International legal aid: private conscience and public duty – LegalVoice

“Lindsay Sandiford, the British woman sentenced to death for smuggling just under five kilos of cocaine into Bali, has obtained sufficient funds to appeal, writes Roger Smith.”

Full story

LegalVoice, 12th February 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Justice for dinner lady who told of school bullying – Daily Telegraph

“A school dinner lady who was unfairly sacked after telling a seven-year-old girl’s parents that their daughter had been tied to a fence and hit with a skipping rope has won her two-year battle for compensation.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 12th February 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Not up to standard’: 25% of care agencies providing services to people in their homes are failing – The Independent

“A quarter of agencies that provide care to people in their own homes do not meet all five national standards of quality and safety, regulators said.”

Full story

The Independent, 13th February 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UBS fined £9.45m for mis-selling to wealthy clients – The Guardian

Posted February 13th, 2013 in banking, compensation, complaints, fines, mortgages, news by sally

“Swiss bank UBS has been fined £9.45m and ordered to pay a similar sum in compensation for mis-selling an investment fund that took in more than £6bn from wealthy customers.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘He is the devil himself’: Britain’s youngest ever ASBO holder, once branded an ‘imp of Satan’, turns to murder 10 years on – The Independent

Posted February 13th, 2013 in ASBOs, murder, news, recidivists, sentencing by sally

“A man has been found guilty of murdering his friend at a house party almost 10 years after he became Britain’s youngest ever ASBO holder.”

Full story

The Independent, 12th February 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Un-savvy leaseholders are paying the cost for hidden or unexplained terms – The Guardian

Posted February 13th, 2013 in housing, landlord & tenant, leases, news, unfair contract terms by sally

“Hidden clauses in leasehold agreements cost unlucky leaseholders thousands, warns property lawyer Stephen Hill.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judge who jumped red light ‘wasted court resources’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 13th, 2013 in costs, fines, judges, news, road traffic offences by sally

“[The defendent] was caught racing through a Central London junction at more than double the speed limit but then spent almost a year trying to get the charge thrown out.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 12th February 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

GCSE grading row: Result of court case due – BBC News

Posted February 13th, 2013 in education, examinations, judicial review, news by sally

“Thousands of teenagers are awaiting a ruling from the High Court on Wednesday over the grading of GCSE English exams sat in June last year.”

Full story

BBC News, 13th February 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ken Clarke fights amendments to security bill – The Guardian

Posted February 13th, 2013 in amendments, bills, civil justice, closed material, human rights, news, private hearings by sally

“Judges should be given the ‘maximum amount of discretion’ in deciding whether or not to order a secret court hearing under the justice and security bill, Ken Clarke has told MPs and peers.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Genital photo surgeon Erik Scholten has suspension lifted – BBC News

Posted February 13th, 2013 in disciplinary procedures, doctors, medical ethics, news, photography by sally

“A plastic surgeon suspended for photographing a female patient’s genitalia on his phone without her consent has been allowed back to work.”

Full story

BBC News, 12th February 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Back-to-work scheme breached laws, says Court of Appeal – BBC News

Posted February 12th, 2013 in appeals, benefits, forced labour, news, volunteers by sally

“The government’s back-to-work schemes have suffered a setback after Appeal Court
judges agreed with a university graduate’s claim that unpaid schemes were
legally flawed.”

Full story

BBC News, 12th February 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Council tax challenge goes to the Court of Appeal – BBC News

Posted February 12th, 2013 in appeals, benefits, consultations, council tax, local government, news, poverty by sally

“A single mother is taking her legal battle over a north London council’s plans
to make people on benefits contribute to their council tax bill to the Court of
Appeal.”

Full story

BBC News, 12th February 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Shouting is a lawful interrogation technique, says High Court – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 12th, 2013 in armed forces, human rights, news, public interest, torture by sally

“Ali Hussein v Secretary of State for Defence [2013] EWHC 95 (Admin) –
Collins J has dismissed a claim that the MOD’s policy of allowing interrogators to shout at a captured person in order to obtain information is unlawfully oppressive. Not only did the complaint fail but it was denounced as ‘misconceived’ and one which should never have been pursued.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 11th February 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

 

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted February 12th, 2013 in parliamentary papers by sally

Protocol amending the Agreement between the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the government of the Republic of Singapore for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital gains signed at Singapore on 12 February 1997: Singapore, 24 August 2009 Second Protocol amending the Agreement between the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the government of the Republic of Singapore for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital gains signed at Singapore on 12 February 1997 as amended by a Protocol signed at Singapore on 24 August 2009 Singapore 15 February 2012, Cm 8552 (PDF)

Source: www.official-publications.gov.uk

Bereaved families to benefit from inquest reforms – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 12th, 2013 in families, inquests, press releases, victims by sally

“Coroners will be able to hold inquests at different locations in England and Wales following a law change put in place today by Justice Minister Helen Grant.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 12th February 2013

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Bar Council responds to Home Secretary – Bar Council

Posted February 12th, 2013 in child abuse, press releases, sexual offences, suicide, victims, witnesses by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has responded to calls in the House of Commons this afternoon, from the Home Secretary, the Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP, to look carefully at any lessons which can be learned from the Brewer case. ”

Full press release

Bar Council, 11th February 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Remembering James Bulger – BBC Radio 4

Posted February 12th, 2013 in children, murder, news, victims by sally

“The Bulger family still lives on a council estate in Kirkby and on the
surface of it very little has changed since Winifred last saw them two
decades ago when the children who had abducted and killed two year old
James were convicted of murder. But in the intervening years she often
reflected on the case and wondered about what had happened to the large
extended family and its campaign for justice for James.”

Listen

BBC Radio 4, 12th February 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted February 12th, 2013 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

AIB Group (UK) Plc v Mark Redler & Co Solicitors [2013] EWCA Civ 45 (08 February 2013)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Franklin & Ors, R. v [2013] EWCA Crim 84 (11 February 2013)

Hall v R [2013] EWCA Crim 82 (08 February 2013)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Hall, R (on the application of) v University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust & Anor [2013] EWHC 198 (Admin) (08 February 2013)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Loss Relief Group Litigation Order, Claimants Listed In v Revenue & Customs [2013] EWHC 205 (Ch) (11 February 2013)

Jeremy D. Stone Consultants Ltd & Anor v National Westminster Bank Plc & Anor [2013] EWHC 208 (Ch) (11 February 2013)

The Financial Services Authority v Asset L I Inc (t/a Asset Land Investment Inc) & Ors [2013] EWHC 178 (Ch) (08 February 2013)

Televisión Autonómica Valenciana, SA v Imagina Contenidos Audiovisuales, SL [2013] EWHC 160 (Ch) (08 February 2013)

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp & Ors v Harris & Ors [2013] EWHC 159 (Ch) (05 February 2013)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Company Ltd v Heraldglen Ltd & Ors [2013] EWHC 154 (Comm) (08 February 2013)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Transport for Greater Manchester v Thales Transport & Security Ltd [2013] EWHC 149 (TCC) (08 February 2013)

AMEC Group Ltd v Secretary of State for Defence [2013] EWHC 110 (TCC) (08 February 2013)

Source: www.bailii.org

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted February 12th, 2013 in legislation by sally

The Social Fund Cold Weather Payments (General) Amendment Regulations 2013

The Social Fund (Maternity and Funeral Expenses) Amendment Regulations 2013

The Timber and Timber Products (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2013

The District of Craven (Electoral Changes) (Amendment) Order 2013

The King’s Lynn and West Norfolk (Electoral Changes) Order 2013

The Nuclear Industries Security (Amendment) Regulations 2013

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Does VTB v Nutritek foreshadow the Supreme Court’s approach to the Petrodel appeal on piercing the corporate veil? – Family Law week

“Emily Marshall, family law professional support lawyer at Irwin Mitchell considers the possible implications of the Supreme Court’s decision in a commercial case on the forthcoming appeal in the Petrodel appeal, to be heard in March.”

Full story

Family Law Week, 11th February 2013

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk