Violeta Aylward struck off for switching off ventilator – BBC News
“A nurse who was filmed accidentally switching off the ventilator of a paralysed man has been struck off.”
BBC News, 15th March 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Government seeks views on dismissal rules – Department for Business Innovation and Skills
“Proposals to examine the current dismissal process have been announced by the Government today with the publication of a Call for Evidence. Ministers are to seek the views of employers and employees, and gather evidence from interested parties, on whether current dismissal procedures are too onerous, too complex and whether or not there is a lack of understanding in their application.”
Department for Business Innovation and Skills, 15th March 2012
Source: www.bis.gov.uk
Channel Islands VAT loophole closed to CD and DVD retailers – The Guardian
“Some of UK’s most popular online retailers will be forced to stop selling VAT-free CDs and DVDs after high court ruling.”
The Guardian, 15th March 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Ofcom should oversee new PCC, if newspapers cannot agree own reforms – The Guardian
“A reconstituted Press Complaints Commission should be subject to oversight by the broadcasting watchdog Ofcom if the press cannot agree a credible package of reforms, a special cross-party committee of MPs and peers set up by the prime minister will recommend in the next few days. The recommendation – a brush with statutory regulation for the first time in over 300 years – is understood to be one of the recommendations agreed on Monday at a stormy final session of parliament’s privacy and injunctions committee, a joint Commons and Lords body created by David Cameron just over a year ago.”
The Guardian, 15th March 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Leveson: Times failed to tell judge about NightJack hacking – Daily Telegraph
“The Times newspaper failed to tell a High Court judge that one of its journalists had obtained information illegally because of fears that he would be prosecuted if he told the truth, the Leveson Inquiry heard yesterday.”
Daily Telegraph, 16th March 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
French porter called ‘Inspector Clouseau’ by colleagues in line for five-figure payout – Daily Telegraph
“A French porter who was called ‘Inspector Clouseau’ by colleagues at Royal College of General Practitioners is in line for a five-figure harassment payout.”
Daily Telegraph, 16th March 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Government publishes Action Plan for Adoption – Family Law Week
“The Government has published an Action Plan for Adoption to overhaul the system for prospective adopters and strengthen the performance regime for local authorities.”
Family Law Week, 14th March 2012
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
Deferred prosecution could come to UK, says Alderman – Law Society’s Gazette
“Legislation to enable US-style deferred prosecutions for corporate crime may feature in the Queen’s speech on 9 May.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 15th March 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Legal aid bill suffers ninth Lords defeat – The Guardian
“The government’s embattled legal aid bill has suffered its ninth defeat in the House of Lords as peers voted against the mandatory use of telephone advice lines.”
The Guardian, 14th March 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
European court says ‘kettling’ tactics in 2001 lawful – BBC News
“‘Kettling’ tactics used by the Metropolitan police to contain crowds in 2001 were lawful, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled.”
BBC News, 15th March 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
News focus: no to ‘patronising’ quotas – Law Society’s Gazette
“Women lawyers overwhelmingly oppose the introduction of quotas as a tool to help more of them into senior positions in firms, it emerged at an international conference last week.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 15th March 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Assisted suicide: the two broad questions – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
“Recently Halsbury’s Law Exchange (HLE) concluded its student competition by asking the five finalists to provide a video submission on whether or not assisted suicide should be legalised. The videos were all of a high standard and can be viewed on YouYube here.”
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 14th March 2012
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
MPs’ caseloads will bear the brunt of legal aid cuts – Law Society’s Gazette
“MPs will face a ‘rising tide of need’ from constituents with unmet legal needs if the government’s legal aid cuts are implemented, according to a report published today [14 March] by the Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL) group.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 14th March 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Watchdog reduced data protection penalties in 50% of cases, FOI disclosure reveals – OUT-LAW.com
“The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has reduced fines for organisations that have breached data protection law in half of the cases in which it has issued direct fines, Out-Law.com can reveal.”
OUT-LAW.com, 15th March 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
Kettling ruling due from European court of human rights – The Guardian
“The police power to contain large numbers of people at protests, the tactic known as kettling, could be called into question on Thursday by a ruling at the European court of human rights.”
Full story
The Guardian, 14th March 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Swansea solicitor Cornelius has fraud convictions quashed – BBC News
“A solicitor from Swansea jailed for fraud and money laundering has had his conviction quashed and been set free.”
BBC News, 14th March 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Attorney General: speech at City University on human trafficking – Attorney General’s Office
“Attorney General Dominic Grieve QC MP: The role of UK law as a model for combating human trafficking and slavery. Lecture to the City Law School, London.”
Attorney General’s Office, 13th March 2012
Source: www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk
Gay marriage: government to begin public consultation – The Guardian
“The government is to press ahead with its plans to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry despite criticism from leading figures in the Church of England and the Roman Catholic church.”
The Guardian, 14th March 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Gay father wins right to be involved in son’s life – The Guardian
“The gay father of a two-year-old boy living with his lesbian mother and her partner has won the right to be involved in his life in a landmark ruling that could have significant implications for ‘alternative families’.”
The Guardian, 14th March 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
BAILII: Recent Decisions
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
Cornelius, R v [2012] EWCA Crim 500 (14 March 2012)
Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
Reddy v The General Medical Council [2012] EWCA Civ 310 (14 March 2012)
Harripaul v London Borough of Lewisham [2012] EWCA Civ 266 (14 March 2012)
High Court (Chancery Division)
Danks & Ors v Qinetiq Holdings Ltd & Anor [2012] EWHC 570 (Ch) (14 March 2012)
Source: www.bailii.org
