EU’s highest court delivers blow to UK snooper’s charter – The Guardian

‘“General and indiscriminate retention” of emails and electronic communications by governments is illegal, the EU’s highest court has ruled, in a judgment that could trigger challenges against the UK’s new Investigatory Powers Act – the so-called snooper’s charter.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Applications to appeal patent rulings should no longer be given easy passage – Litigation Futures

Posted December 21st, 2016 in appeals, civil procedure rules, courts, news, patents by sally

‘The principle outlined in the White Book that the Court of Appeal should more readily grant permission to appeal in patent cases no longer holds good, it ruled last week.’

Full story

litigation Futures, 20th December 2016

Source: www.litgationfutures.com

MoJ plan to impose fixed-term contracts on judges “could be unlawful” – Legal Futures

Posted December 21st, 2016 in diversity, fees, fixed-term contracts, judges, judiciary, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘Plans by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to impose fixed-term contracts on fee- paid judges could be unlawful, the Bar Council has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 21st December 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Committee aims for smaller House of Lords – BBC News

Posted December 21st, 2016 in news, parliament by sally

‘A cross-party group of peers has been set up to come up with ways to reduce the size of the House of Lords.’

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BBC News, 20th December 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

GP and health boss get suspended sentences for £153k fraud – BBC News

Posted December 21st, 2016 in doctors, fraud, health, news by sally

‘A GP and a senior health manager who fraudulently invoiced the NHS for £153,600 have been sentenced.’

Full story

BBC News, 20th December 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Watchdogs release damning reports on Marie Stopes abortion clinics – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 21st, 2016 in abortion, charities, consent, health, learning difficulties, news, reports by sally

‘Staff at Britain’s biggest abortion provider tried to give a vulnerable woman a termination even though she did not understand what was going on, a damning report has found.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 20th December 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Gangmasters agree to pay more than £1m to settle modern slavery claim – The Guardian

‘A Kent-based gangmaster couple have agreed to a landmark settlement worth more than £1m in compensation and legal costs for a group of migrants who were trafficked to work on farms producing eggs for high street brands.’

Full story

The Guardian, 20th December 2016

Source; www.guardian.co.uk

Couple who sacked housekeeper who let boyfriend stay at £10m mansion and drove Porsche when they were away ordered to pay him £8,000 – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 21st, 2016 in employment tribunals, judgments, news, unfair dismissal by sally

‘A housekeeper who drove his millionaire bosses’ Porsche and had his boyfriend to stay at their home was unfairly sacked because his employers did not follow the correct procedures, a tribunal has ruled.’

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Daily Telegraph, 20th December 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

New terms and conditions for judges will hinder diversity – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 20th, 2016 in consultations, diversity, judiciary, news, tribunals by sally

‘Government proposals to increase the diversity of the judiciary and improve career prospects could be counter-productive, the Law Society warned today.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 20th December 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Foreign Adoptions: how and in what circumstances should they be afforded recognition? – Family Law Week

Posted December 20th, 2016 in adoption, families, foreign jurisdictions, human rights, news by sally

‘Michael Jones of Deans Court Chambers examines recent important decisions concerning the recognition of adoption orders made abroad.’

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Family Law Week, 16th December 2016

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Human cannonball stunt death boss gets community service – BBC News

Posted December 20th, 2016 in accidents, community service, costs, fines, health & safety, news, sentencing by sally

‘The organiser of a daredevil stunt show in which a “human cannonball” died has been given a 12-month community order and his firm fined £100,000.’

Full story

BBC News, 20th December 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Turn off life support for police officer, judge rules – The Guardian

Posted December 20th, 2016 in euthanasia, medical treatment, news, police by sally

‘Doctors should stop providing life support treatment to a police officer who was left in a minimally conscious state after a road accident, a judge has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 20th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

John ‘Goldfinger’ Palmer was ‘unlawfully killed’ – BBC News

Posted December 20th, 2016 in inquests, murder, news, unlawful killing by sally

‘Notorious criminal John “Goldfinger” Palmer was shot six times in a “contract-style” killing, an inquest has heard.’

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BBC News, 20th December 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Time to comply – New Law Journal

Posted December 20th, 2016 in case management, civil procedure rules, damages, delay, news by sally

‘Julia Messervy-Whiting & Sofia Lobosco outline the importance of compliance with court orders, directions and CPR.’

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New Law Journal, 19th December 2016

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Gangmasters agree payout worth more than £1m to settle modern slavery claim – The Guardian

Posted December 20th, 2016 in compensation, costs, gangmasters, news, trafficking in human beings by sally

‘A Kent-based gangmaster couple have agreed to a landmark settlement worth more than £1m in compensation and legal costs for a group of migrants who were trafficked to work on farms producing eggs for high street brands.’

Full story

The Guardian, 20th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

High Court rules fracking can go ahead in North Yorkshire – BBC News

Posted December 20th, 2016 in energy, environmental protection, fracking, news, planning by sally

‘Anti-fracking campaigners have lost their legal challenge to a decision to allow fracking to take place in North Yorkshire.’

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BBC News, 20th December 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Demand for free legal advice spiralling upwards, charity reports – Legal Futures

Posted December 20th, 2016 in families, law centres, law firms, news, pro bono work, reports by sally

‘There is fast-growing growing demand for free legal advice, with family law now the most requested area of law, according to the experience of LawWorks, the solicitors’ national pro bono charity.’

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Legal Futures, 19th December 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Deciphering Article 50 – Brexit means… podcast – The Guardian

Posted December 20th, 2016 in brexit, EC law, news, treaties by sally

‘Jon Henley is joined by Jolyon Maugham, Philip Syrpis, Jennifer Rankin and Owen Bowcott to discuss the legal challenges to the government’s use of Article 50, and how the EU will interpret the Lisbon Treaty’s exit mechanism in the coming negotiations.’

Podcast

The Guardian, 20th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

HMP Birmingham riot shows public and private jails are in crisis – The Guardian

Posted December 20th, 2016 in criminal justice, drug abuse, news, prisons, violent disorder by sally

‘It is no surprise that the prison authorities are closely monitoring every jail in England and Wales for signs of potential unrest after the riot at HMP Birmingham on Friday.’

Full story

The Guardian, 19th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ticket resale websites run risk of fines after CMA launches inquiry – The Guardian

Posted December 20th, 2016 in competition, consumer protection, inquiries, internet, news by sally

‘Ticket resale websites and the touts who use them could be fined after the competition watchdog launched an investigation into how the best seats are harvested and then sold on at huge mark-ups before fans can buy them at face value.’

Full story

The Guardian, 19th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk