Legal high ban: When does the new legislation come into force? How will it work? Are poppers banned? – The Independent

‘The Psychoactive Substances Act will introduce a blanket ban on the production, distribution, sale and supply of legal highs.’

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The Independent, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Call for ticket touting to be criminalised – The Guardian

Posted May 23rd, 2016 in consumer protection, criminal justice, enforcement, fines, news by sally

‘Some of the music industry’s leading players are demanding that ticket touting be made a criminal offence for all UK concerts, plays and sporting events, Guardian Money can reveal.’

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The Guardian, 21st May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Using the courts to silence the press abuses our freedoms and makes our judges look foolish – Daily Telegraph

‘I recently wrote on these pages criticising celebrity injunctions taken out to gag English newspapers, even when the stories were freely reported in other countries. The expensive celebrity game reminded me, I wrote, of the Spycatcher farce and the series of trials during which Margaret Thatcher tried to prevent British newspapers from publishing extracts from Peter Wright’s MI5 memoir, despite the book being freely obtainable outside England.’

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Daily Telegraph, 22nd May 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

I’ve seen how our jails wreck human potential. Reform will take courage – The Guardian

‘Reoffending costs £13bn a year – and giving inmates an education is the best way to prevent it, says a member of the Coates review panel’

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The Guardian, 22nd May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Children in care: Call to cut prosecutions for minor offences – BBC News

‘Children in care should not be prosecuted for minor offences, a report looking at their over-representation in the criminal justice system says.’

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BBC News, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mau Mau lawsuit due to begin at high court – The Guardian

‘Compensation claims for torture, rape, wrongful detention and forced labour brought by 40,000 Kenyans who allege they were mistreated by British officials during the Mau Mau insurgency are due to be heard in the high court in London on Monday.’

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The Guardian, 22nd May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Council to pay £17,500 damages to 14 year old for human rights breaches – Local Government Lawyer

‘A High Court judge has ordered a county council to pay £17,500 in damages to a 14-year-old girl in care for breaches of her human rights.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th May 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Pop-up courts needed to help create more flexible justice system – report – The Guardian

Posted May 19th, 2016 in courts, criminal justice, internet, news, reports by sally

“Pop-up” courts with easily transportable judicial stage sets, remote video screens and online access are needed to develop a more flexible justice system, according to a leading legal thinktank.’

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The Guardian, 18th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Over the Border – Zenith PI Blog

‘In the recent cases of Cook v Virgin Media Ltd and McNeil v Tesco Plc [2016] 1WLR 1672, the Court of Appeal had to consider two cases raising a virtually identical issue. Each case related to a Scottish claimant claiming for personal injuries sustained in Scotland against Defendants who had registered offices in England and Wales. Mr Cook claimed that he suffered personal injury in a tripping accident in East Kilbride as a result of the negligence of Virgin Media. Virgin Media admitted liability. The claim was brought through the Northampton Money Claims Centre. In their defence Virgin Media said that the claim would be more appropriately dealt with in Scotland. In the second case Mr McNeil had suffered injuries in a Tesco store in Glasgow. He too claimed putting a claim through the Northampton Money Claims Centre. Tesco denied liability and said that the claim should have been brought in Scotland. Both these cases were shunted to Carlisle County Court. (It is perhaps a pity that the old Berwick-upon-Tweed County Court has long closed its doors, since it might have been an ideal venue.)’

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Zenith PI Blog, 17th May 2016

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com