The Big Question: Do we need to change the rules on maternity and paternity leave? – The Independent

Posted March 31st, 2009 in maternity leave, news, paternity leave by sally

“Why are we asking this now?

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has called for a dramatic change in parental leave arrangements to ensure that fathers and lower-income parents are better served. The Commission insists that mothers and fathers should be able to share the leave allowance to give men more time with their children while both maternity and paternity pay should be raised to encourage low income families to take advantage of the benefit.”

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The Independent, 31st March 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Guide to Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2008 – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 31st, 2009 in criminal procedure, news by sally

“The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has made amendments to the Criminal Procedure Rules, which will come into force on 6 April 2009.”

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Ministry of Justice, 30th March 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Public lack confidence in justice system, poll shows – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 31st, 2009 in criminal justice, news by sally

“Nearly 70 per cent of the public lack confidence in the justice system, an official poll revealed.”

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Daily Telegraph, 30th March 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

FSA secures first jail term for insider dealing – The Times

Posted March 31st, 2009 in financial regulation, insider dealing, news, sentencing by sally

“A solicitor who tipped off his father-in-law and profited from a takeover deal was jailed for eight months today in the Financial Services Authority’s (FSA) first criminal prosecution for insider dealing. ”

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The Times, 30th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Land register ‘too open to fraud’ – BBC News

Posted March 30th, 2009 in fraud, land registration, news by sally

“A major reform of property registration in England and Wales is needed to prevent ‘an exponential rise in fraud’, a building society boss has said.”

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BBC News, 30th March 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Corporate law work ‘is the next regulatory hazard’ – The Guardian

Posted March 30th, 2009 in law firms, news by sally

“The next scandal of regulatory failure could occur in the legal sector, if tougher action is not taken to regulate the work of corporate law firms, a report has warned.”

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The Guardian, 30th March 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Public have their say on how criminals payback – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 30th, 2009 in community service, news by sally

“A new campaign that explains how the public can have their say on the work offenders carry out on Community Payback was launched today by Justice Secretary Jack Straw and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.”

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Ministry of Justice, 30th March 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Barnett v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Another – Times Law Reports

Posted March 30th, 2009 in change of use, law reports, planning by sally

Barnett v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Another

Court of Appeal

“Where full planning permission had been granted for the construction of buildings, the grant approved the application plans and drawings unless the permission expressly stated otherwise. The general rule in construing permissions to have regard only to the permission unless the ancillary plans and drawings had been expressly incorporated, applied only to outline planning permission.”

The Times, 30th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Waterman and Another v Boyle and Another – Times Law Reports

Posted March 30th, 2009 in easements, law reports, parking by sally

Waterman and Another v Boyle and Another

Court of Appeal

“An express right to park two vehicles at a property did not imply a further right to park additional vehicles.”

The Times, 30th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted March 30th, 2009 in legislation by sally

The European Parliamentary Elections (Welsh Forms) Order 2009

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Controllers) (Exemption) Order 2009

The Welfare Reform Act 2007 (Commencement No. 10, Transitional and Savings Provisions) Order 2009

The Employment Code of Practice (Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures) Order 2009

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted March 30th, 2009 in law reports by sally

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Noorani v Calver (No 2 Costs) [2009] EWHC 592 (QB) (25 March 2009)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Oak Investment Partners XII Ltd Partnership v Boughtwood & Ors [2009] EWHC 641 (Ch) (27 March 2009)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Cheatle v General Medical Council [2009] EWHC 645 (Admin) (27 March 2009)

High Court (Commercial Court)

TS Lines Ltd v Delphis NV [2009] EWHC B4 (Comm) (25 February 2009)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

London Borough of Camden v Makers UK Ltd [2009] EWHC 605 (TCC) (27 March 2009)

High Court (Patents Court)

Scinopharm Taiwan Ltd v Eli Lilly & Company [2009] EWHC 631 (Pat) (27 March 2009)

Source: www.bailii.org

Revealed: law firms costing NHS millions – The Times

Posted March 30th, 2009 in fees, law firms, news by sally

“The law firm Irwin Mitchell has topped a league table of clinical negligence lawyers paid the most by the NHS, picking up almost £11m in fees and costs last year from compensation claims by patients.”

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The Times, 29th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Public to vote on criminals’ community sentences – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 30th, 2009 in community service, news by sally

“The public will be able to vote on the community sentence punishments they want criminals to carry out, from today.”

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Daily Telegraph, 30th March 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Rich investors sue Queen’s bankers – The Times

Posted March 30th, 2009 in banking, news by sally

“More than 500 of the richest people in Britain are planning legal action against Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) for losses of more than £200m from investments through Coutts, the Queen’s bankers, which it bought in 2000.”

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The Times, 29th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Delay in ‘toxic sofa’ payout – BBC News

Posted March 30th, 2009 in class actions, defective goods, news, personal injuries by sally

“Hundreds of people who suffered burns and rashes from faulty leather sofas will have to wait longer to find out if they are to be paid compensation.”

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BBC News, 27th March 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

After Binyam Mohamed, MI5 is now accused of role in more torture cases – The Guardian

Posted March 30th, 2009 in intelligence services, news, torture by sally

“The attorney general is to be asked to investigate two more cases of alleged MI5 complicity in torture of men detained in Pakistan. Lawyers representing Rangzieb Ahmed and Salahuddin Amin are to ask Lady Scotland to consider possible criminal wrongdoing.”

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The Guardian, 28th March 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Prisoners ‘to be able to vote at next election’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 30th, 2009 in elections, news, prisons by sally

“Prisoners could be given the vote by next year in a double offensive to force Jack Straw to implement a controversial European ruling.”

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Daily Telegraph, 29th March 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

FSA hails significant victory as solicitor and father-in-law are guilty of insider dealing – The Times

Posted March 30th, 2009 in insider dealing, news by sally

“A solicitor and his father-in-law were convicted yesterday of exploiting secret information to buy shares before a company takeover in the Financial Services Authority’s (FSA) first criminal prosecution for insider dealing.”

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The Times, 28th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

£5m counterfeit cash gang jailed – BBC News

Posted March 30th, 2009 in counterfeiting, news, sentencing by sally

“Five men have been jailed and one given a suspended sentence after admitting printing £5m in fake banknotes.”

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BBC News, 27th March 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sentencing statistics pulled again – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 27th, 2009 in news, sentencing, statistics by sally

“Jack Straw is facing fresh ridicule after his officials were forced to pull sentencing statistics which had already been delayed once because of errors.”

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Daily Telegraph, 27th March 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk