Justice minister failed to declare interest in industry he regulates – The Guardian

Posted October 3rd, 2011 in conflict of interest, ministers' powers and duties, news by sally

“The justice minister Jonathan Djanogly failed to declare that his children were minority shareholders in his brother-in-law’s businesses – two firms which advertise accident compensation claims and are part of an industry that Djanogly regulates in government, the Guardian can reveal.”

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The Guardian, 2nd October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

A picture is worth a thousand words… or two months – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted October 3rd, 2011 in contempt of court, news, photography, sentencing by sally

“Hot on the heels of announcements regarding the television broadcast of sentencing decisions, technology raises another controversy. This time a teenager, Paul Thomson, was convicted for contempt in Luton Crown Court and given a two month sentence. The offence was taking a photo inside court on his Blackberry mobile phone.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 29th September 2011

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Baroness Shackleton: legal watchdog warns lawyer fees market needs ‘urgent reform’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 3rd, 2011 in consumer protection, fees, legal profession, legal services, news by sally

“Exclusive: Lawyers are under pressure to adopt more ‘consumer friendly’ fee structures amid thousands of complaints from clients about inflated billing charges, the legal watchdog has warned. ”

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Daily Telegraph, 1st October 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Agency workers’ rights come into force – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 3rd, 2011 in casual workers, EC law, news by sally

“Temporary agency workers will be entitled to the same employment and working conditions as those given to staff when the UK’s new Agency Workers Regulations come into force tomorrow.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 30th September 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Ferdinand v MGN – a “Kiss n’ Tell” public interest defence succeeds – Lorna Skinner – UK Human Rights Blog

“In the first ‘misuse of private information’ trial against a newspaper since Max Mosley in 2008, Mr Justice Nicol dismissed a claim brought by England and Manchester United footballer Rio Ferdinand against the Sunday Mirror.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 2nd October 2011

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Advocacy assurance scheme ‘halted’, declares criminal bar – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 3rd, 2011 in advocacy, barristers, news, quality assurance by sally

“Plans to introduce the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) have run into serious difficulties, it has emerged. The Criminal Bar Association appears to have withdrawn its engagement with the controversial accreditation scheme amid a dispute about linking payment to accreditation level.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd October 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Reform options for media regulation – The Guardian

Posted October 3rd, 2011 in complaints, media, news by sally

“Hugh Tomlinson QC analyses the various options for replacing the Press Complaints Commission.”

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The Guardian, 30th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Banned preacher can seek damages over illegal arrest – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 3rd, 2011 in damages, false imprisonment, immigration, news by sally

“A banned Islamic preacher who entered Britain illegally following a Home Office blunder is entitled to seek damages after being detained unlawfully, a judge has ruled.”

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Daily Telegraph, 30th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Woman’s plea for more access to disabled sister rejected by judge – The Independent

Posted October 3rd, 2011 in care homes, disabled persons, families, news by sally

“A sister’s long and bitter battle to see more of her severely disabled sibling suffered a devastating blow yesterday when a judge ruled that a local authority-selected nursing home provided the best possible care.”

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The Independent, 1st October 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

A formula for justice – The Guardian

Posted October 3rd, 2011 in evidence, news, statistics by sally

“Bayes’ theorem is a mathematical equation used in court cases to analyse statistical evidence. But a judge has ruled it can no longer be used. Will it result in more miscarriages of justice?”

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The Guardian, 2nd October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Home Secretary May ‘wants Human Rights Act scrapped’ – The Independent

Posted October 3rd, 2011 in human rights, news by sally

“Home Secretary Theresa May risked angering Liberal Democrat Cabinet colleagues today by throwing her weight behind calls for the Human Rights Act to be scrapped.”

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The Independent, 2nd October 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Students fear plans to reform law on squatting may outlaw sit-ins – The Guardian

Posted October 3rd, 2011 in demonstrations, news, squatting by sally

“Government proposals to criminalise squatting may also outlaw occupation-style protests and sit-ins, student leaders, trades unionists and lawyers have said.”

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The Guardian, 2nd October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ofcom lays down the law on raunchy videos before the 9pm watershed – The Guardian

Posted September 30th, 2011 in complaints, media, news, obscenity by tracey

“Ofcom has ordered UK broadcasters to be more careful about showing sexually explicit music videos before the 9pm watershed. The regulator issued new guidance on Friday, focusing on the visual as well as the verbal content of some music videos in a bid to tighten the enforcement of existing watershed rules.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Woman jailed for looting trainers during riots – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 30th, 2011 in news, sentencing, theft by tracey

“A woman pictured trying on trainers outside a looted sports shop during the London riots, wept in the dock today as she was jailed for eight months.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 30th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Pensioner faked death in Central America for life insurance payout – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 30th, 2011 in fraud, insurance, news, possession of false identity documents, theft by tracey

“A pensioner was jailed for six years today after he admitted faking his own death in Central America to try to pocket a £520,000 life insurance payout.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph. 30th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Default retirement age end hailed – The Independent

Posted September 30th, 2011 in age discrimination, news, retirement by tracey

“Age equality campaigners today hailed the end of employment rules forcing people on to the ‘scrap heap’ at the age of 65. Bosses from tomorrow will no longer be able to set a mandatory retirement age, as the Government brings in changes to reflect people living longer and healthier lives.”

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The Independent, 30th September 2011

Source: www.indpendent.co.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted September 30th, 2011 in parliamentary papers by tracey

Post-legislative scrutiny of the Terrorism Act 2006, Cm 8186 (PDF)

Firearms control: the Government response to the third report of the Home Affairs Committee session 2010-11 HC 447, Cm 8155 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted September 30th, 2011 in law reports by tracey

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Farquharson v R [2011] EWHC Crim 2168 (30 September 2011)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Balevents Ltd v Sartori [2011] EWHC 2437 (Ch) (29 September 2011)

High Court (Commercial Court)

PT BUANA SAMUDRA PRATAMA v Marine Mutual Insurance Association (NZ) Ltd [2011] EWHC 2413 (Comm) (29 September 2011)

British Arab Commercial Bank Plc & Ors v Algosaibi & Ors [2011] EWHC 2444 (Comm) (29 September 2011)

African Fertilizers and Chemicals Nig Ltd (Nigeria) v BD Shipsnavo GmbH & Co Reederei Kg [2011] EWHC 2452 (Comm) (29 September 2011)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Ferdinand v MGN Ltd [2011] EWHC 2454 (QB) (29 September 2011)

Source: www.bailii.org

W v M and others – WLR Daily

Posted September 30th, 2011 in euthanasia, law reports, medical treatment by tracey

W v M and others [2011] EWHC 2443 (Fam);  [2011] WLR (D)  283

“Pursuant to section 4 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 it was not in the best interests of a patient diagnosed as being in a minimally conscious state to authorise the withdrawal of all life sustaining treatment including nutrition and hydration by artifical means (‘ANH’).”

WLR Daily, 28th September 2011

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted September 30th, 2011 in legislation by tracey

The Libya (Asset-Freezing) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (Appeals and Amendment) Rules 2011

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk