Cornwall care abuse victims get £8m compensation – BBC News

Posted September 16th, 2011 in assault, compensation, disabled persons, hospitals, learning difficulties, news by tracey

“Adults with learning disabilities at the centre of a care abuse case in Cornwall will receive about £8m in compensation.”

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BBC News, 15th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Privacy watchdog publishes e-privacy laws compliance guidance – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 16th, 2011 in data protection, EC law, electronic commerce, internet, news by tracey

“The UK’s data protection watchdog’s guidance includes amendments made to the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) in May. The changes transposed an EU Directive into national law.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 15th September 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Experts in family cases – judicial guidance – Legal Aid Handbook Blog

Posted September 16th, 2011 in expert witnesses, family courts, fees, news by tracey

“As the countdown to 3rd October continues, concern is growing among practitioners not only about their own fees but about the position regarding experts. There are very real worries that experts will simply be unwilling to work for the new prescribed rates.”

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Legal Aid Handbook Blog, 16th September 2011

Source: www: http://legalaidhandbook.com

UK pilots claim ‘victory’ over BA on holiday pay – BBC News

Posted September 16th, 2011 in airlines, EC law, holiday pay, news by tracey

“UK pilots have claimed a ‘huge victory’ after a European court ruled British Airways should base holiday pay on overall earnings not just basic pay. The British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) said the European Court of Justice verdict would affect pilots and cabin crew and may cost airlines £50m. The case will now go back to the UK Supreme Court for a final ruling, which the union said was unlikely to differ.”

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BBC News, 15th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Misconduct not proven for Fiona Pilkington officers – BBC News

Posted September 16th, 2011 in complaints, harassment, news, police, professional conduct by tracey

“Four Leicestershire police officers have been cleared of misconduct after a woman killed herself and her daughter blaming repeated harassment.”

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BBC News, 16th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

 

Victory for Somerset as cider brandy wins protected status – The Guardian

Posted September 16th, 2011 in food, news, protected geographical indication by tracey

“Historic spirit recognised by European commission after four-year battle and opposition from Spanish brandy makers.”

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The Guardian, 15th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Cannibalistic killer not watched properly in Broadmoor, inquest finds – The Guardian

Posted September 16th, 2011 in homicide, inquests, mental health, news, secure hospitals by tracey

“A man who attacked and killed a fellow patient at a high-security psychiatric hospital because he ‘wanted to eat him’ was not being watched properly, and had not been adequately assessed, an inquest jury ruled on Thursday.”

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The Guardian, 15th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Half of hospitals and nursing homes at risk of poor care – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 16th, 2011 in care homes, hospitals, news by tracey

“The Care Quality Commission also found that a third of hospitals are failing to meet standards on handling medicine safely, while a fifth are not treating elderly patients with dignity or ensuring they have enough to eat and drink.”

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Daily Telegraph, 16th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ken Clarke is right – the European court of human rights needs reform – The Guardian

Posted September 15th, 2011 in constitutional reform, courts, human rights, news by tracey

“There is ‘not the faintest chance’ of the government withdrawing from the European convention on human rights, Ken Clarke told the Commons on Tuesday. But that does not mean the justice secretary is happy about the court in Strasbourg that has ultimate responsibility for enforcing the convention.”

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The Guardian, 14th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bid to exempt Trafigura-type claims from reform fails – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 15th, 2011 in bills, civil justice, fees, human rights, legal aid, news by tracey

“Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs have rejected an amendment to legislation that would exempt claims brought by foreigners against UK multinationals from civil litigation reforms. The Public Bill Committee debated the amendment to the Legal Aid, Punishment of Offenders and Sentencing Bill, tabled by Labour MP Kate Green, yesterday.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 14th September 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted September 15th, 2011 in law reports by tracey

High Court (Chancery Division)

Westbrook Dolphin Square Ltd v Friends Provident Life and Pensions Ltd [2011] EWHC 2302 (Ch) (14 September 2011)

High Court (Commercial Court)

A & Ors v B & Anor [2011] EWHC 2345 (Comm) (15 September 2011)

Linsen International Ltd & Ors v Humpuss Sea Transport Pte Ltd & Ors [2011] EWHC 2339 (Comm) (14 September 2011)

Source: www.bailii.org

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted September 15th, 2011 in parliamentary papers by tracey

Unauthorised tapping into or hacking of mobile communications: the Government response to the thirteenth report from the Home Affairs Committee session 2010-12 HC 907, Cm 8182

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

Mirrlees Review recommends “radical” tax reform – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 15th, 2011 in income tax, national insurance, news, reports, stamp duty, taxation, VAT by tracey

“Stamp duty on property transactions is ‘inefficient and damaging’ and should be abolished, while VAT should be levied on financial services business and income tax merged with national insurance, an independent report on taxation in the UK has claimed.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 14th September 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Football club reports tabloids’ fan death coverage to press watchdog – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 15th, 2011 in complaints, media, news by tracey

“A Welsh football club has claimed that three national newspapers’ coverage on the death of a fan at a recent international match breached reporting rules.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 14th September 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Parents of Madeleine McCann and Hugh Grant named as participants in hacking inquiry – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 15th, 2011 in inquiries, interception, news, telecommunications by tracey

“The parents of Madeleine McCann, actor Hugh Grant and Harry Potter creator JK Rowling were named today as core participants in the first stage of the inquiry into the phone-hacking scandal.”

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Daily Telegraph, 14th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Jeremy Hunt urges web firms to join anti-piracy drive – BBC News

Posted September 15th, 2011 in copyright, intellectual property, internet, legislation, news by tracey

“UK Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has delivered a hard-hitting speech, calling on net firms, advertisers and credit card companies to cut ties with websites that link to unlawful content.”

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BBC News, 14th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Peers end deadlock over fixed term parliaments – BBC News

Posted September 15th, 2011 in bills, constitutional reform, news, parliament by tracey

“Ministers have narrowly won their parliamentary battle over plans to hold general elections every five years.”

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BBC News, 14th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Couple sentenced to four years each for abuse of 14-month-old girl – The Guardian

Posted September 15th, 2011 in child cruelty, news, sentencing, young offenders by tracey

“A mother and her partner are starting custodial sentences for a catalogue of abuse that left a 14-month-old girl covered in injuries, with every fingernail blackened and bruised.”

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The Guardian, 14th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK supreme court’s jurisdiction in Scotland upheld by review panel – The Guardian

Posted September 15th, 2011 in constitutional law, news, reports, Scotland, Supreme Court by tracey

“An expert panel has upheld the right of the UK supreme court to overrule Scottish judges despite heated and vigorous attacks on its powers by Alex Salmond and his justice minister Kenny MacAskill.”

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The Guardian, 14th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man in al-Qa’ida arrest wins £20,000 payout – The Independent

Posted September 15th, 2011 in compensation, detention, news, terrorism, wrongful arrest by tracey

“A student who was wrongfully arrested on suspicion of being a terrorist after downloading an edited copy of The al-Qa’ida Training Manual for his PhD course, has been paid £20,000 in compensation by police.”

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The Independent, 15th September 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk