Damning report exposes NHS secrecy in breast cancer scandal – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 19th, 2013 in cancer, doctors, health, hospitals, inquiries, news, reports by sally

‘Hundreds of women were put at risk of breast cancer as “weak and indecisive” bosses at scandal-hit hospital covered up failings by a charismatic surgeon despite repeated warnings, an inquiry has found.’

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Daily Telegraph, 19th December 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

 

UK ‘was inappropriately involved in rendition’ – BBC News

Posted December 19th, 2013 in inquiries, intelligence services, news, rendition, reports, select committees, terrorism by sally

‘There is evidence Britain was inappropriately involved in the rendition and ill-treatment of terror suspects, an inquiry has revealed.’

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BBC News, 19th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

What comes first – Mitchell ruling or part 36? – Litigtation Futures

Posted December 19th, 2013 in budgets, civil procedure rules, news, part 36 offers by sally

‘The questions raised by the Mitchell ruling, such as the effect on a part 36 offer of a budget being disallowed, are already emerging as the impact of the Court of Appeal’s decision is felt. Barrister Barry Havenhand of Clerksroom has supplied Litigation Futures with details of one case where the failure to file a budget in sufficient time saw the defendant’s budget restricted to its court fees, as in Mitchell.’

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Litigation Futures, 17th December 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

High Court refuses relief after bid to serve late witness statement but issues “note of caution” – Litigation Futures

Posted December 19th, 2013 in civil procedure rules, news, time limits, witnesses by sally

‘The High Court has issued guidance on how to serve late witness statements in certain circumstances without falling foul of the Mitchell ruling, after refusing relief from sanction when a party tried to do just that on the first day of trial.’

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Litigtation Futures, 19th December 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Criminal law barristers urged to embrace new business structures to survive – Legal Futures

Posted December 19th, 2013 in alternative business structures, barristers, competition, legal services, news by sally

‘Criminal law barristers need to consider significant changes to their business models if they are to remain competitive, the Legal Services Board (LSB) has argued. In its submission to the Ministry of Justice-commissioned Jeffrey review of the provision of independent criminal advocacy, the LSB identified continued market liberalisation as one of the reasons the government did not need to intervene.’

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Legal Futures, 18th December 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Anonymity Part 2: Child personal injury cases – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 19th, 2013 in anonymity, children, news, personal injuries, reporting restrictions by sally

‘JXMX (A Child) v Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust [2013] EWHC 3956 (QB). In Part 1 on this subject, I discussed medical confidentiality and/or legal restrictions designed to protect the privacy of a mother and child. This case raises the question in a slightly different guise, namely whether the court should make an order that the claimant be identified by letters of the alphabet, and whether there should be other derogations from open justice in the guise of an anonymity order, in a claim for personal injuries by a child or protected party which comes before the court for the approval of a settlement.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 19th December 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

No rational basis for denying all prisoners the vote, concludes joint Parliamentary Committee – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 19th, 2013 in bills, elections, human rights, news, prisons, reports by sally

‘The Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Draft Voting Eligibility (Prisoners) Bill today published its report.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 18th December 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Scientology, University Unrest and Right to Die – the Human Rights Roundup – UK Human Rights Blog

‘This week, the Church of Scientology registered a win of sorts in the Supreme Court, while London’s biggest university said no to occupational student protests just as others were contemplating the possibility of gender-segregated talks  Meanwhile, the Home Secretary puts forward her answer to modern day slavery, while the Joint Committee on Human Rights puts pressure on Chris Grayling regarding the proposed legal aid reforms.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 16th December 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Mike Gordon: Constitutional Reform under the Coalition Government – UK Constitutional Law Group

Posted December 19th, 2013 in constitutional reform, news, parliamentary papers by sally

‘The Government’s response to the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee’s (PCRC) report Do we need a constitutional convention for the UK? is in many ways a rather unremarkable document (Cm 8749, November 2013). The PCRC’s report (Fourth Report of Session 2012-13, HC 371) was published on 28th March 2013, and concluded that there was “a need to consider both how the increasingly devolved parts of the Union interact with each other, and what we, as residents of the UK, want the Union to look like going forward”. As a result the PCRC suggested that the Government “consider, among other options, preparations for a UK-wide constitutional convention, including decisions about its form and organisation, and the process of calling for evidence”, which would be held in the aftermath, and regardless of the result, of the Scottish independence referendum in September 2014.’

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UK Constitutional Law Group, 18th December 2013

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org/blog

ICO fines payday loans company £175,000 over spam messaging – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 19th, 2013 in advertising, consumer credit, data protection, fines, news, telecommunications by sally

‘A payday loans company has been fined £175,000 by the Information Commissioner’s
Office (ICO) after the watchdog found it to be in serious breach of UK privacy
laws.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 17th December 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

UK copyright reforms to take effect in April 2014 – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 19th, 2013 in copyright, news, regulations by sally

‘Changes to UK copyright law will come into force on 6 April 2014, the Government has announced.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 19th December 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Vote of no confidence in Society leadership passes – Legal Voice

Posted December 19th, 2013 in Law Society, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

‘A vote of no confidence in the Law Society’s leadership over its handling of the criminal legal aid reforms has today been passed by 52% at a Special General Meeting (SGM) of the Society.’

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Legal Voice, 17th December 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Sentencing sexual offenders – a lost opportunity? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted December 19th, 2013 in news, sentencing, sexual grooming, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘The Sentencing Council has issued a new Guideline in relation to sexual offences this month. The aim: “to help ensure appropriate and consistent sentences for sex offenders”, says the accompanying press release.’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 18th December 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Court of Appeal cites Mitchell to refuse relief – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 19th, 2013 in appeals, case management, costs, news, police, time limits, witnesses by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has cited the landmark Mitchell costs case for the first time to reject a defendant’s plea for relief from sanctions.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 18th December 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Children: Private Law Update (December 2013) – Family Law Week

Posted December 19th, 2013 in appeals, children, domestic violence, education, names, news, parental responsibility by sally

‘Alex Verdan QC of 4 Paper Buildings considers a wide range of children private law issues which have recently come before the courts.’

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Family Law Week, 18th December 2013

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Banking reforms become law after getting Royal Assent – BBC News

Posted December 19th, 2013 in banking, bills, crime, financial regulation, news by sally

‘Reforms to the UK banking sector aimed at making it more resilient after the 2008 financial crisis have become law. The Financial Services Bill was given Royal Assent on Wednesday after being approved by Parliament earlier.’

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BBC News, 19th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Boston double murder: Mehmet Ozen jailed for life – BBC News

Posted December 19th, 2013 in murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A landlord convicted of two murders after a row over rent has been jailed for life.’

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BBC News, 18th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK inquiry on rendition and torture to be handed to ISC – The Guardian

Posted December 19th, 2013 in inquiries, intelligence services, news, rendition, select committees, torture by sally

‘The stalled official inquiry into the UK’s involvement in rendition and torture in the years after 9/11 is to be handed to the controversial intelligence and security committee (ISC), the government will announce on Thursday.’

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The Guardian, 18th December 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Cannabis user who murdered his grandmother jailed for 24 years – The Guardian

Posted December 19th, 2013 in children, drug abuse, families, guilty pleas, murder, news, offensive weapons, sentencing by sally

‘A man who murdered his 84-year-old grandmother by stabbing her 50 times in her bed and then attempted to kill a nine-year-old boy has been told he must serve minimum of 24 years in prison.’

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The Guardian, 18th December 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Kadan Beaumont murder: Father jailed for life – BBC News

‘A father who claimed the family dog caused fatal injuries to his 11-month-old son has been jailed for life for his murder.’

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BBC News, 18th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk