Legal action begins against climate lawyer in Heathrow expansion row – The Independent

‘Court proceedings have been launched against a climate charity lawyer for leaking a decision to expand Heathrow Airport.’

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The Independent, 18th February 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Court refuses former Met Police officer’s appeal against indecent image conviction – The Independent

‘A disgraced former police officer has had an appeal against an indecent image conviction refused.’

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The Independent, 18th February 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Tribunal explains three-month suspension for “sexual touching” barrister – Legal Futures

‘The actions of a barrister suspended for three months for the “intentional sexual touching” of two junior colleagues could amount to sexual assault and unlawful harassment, a tribunal has found.’

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Legal Futures, 17th February 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Rachel Johnston: Neglect contributed to woman’s teeth removal death – BBC News

‘A disabled woman whose brain was starved of oxygen after an operation to remove all her teeth would probably have survived if care home staff acted sooner, an inquest heard. Staff at Pirton Grange Care Home, near Worcester, failed to spot Rachel Johnston was developing hypoxia. A coroner concluded neglect contributed to her death just over two weeks after she was taken to hospital.’

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BBC News, 11th February 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Anthony Grainger family to continue legal fight over fatal shooting by police – The Guardian

‘The family of an unarmed man who was fatally shot by police have vowed to continue their fight for answers after the official watchdog dropped its investigation into the operation.’

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The Guardian, 4th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bar misconduct sanctions under review – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Bar Standards Board said it is reviewing its sanction guidance amid claims that barristers found to have committed sexual misconduct are treated too leniently. At a media briefing, the regulator said guidance is currently under review and it is considering the “whole range of sanctions” for professional misconduct, alongside the Bar Tribunal and Adjudication Services (BTAS).’

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Law Society's Gazette, 29th January 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Solicitor fined for failing to disclose counsel’s opinions to ATE insurer – Litigation Futures

‘An experienced solicitor who failed to disclose two counsel’s opinions on a case to an after-the-event (ATE) insurer, one of them assessing chances of success at less than 50%, has been fined £8,000.’

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Litigation Futures, 27th January 2021

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Met police officer faces new hearing over death of mentally ill black man – The Guardian

‘A senior police officer cleared of misconduct over the high-profile death of a mentally ill black man is to face fresh disciplinary proceedings because of failings in the original case, the Observer can reveal.’

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The Guardian, 24th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Male barrister fined for smacking female colleague on backside – Legal Futures

‘A male barrister who told a junior female colleague that “I really wanted to smack your arse” – and then did so – has been reprimanded and fined £6,000 by a Bar disciplinary tribunal.’

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Legal Futures, 21st January 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Families of citizens dying after contact with police still await justice – The Guardian

‘Relatives of people who have died after contact with the police have told of their distrust in and dissatisfaction with the ability of the complaints system to help deliver justice.’

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The Guardian, 18th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

SDT “wrong” to strike out prosecution of Law Society president – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) was wrong to throw out a private prosecution brought by a former client against the current president of the Law Society, the High Court has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 13th January 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Tribunal finds law firm unfairly dismissed paralegal – Legal Futures

‘A law firm dismissed a paralegal because he was close to his supervisor, with whom it was in dispute, rather than due to the allegations levied against him, an employment tribunal has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 11th January 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Professional liability update: 2020 year in review – 4 New Square

‘In this review of the year, Helen Evans, Ben Smiley, Pippa Manby, and Ian McDonald of 4 New Square explain what the 2020 cases tell us, how the various strands of development interact, and what to watch out for as we go into 2021.’

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4 New Square, 5th January 2021

Source: www.4newsquare.com

Norwich teacher banned over relationship with ex-pupil – BBC News

Posted January 7th, 2021 in disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct, teachers by tracey

‘A maths teacher who began a relationship with a former pupil shortly after she left school has been banned from the profession.’

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BBC News, 6th January 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Claimants in breast implant case buy cause of action to sue defendant’s lawyers – Litigation Futures

‘A leading defendant law firm and a QC have failed to strike out a professional negligence action brought after the claimants in a case they defended acquired their insolvent client’s cause of action.’

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Litigation Futures, 16th December 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Union takes legal action over Boris Johnson’s decision to clear Priti Patel of bullying – The Independent

‘Boris Johnson is facing legal action over his decision to clear Priti Patel of bullying staff at the Home Office and other departments.’

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The Independent, 10th December 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Commission proposes block on ‘vexatious’ misconduct prosecutions – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The ancient common law offence of misconduct in public office is “too ill-defined and uncertain to be maintained in the criminal law,”.the Law Commission has concluded, recommending its replacement with two new offences. The proposed reform would also block ‘vexatious’ private prosecutions of public figures.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 4th December 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Met faces legal action over spies’ use of dead children’s identities – The Guardian

Posted December 7th, 2020 in bereavement, children, families, news, police, professional conduct, spying by sally

‘The relatives of dead children whose identities were stolen by undercover police officers have launched legal action against the Metropolitan police over their resulting trauma.’

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The Guardian, 7th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Child abuse carried out under guise of medical treatment, report finds – The Guardian

‘Healthcare practitioners who committed child sexual abuse commonly did so under the guise of medical treatment, which went unchallenged by other staff even when unnecessary or inappropriate because of their position of trust, research has found.’

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The Guardian, 3rd December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

R (RD) v Justice Secretary [2020] EWCA Civ 1346 – CrimeCast.Law

‘This was the second of a pair of recent cases which suggest that police officers and those who aspire to be police officers are held to a higher standard than the general public whom the police are sworn to protect. I discussed yesterday R v Luckett (Michael David) [2020] EWCA Crim 565, which illustrated the approach taken by the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal to the sentencing of offences of misconduct in a public office by serving police officers. The case of R (RD) v Justice Secretary addresses the rigorous disclosure requirements imposed on those who apply to become police constables or police cadets. It prompted the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal to consider the application of Article 8(2) of the European Convention on Human Rights to candidates for the police service – specifically whether the current regime for the rehabilitation of offenders and for the disclosure of convictions, cautions and reprimands is in accordance with law and necessary in a democratic society …’

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CrimeCast.Law, 30th November 2020

Source: crimecast.law