Watchdog launches consultation on MPs’ expenses – The Guardian
“A five-week public consultation on the reform of MPs’ expenses was launched today as the new parliamentary expenses watchdog appeared to soften proposals on MPs claiming for second homes and employing family members.”
The Guardian, 7th January 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Why Nominet disconnected more than 1,000 sites with no court oversight – OUT-LAW.com
“The body responsible for the .uk internet addresses disconnected over 1,200 websites without any oversight from a court. The much-publicised action last month was based only on police assertions about criminal activity on the sites.”
OUT-LAW.com, 8th January 2010
Source: www.out-law.com
Law reformed on leaving property in trust for future generations – Ministry of Justice
“Leaving property in trust for future generations will be modernised and simplified by the Perpetuities and Accumulations Act 2009.”
Ministry of Justice, 7th January 2010
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Case of ‘Heathrow four’ to be challenged as lone judge prepares for historic trial – The Times
“Defence lawyers are preparing to challenge the first criminal trial in England and Wales for 400 years to go ahead without a jury. The case is expected to be heard next week.”
The Times, 8th January 2010
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Trafigura returns to court in attempt to suppress lawsuit documents – The Guardian
“Trafigura, the offshore oil trader that became notorious for legal attempts to suppress reporting of parliament, is going back to Britain’s judges tomorrow.”
The Guardian, 7th January 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI
Regina v Maina; Regina v Saddique; Regina v Kika – Times Law Reports
Regina v Maina; Regina v Saddique; Regina v Kika
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
“The use of a knife to commit murder was a factor that aggravated the seriousness of that offence for the purpose of sentencing.”
The Times, 6th January 2010
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Iqbal v Prison Officers Association – Times Law Reports
Iqbal v Prison Officers Association
Court of Appeal
“A prisoner whose daily routine of leaving his cell for the purpose of working, exercise and health care was disrupted by unlawful strike action by prison officers, resulting in the prisoner being confined to his cell, did not have a claim for false imprisonment against the officers.”
The Times, 6th January 2010
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Duncombe and Others v Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families – Times Law Reports
Duncombe and Others v Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
Court of Appeal
“Staff regulations restricting to nine years the period of employing teachers seconded by the Department of Children, Schools and Families to work in the European Schools, which provided education to the children of bureaucrats of the European Union, were unlawful.”
The Times, 7th January 2010
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Lord Justice Jackson: the potential for change is enormous – The Times
“Not all the big Jackson stories last year were about celebrities. One of the biggest stories in the legal world was that of Lord Justice Jackson and his fundamental review of the costs of civil litigation and recommendations to promote access to justice at a proportionate cost. The report has been presented to the Master of the Rolls and is due to be published next week.”
The Times, 7th January 2010
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
NHS software saga will see former directors in court – BBC News
The City regulator has started criminal proceedings against four former directors of UK-based healthcare software company iSoft.
BBC News, 6th January 2010
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Iraq inquiry: we have every right to know why we went to war – The Times
“The Iraq inquiry has resumed this week, promising crucial witnesses — Tony Blair, Jack Straw, Lord Goldsmith and possibly Gordon Brown.We have been told repeatedly what it is not: a trial, an inquest, an inquisition, a court, a statutory inquiry. Nevertheless, however its investigative format is described, none of this fancy terminological footwork can evade the central expectation for a thorough, transparent and impartial quest for the truth about the way decisions and actions were carried out.”
The Times, 6th January 2010
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Parade protest case flawed, say lawyers – The Independent
“The case against Muslim protesters who branded soldiers murderers at a homecoming parade should never have been brought to court, their lawyers said today.”
The Independent, 6th January 2010
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Brothel-visiting celebrity remains anonymous after Moseley precedent – OUT-LAW.com
“The Sun newspaper has refused to name a top football manager it said it caught leaving a brothel. Privacy law experts say that the case underlines the strictness with which courts interpret the right to privacy of famous people.”
OUT-LAW.com, 6th January 2010
Source: www.out-law.com
Leading lawyers call for quicker ‘no-fault’ divorces – The Independent
“Britain’s medieval fault-based divorce system must be reformed so that couples are free to end their marriage without having to blame each other for the break-up, an overwhelming majority of lawyers have told the Government.”
The Independent, 7th January 2010
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Full body scanners could be used without violating privacy, says expert – OUT-LAW.com
“A privacy regulator has said that technical tweaks and policy changes could ensure that whole-body airport scanners do not violate people’s privacy.”
OUT-LAW.com, 7th January 2010
Source: www.out-law.com
LSB research reveals public ‘don’t know what lawyers do’ – Law Society’s Gazette
More than two-thirds of consumers have ‘little or no knowledge’ of what lawyers do, research published last week has revealed.
Law Society’s Gazette, 7th January 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
New rules for MPs to be outlined – BBC News
“Details of how MPs’ expenses will be overhauled are to be outlined as part of a public consultation on changes to the now discredited former system.”
BBC News, 7th January 2010
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
