LSB’s regulatory assessments: Positive signs, but much further to go – Legal Services Board

Posted December 13th, 2012 in legal profession, Legal Services Board, news, reports by sally

“The Legal Services Board is today publishing its first assessments of the performance of
regulators in the legal services sector. These are issued alongside a consultation on the
LSB’s draft Business Plan for 2013/14. Together these documents make clear the importance,
the LSB attaches to improving regulatory performance in the coming year.”

Full story

Legal Services Board, 12th December 2012

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

Alexander Litvinenko inquest: what are the issues at stake? – The Guardian

Posted December 13th, 2012 in inquests, murder, news, spying by sally

“Sir Robert Owen will have to decide the scope of the inquiry and whether to sit with a jury.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Redacting for anonymisation: Article 8 v Article 10 in child protection context – Panopticon

Posted December 13th, 2012 in anonymity, data protection, freedom of information, human rights, news, privacy by sally

“Panopticon has reported recently on the ICO’s new Code of Practice on Anonymisation: see Rachel Kamm’s post here. That Code offers guidance for ensuring data protection-compliant disclosure in difficult cases such as those involving apparently anonymous statistics, and situations where someone with inside knowledge (or a ‘motivated intruder’) could identify someone referred to anonymously in a disclosed document. The Upper Tribunal in Information Commissioner v Magherafelt District Council [2012] UKUT 263 AAC grappled with those issues earlier this year in the context of disclosing a summarised schedule of disciplinary action.”

Full story

Panopticon, 13th December 2012

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Who’s to Blame? – BBC Unreliable Evidence

Posted December 13th, 2012 in BBC, crime, employment, news by sally

“In the first of a new series, Clive Anderson and guests discuss the legal liability of organisations for crimes or other misbehaviours committed by people who work for them.”

Listen

BBC Unreliable Evidence, 12th December 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Metropolitan police pays out over flawed rape investigation – The Guardian

Posted December 13th, 2012 in compensation, investigatory powers, London, news, police, professional conduct, rape by sally

“The Metropolitan police has made a landmark compensation payout over a flawed rape investigation by one of its elite Sapphire sexual assault units.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Mentally ill man jailed for hospital arson has prison sentence quashed – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2012 in appeals, arson, mental health, news, sentencing by sally

“A severely mentally ill young man who tried to escape from a psychiatric unit by attempting to burn down a hospital door had an indefinite prison sentence quashed on Wednesday, after a two-year campaign by his mother.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted December 12th, 2012 in parliamentary papers by sally

Agreement on the Establishment of the Global Green Growth Institute, Cm 8512 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted December 12th, 2012 in law reports by sally

Supreme Court

Imperial Tobacco Ltd v The Lord Advocate (Scotland) [2012] UKSC 61 (12 December 2012)

A (A Child), Re [2012] UKSC 60 (12 December 2012)

X v Mid Sussex Citizens Advice Bureau & Anor [2012] UKSC 59 (12 December 2012)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Novartis AG v Generics (UK) Ltd (t/a Mylan) [2012] EWCA Civ 1623 (12 December 2012)

Cammish v Hughes [2012] EWCA Civ 1655 (12 December 2012)

Davisons Solicitors (a firm) v Nationwide Building Society [2012] EWCA Civ 1626 (12 December 2012)

Alliance Bank JSC v Aquanta Corporation & Ors [2012] EWCA Civ 1588 (12 December 2012)

Brown- Quinn & Anor v Equity Syndicate Management Ltd & Anor [2012] EWCA Civ 1633 (12 December 2012)

AM v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2012] EWCA Civ 1634 (12 December 2012)

High Court (Queen’s Bench)

Ford & Warren v Warring- Davies [2012] EWHC 3523 (QB) (12 December 2012)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Bushara, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for Home Department [2012] EWHC 3483 (Admin) (16 November 2012)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development Company v Al Refai & Ors [2012] EWHC 3539 (Comm) (12 December 2012)

Source: www.bailii.org

ASA reprimands PPI text message firm – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2012 in advertising, complaints, insurance, news, telecommunications by sally

“Complaints about a company based in India which sent text messages about reclaiming payment protection insurance (PPI) and compensation for accidents have been upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Permanent injunction against anti-vivisection protestors – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 12th, 2012 in harassment, injunctions, medical ethics, news, vivisection by sally

“The High Court has granted a medical testing laboratory a final injunction against anti-vivisectioners protesting outside their premises.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 12th December 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Consultation on proposed changes to the Patents Act 1977 – Intellectual Property Office

Posted December 12th, 2012 in consultations, intellectual property, news, patents by sally

“The Review of Intellectual Property and Growth published by Professor Hargreaves in 2011 recognised the important role the UK’s patent system plays in supporting innovation and economic growth. However, the review highlighted the need for the IP framework to be more adaptable and recognised a need for change in some aspects of the way the IP system operates. Such changes will ensure the IP system continues to encourage innovation and support those UK businesses which recognise the competitive advantage that can be gained through intellectual property (‘IP’) rights.”

Consultation (PDF)

Intellectual Property Office, December 2012

Source: www.ipo.gov.uk

British agents ‘facilitated the murder’ of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane during the Troubles – The Independent

Posted December 12th, 2012 in armed forces, murder, news, Northern Ireland, reports, solicitors, terrorism by sally

“Prime Minister David Cameron said today he was ‘deeply sorry’ for the extent of state collusion in the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane in 1989 following the publication of an independent review.”

Full story

The Independent, 12th December 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Related link: Pat Finucane Report

The Court of Protection is subject to unprecedented scrutiny. But there’s still a long way to go – The Independent

Posted December 12th, 2012 in confidentiality, Court of Protection, media, news, public interest, reporting restrictions by sally

“The Independent’s campaign to gain access to the court that deals with Britain’s most vulnerable has made great strides for open justice. Our reporter explains how.”

Full story

The Independent, 12th December 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ombudsman report reveals the cost of complaint – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2012 in complaints, local government, news, ombudsmen, reports by sally

“Public organisations are wasting resources and causing financial hardship by taking too long to put right basic mistakes, says a new report by parliamentary ombudsman Dame Julie Mellor.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Related link: Responsive and Accountable? 2011-12

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted December 12th, 2012 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Sadighpour v R. [2012] EWCA Crim 2669 (11 December 2012)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

AN & FA (Children), R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2012] EWCA Civ 1636 (11 December 2012)

Suffolk County Council v Nottinghamshire County Council [2012] EWCA Civ 1640 (11 December 2012)

Singh & Ors v Ahluwalia [2012] EWCA Civ 1635 (11 December 2012)

Phillips & Co (a firm) v Bath Housing Co-Operative Ltd [2012] EWCA Civ 1591 (11 December 2012)

Davies v Davies [2012] EWCA Civ 1641 (11 December 2012)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Price v Powel & Ors [2012] EWHC 3527 (QB) (11 December 2012)

Harlan Laboratories UK Ltd & Anor v Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (“SHAC”) & Anor [2012] EWHC 3408 (QB) (07 December 2012)

Source: www.bailii.org

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted December 12th, 2012 in legislation by sally

The Charitable Incorporated Organisations (Insolvency and Dissolution) Regulations 2012

The Value Added Tax (Small Non-Commercial Consignments) Relief (Amendment) Order 2012

The Police (Amendment No. 5) Regulations 2012

The Excise Duties (Surcharges or Rebates) (Hydrocarbon Oils etc.) Order 2012

The Police Pensions (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2012

The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Fees) Order 2012

The Regional Strategy for the East of England (Revocation) Order 2012

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Leveson warns journalistic standards could slip if bloggers not subject to law – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2012 in enforcement, internet, media, news, publishing, regulations by sally

“Lord Justice Leveson has warned that unless criminal and civil law is enforced against bloggers, the quality of journalism in conventional media could deteriorate.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Immigration detention casework – poor casework must be addressed – HM Inspectorate of Prisons

Posted December 12th, 2012 in case management, delay, deportation, detention, immigration, news, prisons, reports by sally

“Immigration casework needs to improve so that people aren’t detained for longer than necessary, said Nick Hardwick, Chief Inspector of Prisons, and John Vine, Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, publishing the report of a thematic review of immigration detention casework.”

Full story

HM Inspectorate of Prisons, 12th December 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Court of Appeal: Criminal Appeals Heard More Quickly – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted December 12th, 2012 in appeals, courts, news, statistics by sally

“The Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) heard appeals against conviction and sentence more quickly last year than in previous years according to the Court’s annual report published today (Tuesday 11 December).”

Full story

Judiciary of England and Wales, 11th December 2012

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Phillips & Co (a firm) v Bath Housing Co-operative Ltd – WLR Daily

Posted December 12th, 2012 in civil justice, costs, law reports, legal profession, limitations, solicitors by sally

Phillips & Co (a firm) v Bath Housing Co-operative Ltd [2012] EWCA Civ 1591; [2012] WLR (D) 372

“A solicitors’ claim for costs, billed but not yet fixed by assessment or agreement, fell within the phrase ‘debt or other liquidated pecuniary claim’ in section 29(5)(a) of the Limitation Act 1980.”

WLR Daily, 11th December 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk