IRA bombers of two Birmingham pubs could be ‘named and shamed’ – The Guardian

Posted June 1st, 2017 in disclosure, explosives, inquests, news, terrorism by sally

‘IRA members who planted bombs that destroyed two Birmingham pubs in 1974 could be “named and shamed” in the resumed inquest into the 21 deaths in the atrocity, a hearing has been told.’

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The Guardian, 31st May 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Cross examination of abused wife a ‘stain’ on justice system – judge – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A High Court judge has said he will refuse to allow alleged domestic abusers to cross examine their victims in any future hearings he oversees.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 31st May 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Hyde v Milton Keynes NHS Foundation Trust – WLR Daily

Posted June 1st, 2017 in appeals, costs, fees, hospitals, law reports, legal aid by sally

Hyde v Milton Keynes NHS Foundation Trust [2017] EWCA Civ 399

‘The claimant brought a personal injury claim against the defendant under a Community Legal Service funding certificate which was subject to costs limitations. Although the defendant had admitted liability, quantum remained in issue. With the funding certificate nearing exhaustion and the Legal Services Commission refusing further funding, the claimant’s solicitors concluded that the case could not be completed on a funded basis. Accordingly, the claimant entered into a conditional fee agreement (“CFA”) with her solicitors. The solicitors served on the defendant notice of a change in funding arrangements but took no steps to apply for or obtain a formal discharge of the funding certificate. The claim later settled, the defendant having made an increased offer which the claimant accepted. On the assessment of costs, the costs judge concluded that the claimant was entitled to recover from the defendant her costs arising under the CFA, rejecting the defendant’s contention that the CFA was unenforceable by virtue of sections 10(1) and 22(2) of the Access to Justice Act 1999 because it had been entered into at a time when the claimant was “funded” by the commission as part of the Community Legal Service. The judge dismissed the defendant’s appeal, holding that the claimant was not “funded” by the commission, for the purposes of sections 10(1) and 22(2), once the funding certificate had been exhausted, even though the certificate had not been discharged.’

WLR Daily, 23rd May 2017

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Regina v Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – WLR Daily

Posted June 1st, 2017 in birth, damages, law reports, pensions, personal injuries, valuation by sally

Regina v Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2017] EWHC 1245 (QB)

‘The claimant, a 24-year-old man, suffered from physical impairments caused by injuries suffered during his birth at the defendant’s hospital. He was expected to live to about 70 years old, which represented a reduction, as a result of his injuries, from the normal life expectancy for a male of his age. His mother, acting as his litigation friend, brought a claim for damages on his behalf against the defendant. The defendant admitted negligence in relation to the claimant’s birth. On the assessment of damages, issues arose including: (i) whether the claimant was entitled to recover a sum in respect of the pension that, but for his injuries, he would have received during the “lost years” of his life beyond his actual life expectancy; and (ii) how any award for special accommodation needs was to be assessed.’

WLR Daily, 25th May 2017

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

S v Director of Public Prosecutions – WLR Daily

S v Director of Public Prosecutions [2017] EWHC 1162 (Admin)

‘The defendant was charged with an offence of tampering with a motor vehicle contrary to section 25 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and tried before justices in the Youth Court. The justices dismissed a submission by the defendant that there was no case to answer and, having heard evidence from the defendant and considered the burden and standard of proof, the justices convicted him. A contemporaneuos note of the justices’ reasons read, inter alia: “We listened to the [defendant’s] evidence which did not persuade us that there was no intention to tamper with the [motor vehicle]. We are therefore sure you are guilty.”’

WLR Daily, 18th May 2017

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Watson and others v Watchfinder.co.uk Ltd – WLR Daily

Posted June 1st, 2017 in agreements, company directors, consent, contracts, law reports, shareholders by sally

Watson and others v Watchfinder.co.uk Ltd [2017] EWHC 1275 (Comm)

‘The claimants were directors and shareholders of a business development consultancy whose services the defendant company retained to assist it in attracting investors. At the same time, the defendant entered into a share option agreement with the claimants on terms which, as later amended, provided for the claimants to purchase a certain percentage of the defendant’s issued share capital at a given price, but also provided that the option could not be exercised without the consent of a majority of the defendant’s board of directors. The claimants later sought to exercise the option but consent was refused. The claimants brought proceedings for specific performance of the share option agreement, contending that, as a matter of construction of that agreement or by way of an implied term, the defendant could not exercise its discretion over the grant of consent in a way that was arbitrary, capricious or irrational.’

WLR Daily, 25th May 2017

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

UK wrong to deny residence rights for non-EEA family members of dual nationals – Free Movement

Posted June 1st, 2017 in brexit, citizenship, EC law, families, immigration, news by sally

‘The question about what rights are enjoyed by an EU citizen who naturalises as a British citizen becoming a dual citizen is critically important in the context of Brexit.’

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Free Movement, 31st May 2017

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

Lawyers make the grade in BAME ‘power lists’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 1st, 2017 in diversity, equality, law firms, legal profession, news, solicitors by sally

‘Eight lawyers including six magic circle partners have been named in a power list celebrating the best BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) business leaders.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 30th May 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘Sensitive’ UK terror funding inquiry may never be published – The Guardian

Posted June 1st, 2017 in inquiries, news, publishing, reports, terrorism by sally

‘An investigation into the foreign funding and support of jihadi groups that was authorised by David Cameron may never be published, the Home Office has admitted.’

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The Guardian, 31st May 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Jason Varuhas: Judicial Review beyond Administrative Law: Braganza v BP Shipping Ltd and Review of Contractual Discretions – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted June 1st, 2017 in appeals, contracts, judicial review, news, shipping law, Supreme Court by sally

‘Judicial supervision of decision-making powers is often associated with administrative law. However courts also review the exercise of discretions in other fields. For example courts review powers exercised by trustees, and indeed much of equity might be characterised as a law of administration. Our focus here will be the legal principles sourced in the law of contract which regulate the exercise of powers of decision, including discretions, under contracts (‘contractual review’) and the interrelationship between these principles and those common law principles regulating exercise of administrative powers under statute (‘administrative law review’).’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 31st May 2017

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Does an employer discriminate by behaving inconsistently with religious values? – Keens-Betts – Law & Religion UK

Posted June 1st, 2017 in employment, news, religious discrimination, tribunals by sally

‘Can an employee claim direct or indirect discrimination on grounds of religion because she feels that her employer’s behaviour is inconsistent with what she understands to be “the Christian way of life”? That was one of the issues raised in Miss M Keens-Betts v The Anthony Gregg Partnership Ltd [2017] UKET 2208102/2016.’

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Law & Religion UK, 1st June 2017

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Cyber child sex offences increase by nearly half, NSPCC finds – The Independent

Posted June 1st, 2017 in child abuse, internet, news, reports, sexual offences by sally

‘”Figures give us an insight into how crimes are changing and how access to children is changing through the use of the internet,” charity expert tells The Independent’

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The Independent, 1st June 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

What is the Fixed-term Parliaments Act ? – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 1st, 2017 in constitutional law, elections, legislation, news, parliament, time limits by sally

‘The conditions for when a snap election can be called were significantly restricted by the Fixed-term Parliaments Act of 2011. The Act of Parliament, which was part of the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition agreement produced after the 2010 general election, was introduced fixed-term elections to the Westminster parliament.’

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Daily Telegraph, 31st May 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Council fined £150k for publishing sensitive data in online planning documents – Local Government Lawyer

‘Basildon Borough Council has been fined £150,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for publishing sensitive personal information about a family in planning application documents that were made publicly available online.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 31st May 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

UK government sued for third time over illegal air pollution from diesels – The Guardian

‘Environmental lawyers are taking the government to the high court for a third time in a bid to remove “major flaws” from minister’s plans to tackle the UK’s illegal levels of air pollution.’

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The Guardian, 31st May 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Council ordered to pay £45k in fines and costs after apprentice injured – Local Government Lawyer

‘A city council has been ordered to pay £45,000 in fines and costs after an apprentice suffered serious hand injuries.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 30th May 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Outcry over proposals for late night and early morning court sittings – The Guardian

Posted June 1st, 2017 in barristers, courts, legal profession, news, pilot schemes, solicitors by sally

‘Plans to launch a pilot programme of flexible early morning and evening courts from next month are encountering growing opposition from lawyers.’

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The Guardian, 31st May 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

BREXIT: UK faces renegotiating 759 treaties with non-EU countries – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 1st, 2017 in brexit, EC law, news, treaties by sally

‘The UK will have to renegotiate at least 759 trade agreements with 168 non-EU countries after it leaves the European Union, according to research by the Financial Times.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 31st May 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Protecting the cost of clients’ initial disbursements – Litigation Futures

Posted June 1st, 2017 in civil justice, costs, insurance, news, solicitors by sally

‘The overwhelming majority of solicitors understand the need to offer their clients financial protection during the course of litigation, however, often the inclination is to assist in safeguarding their client’s financial risk is generally befitting when it comes to Issuing Proceedings. At this juncture it becomes appropriate to make a recommendation of the possibility in obtaining After the Event Insurance.’

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Litigation Futures, 31st May 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Breast surgeon Ian Paterson jailed for 15 years for carrying out needless operations – The Guardian

Posted June 1st, 2017 in compensation, conspiracy, doctors, health, insurance, news, sentencing, wounding by sally

‘Victims of a rogue breast surgeon who left hundreds of patients disfigured after carrying out needless operations have called for “co-conspirators” to be held to account, accusing them of turning a blind eye to the malpractice.’

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The Guardian, 31st May 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com