New Judgment: R (on the application of Gourlay) v Parole Board [2020] UKSC 50 – UKSC Blog

Posted December 7th, 2020 in appeals, costs, judicial review, news, parole, prisons, Supreme Court by sally

‘The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed this appeal concerning the role of the Court in relation to the principles governing the award of costs in lower courts.’

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UKSC Blog, 4th December 2020

Source: ukscblog.com

Guidance on the approach to applications under section 10A of POCA 2002—civil rules and the family home (R v Forte) – 5SAH

‘This case sets out the key principles and procedure to be followed under applications pursuant to section 10A of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA 2002) where the court has to determine the extent of the interest of a third party in property held by a defendant that is likely to be realised or otherwise used to satisfy a confiscation order. The court held that where the prosecution intends to prove that a defendant has a beneficial interest in property and another holds, or may hold, an interest in that property, the burden and standard to be applied are those of the civil standard. Where matrimonial property is concerned, the court is entitled to look to the evidence and draw such inferences as they see fit to determine whether beneficial interest should follow legal title. Such evidence can include sham divorce proceedings and the use of property for a joint purpose.’

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5SAH, 30th November 2020

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

MoJ plans to cut “hopeless” Upper Tribunal appeals – Litigation Futures

‘The current test for appeals from the Upper Tribunal to the Court of Appeal is “not strict enough to prevent misuse” of the system by those wanting to benefit from delays caused by “hopeless challenges”, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said.’

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Litigation Futures, 7th December 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Ex-judge Sir Peter Gross to head human rights law review – BBC News

‘Former Court of Appeal judge Sir Peter Gross has been appointed to lead an independent review of the Human Rights Act.’

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BBC News, 7th December 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Racing Partnerships Ltd v. Sports Information Services Ltd: Court of Appeal sheds light on economic torts of breach of confidence and unlawful means conspiracy – Littleton Chambers

‘The Court of Appeal’s recent decision in Racing Partnership Ltd & others v. Sports Information Services Ltd [2020] EWCA Civ 1300 has provided clarity on the economic tort of unlawful means conspiracy and provided much food for thought on claims for breach of confidence.’

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Littleton Chambers, 1st December 2020

Source: littletonchambers.com

The law applicable to an arbitration agreement: Part 1 of our analysis of Enka v OOO Insurance – Hardwicke Chambers

‘In the eagerly awaited judgment in Enka Insaat Ve Sanayi AS v OOO Insurance Company Chubb [2020] UKSC 38, the Supreme Court finally settled an important issue in the law of arbitration that has long divided the authorities and commentary: in the absence of a choice by the parties, where the law applicable to the main contract differs from that of the seat, it is the law of the seat that governs the validity and scope of the arbitration agreement. Our Overview on the decision sets out the key holdings; Part I (below) of our commentary on the decision examines the reasoning of the Majority in greater depth.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 2nd December 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Bolton v Stone Revisited – Ropewalk Chambers

‘The seminal case of Bolton v Stone [1951] AC 850 concerned a Claimant on a residential side road who was hit by a ball struck by a batsman on an adjacent cricket ground. The claim ultimately failed. Some 67 years later, the Claimant in Lewis v Wandsworth London Borough Council was walking along the boundary path of a cricket pitch in Battersea Park. She was struck in her left eye by a cricket ball, hit from the game of cricket being played on the pitch. Her claim succeeded before Mr Recorder Riza QC, who distinguished Bolton. Stewart J allowed the Defendant’s appeal and dismissed the claim.’

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Ropewalk Chambers, 30th November 2020

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

Harry Dunn’s family can appeal against High Court ruling – BBC News

‘The parents of Harry Dunn have been granted permission to appeal against a High Court ruling over the diplomatic immunity of his alleged killer.’

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BBC News, 3rd December 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Dolan’s latest lockdown defeat – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The appellants challenged Lockdown regulations made in response to the Covid-19 pandemic on 26 March 2020. Their argument was that the regulations imposed sweeping restrictions on civil liberties which were unprecedented and were unlawful on three grounds. First, the Government had no power under the legislation they used to make the regulations, namely the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, as amended by the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (“the 1984 Act”). Secondly, they were unlawful under ordinary public law principles (failing to take account of relevant considerations, fettering of discretion); and thirdly they violated a number of the Convention rights which are guaranteed in domestic law under the Human Rights Act 1998 (“HRA”). Although the regulations were amended on several occasions and have since been repealed, the appellants contended that it remained important that the legal issues which arose should be authoritatively determined in the public interest.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 3rd December 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Intervening but overcrowded accommodation – Nearly Legal

Posted December 3rd, 2020 in appeals, homelessness, housing, local government, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘Bullale v City of Westminster Council [2020] EWCA Civ 1587. An important Court of Appeal judgment on when intervening accommodation is settled so as to end the effect of a previous finding of intentional homelessness, including a careful revision of Doka v Southwark London Borough Council [2017] H.L.R. 786 (our report here) in view of the Supreme Court’s statement when refusing permission to appeal.’

