First opt-out class action withdrawn as potential costs outweigh damages – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 7th, 2017 in class actions, competition, consumer protection, costs, damages, news, tribunals by sally

‘The UK’s first ‘opt-out’ class action claim has been withdrawn on the basis that its costs would outweigh the potential damages available.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 5th June 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

When must the tribunal allow appeals against Home Office decisions containing errors of law? – Free Movement

Posted June 6th, 2017 in appeals, government departments, immigration, news, tribunals by tracey

‘Where the Secretary of State makes an error of law in a decision which is then appealed to the tribunal, does the tribunal have to allow that appeal on the basis that the decision contains an error of law? Not unless the decision as a whole is unlawful, finds the Court of Appeal in Singh (India) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] EWCA Civ 362 (24 May 2017).’

Full Story

Free Movement 5th June 2017

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

First opt-out class action withdrawn after damages found to be insufficient – Litigation Futures

Posted June 6th, 2017 in appeals, class actions, competition, costs, damages, news, tribunals by tracey

‘The first attempt to bring an opt-out class action has failed after a decision of the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) that meant the claim would not be worth enough money to proceed.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 5th June 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

When must the tribunal allow appeals against Home Office decisions containing errors of law? – Free Movement

Posted June 5th, 2017 in appeals, government departments, immigration, news, tribunals by tracey

‘Where the Secretary of State makes an error of law in a decision which is then appealed to the tribunal, does the tribunal have to allow that appeal on the basis that the decision contains an error of law? Not unless the decision as a whole is unlawful, finds the Court of Appeal in Singh (India) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] EWCA Civ 362 (24 May 2017).’

Full Story

Free Movement, 5th June 2017

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

Socrates case stayed for quantum discussions as tribunal orders Law Society to pay up to £230,000 in costs – Legal Futures

‘The fall-out from the decision that the Law Society breached competition law looks set to last for several more months after the Competition Appeal Tribunal laid out the timetable for determining damages.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 5th June 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The Bar Council invites the adoption of a new Court Sitting Hours’ Protocol – The Bar Council

Posted June 5th, 2017 in barristers, courts, news, tribunals, women by tracey

‘The Bar Council invites the adoption of a new Court Sitting Hours’ Protocol.’

Full Story

The Bar Council, 1st June 2017

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Romanian nurse suspended for failing to understand English – Daily Telegraph

‘A Romanian nurse hired after being interviewed via Skype put patients’ health at risk because his English was so bad, a tribunal has heard.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 2nd June 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Does an employer discriminate by behaving inconsistently with religious values? – Keens-Betts – Law & Religion UK

Posted June 1st, 2017 in employment, news, religious discrimination, tribunals by sally

‘Can an employee claim direct or indirect discrimination on grounds of religion because she feels that her employer’s behaviour is inconsistent with what she understands to be “the Christian way of life”? That was one of the issues raised in Miss M Keens-Betts v The Anthony Gregg Partnership Ltd [2017] UKET 2208102/2016.’

Full Story

Law & Religion UK, 1st June 2017

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Law Society “abused dominant position” with CQS training monopoly, competition tribunal rules – Legal Futures

‘The Law Society abused its dominant position by requiring over 3,000 law firms to buy its own training in order to maintain their Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accreditation, the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has ruled.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 26th May 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Service charge disputes and recovery of costs – Nearly Legal

Posted May 30th, 2017 in costs, landlord & tenant, news, service charges, tribunals by sally

‘This was an appeal to the UT on various issue arising from an FTT decision. We will not dwell on the issue of specific charges not being consulted on under s.20, but not – as the UT found, overturning the FTT – subject to a Qualifying Long Term Agreement, because the more general point concerned the landlord having put some £11,000 of legal costs on the drawn out service charge disputes through on the service charge (not, we should note, as an administrative charge).’

Full Story

Nearly Legal, 28th May 2017

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Diary of a Wimpy Minister – Panopticon

‘A mere three years ago, the FTT held that the Ministerial Diary of Andrew Lansley was relevantly held under FOIA and was not exempt under section 35(1)(b). Now the Court of Appeal has held, in Department of Health v Information Commissioner & Lewis [2017] EWCA Civ 374, that the FTT made no error. The fact that no-one can now remember who Andrew Lansley was (now Lord Lansley CBE thank you) or why anyone would care, is by-the-by.’

Full story

Panopticon, 25th May 2017

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Are LQCs independent (and do they want to be?) – UK Police Law Blog

‘A recent decision from the High Court in Chief Constable of Thames Valley v Police Misconduct Panel [2017] EWHC 923 (Admin) says that misconduct panels can now be judicially reviewed by Chief Constables – but gives rise to a number of new and potentially awkward questions.’

Full story

UK Police Law Blog, 22nd May 2017

Source: www.ukpolicelawblog.com

No human rights issues to be raised in EEA appeals, confirms Court of Appeal – Free Movement

Posted May 22nd, 2017 in appeals, EC law, human rights, immigration, news, reasons, tribunals by tracey

‘In September 2015, the Upper Tribunal decided the case of Amirteymour and others (EEA appeals; human rights) [2015] UKUT 466 (IAC). The decision states that if an appeal is brought in the First-Tier Tribunal against an EEA decision then the only relevant issues that can be raised during the appeal are those directly connected to that EEA decision. Human rights issues, the Upper Tribunal ruled, were not justiciable. This case was covered at the time by Free Movement, where several issues were raised in respect of the reasoning of the tribunal, and the policy of attempting to artificially distinguish between European law rights and other rights guaranteed under domestic human rights legislation. The Court of Appeal has now upheld that ruling.’

Full story

Free Movement, 19th May 2017

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

UK law found to be more generous than EU law for jobseekers acquiring permanent residence – Free Movement

‘The case of GE v. SSWP (ESA) [2017] UKUT 145 (ACC) sets out how the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 (since replaced with the 2016 version), are in some areas, more generous than EU law itself by concluding that an initial right of residence or status as a job-seeker could count towards permanent residence for an EEA national.’

Full story

Free Movement, 22nd May 2017

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

Tribunal refuses call to order disclosure of counsel’s opinion obtained by county – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 16th, 2017 in disclosure, local government, news, solicitors, tribunals by sally

‘A First-Tier Tribunal has refused a call from a retired solicitor to order a county council to disclose counsel’s opinion.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 15th May 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Southwark LBC v Akhtar and Stel LLC – Arden Chambers

‘The Upper Tribunal has held that an estimated service charge that had not been demanded in accordance with a lease would not have been payable but for the lessee taking out a loan from the lessor to pay it and thereby waiving strict compliance with the terms of the lease; s.7, Interpretation Act 1978 does not apply to notices served under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 unless a lease provides that s.196 Law of Property Act 1925 is to apply to the service of notices’

Full story

Arden Chambers, 20th April 2017

Source: www.ardenchambers.com

Barrister with history of failing to co-operate with BSB and LeO suspended for two years – Legal Futures

‘A commercial barrister has been suspended from practice for failing to comply with an order of the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) and requests from his own regulator, only two years after a series of similar findings as well as a suspension for handling client money when he should not have done.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 8th May 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judge quashes grant of planning permission for residential gypsy site – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 2nd, 2017 in local government, news, planning, travellers, tribunals, Wales by sally

‘A Deputy High Court judge has quashed a Welsh council’s grant of temporary planning permission for the use of land as a residential gypsy site.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 2nd May 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

The Tribunal’s enforcer – Nearly Legal

Posted April 27th, 2017 in enforcement, housing, injunctions, news, tribunals by sally

‘In Octagon Overseas Ltd and Canary Riverside Management Ltd v Coates [2017] EWHC 877 (Ch), the First-tier Tribunal appointed Mr Coates as the manager of Canary Riverside (a development comprising, amongst other things, four blocks of residential apartments of which Octagon were the freehold owners) under s.24, Landlord and Tenant Act 1987. As part of its order it required that Canary Riverside Management Ltd must, amongst other things, provide copy documents (accounts, invoices, etc) to Mr Coates. Mr Coates contended that this order had not been complied with and brought a claim in the County Court for an injunction against Canary Riverside Management Ltd seeking to enforce the management order. The County Court made an injunction, with a penal notice attached, restraining Canary Riverside Management Ltd from
1. Changing any locks to the premises;
2. Removing any property from the premises;
3. Interfering with the manager’s exercise of his obligations under the management order.’

Full story

Nearly Legal, 26th April 2017

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Council wins right to redact more info from variation agreement to waste contract – Local Government Lawyer

‘A county council has won an appeal to the First-Tier Tribunal over a decision by the Information Commissioner’s Office that it was not entitled to redact certain information in a variation agreement to a waste disposal contract.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 24th April 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk