Damages claims “inevitable consequence” of Government’s confused approach to solar, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 24th, 2013 in damages, energy, news by sally

“Reports that some companies involved in solar energy are pursuing claims for damages against the Government are the ‘inevitable consequence of its hitherto confused’ approach to subsidies, an expert has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 24th January 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Businessman spared jail over child porn – The Independent

“An MP’s son who joined an online ‘club’ of perverts who shared sickening images of child abuse has been handed a suspended jail term.”

Full story

The Independent, 24th January 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Anonymous hacker group: Two jailed for cyber attacks – BBC News

Posted January 24th, 2013 in computer crime, news, sentencing, suspended sentences by sally

“Two men who carried out cyber attacks for the Anonymous hacking group have been jailed.”

Full story

BBC News, 24th January 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Google, Facebook and Twitter may ‘face EU defamation and privacy cases’ – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2013 in defamation, EC law, internet, news, privacy by sally

“Google, Facebook and Twitter’s decision to establish their European bases in Dublin has opened the internet giants up to EU defamation and privacy laws like never before, a libel lawyer has warned.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal advice privilege should not extend to accountant’s advice, says Supreme Court – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted January 24th, 2013 in accountants, financial advice, news, privilege, Supreme Court by sally

“The Supreme Court has ruled that legal advice privilege should only apply to advice given by a member of the legal profession; that this is what the common law has always meant, and that any wider interpretation would lead to uncertainty. Two strong dissents do not find any principled underpinning for the restriction of the privilege to advice from solicitors or barristers.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 24th January 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Ministers consider clampdown on ‘industrial users’ of Freedom of Information – BBC News

Posted January 24th, 2013 in freedom of information, local government, news by sally

“The government is considering how to curb repetitive and overly expensive Freedom of Information requests, a justice minister has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 24th January 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Secret courts ‘unjust’ warns Law Society – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 24th, 2013 in civil justice, closed material, news, private hearings by sally

“Extending secret courts to ordinary civil justice cases would see the UK ‘stoop to the level of repressive regimes’, the Law Society warns today.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 24th January 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Media law trends in 2013: what’s on the horizon – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2013 in advertising, copyright, defamation, internet, media, news by sally

“From libel reform to ambush marketing, our experts highlight the key media law trends in 2013.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Isle of Wight £90m cocaine yacht trial: Piotr Pachnia guilty – BBC News

Posted January 24th, 2013 in confiscation, drug trafficking, news by sally

“A man has been found guilty of possessing £90m of cocaine found hidden on a yacht off the Isle of Wight.”

Full story

BBC News, 23rd January 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Publication of Jackson regulations is ‘starting point’ of 1 April reforms, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 24th, 2013 in civil justice, costs, fees, legislation, news by sally

“The publication of three draft statutory instruments (SIs) that will implement part of the ‘Jackson’ reforms to civil court costs and procedures shows that the Government remains intent on a 1 April start date, an expert has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 24th January 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Police officers sue forces over forced retirement – BBC News

Posted January 24th, 2013 in age discrimination, employment tribunals, news, police, retirement by sally

“Five police forces are to be taken to an employment tribunal accused of age discrimination.”

Full story

BBC News, 23rd January 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Property laws for cohabiting couples ‘unfair’, judge says – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 24th, 2013 in cohabitation, financial provision, news by sally

“Property laws for cohabiting couples are ‘unfair’ on women who are often left with nothing after separating from their partners, an appeal court judge said on Wednesday.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 23rd January 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Sony fined £250,000 over PlayStation hack – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2013 in computer crime, data protection, fines, news by sally

“Sony Computer Entertainment has been fined a record £250,000 by the data protection watchdog after the personal details of millions of gamers – including passwords and credit card numbers – were leaked online.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar Council welcomes Supreme Court ruling on LLP – The Bar Council

Posted January 24th, 2013 in accountants, barristers, financial advice, news, privilege, Supreme Court by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has welcomed the 5:2 majority ruling of the Supreme Court against extending legal professional privilege (LPP) to non-lawyers, following a case put forward by financial services group, Prudential, requesting that LPP be extended to protect advice given by accountants.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 23rd January 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Inspector finds UK Border Agency backlog dating back 10 years – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2013 in delay, immigration, married persons, news, reports by sally

“A ‘completely unacceptable’ UK Border Agency backlog of more than 16,000 applications from migrants for permission to stay in Britain, some of them dating back almost a decade, has been uncovered by the chief inspector of borders and immigration.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Premises ‘reasonably required’ – NearlyLegal

Posted January 24th, 2013 in appeals, landlord & tenant, news, repossession by sally

“A rare Rent Act 1977 possession case, with possession sought as ‘reasonably required’ under Case 9 Of Schedule 15 of the 1977 Act via section 98(1).”

Full story

NearlyLegal, 24th January 2013

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

People who take illegal drugs ‘shouldn’t be treated as criminals’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 24th, 2013 in crime, doctors, drug abuse, drug offences, health, news by sally

“England’s most senior doctor has questioned the government’s policy of criminalising all people who take illegal drugs and said they should be treated primarily as if they have a ‘health problem’.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 23rd January 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Drugs advisory group decides against banning qat in UK – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2013 in crime, drug abuse, news, reports, terrorism by sally

“A clash between the home secretary, Theresa May, and her expert drugs advisory group is looming after it decided against banning qat, a mild herbal stimulant, traditionally used in Britain’s Somali, Yemeni and Ethiopian communities.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Motorcyclist on cannabis with 45 traffic convictions who killed pedestrian given 18 months – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 23rd, 2013 in dangerous driving, drug offences, guilty pleas, insurance, news by sally

“A widow whose husband was killed as he walked home from his local pub is to campaign for a change in the law after a banned driver dubbed ‘an absolute menace on the roads’ was jailed for only 18 months today for causing his death.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 23rd January 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Listen carefully: jeopardising legal advice services is reckless – The Guardian

Posted January 23rd, 2013 in budgets, legal aid, litigants in person, news by sally

“Cuts to legal aid and grants means courts will be dealing with unprecedented number of self-represented litigants.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk