Paralysed marine sues MoD for £8m over beach dive accident – BBC News

Posted May 13th, 2015 in accidents, armed forces, news, personal injuries by sally

‘A marine left paralysed after diving into shallow waters in the Canary Islands is suing the military for £8m. Spencer Vaughan, 27, from Cwmbran in south Wales, broke his neck in the Gran Canaria incident while on an adventure training exercise in July 2009.’

Full story

BBC News, 12th May 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Dale Roberts jailed for dousing ex-girlfriend in petrol – BBC News

‘A man who doused his ex-partner with petrol and threatened to set light to her has been jailed for nine years.’

Full story

BBC News, 12th May 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Adoption rates in freefall after court ruling leaves children languishing in unsuitable homes – The Independent

Posted May 13th, 2015 in adoption, children, families, local government, news, statistics by sally

‘The number of children being put forward for adoption has plummeted over the past year following a series of court rulings that have left local authorities frightened of removing them from birth families.’

Full story

The Independent, 12th May 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prince Charles’s ‘black spider’ letters set for publication after 10 year legal battle – The Independent

Posted May 13th, 2015 in freedom of information, news, royal family, Supreme Court, tribunals by sally

‘The Royal Family’s reputation for political neutrality faces its most serious challenge in a generation as the “black spider” memos written by Prince Charles to senior ministers are finally set to published after a 10-year legal battle.’

Full story

The Independent, 12th May 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Worcestershire man jailed for historical rape – BBC News

Posted May 13th, 2015 in DNA, news, rape, sentencing by sally

‘A man has been jailed for the “degrading” rape of a woman in her home more than 23 years ago.’

Full story

BBC News, 12th May 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Victim of alleged paedophile hunters jailed for 12 months – The Guardian

Posted May 13th, 2015 in news, sentencing, sexual grooming, victims, violence by sally

‘A man attacked and filmed by a group of alleged vigilante paedophile hunters has been jailed for 12 months.’

Full story

The Guardian, 12th May 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

David Cameron to unveil new limits on extremists’ activities in Queen’s speech – The Guardian

‘A counter-terrorism bill including plans for extremism disruption orders designed to restrict those trying to radicalise young people is to be included in the Queen’s speech, David Cameron will tell the national security council on Wednesday.’

Full story

The Guardian, 13th May 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judge urges divorcing couple to end ‘awful’ court fight and reach settlement – The Guardian

Posted May 13th, 2015 in divorce, news by sally

‘A judge has told a former beauty queen how “awful” divorce court fights are and urged her to try to reach a settlement with her estranged lawyer husband. Mr Justice Holman is today due to start analysing evidence in a multi-million pound cash dispute involving Ekaterina, 42, and Richard Fields, 59, in the family division of the high court in London.’

Full story

The Guardian, 13th May 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jeremy Thorpe: Inquiry into claims police altered evidence – BBC News

Posted May 13th, 2015 in conspiracy, evidence, firearms, homosexuality, inquiries, murder, news, police by sally

‘An inquiry is to take place into claims evidence was altered during the police investigation into former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe in the 1970s, the BBC’s Today programme has learned.’

Full story

BBC News, 13th May 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Former student fails in legal challenge over Oxford’s handling of rape claims – The Guardian

Posted May 12th, 2015 in inquiries, judicial review, news, rape, sexual offences, universities by sally

‘A former Oxford student has failed in her attempt to overturn the university’s policy on investigating complaints of rape and sexual assault.’

Full story

The Guardian, 8th May 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Widnes hit-and-run driver jailed for seven years – BBC News

Posted May 12th, 2015 in dangerous driving, news, road traffic offences, sentencing by sally

‘A driver who killed a cyclist in Cheshire, then tried to cover up the crime, has been jailed for seven years.’

Full story

BBC News, 12th May 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Regina (Agyarko) v Secretary of State for the Home Department; Regina (Evans) v Secretary of State for the Home Department; Regina (Ikuga) v Secretary of State for the Home Department – WLR Daily

Posted May 12th, 2015 in appeals, families, human rights, immigration, law reports, regulations by sally

Regina (Agyarko) v Secretary of State for the Home Departmen; Regina (Evans) v Secretary of State for the Home Department; Regina (Ikuga) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: [2015] EWCA Civ 440; [2015] WLR (D) 205

‘Where a party who had overstayed unlawfully and married or formed a relationship with a British citizen sought leave to remain, the “insurmountable obstacles” test as to return under the Immigration Rules was a stringent test and more demanding than a mere test of whether it would be reasonable to expect a couple to continue their family life outside the United Kingdom, although the test was also to be interpreted in a sensible and practical rather than a purely literal way.’

WLR Daily, 6th May 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Visit visa refusals: appeal or judicial review? – Free Movement

Posted May 12th, 2015 in appeals, families, freedom of movement, judicial review, news, visas by sally

‘The removal of full rights of appeal for family visit visas has led to a legal dilemma to those considering a challenge to a refusal: should they give up, re-apply, attempt a human rights appeal or should they launch an application for judicial review? The problem seems all the more acute with many reports of refusals to spouses or relatives who cannot meet the harsh family settlement rules or who would rather live abroad but still want to be able to visit their spouse’s friends and family in the UK.’

Full story

Free Movement, 12th May 2015

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

CCMS: a ‘flawed’ system that ‘actually deteriorates business processes’ – Legal Voice

Posted May 12th, 2015 in computer programs, legal aid, news, pilot schemes, reports by sally

‘Specialist cost lawyers involved in pilots for the controversial new online legal aid processing system have called on the Ministry of Justice to make an “honest appraisal” before pushing ahead with implementation.’

Full story

Legal Voice, 11th May 2015

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Mother paraded as “intimidated martyr” to cheat gay couple of surrogacy arrangement – Family Court – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted May 12th, 2015 in agreements, homosexuality, news, surrogacy by sally

‘H & S (Surrogacy Arrangement) EWFC 36, 30 April 2015. M, a fifteen month old girl, was born as the result of artificial or assisted conception and of a highly contested agreement between S (the mother, a Romanian national) and H (the father, of Hungarian extraction) and B (the second applicant and H’s partner who had moved to the UK in 2004).’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 11th May 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

“Fundamental dishonesty” and striking out in personal injury cases: ten key procedural points – Zenith PI

Posted May 12th, 2015 in fundamental dishonesty, news, personal injuries, striking out by sally

‘The rule as to “fundamental” dishonesty has attracted a lot of attraction (and a lot of heated debate). However there has been very little examination of the details of the Act and the consequent procedural consequences. There are 10 key points which every personal injury litigator must be aware of.’

Full story

Zenith PI, 9th May 2015

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

Judge asks: Where are all the applications to vary budgets? – Litigation Futures

Posted May 12th, 2015 in budgets, case management, judges, news by sally

‘A leading judge has expressed his “deep unease about the desert of applications” to vary costs budgets – with practitioners responding that they are positively avoiding doing so.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 12th May 2015

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

High Court overrules Senior Costs Judge on part 36 uplift in detailed assessments – Litigation Futures

Posted May 12th, 2015 in appeals, civil procedure rules, costs, news, part 36 offers by sally

‘The Senior Costs Judge, Master Gordon-Saker, has been overruled by the High Court after he denied a claimant who made a successful part 36 offer in detailed assessment proceedings the additional 10% uplift to which he was entitled.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 11th May 2015

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Regulator seeks new powers – Bar Standards Board

Posted May 12th, 2015 in barristers, consultations, press releases by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has said that it needs new statutory powers to step into barristers’ failing chambers, companies and partnerships properly to protect the interests of clients where something has gone seriously wrong.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 12th May 2015

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Wellbeing at the Bar report – The Bar Council

Posted May 12th, 2015 in barristers, mental health, reports by sally

‘The Wellbeing at the Bar Programme was developed to look in greater detail at the unique aspects of a barristers’ working environment and how this impacts on psychological health and wellbeing.’

Full report

The Bar Council, 11th May 2015

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk