Contaminated blood inquiry: Matt Hancock to give evidence – BBC News
‘he health secretary will face questions about compensation for victims of the contaminated blood scandal on Friday afternoon.’
BBC News, 21st May 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Statutory inquiry announced for sub-postmaster scandal – Law Society’s Gazette
‘The government has acceded to calls to put the inquiry into the Post Office scandal on a statutory footing – but several questions are likely to be left unanswered for the wrongfully convicted sub-postmasters.’
Law Society's Gazette, 19th May 2021
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Firm avoids negligence penalty following out-of-time ruling – Law Society’s Gazette
‘A professional negligence claim against solicitors was issued too late because the clock began ticking from when the mistake was initially made rather than when damage ensued, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’
Law Society's Gazette, 19th May 2021
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Can you exclude or limit liability for a deliberate breach of contract? – Practical Law: Construction Blog
‘The short answer to this question is yes. But matters become slightly more complicated when considering how this can be done.’
Practical Law: Construction Blog, 19th May 2021
Anger over proposed ‘good faith’ rule for immigration lawyers – Legal Futures
‘Government plans to impose a “good faith” requirement on immigration lawyers have been strongly attacked by the Law Society, Bar Council and Immigration Law Practitioners Association (ILPA).’
Legal Futures, 20th May 2021
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Pension sharing orders: Finch v Baker – Family Law
‘The Court of Appeal judgment in Finch v Baker [2021] EWCA Civ 72 was released on 28 January 2021. The judgment provides some useful guidance on not being able to get what are essentially conduct arguments contrary to s25(g) through the back door by making “negative contribution” arguments, and it also highlights the importance of ensuring that you adduce and apply for the most appropriate and necessary evidence in advance of a hearing. Simply arguing that an updated pension report is needed, following an appeal hearing, on the basis that the pension sharing order made would not reflect the judge’s intentions as the CE figures would be significantly out of date, is insufficient and misconceived.’
Family Law. 14th May 2021
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
COVID-19 fraudster jailed for mass cyber scam – Crown Prosecution Service
‘A COVID-19 fraudster has been jailed today (19 May 2021) for using fake digital messages to trick people into providing bank details to receive a vaccine.’
Crown Prosecution Service, 19th May 2021
Source: www.cps.gov.uk
Lawyers threaten council with court action to provide ‘buffer zones’ outside abortion clinics amid protests – The Independent
‘Lawyers have threatened to launch a first-of-its-kind legal action to introduce a “buffer zone” outside abortion clinics to stop protesters “heartlessly” targeting women seeking pregnancy terminations.’
The Independent, 18th May 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Modern slavery survivors at higher risk of being re-trafficked due to barriers accessing legal advice, finds report – The Independent
‘Modern slavery survivors in England face “significant barriers” to accessing legal advice, leaving them at higher risk of being re-trafficked, according to new research.’
The Independent, 19th May 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Ex-partner of Brighton ‘babes in the wood’ killer jailed for perjury – The Guardian
‘Jennifer Johnson, an ex-girlfriend of the Brighton “babes in the wood” murderer Russell Bishop, has been jailed for six years, more than three decades after telling “wicked lies” at his trial.’
The Guardian, 19th May 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
Girlguiding charity apologises as audit uncovers racism and Islamophobia – The Independent
‘Girlguiding, the UK’s leading charity for girls and young women, has apologised after an external audit uncovered alarming instances of racism and Islamophobia among girl guides and staff. The probe, which took evidence from over 200 members, staff, parents and carers, revealed instances of discrimination that saw young people of colour being called racial slurs and a Muslim girl being asked to remove her hijab during a trip.’
The Independent, 19th May 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Daniel Morgan murder: panel refuses to hand over report – The Guardian
‘The independent panel investigating the Daniel Morgan scandal is refusing the home secretary’s demands to hand over its report before it can be published, as senior police sources say nothing in the case affects national security. Priti Patel provoked fury on Tuesday by demanding the findings be handed over for review prior to publication, angering both the Morgan family and members of the panel conducting the inquiry.’
The Guardian, 19th May 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
Council secures “first of its kind” High Court injunction against residents to stop them living in unsafe house in multiple occupation – Local Government Lawyer
‘Thurrock Council has been granted an interim injunction by the High Court to prevent two residents living in an unsafe House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).’
Local Government Lawyer, 18th May 2021
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Home Office ordered to move torture victim out of ‘prison-like’ hotel – The Guardian
‘A judge in the high court has ordered the Home Office to move a torture and trafficking victim out of a “prison-like” hotel surrounded by an 8ft wall.’
The Guardian, 18th May 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
Max Taylor: The Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill: Missed Opportunities – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘The newly introduced Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill (“the Bill”) – like the Draft Fixed-term Parliaments Act (Repeal) Bill which preceded it – is a missed opportunity. It has failed to unify and define the scope and exercise of the powers of proroguing and dissolving Parliament, in one statute, which were in need of clarification post-Miller II. Now that the Government has decided on the form which it would like the Bill repealing the Fixed-term Parliaments Act to take, the moment has gone and, as a niche of constitutional law, it is unlikely to garner enough political capital for these issues to be deemed worth addressing for the meantime.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 18th May 2021
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
Former UK police officer convicted of assault barred from rejoining – The Guardian
‘A former police officer who assaulted a woman in the street as she walked home has been placed on a register barring him from rejoining the service.’
The Guardian, 18th May 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
Disclosure pilot scheme still unfit for purpose, most lawyers say – Litigation Futures
‘Seven in 10 lawyers consider the disclosure pilot scheme unfit for purpose, with many believing it has exacerbated the adversarial environment, new research has found.’
Litigation Futures, 19th May 2021
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Case Preview: R (Majera) (formerly SM (Rwanda)) v Secretary of State for the Home Department – UKSC Blog
‘On 10 May 2021, the Supreme Court heard the appeal in R (Majera) (formerly SM (Rwanda)) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (“SSHD”). The question on appeal is whether a defective order granting immigration bail has legal effect.’
UKSC Blog, 18th May 2021
Source: ukscblog.com
Mental health tests in the presence of counter-terror units ‘unethical’, says charity – The Guardian
‘Mental health assessments are being conducted in the presence of police in little-known hubs that embed nurses and psychologists with counter-terrorism units, raising “serious ethical concerns”, a medical charity has said.’
The Guardian, 19th May 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
