Society outrage at ‘back door’ criminal court fees – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 31st, 2015 in courts, criminal courts charge, criminal justice, fees, news, trials by sally

‘Suspects pleading not guilty in the Crown court will risk paying a court fee of £1,200 if convicted under guidelines slipped into legislation without debate in the final days of the current parliament.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 27th March 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Is the defendant worth suing? – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted March 31st, 2015 in civil procedure rules, costs, insurance, negligence, news, regulations by sally

‘“You can’t get blood out of a stone”. “There’s no point in throwing good money after bad”. Many will have found themselves using clichés when advising a claimant where the defendant’s ability to meet any future award is very much in doubt. In professional negligence claims the normal expectation is that the defendant will have professional indemnity insurance cover that will meet any claim, but how can one be sure? And even if there is cover can one find out the level of that cover?’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 24th March 2015

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Senior male nurse filmed himself raping unconscious women in A&E – The Independent

Posted March 31st, 2015 in guilty pleas, news, nurses, pornography, rape, victims, voyeurism by sally

‘A male nurse has admitted filming himself raping two unconscious women in A&E while patients lay just feet away.’

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The Independent, 30th March 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

War inside the court room – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 31st, 2015 in armed forces, foreign jurisdictions, human rights, Iraq, news, war by sally

‘The High Court has ruled that the ECHR applies to situations where Iraqi civilians were shot during security operations conducted by British soldiers. When taken together with the parallel cases being brought against the MOD for breach of its Article 2 obligations towards its own soldiers, it appears increasingly likely that any operation undertaken by the British Army in the future will lead to legal challenges being brought against almost every aspect of its actions pre, during and post any use of military force.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 29th March 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Media regulator issues new guidelines on young people on TV and radio – The Guardian

Posted March 31st, 2015 in children, codes of practice, complaints, consultations, media, news by sally

‘Broadcasters are being told to take into account the impact of bullying on social media in new guidelines covering the appearance of children and young people on TV and radio released by Ofcom.’

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The Guardian, 30th March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Appeal judges condemn district judge who failed to give “any adequate reasons” for ruling – Litigation Futures

Posted March 31st, 2015 in appeals, judges, judiciary, news, reasons, retrials by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has strongly criticised a district judge who failed to produce “any adequate reasons” for reaching his conclusions in an adverse possession case.’

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Litigation Futures, 31st March 2015

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

PC Darren Heath jailed over sex with vulnerable women – BBC News

Posted March 31st, 2015 in misfeasance in public office, news, police, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘A “manipulative and calculating” police officer who abused his position to have sex with vulnerable women he met while on duty has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 30th March 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

DIY Justice – Panorama

Posted March 31st, 2015 in care orders, legal aid, legal representation, litigants in person, news by sally

‘Raphael Rowe meets the parents fighting for access to their children without any legal assistance. Cuts to legal aid mean they must represent themselves in court.’

iPlayer

Panorama, 30th March 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

After settlement of a claim for asbestos-related disease against two employers, is it an abuse of process to bring a claim for mesothelioma against a third employer two and a half years later? – Zenith PI Blog

Posted March 31st, 2015 in abuse of process, asbestos, industrial injuries, limitations, news by sally

‘The High Court decision in Lloyd v Humphreys and Glasgow Ltd [2015] EWHC 525 (QB) handed down on 20.3.2015 considers if there was abuse of process in those circumstances. It is also a useful example of the Court’s willingness to exercise its discretion under section 33 of the Limitation Act 1980.’

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Zenith PI Blog, 30th March 2015

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

The Tale of the Black Spider: The Supreme Court speaks – UK Human Rights Blog

‘And so, the long legal saga of the Black Spider Letters finally comes to a close.

I last blogged about this case back in October 2012. At that time, the Attorney General had ignited controversy by invoking a little-known power under section 53 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 27th March 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Discretionary Housing Payments – the trouble with DLA – Nearly Legal

‘Oh, we have been waiting for this one. According to DWP survey evidence, some 75% of Councils take Disability Living Allowance into account as income when deciding on an award of Discretionary Housing Payments. This judicial review concerned Sandwell Council’s policy of doing just that. The implications are clearly of significance for other councils, and will potentially impact many disabled people faced with the bedroom tax.’

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Nearly Legal, 30th March 2015

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

London black cab driver jailed for sex attacks on sleeping women – BBC News

Posted March 31st, 2015 in disqualification, London, news, rape, sentencing, sexual offences, taxis by sally

‘A black cab driver who sexually assaulted two women who fell asleep in his taxi has been jailed for 10 years.’

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BBC News, 30th March 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

FCA focus on personal accountability driving increase in financial firm whistleblowing, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 31st, 2015 in financial regulation, news, reports, whistleblowers by sally

‘A significant increase in the number of whistleblowing cases opened by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) over the course of the last year shows that the regulator’s increased focus on personal accountability is changing employee behaviour in the financial services industry, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 30th March 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Crown Prosecution Service considers News of the World journalist retrial – The Guardian

‘A crunch meeting at the Crown Prosecution Service is taking place on Monday to decide whether to retry a journalist over leaks from a public official.’

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The Guardian, 30th March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MoD accused of refusing former detainee Yunus Rahmatullah justice – The Guardian

Posted March 31st, 2015 in intelligence services, interception, news, privilege, torture by sally

‘The government has refused to give an undertaking not to take advantage of any intercepted communications between a former detainee, who is suing the Ministry of Defence, and his lawyers.’

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The Guardian, 30th March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Court sits at British Museum for first time as judge studies looted Libyan sculpture – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 31st, 2015 in artistic works, courts, customs and excise, news, theft by sally

‘Marble statue worth £2 million looted from a UNESCO world heritage site in war-torn country.’

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Daily Telegraph, 30th March 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Legal services to be “future boom area” as councils become entrepreneurial: report

Posted March 31st, 2015 in legal services, local government, news, reports by sally

‘Legal services look likely to be a “future boom area” for local authorities as they seek to operate more entrepreneurially, a think tank has claimed.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 30th March 2015

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted March 30th, 2015 in legislation by sally

SI 2015/725 – The Community Amateur Sports Clubs Regulations 2015

SI 2015/717 – The Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provision) Order 2015

SI 2015/716 – The Membership Audit Certificate (Qualified Independent Person) (Specified Conditions) Order 2015
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BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted March 30th, 2015 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

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The New FA Football Intermediaries Regulations and the Disputes Likely to Arise – Blackstone Chambers

Posted March 30th, 2015 in agency, conflict of interest, disclosure, news, regulations, sport by sally

‘The FA Regulations on working with Intermediaries (‘FA Intermediaries Regulations’) come into force on 1 April 2015. They put into force FIFA’s Intermediaries Regulations, with some important variations and, with them, apparently signal the abolition of the licensed football agent.’

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Blackstone Chambers, 27th March 2015

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com