AI revolution could hit access to justice for people on low incomes – Legal Futures

‘Artificial intelligence (AI) could have a knock-on impact on legal services for poorer people, such as weakening pro bono assistance by cutting the number of commercial lawyers, according to a report by Professor Roger Smith.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd February 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Costs judge says no: paparazzi lose bid to recover additional liabilities from TV star Walliams – Litigation Futures

Posted February 6th, 2017 in costs, harassment, judges, news, photography, publishing by sally

‘A picture agency which sent photographers to David Walliams’ house when news of his divorce broke is not a news publisher and so cannot recover additional liabilities following the settlement of an action brought by the entertainer, the Senior Costs Judge has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 3rd February 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

One female genital mutilation case reported every hour in the UK – The Independent

Posted February 6th, 2017 in children, female genital mutilation, health, news, statistics, women by sally

‘A case of female genital mutilation (FGM) is either discovered or treated at a medical appointment in England every hour, according to analysis of NHS statistics by a charity.’

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The Independent, 6th February 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Reasonable costs of Improvements – Nearly Legal

‘We saw the Upper Tribunal take a new approach to determining whether the costs of improvement works, passed on through the service charge, were reasonably incurred. The UT held that particular consideration should have been given to the views of the leaseholders, whether they could be done more cheaply and the financial circumstances of the leaseholders.’

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Nearly Legal, 5th February 2017

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Rape accusers ‘face court ordeal by defence lawyers’ – The Guardian

Posted February 6th, 2017 in bad character, bills, cross-examination, news, rape, sexual offences, trials, victims, witnesses by sally

‘Rape complainants are being routinely questioned in court about their sexual histories and even the way they were dressed on the night they were attacked, according to a damning dossier of case studies to be presented to MPs this week. The findings have triggered calls for the law to be tightened to protect complainants better.’

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The Guardian, 4th February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ex-Sheffield City Council boss Roger Dodds jailed for sex abuse – BBC News

Posted February 6th, 2017 in local government, news, sentencing, sexual offences, young persons by sally

‘An ex-council boss who forced teenagers to engage in sex acts to get grant payments has been jailed for 16 years.’

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BBC News, 3rd February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK must remain under EU law during Brexit transition, diplomats say – The Guardian

Posted February 6th, 2017 in brexit, courts, diplomats, EC law, markets, news, referendums by sally

‘EU diplomats have warned the Foreign Office that the UK will not be able to leave the jurisdiction of the European court of justice (ECJ) if there is to be a transition period while details of Brexit are negotiated.’

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The Guardian, 3rd February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Criminals fleeing British justice can no longer use Cyprus as a safe haven, judges rule, in landmark decision – Daily Telegraph

‘Fugitives from British justice cannot use Northern Cyprus to dodge punishment for their crimes, High Court judges have ruled in a landmark decision.’

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Daily Telegraph, 3rd February 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

UK police accused of ignoring claims about abuse by prison staff – The Guardian

‘At least 14 former inmates of a detention centre who made allegations of historical sexual and physical abuse against prison officers claim that their complaints were ignored by police.’

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The Guardian, 5th February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Fixed Costs Apply in PAD Applications for Claims Which Leave The EL/PL Portal: Sharp v Leeds City Council [2017] EWCA Civ 33 – Zenith PI Blog

‘The Court of Appeal considered a “short but important point of interpretation of the Civil Procedure Rules” concerning the costs of pre-action disclosure (“PAD”) applications in cases which started, but no longer continue, under the EL/PL Protocol.’

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Zenith PI Blog, 2nd February 2017

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

Senior judge slams lawyers for obstructing Rochdale child sex grooming gang deportation case – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 6th, 2017 in child abuse, delay, deportation, immigration, judges, legal aid, news, sexual offences, tribunals by sally

‘Lawyers are helping a child sex grooming gang avoid attempts to deport them by obstructing the courts and “weakening the rule of law”, Britain’s most senior immigration judge has warned.’

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Daily Telegraph, 4th February 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Neknominate’ goldfish swallow pair avoid prison – BBC News

‘A man who swallowed a live goldfish in a drinking dare has been given a suspended prison sentence.’

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BBC News, 3rd February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

People caught shining laser pens at pilots face tougher punishments – The Guardian

Posted February 6th, 2017 in bills, endangering safety of aircraft, news, sentencing, transport by sally

‘People caught shining laser pens at pilots, train drivers or motorists will face tougher fines and jail sentences under new laws proposed by the Department for Transport (DfT).’

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The Guardian, 5th February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Fresh Brexit legal challenge blocked by high court – The Guardian

Posted February 3rd, 2017 in brexit, EC law, judicial review, markets, news, parliament, referendums, treaties by sally

‘Two senior judges have blocked a legal challenge to the government’s strategy for leaving the single market and the European Economic Area.’

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The Guardian, 3rd February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Transgender teenager sues Hereford school for discrimination – BBC News

Posted February 3rd, 2017 in equality, news, school children, transgender persons by sally

‘A transgender teenager is taking legal action against his former school for discrimination.’

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BBC News, 2nd February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Councils should be forced to fix potholes immediately, Court of Appeal rules – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 3rd, 2017 in local government, news, repairs, road safety, roads by sally

‘Councils should be forced to fix serious potholes immediately the Court of Appeal has ruled, after judges found in favour of a jogger who hurt his ankle.’

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Daily Telegraph, 2nd February 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Anti-Semitic hate crime at record high, says UK charity – BBC News

Posted February 3rd, 2017 in hate crime, Judaism, news, statistics by sally

‘Hate crime against Jewish people in the UK increased by more than a third last year, with recorded incidents now at record levels, charity figures suggest.’

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BBC News, 2nd February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government set to raise threshold for court and tribunal fee remission – Litigation Futures

Posted February 3rd, 2017 in employment tribunals, fees, news by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) yesterday announced plans to increase the threshold for the court and tribunal fee remission scheme to around the level of the national living wage (NLW).’

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Litigation Futures, 1st February 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Nottingham Asda worker guilty of terrorist charges – BBC News

Posted February 3rd, 2017 in news, terrorism by sally

‘An Asda worker has been found guilty of trying to join a Islamist terrorist group in the Philippines.’

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BBC News, 2nd February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

HBOS manager and other City financiers jailed over £245m loans scam – The Guardian

‘A group of bankers who ran an “utterly corrupt scheme” that left hundreds of small business owners “cheated, defeated and penniless” have been sentenced to almost 50 years in jail.’

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The Guardian, 2nd February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk