First openly gay judge to lead LGBT veterans probe – BBC News

‘Britain’s first openly gay senior judge will lead a review into the impact of a historical ban on LGBT people serving in the armed forces.’

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BBC News, 19th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court quashes planning permission over flawed report from planning officer – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 22nd, 2022 in housing, judicial review, local government, news, planning by sally

The High Court has quashed Bristol City Council’s grant of planning permission for a 62-home development on a former zoo car park, following a judicial review claim that argued the local authority based its decision on a flawed planning officer’s report.

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st June 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Post Office IT scandal victims may be disqualified from compensation scheme – The Guardian

‘Scores of post office operators wrongly accused of embezzlement by the Post Office due to faulty accounting software, may be disqualified from a dedicated compensation scheme.’

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The Guardian, 21st June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

15th Anniversary Survey

Posted June 21st, 2022 in news by sally

This year we are celebrating our 15th Anniversary. We started the Current Awareness blog back in 2007! We would be grateful if you could take a couple of minutes to complete a very short user survey.

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15th anniversary bunting

Family Justice Council makes recommendations on avoiding conflicts of interest using psychologist expert witnesses in cases of alleged alienation – Local Government Lawyer

‘Interim guidance from the Family Justice Council (FJC), published last month, has highlighted how to avoid conflicts of interest when using psychologist expert witnesses in family court cases involving allegations of alienating behaviours.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th June 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Sudanese trafficking victims must stay in detention, judge rules – The Guardian

‘Three Sudanese victims of torture and trafficking who were threatened with being deported to Rwanda on a controversial charter flight last week have had their pleas to be released from detention rejected by a high court judge.’

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The Guardian, 20th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Long Covid is a disability, tribunal rules in landmark case – Daily Telegraph

‘Long Covid is a disability, a tribunal has ruled in what employment experts say could result in a “significant increase” in the number of claims brought by people suffering with the syndrome.’

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Daily Telegraph, 20th June 2022

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Serious failings’ left children exposed to abuse in Oldham, finds damning review – The Guardian

Posted June 21st, 2022 in child abuse, local government, news, police, rape, reports, taxis by sally

‘Vulnerable children were left exposed to sexual exploitation in Oldham because of “serious failings” by the police and council, a damning independent review has found.’

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The Guardian, June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Vulnerable clients struggle in face of “cold, clinical and chaotic” lawyers – Legal Futures

Posted June 21st, 2022 in complaints, disabled persons, legal profession, legal services, news by sally

‘Vulnerable clients are being disadvantaged by the “cold, clinical and chaotic manner” in which they are treated by some lawyers, a report for the Legal Services Board (LSB) has found.’

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Legal Futures, 21st June 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

James Bulger public inquiry to be debated by MPs – BBC News

‘A parliamentary debate on whether a public inquiry should be held into the 1993 murder of toddler James Bulger is due to take place later this year.’

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BBC News, 20th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK lawyers gather evidence for action against countries over Yazidi genocide – The Guardian

Posted June 21st, 2022 in evidence, genocide, Iraq, news, pro bono work, treaties by sally

‘A group of high-level British lawyers have been working privately on compiling evidence to show that one or more countries failed in their international obligations to prevent genocide against the Yazidis in northern Iraq.’

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The Guardian, 21st June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Criminal barristers vote to strike over pay rates – BBC News

‘Criminal barristers have voted to strike in an escalating dispute with the government over funding for trials.’

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BBC News, 20th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court judge quashes determination of coroner not to hold Article 2 investigation – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 21st, 2022 in children, coroners, inquests, local government, mental health, news by sally

‘A High Court judge has quashed a coroner’s ruling that the inquest into the death of a 16-year-old girl will not investigate in what circumstances she came by her death.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th June 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Archie Battersbee’s family can appeal life-support ruling – BBC News

Posted June 21st, 2022 in appeals, children, consent, families, hospitals, medical treatment, news by sally

‘The parents of a 12-year-old boy have been given the right to appeal against the decision to allow his life-support treatment to end.’

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BBC News, 20th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Channel 4 subtitles outage breached licence, Ofcom rules – The Guardian

Posted June 21st, 2022 in disabled persons, licensing, media, news by sally

‘Channel 4 breached the conditions of its broadcast licence by failing to provide enough subtitled programming to some viewers in autumn 2021 after a sonic boom destroyed equipment used to broadcast its programmes, the media watchdog has found.’

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The Guardian, 20th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted June 20th, 2022 in legislation by sally

SI 2022/682 – The Freedom of Information (Removal of References to Public Authorities) Order 2022

SI 2022/672 – The Pollution Prevention and Control (Fees) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2022

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted June 20th, 2022 in law reports by sally

High Court (Administrative Court)

Stride, R (On the Application Of) v Wiltshire Council [2022] EWHC 1476 (Admin) (17 June 2022)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Lloyd & Anor v Michelmores Llp [2022] EWHC 1519 (Ch) (17 June 2022)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Zenith Logistics Services (UK) Ltd & Ors v Keates & Ors [2022] EWHC 1496 (Comm) (17 June 2022)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Deane v Barker & Ors [2022] EWHC 1523 (QB) (17 June 2022)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Curtiss & Ors v Zurich Insurance Plc & Anor (Costs) [2022] EWHC 1514 (TCC) (17 June 2022)

Source: www.bailii.org

Unlawful eviction – but landlord not liable – Nearly Legal

‘Brem v Murray & Marchant (2022) EWHC 1479 (QB). An appeal judgment from a first instance judgment on a claim for unlawful eviction, which deals with the landlord’s liability for the unlawful eviction that had taken place.’

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Nearly Legal, 19th June 2022

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Management transfers and public functions: R(TRX) v Network Homes – Nearly Legal

‘This judicial review of R(TRX) v Network Homes (2022) EWHC 456 (Admin) CO/3538/2021 is a useful restatement of the principles which apply in determining when decisions of Private Registered Providers of social housing (Housing Associations) can be judicially reviewed. The case concerned an application for a management transfer following threats of domestic abuse made to the Claimant, TRX, by X, her former partner. The Claimant brought 6 grounds of review after her request for a management transfer was refused by the Defendant. ‘

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Nearly Legal, 19th June 2022

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

English High Court ruling on NFTs ‘hugely significant’ for fraud victims – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 20th, 2022 in artistic works, computer crime, cryptocurrencies, fraud, news by sally

‘A ground-breaking ruling in the English High Court that recognised non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as legal property is a major victory for victims of fraud, according to one legal expert.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 17th June 2022

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com