Watchdog opens fresh inquiry into Tory peer over possible PPE lobbying breach – The Guardian

Posted August 4th, 2023 in conflict of interest, coronavirus, inquiries, lobbying, news, parliament by tracey

‘The House of Lords conduct watchdog has opened an investigation into the Conservative peer Lord Chadlington after new details about his introduction of a firm that was awarded £50m in PPE contracts were reported by the Guardian.’

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The Guardian, 3rd August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Anti-vaxxer guilty of harassing Matt Hancock on London tube – The Guardian

Posted August 3rd, 2023 in coronavirus, harassment, news, sentencing, suspended sentences, vaccination by sally

‘An anti-vaccine protester who accused Matt Hancock of murdering people during the coronavirus pandemic has been found guilty of harassment.’

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The Guardian, 2nd August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Pair sentenced for profiteering from Covid pandemic – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted July 31st, 2023 in coronavirus, Crown Prosecution Service, fraud, imprisonment, news, sentencing by tracey

‘Two men have today been sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court for fraudulently selling unauthorised COVID-19 test kits in 2020 whilst the country was in the grip of the pandemic.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 28th July 2023

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Covid, the Cabinet and a tussle over disclosure: R (Cabinet Office) v The Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In a decision that may come as little surprise to those working in the fields of inquiries and public law, the Divisional Court consisting of Dingemans LJ and Garnham J dismissed the Cabinet Office’s application for judicial review of a notice issued by Baroness Hallett, the Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry (“the Inquiry”) requesting the production of WhatsApp messages.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 26th July 2023

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Covid and cancelled school trips – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 19th, 2023 in compensation, coronavirus, holidays, local government, news, school children by tracey

‘Sarah Prager KC analyses the latest instalment in the great Covid refund saga.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 18th July 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court directs UCL students to resolve their claim out of court – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A judge has paused a multi-million-pound student group action claim against a London university over Covid and strike disruption and encouraged parties to resolve their dispute away from court.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 18th July 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

COVID-19 fraudster sentenced for laundering nearly £200k from taxpayers – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A fraudster who sought to exploit the taxpayer through a COVID-19 support scheme has been sentenced today (3 July 2023).’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 3rd July 2023

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Court orders ministers to hand Boris Johnson’s WhatsApps to Covid inquiry – The Guardian

‘Ministers have been ordered to hand over an unredacted cache of documents including Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp messages, notebooks and diaries to the Covid inquiry after losing a legal challenge.’

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The Guardian, 6th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Dismissing for redundancy: making sure all other options are explored properly – 3PB

‘C was employed by the R as a live-in carer. The person for whom she cared went into hospital. Usually the R would have moved C to care for another individual. However, the effects of the pandemic were such that there was less opportunity to do so. C’s last day of work for the person for whom she cared was 8.2.20; she thereafter received no work, and no pay.’

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3PB, 5th June 2023

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Wheelchair tennis boss sacked for refusing Covid jab wins £27,000 payout – Daily Telegraph

‘A wheelchair tennis executive was sacked after she refused to get a Covid vaccine despite the Government ending nearly all restrictions at the time, a tribunal heard.’

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Daily Telegraph, 4th July 2023

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

UK high court to look at legal battle over WhatsApp evidence for Covid inquiry – The Guardian

‘A legal battle between the Cabinet Office and Covid public inquiry will be considered by the high court on Friday, amid wrangling over the issue of redacted documents, including Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp messages.’

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The Guardian, 30th June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ethical veganism, COVID vaccine and employment: Owen v Willow Tower – Law & Religion UK

Posted June 27th, 2023 in coronavirus, employment tribunals, equality, news, vaccination, veganism by sally

‘Ms Owen was an employee of Willow Tower OPCO 1 Ltd, which runs residential nursing care facilities including the Sunrise home at which she worked. In 2017, she had asked to relinquish her contracted hours and asked to be placed on the “bank”, from which she could cover as many shifts as were available. She also worked for herself as a Foot Health Practitioner, often providing services to the respondent.’

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Law & Religion UK, 26th June 2023

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Pandemic experience has given lawyers more confidence in tech – Legal Futures

‘The experience of the pandemic has given lawyers greater confidence in innovation and technology, leading to a “step change” in their use over the past three years, major new research has found.’

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Legal Futures, 7th June 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Time from issue to trial in county court hits record high of 80 weeks – Legal Futures

‘The number of claims lodged at the county court has returned to near pre-Covid levels but the time between issue and trial has reached a new all-time high, according to the latest government figures.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd June 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist found guilty of plotting to destroy 5G masts – The Independent

‘An anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist has been found guilty of plotting to destroy 5G masts after subscribing to an ideology that they were linked to the Covid-19 vaccine.’

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The Independent, 1st June 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Black people were three times more likely to receive Covid fines in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted June 1st, 2023 in coronavirus, fines, minorities, news, police, statistics by sally

‘Fines for breaking Covid rules were three times more likely to be handed to black people than white people, and seven times more likely to be issued in the poorest areas than the richest, research commissioned for Britain’s police chiefs has revealed.’

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The Guardian, 31st May 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK students seek compensation for Covid-affected tuition – The Guardian

Posted May 25th, 2023 in compensation, complaints, coronavirus, fees, news, universities by tracey

‘Lawyers representing almost 1,000 current and former students whose studies were affected by Covid and strike action told the high court in London their clients felt “cheated” by their educational experience and should be entitled to seek compensation through the courts.’

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The Guardian, 24th May 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court upholds Covid will witnessed through car window – Legal Futures

Posted May 22nd, 2023 in coronavirus, news, wills, witnesses by tracey

‘The High Court has praised the “ingenious arrangement” of witnessing a will through a car window in the early days of the pandemic.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd May 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

GB News broke rules over Covid jab claims – Ofcom – BBC News

‘A GB News programme which broadcast claims that the Covid-19 vaccination programme amounted to “mass murder” has been found to have broken Ofcom rules.’

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BBC News, 9th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Covid and Free Speech in the High Court – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted April 11th, 2023 in coronavirus, doctors, freedom of expression, news, vaccination by sally

‘On 5 April 2023 the High Court handed down judgment in Adil v General Medical Council [2023] EWHC 797 (Admin). The case examined the extent to which a professional regulator can interfere with the right to freedom of expression of an individual subject to its regulation, as well as the circumstances in which the Court should accept challenges to decisions made by regulators in the performance of their duties. It is the first case decided by the High Court concerning anti-vaccination statements made by a doctor in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the actions of the General Medical Council (“GMC”) in response.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 11th April 2023

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com