Investigations opened into vigilante murder of man mistaken for paedophile – The Guardian

Posted October 29th, 2013 in inquiries, local government, murder, news, photography, police, public order by sally

“Two independent investigations are under way into the murder of an innocent man who was beaten and burned to death after vigilante neighbours mistook him for a paedophile.”

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The Guardian, 29th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Threats to modern democracy – why the UK should take note – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted October 29th, 2013 in constitutional law, elections, human rights, news, political parties by sally

“Recent events in the US have made us all aware of the essential vulnerability of modern political and economic systems. For a while it seemed as though the most powerful economy in the world was heading towards self-destruction, owing to the failure of a small number of senior politicians to reach a consensus that would avoid such an outcome. Now that disaster has been at least temporarily averted, it seems appropriate to try to analyse how this situation arose.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 28th October 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

BSB guilty of “misleading conduct” in disciplinary case, says High Court judge – Legal Futures

“A High Court judge has accused the Bar Standards Board (BSB) of ‘misleading conduct’ in the way it handled a disciplinary matter that led to a barrister being disbarred.”

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Legal Futures, 28th October 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

NHS complaints procedure needs radical overhaul, report finds – The Guardian

Posted October 29th, 2013 in complaints, health, hospitals, news, reports by sally

“A revolution in the handling of NHS complaints has been proposed in a report co-authored by the MP Ann Clwyd, who has told how her own husband was treated with ‘coldness, resentment, indifference and contempt’ on his hospital deathbed.”

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The Guardian, 28th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

High Court overturns current practice when calculating one-fifth rule – Litigation Futures

Posted October 29th, 2013 in costs, news, precedent, solicitors by sally

“Costs that are disallowed for want of retainer should not form part of a costs judge’s calculations in applying the one-fifth rule, the High Court has said.”

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Litigation Futures, 28th October 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Newspapers seek injunction over press regulation royal charter – The Guardian

Posted October 29th, 2013 in charters, freedom of expression, injunctions, media, news, Privy Council by sally

“Newspaper and magazine publishers are seeking an injunction to prevent the government’s plan for a new press regulation regime getting the royal seal of approval this week.”

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The Guardian, 28th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Disastrous’ drop in out-of-court mediation for divorcing couples – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 29th, 2013 in arbitration, courts, divorce, legal aid, litigants in person, news by sally

“The number of divorcing couples using special out-of-court sessions to settle disputes over property and children has collapsed in the wake of legal aid cuts.”

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Daily Telegraph, 28th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Deaf and blind man fears losing home over “bedroom tax” as disabled legal challenges mount – The Independent

Posted October 29th, 2013 in benefits, disabled persons, housing, news, social services by sally

“A deaf and blind man who uses his spare bedroom to store braille equipment fears that he could lose his home due to the ‘bedroom tax’ as lawyers warned that the controversial measure is having a discriminatory impact on the disabled.”

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The Independent, 28th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Sharon Shoesmith agrees unfair dismissal payout – The Guardian

Posted October 29th, 2013 in compensation, local government, news, social services, unfair dismissal by sally

“Sharon Shoesmith , the former Haringey council children’s services director sacked in the wake of the controversy surrounding the death of Baby P, has agreed a settlement for unfair dismissal with her former employers.”

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The Guardian, 29th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

A modern British murder: Vigilante neighbours face jail after convictions over murder of disabled man Bijan Ebrahimi wrongly accused of paedophilia – The Independent

“The two men will be sentenced next month after admitting their roles in the death of the 44-year-old Iranian national, who was described by his family as a ‘caring, loving and unselfish man’. Three police officers have also been suspended as an inquiry continues into how the Avon and Somerset force dealt with Mr Ebrahimi’s requests for help after the abuse began. Six civilian call handlers are set to be questioned by the police complaints watchdog as it investigates whether his cries for help were taken seriously. Bristol City Council, which housed Mr Ebrahimi, has launched its own inquiry into what went wrong.”

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The Independent, 28th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Victims of crime get chance to speak in court under new code – BBC News

Posted October 29th, 2013 in codes of practice, news, victims by sally

“Victims of crime in England and Wales are to be given a greater opportunity to speak in courts.”

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BBC News, 29th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judge bans film of Afghan ‘execution’ by British Marine – The Independent

Posted October 29th, 2013 in appeals, armed forces, courts martial, disclosure, execution, news, video recordings by sally

“Footage showing the alleged execution of an injured Afghan insurgent by a British serviceman will not be released for fear it could spark revenge attacks on troops, a judge has ruled.”

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The Independent, 28th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Chris Grayling told to delay probation service privatisation or risk deaths – The Guardian

Posted October 29th, 2013 in contracting out, news, probation, rehabilitation by sally

“Three leading figures in the probation service have warned the justice secretary, Chris Grayling, he must delay his probation service privatisation plan for at least six months or face inevitable protection failures and risks to public safety, the Guardian has learned.”

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The Guardian, 28th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted October 28th, 2013 in legislation by sally

The Building (Amendment No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2013

The Education (Admission Appeals Arrangements) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2013

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted October 28th, 2013 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Laws-Chapman v R [2013] EWCA Crim 1851 (25 October 2013)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Sharma v Sharma & Ors [2013] EWCA Civ 1287 (25 October 2013)

Lanner Parish Council, R (on the application of) v The Cornwall Council & Anor [2013] EWCA Civ 1290 (25 October 2013)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Ageas (UK) Ltd v Kwik-Fit (GB) Ltd [2013] EWHC 3261 (QB) (25 October 2013)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Lewis v Three Rivers District Council [2013] EWHC 3250 (Admin) (24 October 2013)

McCarthy v Visitors to the Inns of Court & Anor [2013] EWHC 3253 (Admin) (25 October 2013)

Ingenious Media Holdings Plc & Anor, R (on the application of) v HM Revenue & Customs [2013] EWHC 3258 (Admin) (25 October 2013)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Greenwich Millennium Village Ltd v Essex Services Group Plc & Ors [2013] EWHC 3059 (TCC) (25 October 2013)

Doosan Babcock Ltd & Anor v Comercializadora De Equipos Y Materiales Mabe Limitada [2013] EWHC 3201 (TCC) (24 October 2013)

BMG (Mansfield) Ltd & Anor v Galliford Try Construction Ltd & Anor [2013] EWHC 3183 (TCC) (24 October 2013)

Source: www.bailii.org

Minerva Navigation Inc v Oceana Shipping AG; Oceana Shipping AG v Transatlantica Commodities SA – WLR Daily

Posted October 28th, 2013 in appeals, charterparties, law reports, shipping law by sally

Minerva Navigation Inc v Oceana Shipping AG; Oceana Shipping AG v Transatlantica Commodities SA [2013] EWCA Civ 1723; [2013] WLR (D) 406

“The off-hire clause in clause 15 of the New York Produce Exchange 1946 (‘NYPE’) form of time charterparty was concerned with the service immediately required of the vessel, and not with ‘the chartered service’ as a whole or the entire maritime adventure or adventures which might be undertaken in the course of the chartered service. The clause concentrated on the period during which full working of the vessel was prevented or stopped.”

WLR Daily, 23rd October 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

PGF II SA v OMFS Co 1 Ltd – WLR Daily

PGF II SA v OMFS Co 1 Ltd [2013] EWCA Civ 1288 ; [2013] WLR (D) 405

“As a general rule, complete silence in the face of a serious invitation to consider alternative dispute resolution amounted to unreasonable conduct and the judge in his discretion could impose costs sanctions.”

WLR Daily, 23rd October 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

When a decision-maker gives retro-reasons – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 28th, 2013 in appeals, housing, judicial review, local government, news, planning, reasons by sally

“This planning judicial review tackles the problem posed by an authority who says one thing in its formal reasons granting planning permission, and another thing in the court proceedings when the grant is challenged.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 25th October 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

SFO could snoop on communications to uncover evidence of corruption, says director – OUT-LAW.com

“The director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has warned that the agency may use powers of surveillance to uncover evidence of corruption within corporates.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 25th October 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Court of Appeal refuses anonymity for offender – UK Human Rights Blog

“Only ‘clear and cogent evidence’ that it was strictly necessary to keep an offender’s identity confidential would lead a court to derogate from the principle of open justice. The possibility of a media campaign that might affect the offender’s resettlement could not work as a justification for banning reporting about that offender, even though a prominent and inaccurate report about him had already led to harassment of his family.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 25th October 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com