Mother who let her two boys sleep in her bed has them taken away by judge – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 13th, 2017 in adoption, children, family courts, news, private hearings, social services by sally

‘A mother who allowed her two children to sleep in her bed has had them taken away from her by a family court judge after social workers raised concerns.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 12th February 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Legal Ombudsman suspends publication of complaints data over accuracy concerns – Legal Futures

Posted February 13th, 2017 in case management, complaints, internet, legal ombudsman, mistake, news by sally

‘The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has pulled from its website the details of law firms and chambers that have been subject to complaints because of concerns over their accuracy, it has emerged.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 13th February 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ministers put RSPCA on ‘probation’ for two years over prosecutions policy – Daily Telegraph

‘Ministers have put the RSPCA on “probation” for the next two years over its controversial prosecutions policy.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 12th February 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Violent abusers to be prevented from cross-examining ex-partners in court – The Guardian

‘Domestic violence victims will no longer face the threat of being interrogated by their former partners in court under proposed legislation.’

Full story

The Guardian, 12th February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Service charges, contracts, social housing and subsidies – Nearly Legal

Posted February 13th, 2017 in costs, landlord & tenant, leases, local government, news, service charges, tribunals by sally

‘An interesting question. To what extent, if at all, can leaseholders’ service charges be set at a level to ‘subsidise’ a shortfall as against actual maintenance costs in service charges recoverable from social tenants in flats provided under a section 106 agreement.’

Full story

Nearly Legal, 12th February 2017

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

‘Conned trying to get my children back’ – BBC News

Posted February 13th, 2017 in custody, family courts, fees, Law Society, McKenzie friends, news by sally

‘Two parents fighting legal battles for custody of their children paid thousands of pounds to a company providing “McKenzie friends” – people with no legal training who assist in court. But they were badly let down.’

Full story

BBC News, 13th February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

NHS hasn’t improved enough since Mid Staffs, says inquiry lawyer – The Guardian

Posted February 13th, 2017 in health, news, statistics by sally

‘Current conditions in the NHS ”sound familiar” to those that existed during the Mid Staffordshire scandal, according to the lawyer who chaired the inquiry into the hospital trust.’

Full story

The Guardian, 12th February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Divorced parents who pit children against former partners ‘guilty of abuse’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 13th, 2017 in child abuse, children, divorce, family courts, news by sally

‘Divorced parents who “brainwash” their children against ex-partners are guilty of “abuse”, the head of the agency that looks after youngsters’ interests in family courts has said.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 12th February 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Prisons need ‘profound culture change’, charities say – BBC News

Posted February 13th, 2017 in charities, mental health, news, prisons, reports, statistics, suicide by sally

‘Prisons in England and Wales need a “profound culture change” which focuses on inmate safety, a new report says.’

Full story

BBC News, 13th February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Thieves steal £2m of rare books by abseiling into warehouse – The Guardian

Posted February 13th, 2017 in London, news, theft by sally

‘Antiquarian books worth more than £2m have been stolen by a gang who avoided a security system by abseiling into a west London warehouse.’

Full story

The Guardian, 12th February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Still up in the air – is it a Bolam case or a Penney case? – Zenith PI

Posted February 10th, 2017 in cancer, doctors, negligence, news by tracey

‘In 2012 Mr Muller was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma on the sole of his left foot. The cancer had spread, despite a quick biopsy, and all secondary metastases were then removed. Fortunately, Mr Muller proceeded to receive positive six-month scans, is now clear of cancer and has maintained a normal life expectancy. All perfectly ordinary one would think – save that in 2011 a histopathologist had diagnosed the malignant melanoma as a non-malignant ulcer.’

Full story

Zenith PI, 7th February 2017

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted February 10th, 2017 in legislation by tracey

The Non-Domestic Rating (Reliefs, Thresholds and Amendment) (England) Order 2017

The Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitory Provision) Regulations 2017

The Qualifications Wales Act 2015 (Consequential Provision) Order 2017

The Contracts for Difference (Standard Terms) (Amendment) Regulations 2017

The Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2017

The Infrastructure Act 2015 (Commencement No. 6 and Savings) Regulations 2017

The Equality Act 2010 (Commencement No. 12) Order 2017

The Plant Health (Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2017

The Great Place (England) Joint Scheme (Authorisation) Order 2017

The Education (Student Fees, Awards and Support) (Amendment) Regulations 2017

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted February 10th, 2017 in law reports by tracey

Supreme Court

Brewster, Re Application for Judicial Review (Northern Ireland) [2017] UKSC 8 (8 February 2017)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Pimlico Plumbers Ltd & Anor v Smith [2017] EWCA Civ 51 (10 February 2017)

John (A Minor : Vaccine Damage Payments scheme), Re [2017] EWCA Civ 61 (09 February 2017)

Gray v Boreh [2017] EWCA Civ 56 (09 February 2017)

AB, R (On the Application Of) v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] EWCA Civ 59 (09 February 2017)

Norman v Norman [2017] EWCA Civ 49 (08 February 2017)

Quarey, R (on the application of) v The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Rev 1) [2017] EWCA Civ 47 (08 February 2017)

Antonio, R (on the application of) v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] EWCA Civ 48 (08 February 2017)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Clarke & Anor, R v [2017] EWCA Crim 37 (09 February 2017)

Joseph & Ors, R v [2017] EWCA Crim 36 (09 February 2017)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Leckhampton Green Land Action Group Ltd), R (On the Application Of) v Tewkesbury Borough Council [2017] EWHC 198 (Admin) (09 February 2017)

Global Gaming Ventures (Southampton) Ltd v Southampton City Council [2017] EWHC 165 (Admin) (09 February 2017)

Ballard v Solicitors’ Regulation Authority (Rev 1) [2017] EWHC 164 (Admin) (09 February 2017)

ASK v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] EWHC 196 (Admin) (09 February 2017)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Lifestyles Equities CV & Anor v Sportsdirect.Com Retail Ltd & Ors [2017] EWHC 154 (Ch) (09 February 2017)

Jomast Accommodation Ltd v G4S Care And Justice Services (UK) Ltd (Rev 1) [2017] EWHC 200 (Ch) (09 February 2017)

TW Logistics Ltd v Essex County Council & Anor [2017] EWHC 185 (Ch) (08 February 2017)

Dee Valley Group Plc, Re Companies Act 2006 [2017] EWHC 184 (Ch) (08 February 2017)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Kimathi & Ors v The Foreign And Commonwealth Office [2017] EWHC 203 (QB) (09 February 2017)

Schenk v Cook & Ors [2017] EWHC 144 (QB) (09 February 2017)

Daryanani v Ramnani [2017] EWHC 183 (QB) (08 February 2017)

Source: www.bailii.org

Justice Secretary launches new prison and probation service to reform offenders – Home Office

Posted February 10th, 2017 in press releases, prisons, probation, rehabilitation by tracey

‘A new frontline service focused on reforming offenders and cutting crime will launch in April 2017, Justice Secretary Elizabeth Truss announced today.’

Full press release

Home Office, 8th February 2017

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Judges ready to jump ship over declining pay and conditions – Litigation Futures

Posted February 10th, 2017 in judiciary, news, pensions, remuneration, retirement, statistics by tracey

‘Research has shown widespread disaffection among the judiciary with working conditions, including findings that almost half of High Court judges would quit the bench early if possible.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 10th February 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Computer says ‘guilty’ – online convictions set to become reality – Legal Futures

Posted February 10th, 2017 in electronic filing, fines, guilty pleas, news by tracey

‘Defendants will soon be able to plead guilty, be convicted and pay a penalty immediately and entirely online for certain offences, the Ministry of Justice announced yesterday as digital justice moved a step closer to reality.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 9th February 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barristers to pay 12% more for right to practise this year – but figures show 2,500 earn £240k+ – Legal Futures

Posted February 10th, 2017 in barristers, fees, news by tracey

‘Some 2,500 barristers will earn more than £240,000 this year, Bar Council figures have shown, and they will have to pay an extra £200 for their practising certificates after the Legal Services Board (LSB) approved a 12% hike in fees across the board.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 10th February 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

First man extradited from Pakistan for over a decade jailed for two murders – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted February 10th, 2017 in extradition, murder, news, Pakistan, sentencing by tracey

‘The first man to be extradited to the UK from Pakistan since 2005 has today (8 February) been jailed for life over the murders of two men in Bradford.’

Full story

Crown Prosecution Service, 8th February 2017

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

BSB publishes two-year equality and diversity strategy – Bar Standards Board

Posted February 10th, 2017 in barristers, diversity, equality, press releases by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published its Equality and Diversity Strategy for 2017-2019. This follows the publication of its Diversity at the Bar Report last month. That report showed that diversity at the Bar was heading slowly in the right direction but that considerable progress is still needed.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 10th February 2017

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Automatic strike-out for cases where trial fee unpaid – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 10th, 2017 in fees, news, striking out by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice has set out plans to strike out claims automatically where the case fee has not been paid.’

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th February 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk