Man who sold diet pills made from poison jailed – BBC News
‘A man who sold diet pills on the internet which were actually poison has been jailed for three years.’
BBC News, 29th May 2025
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Three gas firms fined £8m by Ofgem for being too slow to attend leaks – The Guardian
‘The energy watchdog for Great Britain has fined three companies £8m for failing to respond to some gas leak emergencies quickly enough, potentially putting the public at “serious risk”.’
The Guardian, 30th May 2025
Source: www.theguardian.com
Morrow v HM Assistant Coroner for Merseyside (Sefton, Knowsley & St Helens) [2025] EWHC 935 (Admin) – Parklane Plowden
‘The High Court rejected an application made by the brother of the deceased pursuant to Section 13 of the Coroners Act 1988 to hold a fresh inquest and, in so doing, provided insight into the differences between the expectations of family members of the deceased and the purpose of the inquest process; particularly where there is the potential for overlap in determining issues of civil or criminal liability.’
Parklane Plowden, 28th May 2025
Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk
Currys worker’s fury over missing office mug ‘out of proportion’, judge rules – The Independent
‘The colleagues of a man who became “very upset” about his office mug going missing likely felt his response was “out of proportion”, an employment tribunal has found.’
The Independent, 29th May 2025
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Court of Appeal Gives Go-Ahead to NHS Claim for Damages Against Participants in the Citalopram “Pay for Delay” Cartel – Monkton Chambers
‘The Court of Appeal today handed down its judgment dismissing the appeal of various pharmaceutical companies against an earlier judgment of the Competition Appeal Tribunal (“CAT”) finding that they had no limitation defence to a multi-million pound claim by English and Welsh NHS providers arising out of the “pay for delay” cartel in relation to citalopram, an important first-line treatment for depression routinely prescribed by GPs.’
Monkton Chambers, 23rd May 2025
Source: www.monckton.com
When a Sigh Becomes a Legal Issue: The Implications of Non-Verbal Discrimination – Parklane Plowden
‘In a striking reminder of the constant evolution of workplace dynamics under equality law, a UK Employment Tribunal ruled that non-verbal expressions such as sighing or exhaling in frustration at a colleague could amount to workplace harassment and/or discrimination. This decision highlights the growing recognition of the impact of subtle, often-overlooked behaviours, particularly in cases involving employees with disabilities.’
Parklane Plowden, 27th May 2025
Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk
Parent did not have right to be accompanied by solicitor at additional learning provision review meeting, Court of Appeal rules – Local Government Lawyer
‘The Court of Appeal has rejected a mother’s claim that a local authority’s refusal to allow a solicitor to attend an individual development plan (IDP) review meeting in relation to her son’s additional learning provision was unlawful.’
Local Government Lawyer, 28th May 2025
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Seeking the university that is ours: understanding, unpacking and unsettling Black students’ racialised (un)belonging in UK law schools – The Law Teacher
‘This article unpacks the nature of racialised (un)belonging experienced by law students – why for students of colour, the law school has often felt like a space to which they cannot fully belong. First, it examines the nature of “race” and “racism.” Critical understanding is vital of how the histories and diverse ontologies of “race” and “racism” contribute to epistemic violence in the present. Without this, equality measures in the present may be futile or even harmful. Next, the paper examines how representation and intersectionality have been used to address belonging. A lot of law schools and universities have made valiant attempts to redress racialised unbelonging, yet this is often done without first grounding these efforts sufficiently in the epistemologies of unbelonging. This article will examine this disconnect. It then goes to on to analyse the role that the content of the law school curriculum plays in producing unbelonging. The core of law school activity is what happens in the classroom, and this should be (but often is not) a key avenue for law schools to address racialised unbelonging. Finally, the article engages with decolonisation as a remedy to racialised unbelonging, by examining its meanings, methods, challenges, and possibilities.’
The Law Teacher, 27th May 2025
Source: www.tandfonline.com
Planning authorities and developers urged to take action following Court of Appeal ruling – OUT-LAW.com
‘A recent ruling by the Court of Appeal in England has underlined the importance of councils publishing section 106 planning obligations prior to granting permission to new projects, experts say.’
OUT-LAW.com, 28th May 2025
Source: www.pinsentmasons.com
UK biometric surveillance exists in ‘legal grey area’ – Computer Weekly
‘The rapid proliferation of ‘biometric mass surveillance technologies’ throughout the UK’s public and private sectors is taking place without legal certainty or adequate safeguards for the public.’
Computer Weekly, 29th May 2025
Source: www.computerweekly.com
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before – Pensions Barrister
‘Paul Newman KC looks at a recent case in which a High Court claim was struck out on the basis that it sought to raise the same issue covered by a previous PO determination.’
Pensions Barrister, 29th May 2025
Source: www.pensionsbarrister.com
Dane Luo: There is ‘Advice’ and then there is ‘advice’: The Constitutional Conventions on the Appointment of the Prime Minister – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘On 23 May 2025, the Court of Appeal held that the Conservative Party was not exercising a ‘public function’ for the purposes of s 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 when it elected Liz Truss as party leader, who would go on to be appointed as the Prime Minister: R (Tortoise Media Ltd) v Conservative and Unionist Party [2025] EWCA Civ 673. While this judgment has been described as ‘orthodox’ by Lewis Graham in the Administrative Court Blog, a broader question was left open by the Court about whether the ‘advice’ of an outgoing Prime Minister to the Sovereign as to who should be invited to become Prime Minister and form a government is justiciable.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 29th May 2025
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
Sacking of teacher for accessing information on trans child not unfair dismissal, Employment Tribunal rules – Local Government Lawyer
‘The Employment Tribunal has rejected the legal claims of a Christian teacher who was dismissed after repeatedly accessing a transgender child’s welfare and safeguarding data and transcribing it to her personal computer.’
Local Government Lawyer, 28th May 2025
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
BAILII: Recent Decisions
High Court (Chancery Division)
Plummer v Flattery [2025] EWHC 1311 (Ch) (28 May 2025)
Quick Property Sale Ltd v Solaja & Anor [2025] EWHC 1257 (Ch) (28 May 2025)
Wilson v Port of Felixstowe Pension Trustee Ltd [2025] EWHC 1271 (Ch) (27 May 2025)
High Court (King’s Bench Division)
Edwards & Ors v 2 Sisters Food Group Ltd (Rev1) [2025] EWHC 1312 (KB) (28 May 2025)
Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council v Persons Unknown [2025] EWHC 1314 (KB) (28 May 2025)
Source: www.bailii.org
URS Corporation Ltd v BDW Trading Ltd [2025] UKSC 21 – Hailsham Chambers
‘The Supreme Court has handed down its eagerly anticipated judgment, dismissing URS’ appeal on every point and leaving the way open for a trial which will be interesting on issues of causation and damage (particularly, mitigation).’
Hailsham Chambers, 22nd May 2025
Source: www.hailshamchambers.com
Driver who killed three-year-old while high gets 12-year sentence – The Guardian
‘A man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for hitting and killing a little girl with his van while high on cocaine and driving recklessly around Manchester.’
The Guardian, 27th May 2025
Source: www.theguardian.com
Modernising Cartel Enforcement: CMA launches consultation on updated leniency guidance – Kingsley Napley Criminal Law Blog
‘On 29 April 2025, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published a consultation on proposed revisions to its leniency guidance for cartel cases. The changes are intended to reflect legislative changes, align with current enforcement practices, and enhance the clarity, accessibility, and effectiveness of the CMA’s leniency regime.’
Kingsley Napley Criminal Law Blog, 28th May 2025
Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk
Independent Investigations: Why use Counsel for workplace investigations? – Guildhall Chambers
‘At Guildhall Chambers we have built an Investigations Team comprising barristers with real expertise from years of experience working on the most complex and sensitive matters across all sectors. Using in-house staff for investigations diverts them from their primary responsibilities, impacting overall productivity and delaying the outcome of the investigation. By outsourcing investigations, organisations can ensure employees remain focused on their core duties, Clients have told me that they have benefited from access to a skilled professional – who is at arm’s length from the stakeholders but who can get to the heart of the matter quickly. Obtaining independent evidence leads to the production of an accessible, comprehensive report which clients have said are “comprehensive”, “thorough” and “invaluable”. High quality reports, that are sometimes referenced and tested in Tribunal proceedings are a key reason to commission an experienced investigator. Truly independent investigations enable organisations to make informed decisions quickly, avoiding extended periods of uncertainty and financial loss. When an investigation is commissioned, the name and experience of the investigator should reassure stakeholders, not suggest that the ‘independent investigation’ is just seen as a tick box exercise with a foregone conclusion.’
Guildhall Chambers, 22nd May 2025
Source: www.guildhallchambers.co.uk
On trial for having an abortion – podcast – The Guardian
‘Nicola Packer, with Guardian north of England correspondent, Hannah Al-Othman, describes her four-and-a-half-year ordeal after being prosecuted for having an abortion in the UK.’
The Guardian, 28th May 2025
Source: www.theguardian.com
Vicarious liability & unprovoked attacks: J D Wetherspoon Plc v (1) Burger (2) Risk Solutions BG Ltd. [2025] EWHC 1259 (KB) – Exchange Chambers
‘On 5 August 2018 Mr Burger was restrained by two door supervisors outside a pub operated by Wetherspoons with such force that he suffered a dislocated hip, requiring emergency surgery and a three-night hospital stay. The door supervisors were employees of Risk Solutions who were engaged by JDW to provide door security at the pub on three nights of the week, pursuant to a Security Services Agreement.’
Exchange Chambers, 23rd May 2025
Source: www.exchangechambers.co.uk
