Should the Decision of the Foreign Secretary be Justiciable? – Louise Christian
Should the Decision of the Foreign Secretary be Justiciable?
Louise Christian, Senior Consultant and Head of Public Law, Christian Khan Solicitors
Inner Temple Reader’s Lecture Series, 18th February 2013
Source: www.innertemple.org.uk
Damages for death and human rights – UK Human Rights Blog
“Swift v. Secretary of State for Justice, Court of Appeal, 18 February 2013. Ms Swift lost her live-in partner in an accident at work caused by negligence. She was pregnant with her partner’s child, but had only been living with him for 6 months. Had she been with him for 2 years, she could have claimed damages for his death under section 1(3) of the Fatal Accidents Act – set out at [1] of the CA judgment. She would then have been a ‘dependant’ as defined under the FAA. So she argued that her rights under Articles 8 (family) and 14 (discrimination) of the ECHR were not properly respected by the law governing damages for the death of a relative – there was no justification for this stark cut-off – 1 year 11 months no claim, 2 years a claim. The judge refused to grant a declaration of incompatibility between the ECHR and the Fatal Accidents Act, and the Court of Appeal has just upheld his decision.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 18th March 2013
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Covert recordings may be admissible in Employment Tribunals – Technology Law Update
“As technology becomes more sophisticated, so do the challenges faced by employers. A seemingly common query relates to the legality of covert recordings made by employees of face to face meetings with managers or colleagues on smart phones or tablets.”
Technology Law Update, 15th March 2013
Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk
Court of Appeal rules on damages for frustration at DPA breach – Panopticon
“On a day in which the remedying of privacy breaches of the kind considered by Leveson LJ dominated parliamentary debate, the Court of Appeal (Arden LJ, Lloyd LJ and Ryder J) delivered an interesting judgment on remedies for privacy breaches of the data protection variety.”
Panopticon, 18th March 2013
Source: www.panopticonblog.com
Barnet council faces high court review of budget cuts – The Guardian
“The ‘easyCouncil’ model of no-frills local services faces a high court challenge today, with locals from the London Borough of Barnet, including the disabled resident Maria Nash who is bringing the action, calling for a £320m privatisation deal to be scrapped.”
The Guardian, 19th March 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Black belt judo instructor fraudulently claimed £18,000 in disability benefits – Daily Telegraph
“David Roberts, 48, falsely claimed more than £18,000 disability living allowance. He claimed he was in severe discomfort after walking a few steps, needed help getting dressed and getting in and out of bed. But the sensei and black belt judo and martial arts instructor was filmed by Department of Work and Pensions investigators throwing adults over his shoulder and holding opponents in leg and arm locks, in Runcorn, Cheshire.”
Daily Telegraph, 18th March 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Gagged NHS whistleblowers will be allowed to speak out, Sir David Nicholson says – Daily Telegraph
“Hundreds of whistleblowers are now free to come forward with damaging
disclosures about the NHS after their gagging orders were retrospectively
lifted, Sir David Nicholson has told MPs.”
Daily Telegraph, 18th March 2013
Soruce: www.telegraph.co.uk
Sky News reporter cleared over canoe man email hacking – The Guardian
“Sky News correspondent Gerard Tubb will not face prosecution for hacking the email account of ‘canoe man’ John Darwin, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced.”
The Guardian, 18th March 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Bloggers may face libel fines under press regulation deal – The Guardian
“Bloggers could face high fines for libel under the new Leveson deal with exemplary damages imposed if they don’t sign up to the new regulator, it was claimed on Tuesday.”
The Guardian, 19th March 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Cash-for-crash’ scam in Durham ‘put car insurance up by £100’ – BBC News
“A ‘crash-for-cash’ scam run by a 60-strong gang swindled so much money car insurance firms raised bills of people in the area by about £100 a year. The fraud in County Durham involved faking accidents and making false whiplash compensation claims. The 60 either admitted or were found guilty during hearings held at Newcastle Crown Court since last March.”
BBC News, 18th March 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Unfair terms in consumer contracts – Law Commission
“The Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission have today recommended reforms to provide better protection for consumers from unfair charges in small print.”
Law Commission, 19th March 2013
Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission
Law commissions urge tougher action on hidden charges – BBC News
“Consumers need more protection against hidden charges often tucked away in the
small print, according to two bodies responsible for promoting law reform.”
BBC News, 19th March 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Politicians agree deal on post-Leveson Royal Charter for press regulation – but Daily Mail Group, News International and Telegraph Media Group refuse to sign up – The Independent
“Britain’s largest newspaper groups are on a collision course with the Government over press regulation, after last night signalling their anger at the imposition of ‘several deeply contentious’ issues in a Royal Charter announced in Parliament by the Prime Minister.”
The Independent, 19th March 2013
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Snap inspections expose scandal of ‘institutionalised abuse’ in care homes and hospitals – Daily Telegraph
“A landmark programme of unannounced inspections in hospitals and care homes has
found that more than a third are still failing to respect elderly people’s basic
dignity, despite a series of scandals.”
Daily Telegraph, 19th March 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
No tax for Castle Howard painting as judge rules it is ‘plant or machinery’ – Daily Telegraph
“The custodians of North Yorkshire stately home Castle Howard have won a tribunal
battle to avoid paying tax on the £9.4m sale of a painting, after a judge ruled
it a piece of ‘plant or machinery’ integral to attracting visitors.”
Daily Telegraph, 19th March 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Are Bills of Rights Necessary in Common Law Systems? – Justice Dyson Heydon AC
Are Bills of Rights Necessary in Common Law Systems?
Justice Dyson Heydon AC
Inner Temple Reader’s Lecture Series, 21st January 2013
Source: www.innertemple.org.uk
Huntsman Brian Fraser jailed over unlicensed gun after he was cleared of shooting ex-lover – The Independent
“A huntsman who was cleared of shooting his former lover outside her country home has been jailed for eight months for possessing a firearm without a licence.”
The Independent, 18th March 2013
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Labour MP given ‘substantial damages’ after Sun accessed text messages – The Guardian
“The Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh has accepted ‘very substantial damages’ from News International, with the Sun admitting that it accessed text messages from her mobile phone after it was stolen, the high court has heard.”
The Guardian, 18th March 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Jacob Rowbottom: Entrenching a Royal Charter – some initial thoughts – UK Constitutional Law Group
“After much political manoeuvring over the weekend, a deal has been struck on the Royal Charter to implement Leveson. A key point is that it will prevent the Charter being unilaterally changed by future governments.”
UK Constitutional Law Group, 18th March 2013
Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org
