Assisted suicide: GMC to publish guidance – BBC News
“Guidance on how to deal with complaints against doctors who may have assisted in suicides will be published by the General Medical Council.”
BBC News, 16th December 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Boy, 15, who battered mother to death detained for at least five years – The Guardian
“James Gethen, now 16, was given an indeterminate detention order by a judge at Leeds crown court, who heard he had significant psychiatric problems at the time he killed his mother Ann, 39. Gethen was told he must serve at least five years before he is considered for release.”
The Guardian, 15th December 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Revenue suspends its inquiry into tax office whistleblower – The Guardian
“Officials at Revenue and Customs are reconsidering disciplinary procedures against a whistleblower whose information has led to two inquiries into allegations that City corporations were let off billions of pounds in tax penalties. A Whitehall source said tax officials had suspended a ‘fact-finding’ investigation into Osita Mba, a tax solicitor, in the wake of criticism from MPs and the public.”
The Guardian, 15th December 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Council ordered to put the brakes on ‘nightlife tax’ – The Independent
“Theatre-goers, restaurateurs and night workers throughout London’s West End were celebrating yesterday after plans to introduce evening and weekend parking charges were shelved until after the Olympic Games. The proposed charges, dubbed a ‘tax on nightlife’, had infuriated impresarios and business owners alike. They have been temporarily dropped after a High Court judge said they risked damaging local businesses.”
The Independent, 16th December 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Court blow to solar power subsidy cut – The Independent
“Government plans to slash solar power subsidies were dealt a blow yesterday, after a High Court judge ordered an urgent hearing into the move. Mr Justice Mitting ordered a judicial review to be held next week into the Government’s decision to halve so-called feed-in-tariff solar power subsidies after hearing an application by Friends of the Earth.”
The Independent, 16th December 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
MPs’ expenses: jailed trio ordered to pay back legal costs – Daily Telegraph
“Three former Labour MPs who were jailed for fiddling their expenses have been ordered to pay back a total of £125,000 – less than half of the money spent on their court cases.”
Daily Telegraph, 15th December 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Imogen Thomas speaks of ‘nightmare’ as she is cleared of blackmail accusations – Daily Telegraph
“The Big Brother contestant won an eight-month legal battle when the High Court in London heard Manchester United player Giggs, 38, now accepts she never wanted to reveal private details.”
Daily Telegraph, 16th December 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Will the Family Drug and Alcohol Court survive? – The Guardian
“The court gets results – but funding cuts put it under threat.”
The Guardian, 15th December 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
At last, Strasbourg heeds our supreme court – The Guardian
“Today’s al-Khawaja judgment shows the European Court of Human Rights is listening to UK judgesToday’s al-Khawaja judgment shows the European Court of Human Rights is listening to UK judges.”
The Guardian, 15th December 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Rio Ferdinand settles privacy dispute with Sunday Mirror – The Guardian
“Footballer Rio Ferdinand has ended his privacy battle with the Sunday Mirror over a ‘kiss and tell’ story published by the tabloid after reaching an eleventh-hour agreement.”
The Guardian, 15th December 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Terror asset-freezing laws ‘intrusive and humiliating’ – The Guardian
“Asset-freezing powers that are exercised under counter-terrorism legislation are ‘an intrusive and humiliating experience’ for a number of British citizens, the government’s independent reviewer of anti-terror laws has warned in a report.”
The Guardian, 15th December 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
European court backs British judges over hearsay evidence – The Guardian
“Hearsay evidence can be used as the sole means of securing a criminal conviction where no other evidence is available, the European court of human rights (ECHR) has ruled.”
The Guardian, 15th December 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Private Whitehall emails ‘are covered by info laws’ – BBC News
“Ministers and Whitehall officials have been warned not to try to hide sensitive government information by using private emails and text messages.”
BBC News, 15th December 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk
The Local Government (Discretionary Payments) (Injury Allowances) Regulations 2011
The Eels (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2011
The Immigration (Designation of Travel Bans) (Amendment No. 7) Order 2011
The Finance Act 2011, Section 49(6) (Appointed Day) Order 2011
The Gas Transporter (Modification of Licence Conditions) Regulations 2011
The Incidental Flooding and Coastal Erosion (England) Order 2011
The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 (Commencement No. 5 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2011
The Regulated Covered Bonds (Amendment) Regulations 2011
Source: www.legislation.gov.uk
BAILII: Recent Decisions
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
RO, R. v [2011] EWCA Crim 2910 (22 November 2011)
Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
Spaceright Europe Ltd v Baillavoine & Anor [2011] EWCA Civ 1565 (14 December 2011)
High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)
Norman v Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service [2011] EWHC 3305 (QB) (14 December 2011)
High Court (Administrative Court)
High Court (Family Division)
Z & Anor v C & Anor [2011] EWHC 3181 (Fam) (02 December 2011)
High Court (Technology and Construction Court)
Alstom Power Ltd. v Somi Impianti S.R.L. [2011] EWHC 3157 (TCC) (21 November 2011)
Source: www.bailii.org
DNAR orders can be medico-legally lethal – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
“Do not attempt resuscitation orders (DNAR orders), have been much in the news. There is concern about them being slapped on patients’ notes without adequate, or any, consultation with the patient or, if the patient is incapacitate, with the relatives or carers.”
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 14th December 2011
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
Unmarried couples ‘should have equal inheritance rights’ – The Guardian
“Unmarried couples who have lived together for five years or more should be able to inherit from each other without writing a will, the Law Commission has recommended.”
The Guardian, 14th December 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Kimberly-Clark fined over death of Christopher Massey – BBC News
“Tissue maker Kimberly-Clark has been fined £180,000 over the death of a worker at its plant in Cumbria.”
BBC News, 15th December 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
