Ethnic minority lawyers discriminated against, report finds – The Guardian

Posted August 14th, 2008 in news, race discrimination, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

“The body that regulates solicitors has been discriminating against ethnic minority lawyers and subjecting them to potentially ruinous investigations, an independent report has concluded.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th August 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Convicted rapist declared ‘safe’ months before he murdered teenager – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 14th, 2008 in dangerous offenders, murder, rape by sally

“A convicted rapist sexually assaulted and murdered a teenage girl only months after he had been downgraded to the lowest risk level by public protection officials, it has been disclosed.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th August 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Justice or giving comfort to thieves? – The Times

Posted August 14th, 2008 in special report, theft by sally

“A woman walks into a jeweller’s shop and pockets a ring worth £10,000. As she leaves, she is arrested by store detectives. They retrieve the ring. The woman is prosecuted and convicted of theft. Even though the ring has been recovered the court makes a confiscation order against her for £10,000. Where is the justice in that? ”

Full story

The Times, 14th August 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Murder case affair judge resigns – BBC News

Posted August 14th, 2008 in judges, news by sally

“A part-time judge whose affair with a married woman drove her jealous husband to murder their daughter has resigned.”

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BBC News, 13th August 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Convicted rapist declared ‘safe’ months before he murdered teenager

Posted August 13th, 2008 in dangerous offenders, murder, news, rape by sally

“A convicted rapist sexually assaulted and murdered a teenage girl only months after he had been downgraded to the lowest risk level by public protection officials, it has been disclosed.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th August 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Parents to be charged with murder of seven-year-old girl – The Guardian

Posted August 13th, 2008 in child neglect, murder, news by sally

“The mother and stepfather of a seven-year-old girl who allegedly starved to death are to be charged with her murder, the Crown Prosecution Service announced today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th August 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Post union demands dog attack law – BBC News

Posted August 13th, 2008 in news, postal service by sally

“A trade union is pressing for a change in the law to help reduce the number of dog attacks on postal delivery staff.”

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BBC News, 13th August 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Boy suffers ‘blast injury’ from exploding joke pen – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 13th, 2008 in fines, health & safety, news by sally

“A toy company has been fined more than £5,000 after a nine-year-old boy suffered a ‘blast injury’ in his eye from a joke exploding pen.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th August 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Repeat loo flusher faces eviction – BBC News

Posted August 13th, 2008 in news, noise, nuisance by sally

“A council tenant faces being evicted from her home after repeatedly flushing the toilet during the night.”

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BBC News, 13th August 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Colin Stagg wins £706,000 payout over Rachel Nickell murder charge – The Guardian

Posted August 13th, 2008 in compensation, miscarriage of justice, murder, news by sally

“Colin Stagg, who was cleared 14 years ago of murdering Rachel Nickell, has been awarded £706,000 compensation, his solicitor said today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th August 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Privacy awareness not backed up by behaviour, survey finds – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 13th, 2008 in internet, news, privacy by sally

“Almost 90% of UK internet users are prepared to give away private data despite 84% of the same users claiming to be very guarded about online privacy.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 13th August 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Justice review backs class actions in English courts – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 13th, 2008 in class actions, news by sally

“More class actions in English courts would benefit consumers, small businesses and employees, according to a new report by the advisory body charged with overseeing the modernisation of the civil justice system.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 13th August 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted August 13th, 2008 in law reports by sally

High Court (Commercial Court)

Sea Emerald SA v Prominvestbank- Joint Stockpoint Commercial Industrial & Anor [2008] EWHC 1979 (Comm) (11 August 2008)

Fiona Trust & Holding Corporation & Ors v Privalov & Ors [2008] EWHC 1748 (Comm) (22 July 2008)

High Court (Patents Court)

Interdigital Technology Corporation v Nokia Corporation & Anor [2008] EWHC 969 (Pat) (29 April 2008)

Source: www.bailii.org

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted August 13th, 2008 in legislation by sally

The Transport Tribunal (Amendment) Rules 2008

The A421 Trunk Road(M1 Junction 13 Improvements) Order 2008

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

R (M) v Slough Borough Council – WLR Daily

Posted August 13th, 2008 in housing, law reports, medicines, residential care by sally

R (M) v Slough Borough Council [2008] UKHL 52; [2008] WLR (D) 292

“A person’s need for a refrigerator in which to keep medication did not amount to ‘need of care and attention’ within s 21(1)(a) of the National Assistance Act 1948 (as amended) so as to entitle him to residential accommodation.”

WLR Daily, 12th August 2008

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Doherty v Birmingham City Council (Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government intervening) – WLR Daily

Posted August 13th, 2008 in human rights, law reports, local government, travellers by sally

Doherty v Birmingham City Council (Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government intervening) [2008] UKHL 57; [2008] WLR (D) 291

“The definition of ‘protected site’ in s 5(1) of the Mobile Homes Act 1983, in excluding gipsies from the protection of the Act, was incompatible with an occupier’s right under art 8 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms to respect for his home. The occupier’s case should be remitted to the judge to consider whether the local authority’s decision to seek possession had been reasonable.”

WLR Daily, 12th August 2008

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Regina (Baiai and Another) v Secretary of State for the Home Department – Times Law Reports

Posted August 13th, 2008 in human rights, immigration, law reports, marriage by sally

Regina (Baiai and Another) v Secretary of State for the Home Department

House of Lords

“Speeches July 30, 2008 The statutory scheme requiring the permission of the Secretary of State for the Home Department for marriage by people who were subject to immigration control or were illegal entrants was disproportionate and infringed the right to marry protected by article 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights.”

The Times, 13th August 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

National security: Plans for ‘secret inquests’ face defeat in Lords – The Guardian

Posted August 13th, 2008 in inquests, news by sally

“Ministers’ plans to hold in secret inquests that are deemed to put national security at risk are expected to face defeat when the House of Lords votes on them this autumn. A cross-party committee of peers, including a former lord chief justice and two former attorney-generals, has told the government that any decision to hold an inquest without a jury must be taken by a judge and not a minister.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th August 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Canoeist wife launches appeal bid – BBC News

Posted August 13th, 2008 in appeals, fraud, money laundering, news by sally

“Anne Darwin, the wife of canoeist John Darwin, has lodged an appeal against her conviction and sentence for fraud and money laundering.”

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BBC News, 12th August 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ex-drugs policy director calls for legalisation – The Guardian

Posted August 13th, 2008 in drug offences, news by sally

“A former senior civil servant who was responsible for coordinating the government’s anti-drugs policy now believes that legalisation would be less harmful than the current strategy. Julian Critchley, the former director of the Cabinet Office’s anti-drugs unit, also said that his views were shared by the ‘overwhelming majority’ of professionals in the field, including police officers, health workers and members of the government.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th August 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk