The Supreme Court: is the House of Lords ‘losing part of itself’? – speech by Lord Neuberger

Posted December 4th, 2009 in speeches, Supreme Court by sally

“The Supreme Court: is the House of Lords ‘losing part of itself’? – the Young Legal Group of the British Friends of the Hebrew University lecture, 2nd December.”

Full speech

Judiciary of England and Wales, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

£500 fine for £7k fake jacket con – BBC News

Posted December 4th, 2009 in fines, news, unfair commercial practices by sally

“A ‘dispicable’ conman must pay nearly £7,000 after conning an elderly couple into buying fake leather jackets.”

Full story

BBC News, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Couple’s cruise payout challenged – BBC News

Posted December 4th, 2009 in damages, holidays, news by sally

“A cruise company has started an appeal to reduce £22,000 in damages awarded to a North Yorkshire couple who claim their dream holiday was ruined.”

Full story

BBC News, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rome I comes into force, clarifies whose laws apply to contract disputes – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 4th, 2009 in conflict of laws, contracts, news by sally

“Companies that negotiate contracts without specifying which country’s law should govern any contractual disputes between them will face a new legal regime in two weeks’ time. From 17th December, a new EU law, Rome I, will decide which law should apply.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

Why too much legal experience can subvert jury trial – The Times

Posted December 4th, 2009 in news by sally

“Like quite a few other lawyers, recently I was called to do jury service. Apart from the inevitable waiting around (note: bring a thick book and a sense of humour), my two weeks were spent trying one serious case (alleged rape and false imprisonment). This is not an article bashing the jury system. Nor am I going to talk about the decision in our case, because I can’t (even if I wanted to). But for a commercial practitioner, the experience certainly had some surprises.”

Full story

The Times, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Law school BPP accused of exploiting demand to rake in more fees – The Times

Posted December 4th, 2009 in news by sally

“One of London’s most prestigious law schools is under investigation amid allegations that it exploited student demand, packing in extra numbers to boost income by almost £1 million.”

Full story

The Times, 4th December 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Paramedic stopped resuscitating new-born baby too son, hearing told – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 4th, 2009 in disciplinary procedures, news, paramedics by sally

“Khalid Abdel-Rahim, a paramedic with the London Ambulance Service, faces being struck off by a conduct and competence committee at the Health Professions Council in London.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 4th December 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Sellafield faces fine for exposing staff to radioactivity – The Guardian

Posted December 4th, 2009 in fines, health & safety, news, nuclear waste by sally

“The safety record of Britain’s nuclear industry will be tarnished tomorrow when managers at the Sellafield complex in Cumbria are fined for exposing staff to radioactive contamination.”

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

More than 1,200 UK shopping websites shut down – The Times

Posted December 4th, 2009 in news by sally

“More than 1,200 illegal internet shopping websites that have made millions of pounds for criminals have been shut down by Scotland Yard in the biggest operation of its kind in Britain.”

Full story

The Times, 4th December 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Colleges may face ban on taking foreign students in visa crackdown – The Times

Posted December 4th, 2009 in news by sally

“Ministers are moving to crack down on abuse of the student and graduate visa systems in an attempt to get to grips with illegal immigration.”

Full story

The Times, 4th December 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

‘Threat note’ bank robber jailed – BBC News

Posted December 3rd, 2009 in news, robbery, sentencing by sally

“A serial bank robber who stole money by passing threatening notes to cashiers has been jailed for eight years.”

Full story

BBC News, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sex abuse church elder McConaghy ‘too fat for jail’ – BBC News

Posted December 3rd, 2009 in news by sally

“A 66-year-old church elder convicted of indecently assaulting a child will not be sent to jail because his obesity means his health is ‘precarious.’ ”

Full story

BBC News, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Student broke into mortuary to hunt woman he loved – The Independent

Posted December 3rd, 2009 in burglary, criminal damage, news by sally

“A heartbroken student broke into a mortuary with an axe and examined corpses under the mistaken belief that a woman he fancied had died, police said today. Benjamin Barton, of Bognor Regis, West Sussex, pleaded guilty at Southampton Crown Court to a charge of criminal damage but was acquitted of an offence of burglary.”

Full story

The Independent, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Tougher drink-drive law considered by ministers – The Guardian

Posted December 3rd, 2009 in alcohol abuse, news, road traffic offences by sally

“The drink-drive limit could be lowered to a small glass of wine or a single pint of beer after the government ordered a review of drink and drug driving laws.”

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Gary McKinnon given more time to challenge Alan Johnson’s decision to extradite him – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 3rd, 2009 in extradition, improper use of telecommunications, news by sally

“British computer programmer Gary McKinnon has been granted another seven days to challenge Alan Johnson’s decision to extradite him to America to answer computer hacking charges.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 2nd December 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted December 3rd, 2009 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Earlrose Golf and Leisure Ltd & Anor v Fair Acre Investments Ltd [2009] EWCA Civ 1295 (03 December 2009)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Ralphs, R v [2009] EWCA Crim 2555 (03 December 2009)

Bevens, R v [2009] EWCA Crim 2554 (03 December 2009)

Hussain v R. [2009] EWCA Crim 2556 (03 December 2009)

Gian & Anor v Crown Prosecution Service [2009] EWCA Crim 2553 (03 December 2009)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Shanks v Unilever Plc & Ors [2009] EWHC 3164 (Ch) (03 December 2009)

High Court (Commercial Court)

AC Ward & Son Ltd v Catlin (Five) Ltd & Ors [2009] EWHC 3122 (Comm) (03 December 2009)

BP Exploration Operating Company Ltd v Dolphin Drilling Ltd [2009] EWHC 3119 (Comm) (03 December 2009)

High Court (Family Division)

De L v H [2009] EWHC 3074 (Fam) (03 December 2009)

Source: www.bailii.org

Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs v Meier and Others – Times Law Reports

Posted December 3rd, 2009 in law reports by sally

Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs v Meier and Others

Supreme Court

“Where travellers were in trespassing occupation of part of a wood owned by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and threatened, if moved, to go to some other wood owned by him, he was entitled to an injunction to restrain such trespass, but not to an order for possession in respect of those other woods.”

The Times, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Bee and Another v Thompson – Times Law Reports

Posted December 3rd, 2009 in law reports by sally

Bee and Another v Thompson

Court of Appeal

“A right of way for agricultural purposes reserved only under a testamentary disposition of two properties by the testatrix, who had owned those two properties, did not impliedly reserve a right to increase the use for residential purposes without the agreement of all parties.”

The Times, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted December 3rd, 2009 in legislation by sally

The Policing and Crime Act 2009 (Commencement No. 1 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2009

The Derelict Land Clearance Area (Drake Gardens, Tavistock) Order 2009

The Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009

The Student Fees (Amounts) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009

The Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Regulations 2009

The Offshore Funds (Tax) (Amendment) Regulations 2009

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Jack Straw: criminals cannot hide from the consequences of their crimes – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 3rd, 2009 in press releases, sentencing by sally

“People are to be given more and better information about the punishments given to criminals in their area, Justice Secretary Jack Straw announced today.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 3rd December 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk