Ben Ashman: Man who ran over stepmother at wedding jailed – BBC News
‘A man who repeatedly drove over his stepmother in a drunken rage at a wedding has been jailed for six years.’
BBC News, 11th June 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: families
Family of black man who died in UK police custody speak out – The Guardian
‘The family of a black man who died in police custody in Devon last month have said they still have no idea of the circumstances that led to his death and are demanding answers.’
The Guardian, 12th June 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
M v M – more than just costs by Nick Power – Broadway House Chambers
‘The recent flurry of legal observers commenting on the eye-watering and disproportionate costs incurred in this case such that out of £630,000 liquid capital, £594,000 had been spent on costs has justifiably attracted much attention. There is however, within this case, an incredibly helpful analysis for practitioners as to when, and in what manner, the court can have regard to family support which may be available in the future for the parties.’
Broadway House Chambers, 10th June 2020
Source: broadwayhouse.co.uk
Racism campaigners call for police watchdog to be abolished – The Guardian
‘Black families in the UK whose loved ones have died in incidents involving the police have called for the abolition of the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which investigates the police, and the immediate suspension of officers involved in deaths as part of a new plan to address systemic racism and unlawful killings.’
The Guardian, 14th June 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Domestic Abuse Bill: Misogyny should be treated as a hate crime, say MPs – BBC News
‘A group of women MPs and charities are urging the government to treat misogyny as a hate crime within the government’s new domestic abuse laws.’
BBC News, 11th June 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Pensions in Needs-Based Financial Remedy Proceedings – Becket Chambers
‘The issue of pensions in financial remedy proceedings is a complex area and has been subject to much change over the years. As many of you will be aware, the Pension Advisory Group (“PAG”) published a comprehensive report, “A Guide to the Treatment of Pensions on Divorce” in July 2019. It was a much-welcomed publication that provided definitive guidance on the approach to pensions in financial remedy proceedings.’
Becket Chamber, 11th June 2020
Source: becket-chambers.co.uk
Matt Hancock faces legal action from daughter of Covid-19 care home victim – The Guardian
‘Matt Hancock is facing legal action from the daughter of a man who died from Covid-19 in a care home in which the health secretary is accused of a “litany of failures” and misleading the public with his claim to have “thrown a protective ring” around care homes.’
The Guardian, 12th June 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Ellie Mitten and Sophie Phillips discuss whether schools and universities are offering ‘reasonable’ alternatives and the meaning of the recent guidance. – Park Square Barristers
‘As the lockdown has progressed, it has become evident that the remote learning services being offered are of differing standards between institutions, with some offering services which are far superior to others. This is particularly so in the case of independent schools. Some independent schools are effectively offering pupils a full timetable, with plenty of contact time with teachers and opportunities to review work and consolidate learning. In contrast, other schools are offering little to no contact time with teachers – disseminating worksheets or PowerPoint presentations, but expecting parents to supervise and effectively teach topics, or for the child to be able to learn independently.’
Park Square Barristers, 4th June 2020
Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk
Family Law Newsletter #33 – Spire Barristers
‘Issue #33 of Spire Barristers’ Family Law Newsletter: edited by Connie Purdy and Taz Irshad; news and Case Reviews by Georgina Dalton. Georgina commences pupillage at Spire Barristers in September 2020.’
Spire Barristers, 2nd June 2020
Source: spirebarristers.co.uk
Guidance from the High Court on adjournments in care proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic (A Local Authority v Mother and Ors) – 1 GC: Family Law
‘Liz Andrews, barrister at 1|GC Family Law reviews the judgment in A Local Authority v The Mother and others where Williams J was required to determine, in light of the guidance of the President of the Family Division alongside the recent decisions concerning adjournments during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, whether a fact-finding hearing taking place within long-running care proceedings was to continue following the conclusion of expert evidence and, if so, in what form, or whether the hearing should be adjourned to allow the lay parties to give evidence in person.’
1 GC: Family Law, 5th June 2020
Source: 1gc.com
Court of Appeal considers the cardinal points for remote hearings during the coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic (Re A (children) and Re B (Children)) – 1 GC: Family Law
‘On consecutive days, the Court of Appeal, which included the President of the Family Division, considered two decisions of the lower courts to conduct remote hearings, Re A in relation to a final hearing as to care and placement orders and Re B regarding an interim care order with a plan for removal. Matthew Fletcher, barrister at 1|GC Family Law, compares and contrasts the two decisions and analyses whether common threads emerge that could assist practitioners in advising clients and making submissions to the court as to whether a case is suitable for a remote hearing.’
1 GC: Family Law, 4th June 2020
Source: 1gc.com
Vaccination – No ‘biggie’ but still ‘a big deal’ – Transparency Project
‘Here, in the midst of a public health emergency, is an important Court of Appeal decision about immunisation.’
Transparency Project, 10th June 2020
Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk
Family President predicts “very radical reduction” in amount of time that courts afford to each hearing – Local Government Lawyer
‘It is unlikely that anything approaching a return to the normal court working environment will be achieved before the end of 2020 “or even the spring of 2021”, the President of the Family Division has said.’
Local Government Lawyer, 9th June 2020
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
The Children’s Guardian – should they ever be removed from or replaced in family proceedings? – KCH Garden Sq
‘IIt is not uncommon for parents in family proceedings to allege that the children’s guardian (guardian) is biased against them, for a variety of reasons. They may suggest that the guardian has taken against them or will not listen, or simply doesn’t believe them. With careful client management this can usually be handled and advised upon.’
KCH Garden Sq, 9th June 2020
Source: kchgardensquare.co.uk
Success fees in 1975 Act claims: SH v NH [2020] EWHC 1134 – New Square Chambers
‘The Family Division has determined that a claimant’s success fee should be awarded to her as part of her award under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.’
New Square Chambers, June 2020
Source: www.newsquarechambers.co.uk
Mother of boy killed by dangerous dog in caravan jailed for two years – The Guardian
‘The mother of a nine-year-old boy who was fatally attacked by her friend’s “extremely powerful” dog in a caravan on a Cornish holiday park has been jailed for two years.’
The Guardian, 9th June 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Appeal allowed against Strike out of Secondary Victim claims arising out of Clinical Negligence – St John’s Chambers
‘In November 2019 Master Cook had struck out the secondary victim claims brought by the Claimants as a result of witnessing the heart attack and subsequent death of their father some 14 ½ months after the alleged negligent omission of the Defendant Trust. This was on the basis that the claims were bound to fail on a strict application of binding authorities including Taylor -v- A. Novo [2014] QB 150 because the shocking event in question was not proximate in time to the breach of duty. In Taylor v A. Novo the Court of Appeal had dismissed a secondary victim claim where the claimant’s mother had been injured by a falling stack of boards due to the negligence of a colleague at work and had subsequently collapsed and died at home as result of deep vein thrombosis secondary to the accident. The claimant witnessed her mother collapsing at home but not the accident itself. Her claim failed on proximity because the death of the claimant’s mother was not the relevant shocking “event”, which was the accident itself, and so the control mechanisms were not satisfied.’
St John's Chambers, 4th June 2020
Source: www.stjohnschambers.co.uk
Neville Lawrence: black people still second-class citizens in Britain – The Guardian
‘Father of Stephen Lawrence says police’s promises to change have not been met.’
The Guardian, 9th June 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
After Sally Challen, we now have a chance to tackle coercive control – The Guardian
‘The domestic abuse bill offers a once-in-a-generation chance to change our approach says the son of the woman whose conviction for murdering her husband was quashed.’
The Guardian, 7th June 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Justice Secretary seeks to block decision to release rapist serving life sentence – Daily Telegraph
‘The Justice Secretary is seeking to block the decision to release a rapist serving a life sentence from prison, after the victim’s family only learned of the plans through a journalist.’
Daily Telegraph, 5th June 2020
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
