Police wheelchair attack on Jody McIntyre ‘lawful’ – The Independent

“Police officers were justified in pulling a protester from his wheelchair and ‘inadvertently’ hitting him with a baton at the student fees demonstrations, an inquiry has found.”

Full story

The Independent, 27th May 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Gym contracts ‘unfair’ court rules – The Guardian

Posted May 31st, 2011 in consumer protection, news, unfair contract terms by sally

“Anyone locked into a gym contract of a year or more should be free to cancel it without cost after a landmark ruling against the operator of membership schemes for 1,000 independent gyms across Britain.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Liverpool Women’s concedes incontinence negligence cases – BBC News

Posted May 31st, 2011 in class actions, compensation, hospitals, medical treatment, news by sally

“A hospital being sued by hundreds of women, who claim their incontinence was made worse by a surgeon, has admitted liability or agreed to pay compensation in 50% of claims processed so far.”

Full story

BBC News, 29th May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Small claims court limit may rise – The Guardian

Posted May 31st, 2011 in news, small claims by sally

“Ministers are consulting on tripling the value of disputes that can be handled by the small claims court as part of a radical shake-up of the civil justice system. The Ministry of Justice is looking at increasing the value of cases that can be brought in the fast-track procedure for low-value civil cases from £5,000 to £15,000 from next April.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

High Court to decide if autistic man was illegally detained – The Independent

“A father has described in court how he felt ‘powerless’ when a local authority prevented the return home of his autistic son for nearly a year during a bitter care dispute with a local council.”

Full story

The Independent, 28th May 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Mother jailed for trying to sell baby for £35,000 – The Guardian

“A mother has been jailed for seven years for attempting to sell her baby for £35,000.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Internet security: cookie monster unleashed following EU ruling – The Guardian

Posted May 31st, 2011 in consent, EC law, internet, news by sally

“Warning notices at the top of websites, annoying pop-up windows, forms asking for your consent … fears have been voiced that browsing the web could become more complicated and time-consuming as a result of ‘challenging’ new EU rules on internet cookies.”

Full story

The Guardian, 28th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Corrupt prison officer jailed – The Independent

“Police today pledged to crack down on corrupt prison officers after a male officer was jailed for smuggling drugs to inmates.”

Full story

The Independent, 28th May 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Miscarriages of justice are going unchallenged by watchdog, says QC – The Guardian

“The watchdog that examines miscarriages of justice is failing innocent people, according to a senior lawyer involved in some of the highest-profile court cases in recent years.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal aid faces threat of further cuts following rape backlash – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 27th, 2011 in budgets, legal aid, legal services, news by sally

“The government is considering fresh legal aid cuts, the Gazette has learned, because Kenneth Clarke’s politically maladroit remarks about rape sentencing have jeopardised its bid to save money by cutting the prison population.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 27th May 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judge refuses to prosecute press for naming Fred Goodwin ‘mistress’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 27th, 2011 in attorney general, contempt of court, injunctions, news by sally

“Lawyers representing a woman who allegedly had a sexual relationship with former bank boss Sir Fred Goodwin failed today in an attempt to persuade a judge to launch contempt proceedings against a national newspaper.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th May 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Regina v Hull – WLR Daily

Posted May 27th, 2011 in appeals, jurisdiction, law reports, news, sentencing, transfer of prisoners by sally

Regina v Hull [2011] EWCA Crim 1261; [2011] WLR (D) 177

“Under section 3 of the Repatriation of Prisoners Act 1984 the Court of Appeal had jurisdiction, including power to quash the order of the High Court, in relation to a referral under section 273 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 of the sentence of a repatriated prisoner. In relation to a sentence of life imprisonment, adapting the sentence, as far as possible to bring correspondence between the punishment which would have been imposed in the sentencing state and (the remainder of) the sentence to be served in the administering state, required a reasoned judgment as to the likely duration of the custodial element of the sentence had the sentence been served in the sentencing state.”

WLR Daily, 25th May 2011

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Please note that once a case has been fully reported in the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Baby Peter sacking: Sharon Shoesmith wins appeal – BBC News

Posted May 27th, 2011 in appeals, child abuse, news, social services, unfair dismissal by sally

“An ex-social services director says she is ‘thrilled’ to have won an appeal against a ruling that her sacking after Baby Peter’s death was lawful.”

Full story

BBC News, 27th May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sentencing for drug offences – reminder to contribute to consultation – Sentencing Council

Posted May 27th, 2011 in consultations, drug offences, news, sentencing by sally

“The consultation on the Sentencing Council’s draft guideline on drug offences will close on 20 June and with this date approaching, the Council is keen to encourage legal professionals with experience or an interest in the subject to contribute their views.”

Full story

Sentencing Council, 26th May 2011

Source: sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

Regulation of referral fees for legal services – Legal Services Board

Posted May 27th, 2011 in fees, legal profession, legal services, news by sally

“Launch of decision paper marks conclusion of review into the operation of referral fees in the legal services sector.”

Press release

Legal Services Board, 27th May 2011

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

RE teacher Gary Smith’s Muslim attackers jailed – BBC News

Posted May 27th, 2011 in grievous bodily harm, news, sentencing by sally

“Four Muslim men who assaulted a religious education teacher because they did not approve of him teaching Muslim girls have been jailed.”

Full story

BBC News, 26th May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New criminal justice stats underline need to tackle reoffending – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 27th, 2011 in criminal justice, news, recidivists, sentencing by sally

“New Criminal Justice Statistics – published for the first time today – show a dramatic increase in the number of criminals who persistently reoffend.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 26th May 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

‘Pale, male’ courts in Wales ‘need more women judges’ – BBC News

Posted May 27th, 2011 in diversity, judiciary, news, Wales, women by sally

“The low number of women judges in Wales is due to a ‘lack of role models’, according to a Welsh tribunal judge.”

Full story

BBC News, 27th May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Appeal court to rule on council sacking after Baby P’s death – The Guardian

Posted May 27th, 2011 in appeals, child abuse, news, social services, unfair dismissal by sally

“Haringey’s former head of child services will learn today if she has won her court of appeal battle over her sacking in the wake of the Baby P tragedy.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Just one criminal jailed for every 93 crimes – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 26th, 2011 in criminal justice, news, sentencing, statistics by sally

“Just one criminal is jailed for every 93 offences committed, figures showed.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 26th May 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk