CMA to investigate competition law violation by estate agent trade association and members – Zenith Chambers

Posted December 11th, 2014 in competition, estate agents, fees, news, price fixing by sally

‘The Competition and Markets Authority has announced that it will probe as a priority suspected anticompetitive agreements involving three companies and a trade association operating in the property sales and lettings sector. The investigation puts under the spotlight possible violations of competition law relating to the setting and advertising of fees by estate agents. The CMA has concerns that the arrangements restricted choice for consumers and their ability to compare prices and value for money.’

Full story (PDF)

Zenith Chambers, 11th December 2014

Source: www.zenithchambers.co.uk

A stunning decision on litigation costs: Coventry v Lawrence – Legal Week

Posted December 11th, 2014 in appeals, costs, human rights, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘In a stunning decision, the Supreme Court has given an indication that the pre-Jackson costs regime may breach the rights of paying parties under the European Convention of Human Rights. The issue has the potential to affect all agreements signed under the pre-April 2013 costs regime.’

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Legal Week, 11th December 2014

Source: www.legalweek.com

Claire Tiltman murder: Former milkman Colin Ash-Smith found guilty of killing schoolgirl more than 20 years ago – The Independent

Posted December 11th, 2014 in evidence, murder, news, recidivists by sally

‘A former milkman has been found guilty of the “frenzied and remorseless” murder of schoolgirl Claire Tiltman more than 20 years ago.’

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The Independent, 11th December 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

London ‘slavery’ case: CPS charges Aravindan Balakrishnan – The Guardian

Posted December 11th, 2014 in child cruelty, false imprisonment, news, rape, trafficking in human beings by sally

‘A Maoist activist accused of keeping three women in domestic servitude for 30 years has been charged with 25 offences including rape and child cruelty.’

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The Guardian, 11th December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Cracking intercepts: the war on terror and difficulties with Human Rights – UK Human Rights Blog

‘This is a fascinating case, not just on the facts or merits but because it is generated by two of the major catalysts of public law litigation: the government’s duty to look after the security of its citizens, and the rapid outpacing of surveillance law by communications technology. Anyone who has seen The Imitation Game, a film loosely based on the biography of Alan Turing, will appreciate the conflicting currents at the core of this case: the rights of an individual to know, and foresee, what the limits of his freedom are, and the necessity to conceal from the enemy how much we know about their methods. Except the Turing film takes place in official wartime, whereas now the state of being at “war” has taken on a wholly different character.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 11th December 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Jimmy Savile’s friend Ray Teret jailed for 25 years for series of sex crimes – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 11th, 2014 in news, rape, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘Ray Teret – known as Ugli Ray – used celebrity status in the Manchester club scene to prey on ‘starstruck’ victims.’

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Daily Telegraph, 11th December 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

User Feedback Survey

Posted December 11th, 2014 in news by sally

We would be grateful if you could take a moment to complete a very quick (5 question) user feedback survey to let us know how we’re doing.

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R (on applications of Haney, Kaiyam, Massey and Robinson) v The Secretary of State for Justice – Supreme Court

Posted December 11th, 2014 in appeals, damages, human rights, law reports, rehabilitation, sentencing, Supreme Court by sally

R (on the application of Faisal Kaiyam) (Appellant) v Secretary of State for Justice (Respondent)
On appeal from the Court of Appeal (Civil Division) (England and Wales) [2014] UKSC 66
(YouTube)

Supreme Court, 10th December 2014

Source: www.youtube.com/user/UKSupremeCourt

Is this a copy? John Kaldor Fabricmaker UK Ltd v Lee Ann Fashions Ltd – NIPC Law

Posted December 11th, 2014 in Community designs, copyright, EC law, intellectual property, news by sally

‘In John Kaldor Fabricmaker UK Ltd v Lee Ann Fashions Ltd. [2014] EWHC 3779 (IPEC) (21 Nov 2014) Judge Hacon had to decide whether the fabric used to make the dress in the bottom photo was a copy of the fabric in the top one.’

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NIPC Law, 11th December 2014

Source: www.nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk

Dominic Grieve QC MP – Why It Matters that Conservatives Should Support the European Convention on Human Rights – UCL Constitution Unit

Posted December 11th, 2014 in attorney general, constitutional reform, human rights, news, speeches, treaties by sally

‘A British withdrawal from the European Convention of Human Rights would be “devastating for Britain and human rights throughout Europe, says Dominic Grieve, sacked as Attorney General by David Cameron in July.’

Video

UCL Constitution Unit, 10th December 2014

Source: www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit

Litigation Trends Survey – Post Mitchell – New Law Journal

Posted December 11th, 2014 in costs, fees, law firms, news by sally

‘In the third NLJ / LSLA litigation trends survey, James Baxter reports on how firms and practitioners are seeking clarity post-Mitchell.’

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New Law Journal, 11th December 2014

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

The costs of intervening – Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

Posted December 11th, 2014 in appeals, competition, costs, news, telecommunications, tribunals by sally

‘There is an interesting little point on costs buried away in last week’s decision in the “Ethernet” disputes in the Competition Appeal Tribunal (see BT plc v Cable & Wireless Worldwide Plc and others [2014] CAT 20).’

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Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 11th December 2014

Source: www.competitionbulletin.com

Supreme Court to hear challenge to key test on homelessness and vulnerability – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Supreme Court will next week hear three cases where homeless applicants for housing assistance are seeking to challenge the Pereira test of vulnerability.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th December 2014

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Dark web’: GCHQ and National Crime Agency join forces in hunt for child abuse – The Guardian

‘David Cameron will place Britain’s GCHQ eavesdropping agency and the National Crime Agency (NCA) at the centre of a fight to eliminate “digital hiding places for child abusers”.’

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The Guardian, 11th December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Facebook reunion murder: David Hoyle killed Rebecca Bamber – BBC News

Posted December 11th, 2014 in murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man has been convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend after rekindling their relationship on Facebook.’

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BBC News, 10th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MoJ commissions new report into accessibility of legal services – LegalVoice

Posted December 11th, 2014 in legal aid, legal services, Ministry of Justice, news, reports by sally

‘Following the recent publication of a report on litigants in person in private family law (reported here), the Lord Chancellor has commissioned a review of accessibility and affordability of legal services.’

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LegalVoice, 10th December 2014

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Police to lose complaints powers – The Guardian

Posted December 11th, 2014 in complaints, consultations, news, police by sally

‘Police forces are to be stripped of the power to manage public complaints made against their own officers, the home secretary will announce on Thursday.

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The Guardian, 11th December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judicial reviews: a decision that’s best left to judges – The Guardian

‘The justice secretary wants to restrict access to judicial reviews, but judging the lawfulness of executive action should not be a matter for the executive.’

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The Guardian, 10th December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Skelmersdale man jailed for murdering Polish neighbour – BBC News

Posted December 10th, 2014 in closed circuit television, murder, news, racism, sentencing by sally

‘A man who hacked to death his Polish neighbour in a “savage and ferocious” machete attack in Lancashire has been jailed for life.’

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BBC News, 10th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mass polygamy in UK Muslim community – claim – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 10th, 2014 in bills, Islam, islamic law, marriage, news, polygamy, women by sally

‘Peer warns widespread polygamy being ‘condoned’ as report claims many Muslim women trapped in legal limbo.’

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Daily Telegraph, 10th December 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk