‘Court fees for litigants in commercial money claims could rise from under £3,000 to more than £21,000 under plans by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for a percentage-based fee system.’
Litigation Futures, 4th December 2013
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
‘From March 2014, a scheme allowing police to disclose to individuals details of their partners’ abusive pasts will be extended to police forces across England and Wales, following a successful 14-month pilot in four police force areas. It is intended that this Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, or “Clare’s Law”, will provide, “people with the information they need to escape an abusive situation before it ends in tragedy”, according to Home Secretary Theresa May.’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 3rd December 2013
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
‘A second criminal inquiry into the death of a patient at scandal-hit Stafford Hospital is under way.’
BBC News, 3rd December 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A bitter dispute between three “brothers” over who should gain a £70,000 inheritance after a couple mistakenly signed each other’s wills was brought before the Supreme Court today.’
The Independent, 3rd December 2013
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Home Secretary Theresa May is due to set out measures to tackle extremism after recommendations from a taskforce set up by the prime minister.’
BBC News, 4th December 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Margaret Hodge has described the Charity Commission as not “fit for purpose” after a highly critical report warned that its failure to investigate fraud and abuse was undermining public faith in good causes.’
The Guardian, 4th December 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Seven men who say they were sexually abused while pupils at a former Cardiff school in the 1960s and 1970s have received about £350,000 in payouts since 2011, BBC Wales has learnt.’
BBC News, 4th December 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The attorney general is to begin issuing legal warnings to steer Twitter users away from prejudicial comments that might force trials to be abandoned.’
The Guardian, 4th December 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘A man who pointed a pistol at police before carrying out a four-hour siege, trapping his estranged wife and a young boy in a flat, has been jailed.’
BBC News, 3rd December 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Reports of a C-section being forcibly carried out on a woman that came to light in the mainstream press this past weekend have quickly made international news.’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 3rd December 2013
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
‘Children and young people brought up by foster carers in England will be allowed to remain with families until they are 21 if they choose to under a new legal duty for councils, ministers will announce on Wednesday.’
The Guardian, 4th December 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘A man who appeared from the storage cupboard of a hotel naked with a fire extinguisher hose up his bottom, has walked free from court.’
The Independent, 3rd December 2013
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘A young woman with learning difficulties was “deliberately targeted” for a sham marriage to bolster a man’s immigration case, a High Court judge has ruled.’
The Independent, 3rd December 2013
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The European court of human rights exceeds its legitimate powers, usurps the role of politicians and “undermines the democratic process”, one of the UK’s most senior judges has warned.’
The Guardian, 28th November 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘The ramifications of “Plebgate” rumble on, not merely in the corridors of Whitehall and “the Met.” Much more seriously (some would say) it has now impinged into the arena of the “Jackson Reforms” and sanctions for relief against failure to abide by the Civil Procedure Rules in general. Andrew Mitchell MP v News Group Newspapers Limited (citation above) took place in the context of costs budgeting and the failure to provide the necessary budget in time, but it is also an important case with wider implications concerning the approach of the court to failures to comply with orders or directions of the Court or procedures of the CPR post “Jackson”. Many practitioners will be alarmed by the result.’
Sovereign Chambers, 28th November 2013
Source: www.sovereignchambers.co.uk
‘The Master of the Rolls has delivered a unanimous judgment limiting Andrew Mitchell MP’s legal costs in his defamation action against “The Sun” newspaper to his court fees only despite his budget being in excess of £500,000. This is the first time the Court of Appeal has considered sanctions under the new Jackson costs regime and is a sobering lesson for litigators.’
Littleton Chambers, 27th November 2013
Source: www.littletonchambers.com
‘There have been lots of sound bites from today’s costs and CPR compliance judgment dismissing the appeal in Mitchell v News Group Newspapers Limited [2013] EWCA Civ 1526. Other articles will detail the Court’s findings, although I suggest it would be negligent for any civil litigator not to read the entire judgment. It is the most far-reaching decision in civil litigation since the introduction of the CPR in 1999. I plan to analyse the consequences (and unintended consequences) for litigators, the Courts and civil litigation generally. My initial tweet was: “Mitchell costs appeal dismissed. Check your insurance policies litigators. The CPR alligators are coming and this time they’re hungry!” Here are my views, not limited to 140 characters.’
Hardwicke Chambers, 27th November 2013
Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk
‘The Finance Act 2006 introduced significant changes to the Inheritance Tax (IHT) treatment of
trusts with effect from 22 March 2006. The purpose of this paper is to investigate estate planning
opportunities which are still available both (a) during the lifetime of an individual and (b) on death.’
New Square Chambers, 28th November 2013
Source: www.newsquarechambers.co.uk
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