Jail for builder Rob Hayel who ‘left homes at risk of collapse’ – BBC News
‘An “immoral” builder who left homes at risk of “catastrophic structural collapse” has been jailed.’
BBC News, 6th August 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Watchdog exposes ‘unacceptable’ treatment of children in English court cells – The Guardian
‘Children with Down’s syndrome and autism were among those left for hours in court cells while they waited for legal representation or transport, a custody watchdog has revealed in a damning report.’
The Guardian, 7th August 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Top judge slates firm over trial live-stream breach – Legal Futures
‘The president of the Queen’s Bench Division has strongly criticised lawyers in the London office of US firm McDermott Will & Emery (MWE) after they allowed a trial to be live-streamed to observers outside the UK without the court’s permission.’
Legal Futures, 7th August 2020
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Windrush Lawyers: ‘The Government Is Placing Boulders In The Way Of Justice’ – Each Other
‘It has been more than a year since the government launched its scheme to compensate victims of the Windrush scandal, and at least five applicants have died before receiving a penny. EachOther speaks to Windrush lawyers about the “boulders” being placed in the way of justice and what needs to be done.’
Each Other, 6th August 2020
Source: eachother.org.uk
Partner fired for ‘topping up’ fees overturns tribunal ruling – Legal Futures
‘The Employment Appeal Tribunal has overturned a ruling that a law firm was entitled to fire a partner who was accused of “topping up” legal aid fees with cash from a client’s father.’
Legal Futures, 7th August 2020
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Government Scraps Immigration “Streaming Tool” before Judicial Review – UK Human Rights Blog
‘In response to a legal challenge brought by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), the Home Office has scrapped an algorithm used for sorting visa applications. Represented by Foxglove, a legal non-profit specialising in data privacy law, JCWI launched judicial review proceedings,, arguing that the algorithmic tool was unlawful on the grounds that it was discriminatory under the Equality Act 2010 and irrational under common law.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 6th August 2020
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
Caroline Flack took her own life amid fears of prosecution, inquest rules – The Guardian
‘Caroline Flack took her own life after learning she would be prosecuted for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend, following a long struggle with “fluctuating mental health” that was exacerbated by the stress of fame, a coroner has found.’
The Guardian, 6th August 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Watchdog warns UK high-cost lenders about exploitation – The Guardian
‘The UK’s financial watchdog has warned high-cost lenders about irresponsible repeat lending and exploitative marketing that risks pushing vulnerable borrowers into a cycle of debt.’
The Guardian, 6th August 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Tashan Daniel: Man guilty of London Underground murder – BBC News
‘A man has been convicted of murdering an aspiring Olympian who was stabbed to death on a London Underground platform.’
BBC News, 6th August 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
New Judgment: Shagang Shipping Company Ltd (in liquidation) v HNA Group Company Ltd [2020] UKSC 34 – UKSC Blog
‘This appeal arose out of a claim by the appellant under a guarantee of a contract, to charter a vessel which was met with a defence from the respondent that the contract was procured by bribery and that the guarantee was therefore unenforceable. The bribery allegation was based on evidence of confessions that the appellant alleged were obtained by torture and therefore inadmissible.’
UKSC Blog, 5th August 2020
Source: ukscblog.com
Beaver families win legal ‘right to remain’ – BBC News
‘Fifteen families of beavers have been given the permanent “right to remain” on the River Otter in East Devon.’
BBC News, 6th August 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Race to the bottom: reform to planning system in England could be catastrophic – The Guardian
‘“More good quality, attractive and affordable homes faster.” According to the housing secretary, Robert Jenrick, that is the main aim of his “complete overhaul” of the English planning system, announced on Thursday. Yet there is precious little evidence that any of the new measures could lead to higher quality, more attractive or more affordable homes. Instead, the proposals look set to deliver the exact opposite.’
The Guardian, 6th August 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Rise in care children being ‘deprived of liberty’ – BBC News
‘The number of children in care in England and Wales who have restrictions placed on their freedom has tripled in the last two years, BBC News has found.’
BBC News, 6th August 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Meghan wins court bid to keep friends’ identities secret – The Guardian
‘The Duchess of Sussex has won a high court bid to keep secret the identities of five friends who gave anonymous interviews to a US celebrity magazine, in the latest stage of her legal action against the owner of the Mail on Sunday.’
The Guardian, 5th August 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Keeley Bunker: Man guilty of murdering childhood friend – BBC News
‘A man has been convicted of raping and murdering his childhood friend on the way home from celebrating her birthday.’
BBC News, 5th August 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Judge gives reasons for granting interim injunction prohibiting anti-HS2 protesters from overnight sleeping and other acts on council land next to construction site – Local Government Lawyer
‘A High Court judge has issued his reasons for last month granting Hillingdon Council a limited interim injunction preventing a number of named defendants and persons unknown from doing certain acts on land at Harefield Moor owned by the council and adjoining the site of construction works for part of the HS2 railway line.’
Local Government Lawyer, 5th August 2020
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Claimant ordered to pay defence costs after fundamental dishonesty finding – Law Society’s Gazette
‘The High Court has reversed a costs order on appeal after a successful defendant had initially been forced to pay most of the losing claimant’s costs.’
Law Society's Gazette, 1st August 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Home Office drops ‘racist’ algorithm from visa decisions – BBC News
‘The Home Office has agreed to stop using a computer algorithm to help decide visa applications after allegations that it contained “entrenched racism”.’
BBC News, 4th August 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
SRA imposes ban on trainee solicitor jailed for rape – Legal Futures
‘A one-time trainee solicitor who violently raped one woman and attempted to rape another has been banned from the profession.’
Legal Futures, 5th August 2020
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Courts reluctant to strike-out negligence actions against the police – UK Police Law Blog
‘In Tindall v Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police [2020] EWHC 837 (QB) — available on Westlaw but not yet Bailii or the ICLR, the courts have again demonstrated a reluctance to strike-out a police negligence claim. This shows the difficulty of trying to show whether the police have positively created a danger / made it worse or merely refrained from protecting someone. A claim against the police for negligence will usually arise in the first instance but not, subject to exceptions, the second.’
UK Police Law Blog, 4th August 2020
Source: ukpolicelawblog.com
