Category: news

Landmark judgment on fixed-share partner rights – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 10th, 2012 in law firms, limited liability partnerships, news, unfair dismissal by sally

“Fixed-share partners of law firms are not employees and cannot claim employment rights before a tribunal, the Court of Appeal has ruled. However the ruling, in a case brought by Martin Tiffin against southern England law firm Lester Aldridge (LA), applies only when fixed-share partners enjoy some of the ‘obligations and responsibilities’ of full equity partnership.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 9th February 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Protect legal privilege, bar urges government – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 10th, 2012 in investigatory powers, legal profession, news, privilege by sally

“The Bar Council has urged the government to protect the right of citizens to hold private conversations with their lawyers. The call, supported the Law Society, comes as the proposed Protection of Freedoms Bill, intended to protect people from unwarranted state intrusion in their private lives, goes through parliament.”

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Law Society’s Gazette. 9th February 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Council loses court battle over prayer sessions before meetings – The Guardian

Posted February 10th, 2012 in Christianity, local government, news by sally

“National Secular Society’s victory over Bideford council may force half of local authorities to review practice of holding prayers.”

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The  Guardian, 10th February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Christian B&B owners lose appeal over turning away gay guests – The Guardian

Posted February 10th, 2012 in hotels, news, sexual orientation discrimination by sally

“Two Christian guesthouse owners who were ordered to pay damages after refusing to allow a gay couple to stay in a double room have lost their appeal. The challenge by Peter and Hazelmary Bull, who run Chymorvah House in Marazion, Cornwall, was rejected by three judges in the court of appeal in London.”

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The Guardian, 10th February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Nathaniel Rothschild loses High Court libel battle – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 10th, 2012 in defamation, news by sally

“Nathaniel Rothschild, the billionaire financier, has lost a High Court libel action over a claim that he was the ‘puppet-master’ behind a deal involving Lord Mandelson and a Russian oligarch.”

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Daily Telegraph, 10th February 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Abu Qatada relased on “very restrictive” bail conditions – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 10th, 2012 in bail, deportation, detention, human rights, news, terrorism by sally

“Mitting J has ruled that in the light of the recent Strasbourg ruling that the appellant could not be returned to Jordan,  his detention could not continue. Under the so-called ‘Hardial Singh’ principles, the Secretary of State must intend to deport the person and can only use the power to detain for that purpose, and the deportee may only be detained for a period that is reasonable in all the circumstances.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 9th February 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Call for evidence on the European Commission’s data protection proposals – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 10th, 2012 in data protection, EC law, news by sally

“The Government is seeking evidence on new legislative proposals for data protection which were published by the European Commission on 25 January 2012.”

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Ministry of Justice, 7th February 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Ofcom targets phone and broadband switching ‘slammers’ – BBC News

Posted February 10th, 2012 in consumer protection, internet, news, telecommunications by sally

“Landline phone and internet providers which switch customers to their service without their consent – a process known as ‘slamming’ – are being targeted by Ofcom.”

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BBC News, 9th February 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Winterbourne View staff admit abuse of patients with learning difficulties – The Guardian

Posted February 10th, 2012 in assault, care homes, guilty pleas, mental health, news by sally

“Three members of staff have admitted mistreating patients at a private hospital for people with learning difficulties.”

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The Guardian, 9th February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

General Synod rejects women bishops compromise bid – BBC News

Posted February 10th, 2012 in Church of England, clergy, news, women by sally

“Anglicans opposed to the ordination of women bishops have been refused concessions they say would secure their place in the Church of England. The General Synod defeated a bid to increase the autonomy of male bishops looking after traditionalist parishes.”

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BBC News, 8th February 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

 

Terror gang members to walk after six years following sentence reduction – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 10th, 2012 in conspiracy, guilty pleas, news, sentencing, terrorism by sally

“Members of a terror gang that plotted to bomb the London Stock Exchange could walk free in less than six years after they were given double the normal reduction in sentence for entering guilty pleas yesterday.”

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Daily Telegraph, 9th February 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Student launches fight to have his schoolboy police record deleted – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 10th, 2012 in criminal records, human rights, news, vetting, young offenders by sally

“A student who received a criminal record for stealing bikes when he was an 11-year-old child is to launch a test case to have them expunged because it breaches his human rights, a court heard.”

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Daily Telegraph, 10th February 20112

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Jane Clough campaign: Bail law changes backed by House of Lords – BBC News

Posted February 9th, 2012 in appeals, bail, bills, news, parliament by sally

“The House of Lords has backed changes to the bail laws following a campaign by the parents of the murdered Lancashire nurse Jane Clough.”

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BBC News, 9th February 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Family courts pioneer shared parenting orders – The Guardian

Posted February 9th, 2012 in family courts, news, parental rights, residence orders by sally

“Judges and lawyers are already anticipating the government’s proposed reforms to the status of separated parents by pioneering ‘shared residence orders’, according to a leading family solicitor.”

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The Guardian, 9th February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rabone v Pennine Care NHS Trust – WLR Daily

Posted February 9th, 2012 in duty of care, hospitals, law reports, mental health, news, suicide, Supreme Court by sally

Rabone v Pennine Care NHS Trust [2012] UKSC 2; [2012] WLR (D) 23

“A psychiatric in-patient who was known to be at real and immediate risk of suicide was owed a positive operational duty under article 2 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms by the NHS trust to take preventative measures to safeguard her life even though she was a voluntary patient who was not detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.”

WLR Daily, 8th February 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

‘Cheaper, quicker and less daunting’ justice – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 9th, 2012 in arbitration, civil justice, news, small claims by sally

“Individuals and businesses will find it cheaper, quicker and less daunting to resolve their disputes in civil courts, through new measures announced today.”

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Ministry of Justice, 9th February 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Keeping up with appeal procedure in the High Court (or at least trying to) – Family Law Week

Posted February 9th, 2012 in appeals, civil procedure rules, courts, family courts, news by sally

“Byron James, barrister, 14 Gray’s Inn Square reviews the guidance arising from the latest case law concerning applications for leave to appeal in financial remedies orders in the High Court.”

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Family Law Week, 8th February 2012

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Shares awarded to employees in ‘cash box’ companies should be subject to income tax, tribunal rules – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 9th, 2012 in income tax, news, shareholders, tribunals by sally

“Shares awarded to employees in ‘cash box’ companies as part of an avoidance scheme are ‘readily convertible assets’ (RCAs) on which an employer must account for income tax under pay as you earn (PAYE), a tribunal has ruled.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 9th February 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Please stow your rights in the overhead compartment – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 9th, 2012 in airlines, airports, damages, disabled persons, human rights, news, treaties by sally

“If you need reminding of what it feels like when the candy-floss of human rights is abruptly snatched away, take a flight. Full body scanners and other security checks are nothing to the array of potential outrages awaiting passengers boarding an aircraft. Air passengers in general surrender their rights at the point of ticket purchase.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 9th February 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Changes in law may be recommended to allow data sharing to combat fraud – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 9th, 2012 in benefits, data protection, fraud, news, taxation by sally

“A Government-appointed taskforce is prepared to recommend changing the law if it finds ‘unnecessary legal barriers’ to the sharing of information under just-announced anti-fraud plans.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 8th February 2012

Source: www.out-law.com