‘The Supreme Court has ruled against three leading newspaper groups over having to pay claimants’ success fees and after-the-event insurance under the pre-LASPO regime, saying that the media’s rights under the European Convention on Human Rights were not engaged as critically as the rights of those suing them.’
Litigation Futures, 11th April 2017
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
‘Employment tribunal fees were ‘a barrier to victims seeking justice when they have suffered human rights abuses’, according to an influential group of MPs. The House of Commons’ joint committee on human rights have added their collective voice to the justice and equalities committees in calling on the Government to cut the charges introduced in 2013.’
Legal Voice, 11th April 2017
Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk
‘Employment tribunal fees create impunity to bosses abusing human rights, parliamentarians have said, accusing the Ministry of Justice of complacency on some of the barriers faced by people seeking access to justice.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 6th April 2017
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Government plans to raise £300m by increasing probate fees – payable when claiming inheritances – may not be legally enforceable, a parliamentary committee has said. A report by the joint committee on statutory instruments has suggested that the Ministry of Justice may not have the authority to introduce the charges of up to £20,000 per estate.’
The Guardian, 6th April 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Transitional provisions allowing the recoverability of solicitors’ success fees and an after the event (ATE) insurance premium after April 2013 extend to where the policy is assigned, and where the case is later appealed, the Supreme Court has ruled.’
OUT-LAW.com, 31st March 2017
Source: www.out-law.com
‘R (o.t.a Minton Morrill Solicitors) v. The Lord Chancellor [2017] EWHC 612 (Admin) 24 March 2017, Kerr J. This exam-style question arose, in an attempt by solicitors to be paid by the Legal Aid Agency for some work they had done on two applications to Strasbourg. The underlying cases were housing, the first an attempt to stave off possession proceedings, and the second the determination of whether an offer of “bricks and mortar” accommodation to an Irish traveller was one of “suitable accommodation”. Both applications were declared inadmissible by the European Court of Human Rights, and thus could not benefit from that Court’s own legal aid system.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 30th March 2017
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘The Supreme Court has allowed the recovery of a pre-LASPO success fee and after-the-event (ATE) premium where the conditional fee agreement (CFA) and insurance had to be extended after 1 April 2013 to cover appeals.’
Litigation Futures, 29th March 2017
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
‘Older people who have moved into retirement leasehold properties could be being hit with unfair fees worth thousands of pounds, according to the Law Commission.’
Law Commission, 31st March 2017
Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission
‘Steep rises in fees for bringing unfair dismissal claims at employment tribunals – which have led to a 70% fall in the number of cases – are to be challenged at the UK’s highest court.’
The Guardian, 27th march 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘On 3rd February 2017 the Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2017 were made. The majority of these rules will come into force on 6th April 2017.’
Zenith PI, 28th February 2017
Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com
‘The Ministry of Justice has confirmed a massive overhaul in probate charges, which will see some estates charged up to £20,000. From May this year, subject to parliamentary approval, the MoJ is planning to introduce a sliding scale of charges for probate fees to replace the current flat fees.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 27th February 2017
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The BBC has ordered an urgent investigation into the behaviour of television licence fee collectors amid allegations they are using underhand tactics and aggressive incentive schemes to catch evaders.’
Daily Telegraph, 27th February 2017
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
‘The criminal defence community cannot absorb any more legal aid fee cuts, the Law Society and practitioner groups have told the government, which this week suggested that it will press ahead with controversial proposals.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 24th February 2017
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘In January 2016 I discussed the case of Lewis v Ward Hadaway [2015] EWCA 3503 (Ch) and the possible avenues for Defendants to counter a practice which was at least perceived to be increasing of Claimant solicitors issuing Claim Forms for values below the actual value of the claim, in order to delay the payment of higher Court Fees.’
Park Square Barristers, 13th January 2017
Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk
‘Councils in England have paid out more than £35m in compensation and legal fees in the past five years to tenants living in “unfit” council homes.’
BBC News, 14th February 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Two parents fighting legal battles for custody of their children paid thousands of pounds to a company providing “McKenzie friends” – people with no legal training who assist in court. But they were badly let down.’
BBC News, 13th February 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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