Category: complaints

The Legal Ombudsman: more than a paper tiger – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted January 6th, 2014 in complaints, fees, judicial review, jurisdiction, legal ombudsman, news, solicitors by sally

‘Does the Legal Ombudsman have teeth? That was, in effect, the question before the High Court in Layard Horsfall, a judicial review brought by a former solicitor against a decision by the Ombudsman to reduce his fees following a complaint by one of his clients. The Court’s answer was a very clear yes. Where the Ombudsman has made her decision properly, taking relevant factors into account, it is likely to withstand judicial review challenge.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 3rd January 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Lawyers forced to pay out £1m in no win, no fee disputes – The Guardian

Posted January 6th, 2014 in compensation, complaints, costs, fees, legal aid, legal ombudsman, news, solicitors by sally

‘Lawyers were ordered to pay almost £1m in compensation to disappointed clients last year owing to failures in no win, no fee agreements, according to figures released by the legal ombudsman.’

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The Guardian, 6th January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal watchdog rejects complaint over Leveson barristers’ affair – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 20th, 2013 in barristers, complaints, news, professional conduct by sally

‘A legal watchdog has dismissed a complaint against two barristers involved in the Leveson inquiry who had an affair. The Bar Standards Board (BSB) looked into the conduct of Carine Patry and David Sherborne after it was alleged that the relationship could have compromised the inquiry into Press standards. The board announced in a statement that there was “no realistic prospect” of Miss Patry, a member of the inquiry team, and Mr Sherborne, who represented celebrities complaining about the Press, being found guilty of professional misconduct.’

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Daily Telegraph, 19th December 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Stephen Bett mileage: IPCC considers Norfolk PCC claim – BBC C News

Posted December 19th, 2013 in complaints, expenses, news, police by sally

‘Mileage claims lodged by a police and crime commissioner are being looked at by the police watchdog.’

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BBC News, 19th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The need for Gypsies and Travellers to respond to the Government’s balance of competences review on fundamental rights – Garden Court Chambers Blog

Posted December 16th, 2013 in complaints, EC law, evidence, human rights, news, travellers by sally

‘Marc Willers explains why it is so important that Gypsies and Travellers respond to the Government’s balance of competences review on fundamental rights by submitting evidence before 13 January 2014.

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Garden Court Chambers Blog, 13th December 2013

Source: www.gclaw.wordpress.com

‘Vishing’ and courier scam complaints increase – BBC News

Posted December 16th, 2013 in banking, complaints, financial services ombudsman, fraud, news, statistics by sally

‘Banks are failing to refund some victims of a phone scam that involves people being duped into transferring money from their own bank account to one that is accessible to a fraudster.’

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BBC News, 14th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Claims management complaints service to be toughened – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 12th, 2013 in claims management, compensation, complaints, consumer protection, fines, news by sally

‘Consumers who receive a bad service from claims management companies could receive compensation following new law changes announced by Justice Minister Shailesh Vara.’

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Ministry of Justice, 10th December 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Future Regulation – forward or backward ? – Legal Services Board

Posted December 4th, 2013 in alternative business structures, complaints, legal services, Legal Services Board, news, ombudsmen by sally

Future Regulation – forward or backward? (PDF)

Legal Services Board, 3rd December 2013

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

South Yorkshire Police investigated over Ian Watkins – BBC News

Posted December 2nd, 2013 in child abuse, children, complaints, news, police, sexual offences by sally

‘A watchdog is investigating South Yorkshire Police’s handling of complaints about a rock star who has admitted child sex offences.’

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BBC News, 30th November 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Council agrees to review practices on assessment of disabled children – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 28th, 2013 in children, complaints, disabled persons, local government, news, ombudsmen, social services by sally

‘A local authority has agreed to pay out £5,000 and review its practices so that its assessment of disabled children fulfils its statutory duties, following an investigation by the Local Government Ombudsman.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 27th November 2013

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Chinese businessman found guilty of murdering family of four in ‘revenge’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 28th, 2013 in complaints, costs, diminished responsibility, mental health, murder, news, police, trials by sally

‘A Chinese businessman who massacred a family of four by stabbing them to death in a “cold-blooded” revenge attack after losing a court battle with them has been found guilty of murder.’

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Daily Telegraph, 27th November 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Andrew Mitchell condemns police and CPS over plebgate – The Guardian

Posted November 27th, 2013 in complaints, conspiracy, Crown Prosecution Service, evidence, misfeasance in public office, news, police, professional conduct, prosecutions, video recordings by sally

‘In a press conference, Mitchell condemned the police for failing to arrest Rowland or to interview him under caution, and attacked the Crown Prosecution Service for failing to get to the bottom of what had happened.’

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The Guardian, 26th November 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Foreign Office apology for Egypt rape victim – BBC News

Posted November 27th, 2013 in compensation, complaints, foreign jurisdictions, government departments, maladministration, news, ombudsmen, rape by sally

‘A British woman who was raped in Egypt has received an apology and £1,000 in compensation from the Foreign Office after it failed to provide proper support to her.’

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BBC News, 27th November 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Council makes £1,500 payout after failure to tackle anti-social behaviour – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 20th, 2013 in anti-social behaviour, compensation, complaints, housing, local government, news, ombudsmen, repossession by sally

“A city council has agreed to pay a resident £1,500 after a series of errors meant she was forced to suffer anti-social behaviour from a neighbour for more than two years.”

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th November 2013

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Doctors, nurses and managers to face five years in jail if they neglect patients – The Guardian

Posted November 18th, 2013 in complaints, doctors, hospitals, inquiries, news, nurses, penalties, professional conduct, prosecutions, standards, wilful neglect by sally

“Doctors, nurses and NHS managers will face up to five years in jail if they are found to have wilfully neglected or mistreated patients under a new law aimed at stopping a repeat of the Mid Staffordshire hospital scandal.”

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The Guardian, 16th November 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man detained under Mental Health Act by Surrey police dies in hospital – The Guardian

Posted November 14th, 2013 in closed circuit television, complaints, death in custody, mental health, news by sally

“IPCC investigates Surrey force after man, 33, arrested in Stanwell on suspicion of drugs-related offence, dies.”

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The Guardian, 14th November 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Luton custody death: Police officers and staff suspended – BBC News

Posted November 12th, 2013 in complaints, crime, death in custody, inquiries, news, police by sally

“Five police officers and two staff have been suspended from duty after a man died in police custody.”

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BBC News, 11th November 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jimmy Savile police officers referred to IPCC – BBC News

Posted November 7th, 2013 in complaints, news, police, professional conduct by sally

“Two detectives who dealt with a sex crime allegation against Jimmy Savile in
2008 have been referred to the police watchdog.”

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BBC News, 7th November 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

 

More Tweet Trouble for Rooney and Nike? – Sports Law Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

Posted November 7th, 2013 in advertising, codes of practice, complaints, internet, news, sport by sally

“A tweet by ‘Wayne Rooney’ landed Nike in front of the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) again last month, following a complaint by a user of Twitter that the tweet was not obviously identifiable as a marketing communication and was therefore in breach of the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) Code 2.1, 2.3 and 2.4. The ASA’s decision on this tweet is interesting in light of its previous decision in a similar case involving Nike and Mr Rooney, and is worthy of note for any lawyers involved in advising sports teams and players on devising social media policies and/or regulating their social media use on a personal level.”

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Sports Law Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers,6th November 2013

Source: www.sportslawbulletin.org

Investigatory Powers Tribunal – BBC Law in Action

Posted November 6th, 2013 in armed forces, complaints, intelligence services, investigatory powers, local government, news, police, tribunals by sally

“Law in Action speaks exclusively to Mr Justice Burton, president of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal – a judicial body, independent of the government, which considers complaints brought against the intelligence services, the police, military and local authorities. It specifically investigates whether surveillance has been conducted in a lawful manner.”

Listen

BBC Law in Action, 5th November 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk