“Substituting a British Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for the Human Rights Act Will Displace Adjudication to Strasbourg” Says Chairman of the Bar – The Bar Council

Posted September 28th, 2009 in human rights, news by sally

“Desmond Browne QC, Chairman of the Bar, will speak on the theme of ‘Human rights under threat abroad and at home’ at a fringe meeting at Labour Party Conference on Sunday.”

Full story

Bar Council, 28th September 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

College of Law Podcast: Jenny Rowe, CEO of Supreme Court – Charon QC

Posted September 28th, 2009 in podcasts, Supreme Court by sally

“Today, as part of my series of podcasts for The College of Law Inside Track I talk to Jenny Rowe, the CEO of the new Supreme Court.”

Podcast

Charon QC, 28th September 2009

Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com

“Charon QC” is the blogging pseudonym of Mike Semple Piggot, editor of insitelaw newswire.

After years of over-charging, City lawyers could face tough justice – The Independent

Posted September 28th, 2009 in law firms, news by sally

“Opportunistic city lawyers who over-charge their clients face tough new rules aimed at tackling the excesses and mismanagement of corporate law firms, under proposals to be published this week. The crackdown on the City’s legal profession comes after growing concerns that regulators have failed to deal with abuses at multi-million pound law firms.”

Full story

The Independent, 28th September 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Expert opinions in family courts must be open to objective scrutiny – The Times

Posted September 28th, 2009 in news by sally

“After decades of obsessive secrecy, supposedly to protect the interests of vulnerable children, the family courts will be required to open their doors a few centimetres wider as the Minister of Justice builds on rules introduced earlier this year that allowed some degree of media access but limited rights for them to report their observations.”

Full story

The Times, 28th September 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Drugs test for claimants sparks row over unemployment benefits – The Guardian

Posted September 28th, 2009 in alcoholism, benefits, drug abuse, human rights, news, privacy by sally

“Controversial government plans to allow Jobcentre staff to ‘order’ benefit claimants to undergo tests for drug and alcohol dependency are in breach of European law and unlikely to work, according to leading addiction charities.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th September 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Stalking victims let down by police – The Independent

Posted September 28th, 2009 in harassment, news, police, victims by sally

“Victims of stalking have been let down by the police in the past, a senior officer said today.”

Full story

The Independent, 28th September 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Jack Straw’s plan to name social workers in family courts ‘breaches human rights’ – The Times

Posted September 28th, 2009 in news by sally

“Plans to allow the media to name social workers in family court cases are being opposed strongly by judges and lawyers, who warn that the change could breach human rights laws. They have expressed ‘grave concerns’ that the latest tranche of reforms to open up the courts may drive away experts and violate children’s rights to privacy.”

Full story

The Times, 28th September 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Officers who baby-sat for each other may face prosecution – The Guardian

Posted September 28th, 2009 in children, news by sally

“The government has ordered a review of the case of two police officers who were told they had to stop looking after each others’ children or face prosecution.”

Full story

The Guardian, 28th September 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Son of 106-year-old woman fighting eviction to take fight to Europe – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 28th, 2009 in care homes, elderly, human rights, news by sally

“The son of a 106-year-old woman threatened with eviction from her care home as part of local council cost cutting has pledged to take her fight to the European Court of Human Rights.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 28th September 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Black bra, red stockings: is that a fair cop? – The Times

Posted September 28th, 2009 in news by sally

“One woman is dressed provocatively in a black bra. Another sports red high heels and stockings. Their long-haired male companions are dressed in scruffy blue boiler suits and the occasional riot helmet.”

Full story

The Times, 27th September 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted September 26th, 2009 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Grubb v Grubb [2009] EWCA Civ 976 (25 September 2009)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Davies v Global Strategies Group Hong Kong Ltd & Anor [2009] EWHC 2342 (QB) (25 September 2009)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Age UK, R (on the application of) v Attorney General [2009] EWHC 2336 (Admin) (25 September 2009)

Parker v Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government & Ors [2009] EWHC 2330 (Admin) (04 August 2009)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Gas Natural Aprovisionamientos SDG S.A. v Methane Services Ltd [2009] EWHC 2298 (Comm) (25 September 2009)

Source: www.bailii.org

More couples signing pre-nuptials – BBC News

Posted September 26th, 2009 in news, prenuptial agreements by sally

“Family lawyers say they have seen a tenfold increase in recent years in couples signing pre-nuptial agreements on dividing their assets after divorce.”

Full story

BBC News, 26th September 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court wants change to retirement law – The Independent

Posted September 26th, 2009 in age discrimination, news, retirement by sally

“Campaigners fighting to end the mandatory retirement age have pinned their hopes on a Government review of the law after losing a key legal battle in the courts.”

Full story

The Independent, 25th September 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Bribes firm ordered to pay £6m for breaching Iraq sanctions – The Times

Posted September 26th, 2009 in news by sally

“A British company that admitted bribing ministers and officials in Ghana and Jamaica, and breaching sanctions in Iraq, was yesterday ordered to pay £6.6 million in fines and compensation.”

Full story

The Times, 26th September 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Drug overdose ‘was manslaughter’ – BBC News

Posted September 26th, 2009 in homicide, hospitals, inquests, negligence, news by sally

“A jury has returned an inquest verdict of ‘manslaughter by gross neglect’ on a woman killed by a chemotherapy dose four times too high.”

Full story

BBC News, 25th September 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Why we avoid charging youths, by inquest police – The Independent

Posted September 26th, 2009 in gangs, harassment, news, police, prosecutions, young offenders by sally

“Police try to avoid sending anti-social youths to prison because it increases the chances of them reoffending, an inquest into the deaths of a mother and her disabled daughter heard today.”

Full story

The Independent, 25th September 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted September 25th, 2009 in legislation by sally

The Food Labelling (Nutrition Information) (England) Regulations 2009

The Companies Act 2006 (Allotment of Shares and Right of Pre-emption) (Amendment) Regulations 2009

The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Commencement No. 11) Order 2009

The Cosmetic Products (Safety) (Amendment No.3) Regulations 2009

The Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Amendment (No.2) Order 2009

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Statutory Storage Period for Embryos and Gametes) (Amendment) Regulations 2009

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Widow loses damages action over husband killed in Iraq – The Independent

Posted September 25th, 2009 in armed forces, damages, Iraq, negligence, news, war by sally

“The widow of a security consultant shot dead during an ambush in Iraq lost her High Court damages action today.”

Full story

The Independent, 25th September 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Escaped rapist jailed for murder – BBC News

Posted September 25th, 2009 in murder, news, sentencing by sally

“A convicted rapist who strangled a pensioner while on the run from a secure hospital has been jailed for at least 27 years.”

Full story

BBC News, 25th September 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police blame justice system for failures in mother daughter suicide case – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 25th, 2009 in harassment, learning difficulties, news, suicide, young offenders by sally

“Police could not act to stop a gang of youths terrorising a mother and her disabled daughter because the youth justice system is not set up to be tough against offenders, a leading police office told an inquest.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 25th September 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk