Unmarried couples need new legal rights, says reform judge – The Times

Posted December 7th, 2009 in news by sally

“Two million unmarried couples need new legal rights to protect them from injustice if they separate, the new senior judge in charge of law reform has said.”

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The Times, 7th December 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Cyclists targeted as Westminster Council goes after ‘lycra louts’ – The Times

Posted December 7th, 2009 in news by sally

“The swelling ranks of badly behaved cyclists may soon face more than an angry cabbie honking his horn or a pedestrian giving the V sign. A council determined to make them obey the Highway Code is to deploy enforcers in a hunt for so-called ‘Lycra louts’ as they whizz through red lights or ride listening to iPods.”

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The Times, 7th December 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.k

Bankers’ killers make appeal bid – BBC News

Posted December 4th, 2009 in homicide, news, sentencing by sally

“Two brothers who admitted the manslaughter of a senior banking executive in Norfolk have appealed against their jail terms.”

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BBC News, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Motorist loses crash death appeal – BBC News

Posted December 4th, 2009 in alcohol abuse, dangerous driving, news, sentencing by sally

“A motorist who was drunk when she hit and killed a 15-month-old boy in his pushchair has lost her appeal against her seven-year sentence.”

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BBC News, 4th December 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

When ministers take an 18 per cent pay cut, then we will be silent, says chairman-elect of the Bar Council – The Times

Posted December 4th, 2009 in news by sally

“Keir Starmer, the Director of Public Prosecutions, had better watch out. Next year’s Bar chairman has the Crown Prosecution Service in his sights. Nicholas Green, QC, talks of gathering storm clouds threatening the stability of the Bar and of pressures bearing down with ‘potentially devastating effect’. And one of these, he says, is the push by Crown prosecutors to take on Crown Court work that used to be handled by the Bar.”

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The Times, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Solicitor to be sentenced after stealing £90,000 from blind widow – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 4th, 2009 in forgery, news, solicitors, theft by sally

“A Black Country solicitor faces jail after stealing £90,000 from a blind widow and spending the money on luxury items including a pedigree ‘teacup’ chihuahua.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Criminal law: youth justice and sentencing – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 4th, 2009 in criminal justice, news, sentencing, young offenders by sally

“Major changes are being made to the way that courts may sentence young offenders. On 27 April, provisions were brought into force to increase the use of ­referral orders. These are manda­tory if the offence is imprisonable and a first-time offender admits the offence and all connected offences, and the court does not deal with the matter by way of an absolute ­discharge, hospital order or custodial sentence.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Woolf calls for arbitration overhaul as he launches new guidance – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 4th, 2009 in arbitration, news by sally

“International arbitration has ‘lost its way’, the former lord chief justice Lord Woolf (pictured) told the Gazette this week, as he launched a set of guidelines which will build mediation into the arbitration process.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

£500 fine for £7k fake jacket con – BBC News

Posted December 4th, 2009 in fines, news, unfair commercial practices by sally

“A ‘dispicable’ conman must pay nearly £7,000 after conning an elderly couple into buying fake leather jackets.”

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BBC News, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Couple’s cruise payout challenged – BBC News

Posted December 4th, 2009 in damages, holidays, news by sally

“A cruise company has started an appeal to reduce £22,000 in damages awarded to a North Yorkshire couple who claim their dream holiday was ruined.”

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BBC News, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rome I comes into force, clarifies whose laws apply to contract disputes – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 4th, 2009 in conflict of laws, contracts, news by sally

“Companies that negotiate contracts without specifying which country’s law should govern any contractual disputes between them will face a new legal regime in two weeks’ time. From 17th December, a new EU law, Rome I, will decide which law should apply.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

Why too much legal experience can subvert jury trial – The Times

Posted December 4th, 2009 in news by sally

“Like quite a few other lawyers, recently I was called to do jury service. Apart from the inevitable waiting around (note: bring a thick book and a sense of humour), my two weeks were spent trying one serious case (alleged rape and false imprisonment). This is not an article bashing the jury system. Nor am I going to talk about the decision in our case, because I can’t (even if I wanted to). But for a commercial practitioner, the experience certainly had some surprises.”

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The Times, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Law school BPP accused of exploiting demand to rake in more fees – The Times

Posted December 4th, 2009 in news by sally

“One of London’s most prestigious law schools is under investigation amid allegations that it exploited student demand, packing in extra numbers to boost income by almost £1 million.”

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The Times, 4th December 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Paramedic stopped resuscitating new-born baby too son, hearing told – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 4th, 2009 in disciplinary procedures, news, paramedics by sally

“Khalid Abdel-Rahim, a paramedic with the London Ambulance Service, faces being struck off by a conduct and competence committee at the Health Professions Council in London.”

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Daily Telegraph, 4th December 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Sellafield faces fine for exposing staff to radioactivity – The Guardian

Posted December 4th, 2009 in fines, health & safety, news, nuclear waste by sally

“The safety record of Britain’s nuclear industry will be tarnished tomorrow when managers at the Sellafield complex in Cumbria are fined for exposing staff to radioactive contamination.”

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The Guardian, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

More than 1,200 UK shopping websites shut down – The Times

Posted December 4th, 2009 in news by sally

“More than 1,200 illegal internet shopping websites that have made millions of pounds for criminals have been shut down by Scotland Yard in the biggest operation of its kind in Britain.”

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The Times, 4th December 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Colleges may face ban on taking foreign students in visa crackdown – The Times

Posted December 4th, 2009 in news by sally

“Ministers are moving to crack down on abuse of the student and graduate visa systems in an attempt to get to grips with illegal immigration.”

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The Times, 4th December 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

‘Threat note’ bank robber jailed – BBC News

Posted December 3rd, 2009 in news, robbery, sentencing by sally

“A serial bank robber who stole money by passing threatening notes to cashiers has been jailed for eight years.”

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BBC News, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sex abuse church elder McConaghy ‘too fat for jail’ – BBC News

Posted December 3rd, 2009 in news by sally

“A 66-year-old church elder convicted of indecently assaulting a child will not be sent to jail because his obesity means his health is ‘precarious.’ ”

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BBC News, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Student broke into mortuary to hunt woman he loved – The Independent

Posted December 3rd, 2009 in burglary, criminal damage, news by sally

“A heartbroken student broke into a mortuary with an axe and examined corpses under the mistaken belief that a woman he fancied had died, police said today. Benjamin Barton, of Bognor Regis, West Sussex, pleaded guilty at Southampton Crown Court to a charge of criminal damage but was acquitted of an offence of burglary.”

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The Independent, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk