Current Awareness Survey

Posted November 25th, 2009 in news by sally

We would be grateful if you could spend a few minutes completing a brief user survey, by following the link below. This will enable us to learn more about how the service is being used, with a view to making future improvements.

Survey link

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted November 25th, 2009 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

McDonnell & Anor v Walker [2009] EWCA Civ 1257 (24 November 2009)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Rimpacific Navigation Inc v Daehan Shipbuilding Co Ltd (Rev 1) [2009] EWHC 2941 (Comm) (24 November 2009)

Source: www.bailii.org

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted November 25th, 2009 in legislation by sally

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Law Applicable to Contracts of Insurance) Regulations 2009

The Taxes, etc. (Fees for Payment by Telephone) Regulations 2009

The Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2009

The Food for Particular Nutritional Uses (Addition of Substances for Specific Nutritional Purposes) (England) Regulations 2009

The Private Security Industry Act 2001 (Designated Activities) (Northern Ireland) Order 2009

The Private Security Industry Act 2001 (Amendments to Schedule 2) Order 2009

The Air Navigation Order 2009

The Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (Amendment) Order 2009

The National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Exceptions to Matters) Order 2009

The District Electoral Areas Commissioner (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Order 2009

The Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Luxembourg) Order 2009

The Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Qatar) Order 2009

The Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Libya) Order 2009

The Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2009

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Ban intercept evidence in terror trials, advises Lord Carlile – The Guardian

Posted November 25th, 2009 in admissibility, evidence, interception, news, terrorism by sally

“Intercept evidence should not be allowed into British terror trials, the government’s terrorism reviewer said today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th November 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Thomas v Director of Public Prosecutions – Times Law Reports

Posted November 25th, 2009 in law reports by sally

Thomas v Director of Public Prosecutions

Queen’s Bench Divisional Court

“Vulnerable homeless persons in rooms in local authority hostels with a licence to occupy for a day a bedroom with a lock, were as entitled to the protection of the law as anyone else and could exclude trespassers.”

The Times, 25th November 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Regina v S(K) – Times Law Reports

Posted November 25th, 2009 in law reports by sally

Regina v S(K)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

“A judge should not continue to try a case alone after discharging the jury because of jury tampering where an informed objective bystander might legitimately conclude that there was a real possibility of bias by the judge.”

The Times, 25th November 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Victims turned away because of legal aid squeeze – The Times

Posted November 25th, 2009 in news by sally

“Dozens of law firms are having to turn away vulnerable clients, including victims of domestic violence, because they have exhausted this year’s legal aid budgets.”

Full story

The Times, 24th November 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Bank charges ruling expected – The Guardian

Posted November 25th, 2009 in banking, news by sally

“Millions of current account customers could come a step closer to reclaiming ‘unfair’ charges they paid on unauthorised overdrafts today when the supreme court hands down a long-awaited appeal ruling.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th November 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Straight couple in legal challenge to form a civil partnership – The Times

Posted November 25th, 2009 in news by sally

“A straight couple who want to become the first hetrosexuals in Britain to form a civil partnership will launch a legal challenge after a council refused their request.”

Full story

The Times, 25th November 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Why are payouts so unfair? – The Guardian

Posted November 25th, 2009 in compensation, firearms, harassment, news, police by sally

“The £100,000 compensation awarded to the family of Jean Charles de Menezes pales beside the £4m being claimed in a current sexual harrassment case. Why the huge difference?”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th November 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Children and family court service facing ‘strain’ – BBC News

Posted November 25th, 2009 in children, family courts, news by sally

“The body protecting children in family courts is going through unprecedented strain, a union has warned.”

Full story

BBC News, 24th November 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Cruel, illegal, immoral’: Human Rights Watch condemns UK’s role in torture – The Guardian

Posted November 25th, 2009 in news, terrorism, torture by sally

“The attorney general was under intense pressure tonight to order a wider series of police investigations into British complicity in torture after one of the world’s leading human rights organisations said there was clear evidence of the UK government’s involvement in the torture of its own citizens.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th November 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Epileptic mother wins £4m damages after fit in hospital birth – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 25th, 2009 in birth, compensation, hospitals, news, personal injuries by sally

“An epileptic mother-to-be and her unborn baby, both of whom almost drowned when she suffered a fit whilst unattended in a hospital bath, have won more than £4 million in High Court damages.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 25th November 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Taser arrest man plans legal move – BBC News

Posted November 25th, 2009 in news, police, weapons by sally

“A man who claims he was repeatedly shot with a Taser during his arrest in Nottingham intends to sue the police, the BBC understands.”

Full story

BBC News, 24th November 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Watchdog Lord Carlile attacks Gordon Brown comment on April 2009 raid – The Times

Posted November 25th, 2009 in news by sally

“The Prime Minister has been criticised by his independent reviewer of terrorism legislation for comments he made about an anti-terrorist raid.”

Full story

The Times, 25th November 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Leading lawyer to represent Simon Hall in appeal against murder conviction – The Guardian

Posted November 25th, 2009 in appeals, barristers, murder, news by sally

“A man who claims he was wrongly convicted of murdering an elderly woman eight years ago is to be represented by one of the country’s leading defence barristers at the court of appeal.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th November 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar Regulator approves fundamental changes – Bar Standards Board

Posted November 24th, 2009 in barristers, legal disciplinary practices, legal services, news by sally

“The Bar Standards Board (BSB), which regulates 14,000 barristers in England and Wales, has today paved the way for fundamental changes in barristers’ working practices by giving approval for barristers to supply legal services through the legal structures known as Legal Disciplinary Practices (LDPs).”

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 20th November 2009

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Constitutional change and the future of parliamentary democracy – Ministry of Justice

Posted November 24th, 2009 in constitutional law, news, parliament by sally

“An abridged version of a lecture given by Jack Straw at Brunel University’s Magna Carta Institute on Monday 23 November 2009.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 24th November 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted November 24th, 2009 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Pacan & Ors, R. v [2009] EWCA Crim 2436 (16 October 2009)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Transview Properties Ltd v City Site Properties Ltd [2009] EWCA Civ 1255 (24 November 2009)

Widlake v BAA Ltd [2009] EWCA Civ 1256 (23 November 2009)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

The Lord Chancellor v Michael J Reed Ltd [2009] EWHC 2981 (QB) (23 November 2009)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Stratford On Avon District Council v Dyde [2009] EWHC 3011 (Admin) (04 November 2009)

Goldsmith v Director of Public Prosecutions [2009] EWHC 3010 (Admin) (04 November 2009)

Bhatti & Ors v Croydon Magistrates Court & Ors [2009] EWHC 3004 (Admin) (06 November 2009)

High Court (Commercial Court)

SK Shipping (S) Pte Ltd v Petroexport Ltd [2009] EWHC 2974 (Comm) (24 November 2009)

Source: www.bailii.org

Rights and Responsibilities: civic duty and the rule of law – Speech by Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Master of the Rolls

Posted November 24th, 2009 in human rights, rule of law, speeches by sally

Rights and Responsibilities: civic duty and the rule of law (PDF)

Speech by Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Master of the Rolls

Denning Lecture, 23 November 2009

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk