Civil Justice Council Rapid Consultation: The impact of COVID-19 measures on the civil justice system – Transparency Project
‘Following the rapid consultation on the use of remote hearings in the family justice system, undertaken by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory at the request of the President of the Family Division, the Civil Justice Council have now embarked on a similar consultation in relation to the civil courts.’
Transparency Project, 19th May 2020
Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk
BAILII: Recent Decisions
High Court (Administrative Court)
High Court (Chancery Division)
Sara & Hossein Asset Holdings Ltd v Blacks Outdoor Retail Ltd [2020] EWHC 1263 (Ch) (19 May 2020)
Stubbins Marketing Ltd v Stubbins Food Partnerships Ltd & Ors [2020] EWHC 1266 (Ch) (19 May 2020)
High Court (Commercial Court)
Nitron Group BV v Nitron Group BV & Ors [2020] EWHC 1244 (Comm) (19 May 2020)
GFH Capital Ltd v Haigh & Ors [2020] EWHC 1269 (Comm) (19 May 2020)
High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)
Riley & Anor v Heybroek [2020] EWHC 1259 (QB) (19 May 2020)
Bannister (Estate of) v Freemans Public Ltd Company [2020] EWHC 1256 (QB) (19 May 2020)
Zenith Insurance Plc v LPS Solicitors Ltd [2020] EWHC 1260 (QB) (19 May 2020)
Source: www.bailii.org
“Project Restart” or a false start: can professional sports clubs compel their players to return to the pitch and waive health and safety liability? – Littleton Chambers
‘As elite-level leagues, sporting associations and other stakeholders debate whether competitions can be restarted in an era of physical distancing, it has been reported that some professional football and rugby clubs are proposing to require players to sign disclaimers in relation to the health risks posed by Covid-19 before they resume training.’
Littleton Chambers, 14th May 2020
Source: littletonchambers.com
Anxiety among aspiring solicitors has “skyrocketed” – Legal Futures
‘Anxiety among aspiring solicitors has “skyrocketed” as a result of the Covid-19 crisis, a survey has found, with 75% of trainees and paralegals expecting it to lead to “significant job losses at my level of seniority”.’
Legal Futures, 20th May 2020
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Anthony Grainger shooting: Body cameras to be worn by all armed officers – BBC News
‘Body cameras must now be worn by all specialist firearms officers after a man was shot dead by police.’
BBC News, 19th May 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Supreme Court rejects appeal bid by Welsh Ministers over s.73 permissions ruling – Local Government Lawyer
‘The Supreme Court has refused the Welsh Ministers’ application for permission to appeal a ruling that s.73 permissions cannot alter the description of development, it has been reported.’
Local Government Lawyer, 19th May 2020
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Ayshea Megyery summarises recent cases and research in respect of the impact of COVID-19 in the family courts – Park Square Barristers
‘Whether a case proceeds by remote hearing must be decided on the sometimes competing factors of the individual case. However, pushing forward to achieve remote hearings must not be at the expense of a fair and just process. The decision of the President distils a number of key principles to be borne in mind. Just because a matter can be heard remotely does not mean it must be. In this case the delay in proceedings was outweighed by the fact that the hearing could not be properly or fairly conducted without the physical presence of the mother before the judge in the courtroom. As a result of that decision, the President re-listed the matter until such time that the restrictions relating to Covid-19 are lifted.’
Park Square Barristers, 14th May 2020
Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk
Grenfell Tower Inquiry on hold until July at earliest amid coronavirus pandemic – BBC News
‘The Grenfell Tower Inquiry will not resume until July at the earliest, organisers have said.’
BBC News, 19th May 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Unconvicted terrorism suspects face indefinite controls under UK bill – The Guardian
‘Terrorism suspects who have not been convicted of any offence face expanded and potentially never-ending measures to control their lives under proposed counter-terrorism laws unveiled by the UK government.’
The Guardian, 20th May 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
First academic to become Supreme Court judge to be sworn in at closed ceremony next month – Local Government Lawyer
‘The first Justice of the Supreme Court to be appointed direct from academia, Professor Andrew Burrows, will be sworn in at a closed ceremony on 2 June, it has been announced.’
Local Government Lawyer, 19th May 2020
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
ABE 2016/19 has gone AWOL – Counsel
‘Shortcomings and legal anachronisms: how can we achieve best evidence if current guidance is dangerously out of date on the law on special measures? asks Laura Hoyano.’
Counsel, May 2020
Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk
Up to 1,500 English primary schools to defy 1 June reopening plan – The Guardian
‘Up to 1,500 primary schools in England are expected to remain closed on 1 June after a rebellion by at least 18 councils forced the government to say it had no plans to sanction them.’
The Guardian, 19th May 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
FCA instructs City giant to run BI insurance test cases – Litigation Futures
‘The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has instructed City giant Herbert Smith Freehills for the test cases it intends to run on whether business interruption (BI) insurance covers the coronavirus pandemic.’
Litigation Futures, 18th May 2020
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Watchdog reveals 8.8m attempts to access online child abuse in April – The Guardian
‘Nearly 9m attempts to access child sexual abuse material online were made in the UK last month during the coronavirus lockdown, according to an internet watchdog.’
The Guardian, 20th May 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Getting the Court to Hear Your Case During the Pandemic – 3PB
‘The county court has responded rapidly to the sudden and unprecedented change to its working practices. However, the move to remote hearings has brought a marked decline in the retention of existing listings. Many litigants have found their hearings adjourned by the court even when those hearings were, on the face of it, suitable for hearing remotely.’
3PB, 12th May 2020
Source: www.3pb.co.uk
A Welcome Restriction on the Jurisdiction to Issue Community Protection Notices? by Emma Downing – Broadway House Chambers
‘Within the Youth Court the principles of parental engagement, involvement and where necessary responsibility are all well-established.’
Broadway House Chambers, 11th May 2020
Source: broadwayhouse.co.uk