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Nearly Legal, 1st December 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

When must an unsuccessful litigant accept “No” for an answer? Court of Appeal hands down latest ruling in long-running planning battle – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 3rd, 2020 in appeals, civil procedure rules, local government, news, planning by sally

‘A planning dispute that has been the subject of nine court hearings must be brought to an end, the Court of Appeal has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 3rd December 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

New criminal record disclosure rules take effect – UK Human Rights Blog

‘On the 28th November 2020, The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Record Certificates: Relevant Matters) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 (“the Order”) came into force, implementing important changes to the criminal records disclosure rules in England and Wales.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 1st December 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

High Court rules out “retrospective” arbitration appeal – Litigation Futures

Posted December 2nd, 2020 in agriculture, appeals, arbitration, news, retrospectivity by sally

‘The High Court has ruled that it has no power to consider a “retrospective” application for permission to appeal against its judgment in an arbitration case which was itself an appeal.’

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Litigation Futures, 2nd December 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

R (RD) v Justice Secretary [2020] EWCA Civ 1346 – CrimeCast.Law

‘This was the second of a pair of recent cases which suggest that police officers and those who aspire to be police officers are held to a higher standard than the general public whom the police are sworn to protect. I discussed yesterday R v Luckett (Michael David) [2020] EWCA Crim 565, which illustrated the approach taken by the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal to the sentencing of offences of misconduct in a public office by serving police officers. The case of R (RD) v Justice Secretary addresses the rigorous disclosure requirements imposed on those who apply to become police constables or police cadets. It prompted the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal to consider the application of Article 8(2) of the European Convention on Human Rights to candidates for the police service – specifically whether the current regime for the rehabilitation of offenders and for the disclosure of convictions, cautions and reprimands is in accordance with law and necessary in a democratic society …’

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CrimeCast.Law, 30th November 2020

Source: crimecast.law

Court of Appeal highlights need for early legal advice where adoption placements near point of breakdown – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 1st, 2020 in adoption, appeals, fostering, local government, news, notification by sally

‘The first reported occasion on which the courts have had to consider whether prospective adopters gave notice of their wish to return the child highlights the need for early legal advice, the Court of Appeal has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 30th November 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

International community “will see Halliburton ruling as protecting Bar” – Litigation Futures

‘The Supreme Court’s decision not to remove a QC from an arbitration will reinforce the international perception that members of the English Bar are being protected, a solicitor has claimed.’

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Litigation Futures, 30th November 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

New Judgment: Halliburton Company v Chubb Bermuda Insurance Ltd (Formerly known as Ace Bermuda Insurance Ltd) [2020] UKSC 48 – UKSC Blog

‘The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed this appeal addressing when an arbitrator should make disclosure of circumstances which may give rise to justifiable doubts as to his impartiality.’

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UKSC Blog, 27th November 2020

Source: ukscblog.com

Council wins appeal over award of damages to woman hit by cricket ball in park – Local Government Lawyer

‘The London Borough of Wandsworth has won an appeal over an order requiring it to pay nearly £35,000 in damages and costs to a woman seriously injured by a cricket ball in Battersea park.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 27th November 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

New Judgment: Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs v London Clubs Management Ltd [2020] UKSC 49 – UKSC Blog

Posted November 30th, 2020 in appeals, gambling, news, statutory interpretation, Supreme Court by sally

‘The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed this appeal concerning the correct approach as to determining the value of non-negotiable chips for the purpose of calculating gaming duty.’

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UKSC Blog, 27th November 2020

Source: ukscblog.com

R v Luckett (Michael David) [2020] EWCA Crim 565 – CrimeCast.Law

‘“This was one of a pair of recent cases, which tend to suggest that police officers and those who aspire to be police officers are still held to a higher standard than the public they are sworn to protect. It was a sentencing appeal following a plea of guilty by a former police officer, who had made use of information gathered in the course of investigating a drink driving offence to get in touch with the defendant and subsequently enter into a long-term personal relationship with her. He resigned from the police and pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office. His appeal against the sentence prompted the Court of Appeal to refer to earlier authorities on sentencing for misconduct in a public office by serving police officers and gave the court an opportunity to emphasise the gravity of the offence, whilst at the same time proving that the quality of mercy is not strained …”’

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CrimeCast.Law, 26th November 2020

Source: crimecast.law