7/7 widow Louise Gray jailed for stealing son’s compensation – BBC News
‘The widow of a victim of the 7/7 London bombings has been jailed for stealing £43,000 from her son’s compensation.’
BBC News, 19th January 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Female genital mutilation: NHS doctor becomes first person to stand trial for involvement in the unpopular practice – The Independent
‘Female genital mutilation: NHS doctor becomes first person to stand trial for involvement in the unpopular practice.’
The Independent, 19th January 2015
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Attempt to ban performing artist’s abuse memoir ‘threatens free speech’ – The Guardian
‘An attempt to prevent a performing artist from publishing his memoir on the grounds that its contents would be distressing for his son to read has opened up “a new, substantial and unpredictable threat to freedom of expression”, lawyers representing free speech campaigners have told the UK supreme court.’
The Guardian, 19th January 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Grime Rap ‘Gangbo’ appeal fails in High Court – Diarmuid Laffan – UK Human Rights Blog
‘Chief Constable of the Greater Manchester Police v Scott Calder [2015]. The Greater Manchester Police (‘GMP’) have been unsuccessful in an attempt to obtain an Injunction to Prevent Gang-Related Violence (“IPGV” or “Gangbo”) against Scott Calder. The application was based on police intelligence and the lyrics of Mr Calder’s YouTube Grime Rap videos. On 14 January 2015, Mr Justice Blake dismissed the GMP’s appeal to the High Court, and in doing so laid out guidance on the purpose and ambit of the IPGV legislation, which is currently being substantially amended by Parliament.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 19th January 2015
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Male circumcision can be part of “reasonable parenting”, but no form of FGM is acceptable – Family Court – UK Human Rights Blog
‘B and G (Children) (No.2) [2015] EWFC 3. Contemplating the details of different forms of female genital mutilation is not for the faint hearted. But that is what the courts and the relevant experts have to do, not only to protected alleged victims but to defend the interests of those suspected of perpetuating the procedure, whether it is a question of criminal liability under the FGM Act 2003, or determining that a threshold of harm has been passed so as to initiate care proceedings if the victim is a child.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 18th January 2015
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
General damages are not reduced because of age: the law set out with clarity – Zenith PI Blog
‘There are many reasons why personal injury litigators should read the decision of Judge Curran QC (sitting as a judge of the High Court) in Miller -v- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust [2014] EWHC 3772 (QB). One of the reasons is the detailed analysis of the argument that damages for pain and suffering should automatically be reduced because of a claimant’s age. As the judgment shows age can be an aggravating factor, not a matter that leads to a reduction in the award.’
Zenith PI Blog, 17th January 2015
Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com
Enhanced court fees: the government response to part 2 of the consultation on reform of court fees – Ministry of Justice
‘The government response to part 2 of the consultation on reform of court fees and further proposals for consultation.’
Ministry of Justice, 16th January 2015
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Government set to hike general civil application fees – Litigation Futures
‘The government has dropped plans for “enhanced” court fees specifically for commercial cases, but is now targeting increased fees for the hundreds of thousands of general civil applications made each year.’
Litigation Futures, 19th January 2015
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Court fees: Proposals for reform – Judicial responses – Judiciary of England and Wales
‘Responses of the Lord Chief Justice, senior judiciary and the Civil Justice Council to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Consultation on Court fees – enhanced charging.’
Judiciary of England and Wales, 16th January 2015
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk
BAILII: Recent Decisions
Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
Gilks & Anor v Hodgson & Anor [2015] EWCA Civ 5 (15 January 2015)
High Court (Administrative Court)
Elashmawy v Court of Brescia, Italy & Ors [2015] EWHC 28 (Admin) (16 January 2015)
High Court (Chancery Division)
Thwaytes v Sotheby’s [2015] EWHC 36 (Ch) (16 January 2015)
Plaza BV v The Law Debenture Trust Corporation Plc [2015] EWHC 43 (Ch) (16 January 2015)
Reinhard v Ondra LLP & Ors (Rev 1) [2015] EWHC 26 (Ch) (14 January 2015)
High Court (Commercial Court)
Navig8 Inc v South Vigour Shipping Inc & Ors [2015] EWHC 32 (Comm) (16 January 2015)
High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)
ST v Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust [2015] EWHC 51 (QB) (16 January 2015)
High Court (Technology and Construction Court)
Oakrock Ltd v Travelodge Hotels Ltd & Ors [2015] EWHC 30 (TCC) (16 January 2015)
BPC Hotels Ltd & Ors v Brooke North (A Firm) [2015] EWHC 27 (TCC) (16 January 2015)
Savoye And Savoye Ltd v Spicers Ltd [2015] EWHC 33 (TCC) (15 January 2015)
Surce: www.bailii.org
Operation Elveden: Journalists cleared in Sun trial – BBC News
‘Four journalists have been cleared of plotting to pay officials while working at the Sun newspaper.’
BBC News, 16th January 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Connor Barrett party murder youths jailed for life – BBC News
‘Two teenagers who murdered a man at a 21st birthday party they gatecrashed have been jailed.’
BBC News, 16th January 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Theresa May’s new FGM reporting rules ‘will stop families seeking help’ – The Guardian
‘Plans by the home secretary, Theresa May, to force health professionals to report cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) to the police are unlikely to lower the extent of abuse and risk dissuading families from seeking medical help, according to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.’
The Guardian, 17th January 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Legal aid cuts hit divided families as contact centres close down – The Guardian
‘Child contact centres, where children meet their separated parents who cannot agree access rights, are disappearing as legal aid cuts take effect.The National Association for Child Contact Centres (NACCC) says 40 centres have closed in the last 18 months across England and Wales – and the pace of closures is accelerating. It says that, because it can no longer obtain legal aid, the number of parents accessing the family courts to resolve their problems has halved. As a result they are not receiving advice from solicitors who are likely to refer them to the centres.’
The Guardian, 17th January 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Pledge to end locking up mentally ill in police cells – BBC News
‘Authorities in England have pledged to bring an end to the practice of detaining people with mental health problems in police cells. The NHS, councils and police are now set to come up with plans for how they will achieve this, the government said.’
BBC News, 18th January 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Australian litigation funder plans more mass claims against big UK firms – The Guardian
‘The Australian litigation funder coordinating shareholders’ legal action against Tesco is promising to launch more mass claims against large firms in the UK.’
The Guardian, 18th January 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
