Judge attacks legal aid cuts as couple fight to keep their son – The Independent

‘One of Britain’s most senior judges has launched a withering attack on cuts to legal aid after a couple with learning disabilities was not provided with a lawyer to fight the forced adoption of their two-year-old son.’

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The Independent, 31st October 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Farmer David Doran jailed for enslaving ‘vulnerable’ man for 13 years – The Independent

Posted October 27th, 2014 in forced labour, learning difficulties, news, sentencing by sally

‘A horse breeder who forced a vulnerable man to work on his farm for 13 years without pay has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.’

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The Independent, 24th October 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Cognitive Deficit, Capacity And Quantum: A fresh look at how to approach cognitive deficit in PI claims – Zenith PI Blog

Posted October 21st, 2014 in appeals, citizenship, fraud, learning difficulties, news, personal injuries by sally

‘The Court of Appeal found a significant cognitive deficit, and consequent lack of capacity, notwithstanding recent evidence of minimal cognitive dysfunction, resulting in damages of equivalent to £2.3 million on a full liability basis.’

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Zenith PI Blog, 21st October 2014

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

Denial of legal aid in Court of Protection cases “a false economy”, says judge – Local Government Lawyer

‘Denying individuals legal aid for complex Court of Protection cases is a false economy, a High Court judge has warned.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th October 2014

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

European Convention on Human Rights: What has it ever done for us? – The Independent

‘As the Tories attempt to dilute the treaty’s authority in the UK, James Cusick takes a look at the difference it has made.’

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The Independent, 3rd October 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Court of Protection judge slams council for depriving autistic woman of her liberty – Local Government Lawyer

‘A judge has accused a county council of “a systemic failure” in a strongly-worded ruling in which he found the authority to have wrongfully deprived a 19-year-old autistic woman of her liberty and breached her human rights.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th September 2014

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Four guilty of killing Dean Mayley in Greenford mugging – BBC News

‘Four teenagers have been convicted at the Old Bailey of killing a man with a mental age of nine who was stabbed during a mugging in west London.’

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BBC News, 28th August 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Parents accused of ’emotionally harming’ child by not naming him, win right to appeal – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 4th, 2014 in adoption, appeals, care homes, children, learning difficulties, names, news by sally

‘A couple from Hertfordshire who had their five-month-old baby taken off them because they refused to name him, have won the right to appeal the decision.’

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Daily Telegraph, 1st August 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Regina (OP) v Secretary of State for Justice (Just for Kids Law intervening) – WLR Daily

Regina (OP) v Secretary of State for Justice (Just for Kids Law intervening) [2014] EWHC 1944 (Admin); [2014] WLR (D) 348

‘It might be a necessary requirement to provide a full registered (rather than non-registered) intermediary when an individual of special vulnerability, who was in jeopardy by reason of being before the courts upon criminal accusation, came to give evidence, as such a person should be put in the best position to do themselves justice.’

WLR Daily, 13th June 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

High Court makes adoption call for baby with no name – BBC News

Posted May 27th, 2014 in adoption, care orders, learning difficulties, names, news, social services by sally

‘A baby with no name is to be placed for adoption after a High Court judge highlighted concerns about his father’s hostility to social workers.’

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BBC News, 25th May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Joss Stone murder plotters’ jail sentences reduced – The Guardian

Posted May 20th, 2014 in appeals, conspiracy, learning difficulties, murder, news, robbery, sentencing by sally

‘The jail sentences of two men who plotted to rob and kill the pop singer Joss Stone have been reduced by the appeal court.’

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The Guardian, 20th May 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Closure of Hartley’s Day Centre in Shrewsbury ‘unlawful’ – BBC News

‘A council’s decision to close a day centre without proper consultation was unlawful, judges have ruled.’

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BBC News, 4th April 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court calls for ‘love coach’ to help vulnerable man find happiness – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 4th, 2014 in Court of Protection, learning difficulties, news by sally

‘Man with learning difficulties should be coached on how to behave before he goes out in search of a partner, Court of Protection judge says.’

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Daily Telegraph, 4th April 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Disabled patients ‘have right to liberty’, Supreme Court rules – BBC News

‘Disabled people have the same right to “physical liberty” as others, one of the UK’s most senior judges has said. Lady Hale, deputy president of the Supreme Court, said the state had a duty to uphold that right and to cater for disabled people.’

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BBC News, 19th March 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rape of vulnerable women ‘has been effectively decriminalised’ – The Independent

‘Rape of vulnerable women, especially those with learning difficulties, has effectively been “decriminalised”, according to a research academic employed by the country’s largest police force.’

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The Independent, 28th February 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Regina v Avanzi – WLR Daily

Regina v Avanzi [2014] extempore; [2014] WLR (D) 55

‘When at issue, the burden of proving incapacity under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 fell on the party asserting it, namely the Crown, who had to discharge the burden to the criminal standard of proof and make the jury sure the complainant did not have the capacity to consent.’

WLR Daily, 6th February 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Offenders with learning disabilities ‘not supported’ – BBC News

Posted January 30th, 2014 in Crown Prosecution Service, learning difficulties, news, police, probation, reports by sally

‘Offenders with learning disabilities are not getting the support they need from police, probation and prosecution services, an inspection has found.’

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BBC News, 30th January 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court of Appeal agrees to hear day centre closures case – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 16th, 2014 in appeals, care homes, consultations, learning difficulties, local government, news by tracey

‘Claimants seeking to stop the closure of day centres in Shropshire have this week been given permission to take their case to the Court of Appeal.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th January 2014

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Council fends off High Court challenge over day centre closure – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 14th, 2014 in appeals, care homes, consultations, learning difficulties, local government, news by tracey

‘A High Court judge has rejected a judicial review challenge to a local authority’s decision to close a day centre for adults with a learning disability.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th January 2014

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Sickness benefits legal challenge to continue – BBC News

‘Two people with mental health problems can continue their challenge against government tests for sickness benefit, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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BBC News, 4th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk