‘Cat ban’ case could provide Equality Act clarity for service providers – OUT-LAW.com

‘A case brought by an autistic man against a UK supermarket chain for refusing entry to his assistance cat could help to clarify a complex area of equality law, according to one legal expert.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 6th June 2022

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

The Government’s Social Care Cap ‘Discriminates’ Against Disabled People – Each Other

‘In the UK, social care that is provided by councils is “means-tested”. This means that those whose income or capital is above a particular threshold are charged in part or in full for their care. People who need residential care or long-term support can pay many thousands of pounds for care over their lifetime, with some having to sell their home to pay for this.’

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Each Other, 27th May 2022

Source: eachother.org.uk

R (Sheakh) v Lambeth London Borough Council – Equality Law Blog

‘The Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal, based on the PSED, from the order of Kerr LJ refusing the claimant’s application for statutory and judicial review of experimental traffic orders (ETOs) creating Low Traffic Neighbourhoods which had been made by the respondent.’

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Equality Law Blog, 24th May 2022

Source: equalitylawblog.com

System failure led to default judgment against leading law firm – Legal Futures

‘Leading legal aid firm Duncan Lewis has been ordered to pay a former director costs of £6,500 for setting aside a default employment tribunal judgment caused by its internal failures.’

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Legal Futures, 13th April 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

DWP faces legal action over use of algorithm in decisions over fraud investigations – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP) and non-profit legal group Foxglove have sent the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) a letter before action over its use of a computer algorithm when deciding on who should be investigated for fraud.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 23rd February 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Court of Appeal refuses permission to judicially review infected blood compensation scheme – UK Human Rights Blog

‘CN v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care [2022] EWCA Civ 86. In a judgment handed down on 4 February 2022, the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal for permission to apply for judicial review concerning the lawfulness of the England Infected Blood Support Scheme (EIBSS) (the “Scheme”). The Court of Appeal concluded that the Scheme’s exclusion of those infected with hepatitis B was not discriminatory. In any event, the Secretary of State’s justification for who was to be compensated under the ex gratia Scheme was to be given a wide margin of appreciation by the courts.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 21st February 2022

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Reforms to protect disabled and LGBT+ victims, criminalise extremist misogynist ‘incel’ hate material, and safeguard free speech – Family Law

‘The Law Commission has announced recommendations to reform hate crime legislation to ensure that disabled and LGBT+ victims receive the same protections as victims with other protected characteristics (race and religion). If enacted, the reforms would ensure all five characteristics are protected equally by the law.’

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Family Law, 27th January 2022

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

‘The present proceedings should never have been brought.’ ASB and disability discrimination. – Nearly Legal

‘Rosebery Housing Association Ltd v Williams & Anor (2021) EW Misc 22 (CC). Applications for injunctions under Part 1 of ASBCPA 2014 seem to be all the rage at moment, so it is refreshing to read the judgment in Rosebery Housing Association v Williams which was handed down by HHJ Luba QC late last year. The judgment provides a helpful list of what-not-to-do in situations where there are allegations of anti-social behaviour levelled at a disabled tenant, particularly where the tenant has made serious allegations of her own.’

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Nearly Legal, 16th January 2022

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Government breached duty over solicitor-judge’s disability struggles – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The government has been criticised by an employment tribunal for a “lack of coordination and pre-planning” that resulted in a solicitor-judge bringing a disability discrimination challenge against the justice secretary over her struggles to secure reasonable adjustments.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 17th January 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Dudley mum’s legal fight over autistic son’s conviction – BBC News

‘The mother of an autistic man jailed for robbery says she is fighting to clear his name after the justice system failed to understand his disability. Joan Martin said 23-year-old Osime Brown’s autism meant he was incapable of committing the offence, and claims he was not given fair process. She is working with lawyers, who allege institutional discrimination, to overturn a “miscarriage of justice”.’

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BBC News, 10th January 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

London borough’s housing allocation policy in breach of Equality Act, Ombudsman finds – Local Government Lawyer

‘A mother of two disabled children has successfully brought a complaint against Greenwich Council after a Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigation found the local authority’s social housing allocation policy disadvantaged the family.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 6th January 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court: Differential standards on abortion time-limits do not breach the human rights of disabled persons – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In Crowter & Ors, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for Health And Social Care [2021] EWHC 2536 (Admin), the High Court considered the lawfulness of the provision in the Abortion Act 1967 which permits termination of a foetus after 24 weeks where there is a substantial risk that, if born, a child would be “seriously handicapped”.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 25th October 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Menopausal symptoms and disability – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Employment Appeal Tribunal has given its first ruling on menopausal symptoms and disability in a case involving a city council. Jog Hundle considers the judgment.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Martin v City and County of Swansea – Equality Law Blog

Posted October 14th, 2021 in disability discrimination, employment tribunals, equality, news by sally

‘The decision of the EAT in this case provides a useful reminder of the proper approach to the PCP in reasonable adjustment claims. EAT (judge James Tayler, sitting alone) ruled that an employment tribunal had erred in law in rejecting the claimant’s attempt to rely on, as a PCP, a Management of Absence Policy which included discretion which would have permitted, amongst other steps, the claimant’s redeployment to an alternative role. The Tribunal had ruled that the application of the policy to the claimant did not constitute the application of a PCP that placed her at a substantial disadvantage in comparison with non-disabled persons.’

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Equality Law Blog, 13th October 2021

Source: equalitylawblog.com

Judges Rule Abortion Law On Disability Does Not Violate Human Rights – Each Other

Posted September 29th, 2021 in abortion, birth, disability discrimination, disabled persons, equality, human rights, news by sally

‘The High Court has ruled against a legal challenge from a woman with Down’s syndrome which argued that permitting abortion up until birth for a foetus with certain disabilities is unlawfully discriminatory.’

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Each Other, 28th September 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

Government faces legal challenge from pupil with SEN over “unfair” use of PCR testing in schools – Local Government Lawyer

‘The parents of a 15-year-old pupil with special educational needs and disabilities have instructed lawyers to challenge the lawfulness of government guidance to schools on Covid-19 testing, arguing that it should be urgently revised to enable pupils with disabilities to take less intrusive saliva tests.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th September 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

To jab or not to jab? Covid vaccination dilemmas – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The main challenges to compulsory vaccination policies come from unfair dismissal and discrimination law. Unfair dismissal claims are available to employees with two years’ service. Claims would hinge upon the issue of whether an employee’s refusal to comply with a vaccination policy is a ‘substantial reason’ sufficient to justify their dismissal.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 27th September 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Woman with Down’s loses abortion law fight – BBC News

‘A woman with Down’s syndrome has lost her High Court challenge over a law that allows abortion up to birth for a foetus with the condition.’

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BBC News, 23rd September 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tribunal declines to strike out pupillage discrimination claim – The Guardian

‘An employment tribunal has refused to strike out a claim that a chambers discriminated against a pupillage applicant even though it has “little reasonable chance” of succeeding.’

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Legal Futures, 21st September 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judge rules Little Mix concert promoter discriminated against group of deaf mothers at 2017 concert – The Independent

‘A judge has ruled that a concert promoter for Little Mix discriminated against a group of deaf mothers in 2017.’

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The Independent, 17th September 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk