Shrewsbury 24: how industrial action led to 47-year fight for justice – The Guardian

‘The industrial action that led to the convictions of union activists and a 47-year campaign to clear their names took place as Edward Heath’s Conservative government sought to weaken the economic power of trade unions.’

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The Guardian, 23rd March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Shrewsbury 24: court of appeal overturns 1970s picketing convictions – The Guardian

‘Court of appeal judges have overturned the criminal convictions of a group of trade unionists, including the actor Ricky Tomlinson, after a campaign lasting more than four decades.’

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The Guardian, 23rd March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge allows use of documents shared by mistake – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 23rd, 2021 in disclosure, documents, evidence, news, privilege, solicitors, witnesses by sally

‘A High Court judge has granted defendants permission to use documents inadvertently shared by the claimants’ solicitors before trial.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 22nd March 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Court allows defendants to use statements disclosed by mistake – Litigation Futures

Posted March 22nd, 2021 in disclosure, documents, evidence, news, privilege, solicitors, witnesses by tracey

‘The High Court has granted permission to defendants to use the contents of four otherwise privileged witness statements which were disclosed by the claimants’ solicitors by mistake.’

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Litigation Futures, 22nd March 2021

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Our Treatment of the Vulnerable – Challenges for the Family Justice System – Transparency Project

Posted March 17th, 2021 in children, coronavirus, families, family courts, news, witnesses by sally

‘This is the text of a paper by Sir James Munby (lately President of the Family Division) delivered at the Royal Holloway University of London Symposium : “Inequality and Rights – Contemporary Challenges in the Child Protection and Family Justice Systems before and during the Pandemic”, which was held remotely on 16 March 2021. It is reproduced with kind permission.’

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Transparency Project, 17th March 2021

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Fairness and Adjournments: Guidance from the Court of Appeal – No. 5 Chambers

Posted March 11th, 2021 in adjournment, fraud, health, human rights, news, VAT, witnesses by sally

‘In Bilta (UK) Ltd (in liquidation) & Others v Tradition Financial Services Ltd [2021] EWCA Civ 221 the Court of Appeal examined the principles to be applied when a party seeks an adjournment because a witness is unable to attend the trial due to ill-health.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 4th March 2021

Source: www.no5.com

Ground Rules – Vulnerable witnesses – Becket Chambers

Posted March 10th, 2021 in chambers articles, children, families, news, practice directions, witnesses by sally

‘We have a new Practice Direction 3AA which covers participation in proceedings for vulnerable person who will be required to give evidence, which is effective from February 2021.’

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Becket Chambers, 26th February 2021

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

New Requirements for Witness Statements – 3 Hare Court

‘From 6 April 2021, a new regime for witness statements in the Business and Property Courts will come into force. Practice Direction 57AC will introduce significantly tighter requirements that will apply to all trial witness statements signed on or after 6 April 2021, including those in claims that have already been issued.’

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3 Hare Court, February 2021

Source: 3xuhxi1g279p1z966c3knla6-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com

A new approach to witness statements in the Business and Property Courts: the new Practice Direction 57AC – Hardwicke Chambers

‘The new Practice Direction 57AC (Witness evidence at trial) is set to significantly alter the approach taken to witness statements in the Business and Property Courts (B&PCs) by introducing new rules to deal with “the phenomenon over-long, over-lawyered trial witness statements” (paragraph 10 of the Factual Witness Evidence in Trials before the Business & Property Courts: Implementation Report of the Witness Evidence Working Group (31 July 2020) (Implementation Report). It will apply in the B&PCs to witness statements signed on or after 6 April 2021 in both new and existing proceedings (paragraph 1.1, PD 57AC. Note that certain types of proceedings are excluded unless the court directs otherwise: see paragraph 1.3).’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 4th March 2021

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

New Requirements for Witness Statements – 3 Hare Court

Posted February 25th, 2021 in documents, news, practice directions, witnesses by sally

‘From 6 April 2021, a new regime for witness statements in the Business and Property Courts will come into force. Practice Direction 57AC will introduce significantly tighter requirements that will apply to all trial witness statements signed on or after 6 April 2021, including those in claims that have already been issued.’

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3 Hare Court, February 2021

Source: 3xuhxi1g279p1z966c3knla6-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com

New witness statements Practice Direction approved – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted February 19th, 2021 in civil procedure rules, evidence, practice directions, press releases, witnesses by tracey

‘The Civil Procedure Rule Committee has approved new Practice Direction PD57AC which seeks to promote and enforce best practice on the preparation of witness statements.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 18th February 2021

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

The show must now go on – St Ives Chambers

Posted February 11th, 2021 in adjournment, chambers articles, coronavirus, news, remote hearings, witnesses by sally

‘In the recent case of Bilta (UK) Ltd and others v SVS Securities Plc and others [2021] EWHC 36 (Ch) Mr Justice Smith considered an application on behalf of the Fifth Defendant, Traditional Financial Services (‘TFS’), for an adjournment 1 week before the commencement of a 5 week trial. The case was to be heard in the Rolls Building as part of the Financial List.’

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St Ives Chambers, February 2021

Source: www.stiveschambers.co.uk

Solicitor lied to High Court in claim brought by former partner – Legal Futures

Posted February 11th, 2021 in disciplinary procedures, evidence, news, solicitors, witnesses by sally

‘A solicitor who lied to a High Court judge during the trial of a dispute with a former partner in his law firm has been struck off.’

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Legal Futures, 11th February 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘Vulnerability’ added to overriding objective and costs rules – Litigation Futures

‘Taking account of the vulnerability of parties and witnesses is to be added to the overriding objective as well as the factors used to determine the proportionality of costs.’

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Litigation Futures, February 2021

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Court rejects Covid adjournment to press on with in-person trial – Legal Futures

Posted January 26th, 2021 in adjournment, case management, coronavirus, news, remote hearings, witnesses by sally

‘The High Court has ruled that the fears of three witnesses about giving evidence in person during the UK’s winter Covid spike should not lead to a five-week complex commercial trial being adjourned.’

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Legal Futures, 26th January 2021

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Witnessing Wills During a Pandemic: “You’re on mute” – No. 5 Chambers

Posted January 22nd, 2021 in chambers articles, coronavirus, news, telecommunications, wills, witnesses by sally

‘The Wills Act 1837 (Electronic Communications) (Amendment)(Coronavirus) Order 2020 (SI 2020 No 952) means that it is now possible to witness a will via a video call. These temporary changes are much needed to allow those who want to make or update a will during the Covid-19 pandemic to do so safely and legally.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 21st January 2021

Source: www.no5.com

Anonymous witness evidence and the right to a fair trial – Carmelite Chambers

Posted January 12th, 2021 in anonymity, criminal procedure, evidence, news, witnesses by sally

‘Anonymous witness orders are most commonly sought by the prosecution in cases involving undercover police officers. There are outliers however, cases of complexity that call for closer attention, particularly those involving allegations or fears of witness intimidation.’

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Carmelite Chambers, 11th January 2021

Source: www.carmelitechambers.co.uk

Parliament could get legal powers to summon witnesses, MP says – The Guardian

Posted October 29th, 2020 in news, parliament, privilege, select committees, witnesses by sally

‘Parliament could soon be given legal powers to summon reluctant witnesses such as Dominic Cummings and Rupert Murdoch to answer questions from MPs, according to the chair of a Commons committee.’

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The Guardian, 28th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Justice must be for all’: why court intermediaries are vital for vulnerable people – The Guardian

‘Concerns are growing that a service to help people follow court proceedings in England and Wales is to be privatised and deregulated.’

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The Guardian, 28th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court upholds refusal by judge to admit witness statement from council officer in eviction proceedings brought by housing association – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 15th, 2020 in admissibility, appeals, evidence, housing, landlord & tenant, news, repossession, witnesses by tracey

‘The High Court has dismissed an application to overturn a judge’s refusal to allow tenants to rely on a witness statement from a council officer in eviction proceedings brought by a housing association.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th October 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk