QOCS changes in April 2023: the practical and tactical implications for claimants and their solicitors – Gatehouse Chambers

‘In what is becoming something of a pattern, the Rules committee have come along to clear up the anomaly resulting from the decisions in the Appellate courts, this time in Cartwright v Venduct Engineering Ltd [2018] EWCA Civ 1654; [2018] 1 WLR 6137 and Ho v Adelekun [2021] UKSC 43; [2021] 1 WLR 5132.’

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Gatehouse Chambers, 16th March 2023

Source: gatehouselaw.co.uk

Dove v Assistant Coroner for Teeside [2023] EWCA Civ 289 (17 March 2023) – Parklane Plowden

‘Mrs Dove’s daughter took her own life after DWP benefits were withdrawn. In September 2021, the Divisional Court refused her application under s13 of the Coroners Act 1988 to quash the Coroner’s determination and direct a new inquest. The Divisional Court considered that the question of ‘how’ someone died in a Jamieson inquest was directed only to the means by which the deceased died, and did not encompass the wider circumstances of their death. In this case, the Court of Appeal considered the meaning of ‘by what means’.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 29th March 2023

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Entering properties to fit a prepayment meter – what test should the Magistrates apply when granting a warrant? – No. 5 Chambers

Posted April 14th, 2023 in chambers articles, energy, magistrates, news, warrants by sally

‘Under the legislation there is no automatic right for an affected party to apply to the magistrates to apply to stay or adjourn the execution of the warrant.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 29th March 2023

Source: www.no5.com

Steven Gee KC – British Tax Review – R. (on the application of Cobalt Data Centre 2 LLP) v HMRC: a Cobalt white elephant – Monckton Chambers

‘Section 298(1) of the Capital Allowances Act 2001 (CAA 2001) offered taxpayers Enterprise Zone allowances (EZAs) as an inducement to taking on the financial risks of newbuild industrial developments in disadvantaged areas, without a tenant. It extended their availability for a further 10 years after expiry of the 10-year life of an enterprise zone (EZ), provided that the qualifying “expenditure is incurred under a contract entered into within” the first 10 years (“the proviso”). According to the Court of Appeal1 changes made to a development, resulted in two building contracts with the claimed expenditure incurred under the second, being a “separate” contract

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Monckton Chambers, 22nd March 2023

Source: www.monckton.com

Fraud and indemnity costs – no presumption; and polemicists beware! – Littleton Chambers

Posted April 14th, 2023 in chambers articles, costs, fraud, indemnities, news by sally

‘In Pisante v Logothetis [2022] EWHC 2575 (Comm), Baker J had to consider whether to make an order for indemnity costs following a successful US$6.5m fraud action.’

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Littleton Chambers, 7th March 2023

Source: littletonchambers.com

‘Failure to prevent’ fraud offence to apply in UK to large organisations – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 14th, 2023 in bills, chambers articles, company law, crime prevention, fraud, news, statutory duty by tracey

‘A new criminal offence of failing to prevent fraud is to be added to UK law and applied to large businesses and other large organisations.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th April 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Submarines, Sherlock Holmes and Clinical Negligence – Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog

Posted April 14th, 2023 in burden of proof, chambers articles, damages, negligence, news, personal injuries by tracey

‘A topic close to my (legal) heart, and one upon which I have been known to speak unprompted at some length, is the correct approach to fact-finding where several possible causes, or causal mechanisms, are suggested for the damage under investigation: a common feature of clinical negligence (and, more widely, personal injury) litigation.’

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Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog, 29th March 2023

Source: ropewalk.co.uk

Research Demonstrates Juries Convict in 58% of Rape Cases, on Average – Pump Court Chambers

Posted April 13th, 2023 in chambers articles, juries, news, prosecutions, rape, statistics by sally

‘Over the period 2007 to 2021, the jury conviction rate for all rape charges stood at an average of 58%, with a high of 75% in 2021, according to new research published in the Criminal Law Review[1]. In 2007, the jury conviction rate was 55%. This research was commissioned by senior judiciary following public concerns that the jury conviction rates for rape were extremely low, and analysed 5,623,800 criminal charges from January 2007 to December 2021, not just including sexual offences.’

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Pump Court Chambers, 9th March 2023

Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com

The Not-So-Beautiful Game – Pump Court Chambers

Posted April 13th, 2023 in assault, chambers articles, news, sport, statistics, threatening behaviour by sally

‘In February 2023, BBC Radio 5 Live released the results of a questionnaire canvassing the experiences of 927 grassroots referees. The statistics make for grim reading, although will come as little surprise to anyone who has played Sunday league football.’

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Pump Court Chambers, 9th March 2023

Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com

A Master’s decision to order disclosure of internal non-contemporaneous documents upheld on appeal (Re Scherbakov (deceased)) – Gatehouse Chambers

‘Dispute Resolution analysis: On appeal, an order for disclosure against neutral Interim Administrators of the estate of a deceased person, requiring the search of review of non-contemporaneous internal documents has been upheld.’

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Gatehouse Chambers, 24th March 2023

Source: gatehouselaw.co.uk

A Practical Guide to Extending an Administration – 3 Hare Court

‘Thomas Horton and Georgia Purnell provide a practical guide to extending an administration. Drawing on insights from their own experiences the guide provides a useful resource for administrators and solicitors.’

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3 Hare Court, 23rd March 2023

Source: www.3harecourt.com

A Question of Identity – Voter Identification – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

‘This article is intended to serve as an update on the new voter identification rules that have been introduced as a result of the voter identity requirements provisions contained in the Elections Act 2022. Save to note that, prior to its enactment, the proposed legislation attracted considerable debate as to whether the historic level of electoral fraud, and in particular personation, within the United Kingdom justified the introduction of these requirements the author does not intend to cover the arguments for or against them.’

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4-5 Gray's Inn Square, 7th March 2023

Source: www.4-5.co.uk

Dove (Part 2): Article 2 ECHR, Rabone, and Responsibility – Doughty Street Chambers

‘Last week [24 March] the Court of Appeal gave judgment in Dove [2023] EWCA Civ 289, an appeal against the Divisional Court’s decision not to order a new inquest into the death of Jodey Whiting, in proceedings brought by her mother Joy Dove. Ms Whiting died a self-inflicted death in the community, after a mental health crisis, in which the decision of the Department of Work and Pensions to cease her benefits was said to have played a contributory role. An inquest in 2017 came to a conclusion of “suicide” (§1). In an earlier post I dealt with the first, successful, ground of appeal: that because of fresh evidence it was in the interests of justice to order a new Jamieson inquest. In this post I examine the Court of Appeal’s analysis of the case from the point of view of the engagement of Article 2 ECHR.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 24th March 2023

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Dove (Part 1): Jamieson Inquests, Causation, and Conclusions – Doughty Street Chambers

‘Last week [20 March] the Court of Appeal gave judgment in Dove [2023] EWCA Civ 289, an appeal against the Divisional Court’s decision not to order a new inquest into the death of Jodey Whiting, in proceedings brought by her mother Joy Dove. Ms Whiting died a self-inflicted death in the community, after a mental health crisis, in which the decision of the Department of Work and Pensions to cease her benefits was said to have played a contributory role. An inquest in 2017 came to a conclusion of “suicide” (§1).’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 20th March 2023

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Unfair prejudice claim in a long-standing rags to riches family dispute has failed (Pickering v Hughes and ors) – Gatehouse Chambers

‘Dispute Resolution analysis: Following a liability trial, an unfair prejudice petition under section 994 of the Companies Act 2006 has been dismissed. None of the alleged instances of unfair prejudice directed against the Respondents was made out.’

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Gatehouse Chambers, 23rd March 2023

Source: gatehouselaw.co.uk

Barry v Ministry of Defence [2023] EWHC 49 (KB) – 3PB

‘On 3 March 2023, Johnson J handed down judgment in relation to former marine Mr Barry’s claim that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) caused his noise-induced hearing loss. It is the first time judicial guidance has been expressly given on the reduction factors (other than mortality) since the revised guidance in the 8th edition of the Ogden tables were published in July 2020.’

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3PB, March 2023

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

OUTLOOK: Building for the Future – Climate Change and Arbitration – 39 Essex Chambers

‘The data from the major arbitral institutions indicates that the users of arbitration are overwhelmingly represented in heavily emitting industries – energy, construction and the financial sectors. Corporates in these industries will be the first to feel changes in regulation as targets become more ambitious – this is where the role of the state becomes significant in investor state arbitrations.’

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39 Essex Chambers, 28th March 2023

Source: www.39essex.com

Part 36: Is There Any Value in a Split Liability Offer? – Pump Court Chambers

Posted April 12th, 2023 in appeals, chambers articles, damages, holidays, negligence, news, part 36 offers by sally

‘In the recent case of Mundy v TUI UK Ltd [2023] EWHC 385 (Ch), the High Court (Collins Rice J) provided helpful clarification about when Part 36 offers deal with an apportionment of liability.’

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Pump Court Chambers, 27th March 2023

Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com

Stephen Bear 21-Month Custodial Sentence Sends a Message – Intimate Image Abuse Will Not Be Taken Lightly – Mountford Chambers

‘Following the highly publicised trial and subsequent imprisonment of Stephen Bear, Fiona Clegg looks at the current position regarding disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress and the proposals for reform.’

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Mountford Chambers, 16th March 2023

Source: www.mountfordchambers.com

Afghan children and their families abandoned in remote hotels following High Court ruling – Garden Court Chambers

‘Afghan families remain trapped in remote hotels following today’s High Court ruling that the Home Secretary did not act unlawfully by moving them from a London hotel to hotels in a city in the north of England. The move significantly disrupted the children’s education and adults’ employment. Following the judgment, the families remain in temporary accommodation and at risk of further moves, as the Home Office has failed to secure the settled accommodation it promised. The families have been stuck in hotels for over one and a half years since being evacuated from Afghanistan in August 2021.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 24th March 2023

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk