‘Unfair’ dismissal of full-time mayor from role at a school could be justified, says EAT – OUT-LAW.com

‘A former member of staff at a school in Merseyside was not entitled to compensation when he was dismissed from his role, as his full-time work as the elected mayor of Liverpool was incompatible with him continuing as an employee, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 17th April 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Lack of representation ‘particularly unfair’ in emotive cases – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 17th, 2015 in family courts, legal representation, litigants in person, news by sally

‘A judge has stressed the importance of having lawyers in family court proceedings to prevent emotional self-represented litigants behaving in ways they might regret.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 15th April 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Water companies are public authorities and must therefore disclose environmental information – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Water and sewage utility companies are “public authorities” for the purposes of the environmental information regulations, and are bound by them accordingly, the Administrative Appeals Chamber of the Upper Tribunal has ruled.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 16th April 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Lord Janner sex abuse charge decision fails ‘victims’ – BBC News

Posted April 17th, 2015 in child abuse, evidence, mental health, news, prosecutions, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘Alleged victims of child sex abuse by Lord Janner have been failed by the decision not to charge him, a police and crime commissioner (PCC) has said.’

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BBC News, 17th April 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tribunal increases ICO fine over unsolicited marketing by 50% – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 17th, 2015 in electronic mail, fines, news, privacy, telecommunications, tribunals by sally

‘A UK court has increased the level of fine imposed on a business which made unsolicited marketing calls to people signed up to the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) by 50%.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 17th April 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

European Court backs UK-Lithuania extradition – BBC News

Posted April 17th, 2015 in extradition, human rights, mental health, murder, news by sally

‘A Lithuanian man accused of serious offences including murders has lost his attempt to persuade the European Court of Human Rights to stop his extradition from the UK.’

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BBC News, 16th April 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Unnecessary ABS approval rules to be scrapped in latest regulation bonfire – Legal Futures

‘The rule which requires the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to approve the individuals who own companies that in turn own alternative business structures (ABSs) is set to be scrapped, it announced yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 17th April 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Academy terminating prior arrangement – Education Law Blog

‘In Anderson v Chesterfield High School UKEAT/0206/14/MC, Mr Anderson is currently the elected Mayor of Liverpool. This is an executive post and regarded as full-time. The position carries with it an annual allowance of almost £80,000. He had previously held positions as Councillor of Liverpool City Council, the Leader of the opposition on the Council and ultimately at the time of his election as Mayor, Leader of the Council, which was in effect a full-time post with an annual allowance of approximately £50,000.’

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Education Law Blog, 16th April 2015

Source: www.education11kbw.com

Liberty Baker: Driver jailed for schoolgirl’s death – BBC News

Posted April 17th, 2015 in dangerous driving, drug abuse, guilty pleas, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man who killed a 14-year-old girl when his car mounted the pavement and hit a group of people has been sentenced to four years in prison.’

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BBC News, 16th April 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Operation Elveden: Judge to allow majority verdicts – BBC News

Posted April 17th, 2015 in juries, jury directions, media, misfeasance in public office, news, verdicts by sally

‘The jury in the latest trial of journalists accused of illegally paying public officials has been told the judge will accept majority verdicts.’

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BBC News, 16th April 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Penelope Mellor given restraining order after stalking campaigner Shy Keenan – BBC News

Posted April 17th, 2015 in harassment, internet, news, restraining orders by sally

‘A woman who stalked an anti-child abuse campaigner by “bombarding” her with Twitter messages has been given a restraining order for five years.’

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BBC News, 18th April 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Respect women’s right to wear veil in court, says Britain’s most senior judge – The Guardian

Posted April 17th, 2015 in court dress, Islam, judges, news, religious discrimination, women by sally

‘Judges must show respect to women who choose to keep their faces covered due to their religious beliefs, the UK’s most senior judge has said.’

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The Guardian, 17th April 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The cab-rank rule – are its days numbered? – Legal Futures

Posted April 16th, 2015 in barristers, consultations, news, reports by sally

‘‘The cab-rank rule is dead, long live the cab-rank principle’, or words to that effect, may be heard before too long..’

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Legal Futures, 16th April 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Rents and Equality. Barnet, again – Nearly Legal

‘It appears that Barnet Council (via the Mayor’s casting vote) are determined to carry on with their plan to raise rents for council tenants, new and existing, to 80% of market rent or top of LHA rates, whichever is lowest.’

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Nearly Legal, 15th April 2015

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Coroner calls for law to ensure swimming pools are fenced off after young boy’s death – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 16th, 2015 in accidents, children, health & safety, news by sally

‘Assistant coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon to ask government for similar fencing laws to Australia where families must install child-resistant barriers around pools.’

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Daily Telegraph, 15th April 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Three found guilty over gambler’s killing – The Guardian

Posted April 16th, 2015 in conspiracy, false imprisonment, firearms, homicide, murder, news, robbery by sally

‘A woman has been found guilty of luring a professional gambler into bringing her to his flat, where he was kicked to death for the sake of his winnings.’

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The Guardian, 15th April 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The Criminal Courts Charge: a “tax on the poor” or making criminals “pay their way”? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

‘Much has been written about the criminal courts charge – a new mandatory financial charge incurred by convicted defendants (after a trial or entering a guilty plea) and unsuccessful appellants. I wrote a short “explainer” piece setting out the key provisions for UK Criminal Law Blog here. In essence, the charge accounts for a contribution to the costs of running the courts – making criminals “pay their way”, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said.’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 15th April 2015

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Lord Janner will not face trial over abuse claims – The Guardian

‘Labour peer Lord Janner of Braunstone will escape charges for the second time over alleged historical child sex crimes, prosecution sources have confirmed.’

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The Guardian, 16th April 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Senior judge renews calls for introduction of ‘no fault’ divorce in England and Wales – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 15th, 2015 in divorce, families, news, prenuptial agreements by sally

‘Laws governing divorce in England and Wales should be modernised to allow couples to divorce without accusing their ex of adultery or ‘unreasonable behaviour’, according to one of the country’s most senior judges.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 10th April 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Family of burglar who fell through roof face £250k bill for trying to sue council – Daily Telegraph

‘Judge rules in Staffordshire council’s favour after Thomas Buckett suffered 10 skull fractures and spent two weeks in a coma.’

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Daily Telegraph, 14th April 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk