SRA in reminder on litigation obligations, warns against being ‘hired gun’ – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority has issued a reminder to solicitors to adhere to all their professional obligations when engaged in litigation, “and not to become ‘hired guns’ just carrying out instructions that are in the best interests of clients”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 27th November 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Teen jailed over friends’ Basshunter gig MDMA deaths – BBC News

Posted November 30th, 2018 in drug trafficking, news, sentencing, young offenders by sally

‘A teenager has been jailed for supplying the MDMA that killed two of his friends.’

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BBC News, 29th November 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

A third of prisons hold at least one transgender inmate, MoJ says – The Guardian

Posted November 30th, 2018 in news, prisons, statistics, transgender persons by sally

‘More than a third of prisons in England and Wales hold at least one transgender inmate, official statistics have revealed.’

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The Guardian, 30th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

No implied sanction for failure to serve medical report – Litigation Futures

Posted November 29th, 2018 in appeals, civil procedure rules, news, personal injuries, sanctions, service by sally

‘There is no implied sanction for failing to serve a medical report, the High Court has ruled, reinstating a complex personal injury claim which had been struck out.’

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Litigation Futures, 29th November 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Courts Bill: judges will decide what powers they farm out, says Gauke – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 29th, 2018 in bills, courts, judiciary, legal services, news, standards by sally

‘The independence of the judiciary will be retained despite some of their functions being delegated to court staff without legal qualifications, the government has promised MPs.
Speaking yesterday during the second reading of the Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Bill, justice secretary David Gauke said measures will provide the flexibility and responsiveness needed within the court system.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 28th November 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Home Secretary gives backing to police who ram scooter criminals – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 29th, 2018 in motorcycles, news, police, statistics by sally

‘he Home Secretary has offered his backing to police who ram moped thieves from their scooters saying it is “exactly what we need”.’

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Daily Telegraph, 28th November 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Home Office admits it has made no attempt to inform Commonwealth deportees about Windrush taskforce – The Independent

‘The Home Office has made no attempt to inform people deported to Commonwealth countries that the Windrush taskforce exists, prompting concerns that people who were wrongly removed do not know they can have their cases looked into.’

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The Independent, 28th November 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Gay rugby player facing deportation allowed to leave holding centre – The Guardian

Posted November 29th, 2018 in bail, deportation, homosexuality, immigration, news, tribunals by sally

‘A gay rugby player who is facing deportation to Kenya, where he says he will be persecuted because of his sexuality, has been granted bail allowing him to leave the immigration centre where he was being held.’

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The Guardian, 28th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Asylum seekers ‘too afraid’ to seek NHS care, report says – The Guardian

Posted November 29th, 2018 in asylum, data protection, health, human rights, immigration, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Asylum seekers who need NHS care have been left in “considerable fear” because of the government’s “hostile environment” policies, according to the human rights watchdog.
In a highly critical report the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) says people have gone without medical help since ministers forced the NHS in England to impose upfront charges to access care last year.’

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The Guardian, 28th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Former postman wrongfully convicted of attempted rape to sue police force over forensic failings – The Independent

‘A former postman who was wrongly convicted of attempted rape is suing West Mercia police after it emerged that the force had failed to detect another man’s DNA on the victim’s clothing.’

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The Independent, 28th November 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Rogue landlords: 90% of local authorities fail to issue fines – The Guardian

Posted November 29th, 2018 in enforcement, fines, housing, landlord & tenant, local government, news, statistics by sally

‘Almost 90% of local authorities failed to use new powers to fine rogue landlords last year, in the latest finding to suggest tenants are being failed by a lax enforcement regime.’

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The Guardian, 29th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Services at scandal-hit Shrewsbury and Telford hospitals ‘inadequate’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 29th, 2018 in codes of practice, hospitals, news, ombudsmen, pregnancy, standards by sally

‘A hospital trust at the centre of a maternity care scandal has been criticised by health inspectors in a new report.’

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Daily Telegraph, 29th November 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Online gambling firms fined in crackdown – BBC News

‘Three online casino companies have been fined and one has been prevented from operating in the UK following a crackdown by the industry regulator. The Gambling Commission has fined three firms almost £14m for not having “effective safeguards” to prevent money laundering and harm to customers from gambling.’

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BBC News, 29th November 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Watchdog to launch investigation into UK funerals over ‘unjustified’ price hikes – The Independent

Posted November 29th, 2018 in bereavement, budgets, burials and cremation, competition, news, statistics by sally

‘The UK funeral market could be the subject of the competition watchdog’s next investigation, after the regulator said it had “serious concerns” with the sector due to “unjustified” price hikes of more than 66 per cent over the last 10 years.’

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The Independent, 29th November 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Workshy dairy farmer son who ‘hates cows’ loses out on £1m inheritance – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 29th, 2018 in agriculture, families, news, wills by sally

‘A dairy farmer’s workshy son who “hated the herd” and “made cows nervous” will be thrown out of his home after losing a High Court claim to inherit his parents’ £1million farm.’

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Daily Telegraph, 29th November 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Man who bit police officer is first person to be jailed under new law to protect emergency workers – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 28th, 2018 in assault, emergency services, guilty pleas, news, sentencing by sally

‘A landscape gardener who bit a police officer has become the first person to be jailed under new laws to protect emergency workers.’

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Daily Telegraph, 28th November 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

“All you need is fraud?”: stays of execution and adjudication enforcement – Practical Law: Construction Blog

Posted November 28th, 2018 in dispute resolution, enforcement, fraud, news, stay of execution by sally

‘Earlier this year, Fraser J gave a significant judgment in which he: confirmed the circumstances in which fraud could be a successful ground to resist the enforcement of an adjudicator’s decision; developed a new circumstance, or principle, in which a stay of execution of an adjudicator’s decision may be granted. This post focuses on, and analyses in further detail, Fraser J’s so-called “principle (g)”.’

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Practical Law: Construction Blog, 28th November 2018

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com

Men jailed for selling unlicensed medicines to sick patients – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted November 28th, 2018 in licensing, medicines, news, sentencing by sally

‘Four people who manufactured and sold an unlicensed drug to patients suffering from conditions including cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV and autism have been sentenced today (27 November).’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 27th November 2018

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Solicitors warned about acting as ‘hired guns’ for dubious clients – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Regulators have vowed to take action against any solicitor found to have neglected their wider obligations simply to keep a client happy.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 27th November 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Solicitors win on appeal over status of costs bills – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 28th, 2018 in appeals, costs, law firms, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed a challenge from a law firm whose former clients wanted a full assessment of more than £200,000 in billed costs. Lord Justice Newey overturned a High Court ruling which had held that a statute bill served by a law firm should contain details of disbursements.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 28th November 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk