Becky Watts killers received £400,000 in legal aid – BBC News
‘The killers of Bristol teenager Becky Watts were granted more than £400,000 in legal aid, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.’
BBC News, 3rd March 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: news
Twitter to train prosecutors in fight against online abuse – The Guardian
‘Twitter is to train prosecutors in England and Wales to better fight online abuse, as the internet is increasingly used as a weapon by perpetrators of domestic abuse, rape and sexual violence against women.’
The Guardian, 3rd March 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Robert Thomas: Local Government Devolution in England – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘At last, devolution is happening in England, but there are some areas of concern especially as regards the lack of public engagement and the legal framework.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 2nd March 2016
Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org
Part 36 Trumps Fixed Costs (and no Donald in Sight): Broadhurst and Taylor v Tan and Smith [2016] EWCA Civ 94 – Zenith PI Blog
‘In a claim which starts under the Pre-Action Protocol for Low Value Personal Injury Claims (in this case the RTA Protocol), what happens when a Claimant obtains a judgment against a defendant which is at least as advantageous to them as the proposals contained in a Part 36 offer – does the Claimant recover fixed costs only, as per the regime, or does the Claimant recover costs on an indemnity basis?’
Zenith PI Blog, 1st March 2015
Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com
Report urges end to 94 years of BBC self-regulation – The Guardian
‘An end to 94 years of BBC self-regulation by scrapping the BBC Trust has been proposed by an independent report calling for “fundamental reform” of the way the corporation is governed.’
The Guardian, 1st March 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
UK spying laws: Government introduces law requiring WhatsApp and iMessage to break their own security – The Independent
‘The draft Investigatory Powers Bill, or Snoopers’ Charter, keeps a provision that weakening of security will only happen in cases where it is ‘practicable’, but that could still allow the Government to outlaw many of the most popular chat services as they currently exist.’
The Independent, 1st March 2016
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Curbs on ‘shameless’ armed forces claims within weeks – Law Society’s Gazette
‘Measures to curb legal claims against members of the armed forces are likely to be introduced this month.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd March 2016
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Sole practitioner who overcharged client by 500% is struck off – Legal Futures
‘A sole practitioner who overcharged by 500% for private client work has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).’
Legal Futures, 2nd March 2016
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Watchdog bans Church of Scientology TV ad for misleading viewers – The Guardian
‘A TV ad aired by the Church of Scientology has been banned by the advertising watchdog for misleading viewers with a claim it gives aid to tens of millions of people.’
The Guardian, 2nd March 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Statements of Truth, Translation and Witnesses with Poor English – Zenith PI Blog
‘The CPR includes surprisingly demanding requirements, and draconian sanctions, in relation to Statements of Truth from witnesses whose English is so poor that they cannot read documents in English.
Here is a helpful summary of the rules, and what, in practice, you need to do to comply with them.’
Zenith PI Blog, 1st March 2016
Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com
Court of Appeal throws out solar farm challenge brought 14 months after planning permission was granted – OUT-LAW.com
‘A High Court judge should not have overturned planning permission granted to a solar farm in Wiltshire in response to a legal challenge brought 11 months after the three-month limitation period then in force had expired, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’
OUT-LAW.com, 1st March 2016
Source: www.out-law.com
Sean Rigg death: case against five police officers referred to CPS – The Guardian
‘Prosecutors are to consider whether they should bring criminal charges against five police officers over the arrest, restraint and detention of Sean Rigg, a musician who died in Metropolitan police custody.’
The Guardian, 1st March 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Paddy Power case highlights scourge of fixed-odds betting terminals – The Guardian
‘Damning Gambling Commission report reveals how racing risks being caught in the crossfire over the row raging about the high street betting shop machines.’
The Guardian, 1st March 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Home Office to publish revised draft of snooper’s charter – The Guardian
‘The home secretary, Theresa May, has revised some elements of her controversial “snooper’s charter” legislation in an attempt to address criticism by MPs and peers of the surveillance powers it confers.’
The Guardian, 1st March 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Judge rejects NHSLA challenge to medical negligence ATE premium – Litigation Futures
‘A circuit judge has rejected a challenge by the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) to a medical negligence ATE insurance premium described by the claimant as a “perfectly normal block policy”.’
Ligitation Futures, 29th February 2016
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Legal Aid Agency spends £93m on cases not heard in court – Law Society’s Gazette
‘The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) has spent more than £93m funding defence counsel in cases that did not go to trial, the National Audit Office has found.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 1st March 2016
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Secret Evidence in Immigration Tribunal Hearings: R (on the Application of ILPA) v Tribunal Procedure Committee and Lord Chancellor – Free Movement
‘Open justice is one of the most crucial features of a free state. In weighing up individual cases, courts have sometimes decided that open justice shoud give way to other, equally necessary, ideals. For instance, national security won the day in the Court of Appeal decision in the Erol Incedal case. This was inevitably criticised by the press. In Immigration Law Practitioners Association, R (On the Application Of) v Tribunal Procedure Committee & Anor [2016] EWHC 218 (Admin), Mr Justice Blake in the High Court deals whether in appropriate circumstances information can be withheld from an appellant, or both an appellant and their representative, in immigration tribunals. Rule 13 of the 2014 Immigration Tribunal Procedure Rules purports to do just that; the Immigration Law Practitioner’s Association (ILPA) brought a challenge to its legality.’
Free Movement, 29th February 2016
Source: www.freemovement.org.uk
LIBOR case transferred to Financial List despite need for new judge – Litigation Futures
‘A claim against Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), including allegations of rigging the LIBOR rate, has been transferred to the new Financial List even though the move means bringing in a new judge.’
Litigation Futures, 1st March 2016
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Judicial involvement in pre-proceedings for care cases to be piloted: top judge – Local Government Lawyer
‘Schemes for judicial and CAFCASS involvement in the pre-proceedings phase of some types of care case will be piloted in selected courts shortly, the President of the Family Division has said.’
Local Government Lawyer, 1st March 2016
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
FCA ‘lacks evidence’ of whether regulation is reducing mis-selling by financial firms, auditors say – OUT-LAW.com
‘Data collected by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is insufficient to prove whether regulatory interventions have had an effect on mis-selling by financial firms, the UK’s public spending watchdog has said.’
OUT-LAW.com, 26th February 2016
Source: www.out-law.com
