UK’s copyright laws set for dramatic overhaul – The Independent

Posted May 13th, 2011 in copyright, news by tracey

“An independent review that could lead to a dramatic overhaul of copyright law in Britain is finally scheduled to be released next week. The Hargreaves Review into the country’s intellectual-property framework, launched by the Prime Minister in November, had been due for publication in April but was delayed until after the local elections. However, The Independent has learned that Jeremy Hunt, the Culture Secretary, will tomorrow join the academic Ian Hargreaves, who chaired the inquiry, at a briefing for key industry figures. The review’s findings will then be formally made public next week.”

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The Independent, 11th May 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Hospital was ‘either ignorant or indifferent’ as pensioner died – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 13th, 2011 in accidents, elderly, hospitals, inquests, news by tracey

“A coroner has condemned a hospital for a series of ‘gross failures’ that left an elderly patient so dehydrated that his family were forced to give him water through a damp flannel before he died.”

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Daily Telegraph, 12th May 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

First injunction specifically bans Facebook and Twitter – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 13th, 2011 in Court of Protection, injunctions, internet, news, reporting restrictions by tracey

“The first injunction specifically banning the publication of information on Facebook and Twitter was issued yesterday amid growing fears about the culture of secrecy in courts.”

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Daily Telegraph, 13th May 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Gwynedd homes whistle-blower Richard Jones’ job claim – BBC News

“A former housing association director claims he was sacked because he found a £800,000 deficit in Gwynedd council home transfer proposals.”

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BBC News, 11th May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Wrexham teacher Mark Salisbury suspended over headlock – BBC News

Posted May 13th, 2011 in news by tracey

“A Wrexham teacher slapped a pupil and put him in a headlock, a professional conduct committee has been told.”

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BBC News, 11th May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Activist wins legal aid battle – The Independent

Posted May 12th, 2011 in human rights, judicial review, legal aid, news, public interest by sally

“Peace activist Maya Evans has won a dramatic High Court victory in her battle to block cuts to legal aid funding for human rights cases brought ‘in the public interest’.”

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The Independent, 12th May 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judges accuse Ministry of Defence of stifling challenges over treatment of detainees – The Guardian

“The Ministry of Defence has been condemned by the high court for stifling legal challenges over the treatment of detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

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The Guardian, 12th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

A ‘laughing stock’ libel law no more? The Defamation Bill – Legal Week

Posted May 12th, 2011 in bills, defamation, news by sally

“On 15 March the Government made good on a manifesto commitment of both coalition parties to act on libel reform, unveiling a draft Defamation Bill for consultation until 10 June.”

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Legal Week, 12th May 2011

Source: www.legalweek.com

Barristers’ dinners – a bit of fun or one upper-class indulgence too many? – The Guardian

Posted May 12th, 2011 in barristers, inns of court, news by sally

“Anyone wanting to be called to the bar must eat 12 formal dinners at the inns of court.”

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The Guardian, 12th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

McCarthy v Secretary of State for the Home Department – WLR Daily

Posted May 12th, 2011 in citizenship, EC law, freedom of movement, law reports by sally

McCarthy v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Case C-434/09); [2011] WLR (D) 153

“Parliament and Council Directive 2004/38/EC was not applicable to a European Union citizen who had never exercised their right of free movement, who had always resided in a member state of which they were a national and who was also a national of another member state. Article 21FEU of the FEU Treaty was likewise not applicable to a European Union citizen in such circumstances provided the situation of that citizen did not include the application of measures by a member state that would have the effect of depriving them of the genuine enjoyment of the substance of the rights conferred by virtue of their status as a Union citizen.”

WLR Daily, 5th MAy 2011

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Please note that once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Victims central to new proposals for the sentencing of burglars – Sentencing Council

Posted May 12th, 2011 in burglary, news, sentencing, victims by sally

“Today, the Sentencing Council is launching a three-month public consultation on its proposals to introduce a new guideline for judges and magistrates on the sentences for all offences which involve burglary.”

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Sentencing Council, 12th May 2011

Source: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

Related link: Burglary Offences Guideline

Sex discrimination case begins – Law Society’s Gazette

“A woman solicitor who alleges that her boss remarked she had ‘all the traits of a blonde’ and should find herself a rich husband has begun tribunal proceedings for sexual discrimination and unfair dismissal.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 12th May 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

News focus: sole practitioners face ‘perfect storm’ – Law Society’s Gazette

“To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the death of the sole practitioner appear greatly exaggerated.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 12th May 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judge demands review of damaging divorce laws – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 12th, 2011 in children, cohabitation, divorce, families, judges, news by sally

“Outdated family laws have fuelled an ‘alarming’ rise in marital breakdown, causing ‘profound’ damage to millions of children, a High Court judge has warned.”

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Daily Telegraph, 11th May 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Joanna Yeates trial: Mirror and Sun face contempt charges – The Guardian

Posted May 12th, 2011 in contempt of court, defamation, media, news by sally

“The attorney general, Dominic Grieve, will begin court action on Thursday against two tabloid newspapers over the way they covered the hunt for the killer of Joanna Yeates, the landscape architect whose body was found dumped on Christmas Day in a country lane near Bristol.”

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The Guardian, 11th May 2001

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Professional negligence litigation rise down to the unscrupulous few – Law Society’s Gazette

“Economically speaking, the law is generally thought to be a counter-cyclical profession.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 12th May 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Pension rights for gay couples in civil partnerships should match those for married straight couples, EU court rules – OUT-LAW.com

“Couples in civil partnerships should have the same pension rights as married couples according to the European Court of Justice, backing the approach already taken in the UK.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 11th May 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Judges to be asked: Should cameras be allowed in courts? – The Guardian

Posted May 12th, 2011 in courts, judiciary, media, news by sally

“Judges are to be consulted about how cameras could be allowed into courtrooms to televise trials, the Ministry of Justice has revealed. Confirmation that officials have put the issue back on the political agenda comes as the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, calls for greater openness and transparency in the justice system.”

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The Guardian, 11th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police reform bill defeat for government in Lords – The Guardian

Posted May 12th, 2011 in bills, elections, news, police by sally

“The government suffered a major defeat in the Lords when a rebellion by Liberal Democrat peers helped carry an amendment that could bury the government’s central policy of elected police and crime commissioners.”

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The Guardian, 11th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Punishments for burglars tightened up by sentencing body – The Guardian

Posted May 12th, 2011 in burglary, news, sentencing, victims by sally

“Burglars who target homes will normally be expected to be sent to jail, under new sentencing guidelines for judges and magistrates.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk