Alexandra Wilson examines the Court of Appeal ‘Encrochat’ judgment: A, B, D & C v Regina [2021] EWCA Crim 128 – 5SAH

‘The Court of Appeal (“the Court”) were asked to determine whether evidence obtained from the EncroChat application (“the EncroChat material”) can be admitted in evidence in criminal proceedings, or whether it is excluded by the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (“the 2016 Act”).’

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5SAH, 25th March 2021

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

The New SCT RTA Protocol & Whiplash Regulations – 12 King’s Bench Walk

Posted April 9th, 2021 in accidents, chambers articles, compensation, damages, news, personal injuries by sally

‘Details of the new SCT RTA Protocol[1] (“the Protocol”) which sits alongside the new whiplash tariff, as set out in The Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 (“the Whiplash Regulations”) were announced at the end of February. They will come into force, alongside the accompanying changes to the Civil Procedure Rules, on 31 May 2021.’

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12 King's Bench Walk, 3rd March 2021

Source: www.12kbw.co.uk

Extradition under the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement – 5SAH

Posted April 9th, 2021 in brexit, chambers articles, extradition, news by sally

‘When the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) was reached between the UK and the EU on 24 December 2020, it gave extradition practitioners only a few days to identify what, if anything, would remain from the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) system before it came into force on 1 January 2021. The article starts by setting out how the EAW was implemented in the UK prior to 1 January 2021, before turning to the TCA itself and what it means for extradition or “surrender” between EU member states and the UK. In short, the EAW system no longer applies. The authors set out how the TCA provides a degree of continuity, now under the watchful eye of the UK–EU “Specialised Committee on Law Enforcement and Judicial Cooperation”. There are notable departures from the EAW system however, in both practical and legal terms, that open the door to increased scrutiny of extradition requests. The authors explore the impact these changes may have on the future of extradition with the EU27, to or from the UK.’

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5SAH, 10th March 2021

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

Disqualification undertakings and second chances—the correct approach to sections 8A and 17 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 (Ahmed v Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Industrial Strategy) – 4 New Square

‘Restructuring & Insolvency analysis: The court held that a disqualified director’s rehabilitation from drug and alcohol addiction did not amount to “special circumstances” for the purposes of the court’s discretion to discharge a disqualification undertaking under section 8A of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 (CDDA 1986). The decision provides important guidance on the relationship between CDDA 1986, ss 8A and 17, the latter under which a disqualified director can obtain permission to act.’

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4 New Square, 24th March 2021

Source: www.4newsquare.com

Cross – establishment comparisons are generally to be permitted save in exceptional circumstances: Asda Stores Ltd v. Brierley & Ors [2019] EWCA Civ 44 – 3PB

‘This Equal Pay claim has been ongoing for some time already (since 2016) and is set to continue for some time yet. In short, the Supreme Court’s Judgment handed down 3 days ago (26th March 2021) is focused upon a narrow point, which whilst of importance and interest to both parties and their advisors, in no sense has brought closure to these proceedings which are likely to continue to attract media attention as the layers of equal value litigation unfold.’

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3PB, 29th March 2021

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

R.I.P Gig Economy? – 4 King’s Bench Walk

‘On February 19th, the Supreme Court dismissed Uber’s appeal upholding the decision of the Employment Tribunal: a ruling upheld both by the EAT and the Court of Appeal. Lord Leggatt’s judgment confirmed that the claimant Uber drivers were workers for the purposes of the Working Time Regulations, national minimum wage legislation, and the Employment Rights Act 1996. In a unanimous judgment, the Supreme Court sent the case back to the Employment Tribunal to determine the claims on their merits.’

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4 King's Bench Walk, 4th March 2021

Source: www.4kbw.co.uk

Protected acts: beware a cautious approach – 3PB

‘R indicated that it wanted to arrange a Christmas dinner, and proposed a date for it. No objections were raised. Hotels and planes were consequently booked. Thereafter C (and a co-worker) indicated that the planned date did not suit them. R considered the matter but declined to change the date, various arrangements having already been made.’

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3PB, 2nd March 2021

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Third Sector Protector – Kids Company Article – 3 Hare Court

Posted April 9th, 2021 in chambers articles, charities, company directors, news by sally

‘Kids Company was founded in 1996 by Camila Batmanghelidjh to support the most vulnerable children who fell through the cracks in mainstream services. Despite securing hundreds of millions of pounds in donations from celebrity donors and winning more than £42m in government grants, the ever-increasing demand for Kids Company’s services led to financial difficulties for the charity. It collapsed in 2015 in the wake of unfounded allegations of sexual abuse.’

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3 Hare Court, 8th April 2021

Source: www.3harecourt.com

Towuaghantse v GMC [2021] EWHC 681 (Admin) Coroner’s findings, independence of experts and registrant denials: this case is not one to put on the “read later” pile – 2 Hare Court

‘It is difficult to know where to start with Towuaghantse v GMC [2021] EWHC 681 (Admin). I will give you a briefest account of the facts in a moment, but potentially Mostyn J’s judgment in this case stands as authority for the following principles:
a. The factual findings of a coroner, and any narrative conclusion, are all admissible against a registrant.
b. Authors of expert reports do not have to be independent in the sense of uninvolved with the institution or any of the players in a case, they are merely subject to a Porter v McGill style test of bias or apparent bias.
c. The capacity of a registrant to remediate sincerely should be judged by reference to evidence unconnected with their denials of the factual charges, unless the fact-finding decision included findings of blatant dishonesty by the registrant (a refinement of the same judge’s recent pronouncements in GMC v Awan [2020] EWHC 1553 (Admin)).’

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2 Hare Court, 30th March 2021

Source: www.2harecourt.com

The UK’s new medicines and medical devices regime – next steps – Mills & Reeve

Posted March 12th, 2021 in chambers articles, enforcement, medicines, news by sally

‘The Medicines and Medical Devices Act has now become law. Much of the legislation simply sets up powers and frameworks for development of the UK’s regulatory system for medicines, veterinary medicines and medical devices. Importantly, Part 4 of the Act introduces a new enforcement regime for medical devices, replacing provisions currently scattered across other legislation.’

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Mills & Reeve, 5th March 2021

Source: www.mills-reeve.com

Insolvency Team – Recent Insolvency Case Update – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted March 11th, 2021 in bankruptcy, chambers articles, insolvency, news by sally

‘These case summaries first appeared in LexisNexis’ Insolvency Case Alerter. They represent some of the more interesting insolvency decisions to have been published recently.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 4th March 2021

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Pondering the Imponderables: Future Loss of Earnings Claims Post-COVID – Ropewalk Personal Injury Blog

Posted March 11th, 2021 in chambers articles, coronavirus, damages, news, personal injuries by sally

‘The significant uncertainties in the economy and the employment market caused by the pandemic may lead to an upsurge in defendants arguing that damages for future loss of earnings should be assessed by way of a Blamire and/or a Smith v Manchester award rather than using the multiplier/multiplicand method. It could be contended that, applying the pre-COVID guidance, the extraordinary nature of those uncertainties creates too many imponderables for assessment using the standard multiplier/multiplicand basis. Conversely, the same uncertainties may make it easier for claimants to obtain Smith v Manchester awards and in higher amounts than before.’

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Ropewalk Personal Injury Blog, 3rd March 2021

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

Capacity and best interests in relation to Covid-19 Vaccination – Garden Court Chambers

‘Mrs E was aged 80 and lived in a care home. She had diagnoses of dementia and schizophrenia.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 26th February 2021

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Partners and Confiscation – Carmelite Chambers

‘Data from 2019 suggests that 26% of prosecutions brought against women, of which only 10% are for indictable offences. The same data indicates that women account for just 5% of the prison population.’

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Carmelite Chambers, March 2021

Source: www.carmelitechambers.co.uk

Splitting liability between transferees: McTear & Mitie v Amey & Others – Cloisters

‘In McTear & Mitie v Amey & Others the Employment Appeal Tribunal held that the controversial decision of the CJEU in Govaerts applies in domestic law – including to Service Provision Changes (‘SPCs’) under TUPE. This means that the contract of employment of a given employee who transfers pursuant to a SPC may as a matter of law be split between multiple transferees.’

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Cloisters, 2nd March 2021

Source: www.cloisters.com

Improper Non-Disclosure of a Complainant’s Medical Records – Pump Court Chambers

‘A Complainant (“C”) refuses to consent to his GP providing the Crown with medical records. The Defendant (“D”) has requested disclosure of these records, on the understanding that C has a history of prolonged substance abuse and mental health concerns. C has also indicated that he believes information within the records is detrimental to the Crown’s case; hence, his refusal.’

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Pump Court Chambers, 25th February 2021

Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com

Damages of £143,000 for unlawful deprivation of liberty of incapacitous care home resident upheld – Garden Court Chambers

‘The comparators for damages for unlawful deprivation of liberty of persons lacking mental capacity are few. In Essex County Council v RF & others [2015] EWCOP 1, DJ Mort made a distinction between procedural and substantive breaches and where he found the local authority ‘totally inadequate and their failings significant’, assessed monthly damages between £3000 – £4000 over a period of at least 13 months. In the case of Emile, DJ Beckley awarded damages against the London Borough of Haringey for a period of almost 8 years’ unlawful deprivation of liberty in the sum of £143,000.00. The local authority was granted permission, out of time, to appeal. The decision of HHJ Saggerson was handed down on 18 December 2020.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 26th February 2021

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

A Spate of Strike Outs: A Review of the Law on Res Judicata – Ropewalk Personal Injury Blog

‘During January 2021 the Court of Appeal handed down three judgments on appeals relating to strike out applications under CPR 3.4(2)(b): Allsop v Banner Jones Ltd [2021] EWCA Civ 7, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP v BTI 2014 LLC [2021] EWCA Civ 9 and Tinkler v Ferguson [2021] EWCA Civ 18.’

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Ropewalk Personal Injury Blog, 25th February 2021

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

Ground Rules – Vulnerable witnesses – Becket Chambers

Posted March 10th, 2021 in chambers articles, children, families, news, practice directions, witnesses by sally

‘We have a new Practice Direction 3AA which covers participation in proceedings for vulnerable person who will be required to give evidence, which is effective from February 2021.’

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Becket Chambers, 26th February 2021

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

The New SCT RTA Protocol & Whiplash Regulations – 12 King’s Bench Walk

‘Details of the new SCT RTA Protocol[1] (“the Protocol”) which sits alongside the new whiplash tariff, as set out in The Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 (“the Whiplash Regulations”) were announced at the end of February. They will come into force, alongside the accompanying changes to the Civil Procedure Rules, on 31 May 2021.’

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12 King's Bench Walk, 3rd March 2021

Source: www.12kbw.co.uk