Failing to inform online consumers about cancellation rights should be criminal offence, say trading standards bodies – OUT-LAW.com

“Businesses that sell goods and services to consumers over the internet should face criminal penalties if they fail to display details on cancellation rights, the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) and Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers (ACTSO) has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 28th October 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Wind farms, birds, and that pesky thing called the rule of law – UK Human Rights Blog

“The current storms brought down a turbine in Teignmouth: see here for good pics of this and other mayhem. And the rule of law recently brought down a massive wind farm proposed for Shetland. The Scottish Ministers had waved aside a request for a public inquiry, and ended up drafting reasons which ignored the obligations in the Wild Birds Directive in respect of this bird – the whimbrel. Lady Clark quashed the consent on this ground, and also decided that the wind farmer could not apply for the consent anyway because it had not got the requisite licence which she concluded was a pre-condition for such an application. ”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 28th October 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Investigations opened into vigilante murder of man mistaken for paedophile – The Guardian

Posted October 29th, 2013 in inquiries, local government, murder, news, photography, police, public order by sally

“Two independent investigations are under way into the murder of an innocent man who was beaten and burned to death after vigilante neighbours mistook him for a paedophile.”

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The Guardian, 29th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Threats to modern democracy – why the UK should take note – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted October 29th, 2013 in constitutional law, elections, human rights, news, political parties by sally

“Recent events in the US have made us all aware of the essential vulnerability of modern political and economic systems. For a while it seemed as though the most powerful economy in the world was heading towards self-destruction, owing to the failure of a small number of senior politicians to reach a consensus that would avoid such an outcome. Now that disaster has been at least temporarily averted, it seems appropriate to try to analyse how this situation arose.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 28th October 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

BSB guilty of “misleading conduct” in disciplinary case, says High Court judge – Legal Futures

“A High Court judge has accused the Bar Standards Board (BSB) of ‘misleading conduct’ in the way it handled a disciplinary matter that led to a barrister being disbarred.”

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Legal Futures, 28th October 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

NHS complaints procedure needs radical overhaul, report finds – The Guardian

Posted October 29th, 2013 in complaints, health, hospitals, news, reports by sally

“A revolution in the handling of NHS complaints has been proposed in a report co-authored by the MP Ann Clwyd, who has told how her own husband was treated with ‘coldness, resentment, indifference and contempt’ on his hospital deathbed.”

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The Guardian, 28th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

High Court overturns current practice when calculating one-fifth rule – Litigation Futures

Posted October 29th, 2013 in costs, news, precedent, solicitors by sally

“Costs that are disallowed for want of retainer should not form part of a costs judge’s calculations in applying the one-fifth rule, the High Court has said.”

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Litigation Futures, 28th October 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Newspapers seek injunction over press regulation royal charter – The Guardian

Posted October 29th, 2013 in charters, freedom of expression, injunctions, media, news, Privy Council by sally

“Newspaper and magazine publishers are seeking an injunction to prevent the government’s plan for a new press regulation regime getting the royal seal of approval this week.”

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The Guardian, 28th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Disastrous’ drop in out-of-court mediation for divorcing couples – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 29th, 2013 in arbitration, courts, divorce, legal aid, litigants in person, news by sally

“The number of divorcing couples using special out-of-court sessions to settle disputes over property and children has collapsed in the wake of legal aid cuts.”

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Daily Telegraph, 28th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Deaf and blind man fears losing home over “bedroom tax” as disabled legal challenges mount – The Independent

Posted October 29th, 2013 in benefits, disabled persons, housing, news, social services by sally

“A deaf and blind man who uses his spare bedroom to store braille equipment fears that he could lose his home due to the ‘bedroom tax’ as lawyers warned that the controversial measure is having a discriminatory impact on the disabled.”

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The Independent, 28th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Sharon Shoesmith agrees unfair dismissal payout – The Guardian

Posted October 29th, 2013 in compensation, local government, news, social services, unfair dismissal by sally

“Sharon Shoesmith , the former Haringey council children’s services director sacked in the wake of the controversy surrounding the death of Baby P, has agreed a settlement for unfair dismissal with her former employers.”

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The Guardian, 29th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

A modern British murder: Vigilante neighbours face jail after convictions over murder of disabled man Bijan Ebrahimi wrongly accused of paedophilia – The Independent

“The two men will be sentenced next month after admitting their roles in the death of the 44-year-old Iranian national, who was described by his family as a ‘caring, loving and unselfish man’. Three police officers have also been suspended as an inquiry continues into how the Avon and Somerset force dealt with Mr Ebrahimi’s requests for help after the abuse began. Six civilian call handlers are set to be questioned by the police complaints watchdog as it investigates whether his cries for help were taken seriously. Bristol City Council, which housed Mr Ebrahimi, has launched its own inquiry into what went wrong.”

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The Independent, 28th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Victims of crime get chance to speak in court under new code – BBC News

Posted October 29th, 2013 in codes of practice, news, victims by sally

“Victims of crime in England and Wales are to be given a greater opportunity to speak in courts.”

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BBC News, 29th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judge bans film of Afghan ‘execution’ by British Marine – The Independent

Posted October 29th, 2013 in appeals, armed forces, courts martial, disclosure, execution, news, video recordings by sally

“Footage showing the alleged execution of an injured Afghan insurgent by a British serviceman will not be released for fear it could spark revenge attacks on troops, a judge has ruled.”

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The Independent, 28th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Chris Grayling told to delay probation service privatisation or risk deaths – The Guardian

Posted October 29th, 2013 in contracting out, news, probation, rehabilitation by sally

“Three leading figures in the probation service have warned the justice secretary, Chris Grayling, he must delay his probation service privatisation plan for at least six months or face inevitable protection failures and risks to public safety, the Guardian has learned.”

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The Guardian, 28th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

When a decision-maker gives retro-reasons – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 28th, 2013 in appeals, housing, judicial review, local government, news, planning, reasons by sally

“This planning judicial review tackles the problem posed by an authority who says one thing in its formal reasons granting planning permission, and another thing in the court proceedings when the grant is challenged.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 25th October 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

SFO could snoop on communications to uncover evidence of corruption, says director – OUT-LAW.com

“The director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has warned that the agency may use powers of surveillance to uncover evidence of corruption within corporates.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 25th October 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Court of Appeal refuses anonymity for offender – UK Human Rights Blog

“Only ‘clear and cogent evidence’ that it was strictly necessary to keep an offender’s identity confidential would lead a court to derogate from the principle of open justice. The possibility of a media campaign that might affect the offender’s resettlement could not work as a justification for banning reporting about that offender, even though a prominent and inaccurate report about him had already led to harassment of his family.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 25th October 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Needs, wants and principles – Law Society’s Gazette

“The High Court recently offered a useful starter pack in both planning and administrative law.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 28th October 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Phone-hacking: trial of Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks to begin – The Guardian

“The trial of former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and others linked with alleged phone-hacking at the now-defunct News of the World will begin on Monday at the Old Bailey, kicking off what is likely to be one of the longest criminal trials in recent memory.”

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The Guardian, 28th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk