Fixed penalty notice for breach of lockdown: notifying the SRA – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Solicitors are not immune from receiving fixed penalty notices for breach of lockdown restrictions, which raises the entirely new question of whether that is reportable to the SRA. Ordinarily the SRA is not overly interested in fixed penalty notices but these are not ordinary times.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 27th April 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Further Consumer Credit Debt Moratorium – Henderson Chambers

Posted April 28th, 2020 in consumer credit, coronavirus, debts, financial regulation, news by sally

‘Following last week’s moratorium imposed by the Financial Conduct Authority in relation to credit card debts, overdrafts and personal loans, the FCA is imposing a similar moratorium on hire-purchase (annoyingly referred to by the trendy term ‘rent-to-own’), high-cost short-term credit (payday loans), buy-nowpay-later deals (BNPL) and pawn agreements.’

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Henderson Chambers, 24th April 2020

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To adjourn or not to adjourn: consideration of the Chief Coroner’s Guidance in relation to COVID-19 and the effects of the pandemic on inquests and reports of deaths to coroners – Parklane Plowden

Posted April 28th, 2020 in adjournment, coronavirus, inquests, news by sally

‘The Chief Coroner Guidance (numbers 34 and 35) has made it clear, as with other jurisdictions, that no physical hearing should take place unless it is urgent and essential business and it is safe for those involved.’

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Parklane Plowden, 24th April 2020

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

James Green and Stuart Sanders on the new UEFA guidelines for eligibility in international competitions – Littleton Chambers

Posted April 28th, 2020 in coronavirus, news, sport by sally

‘The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty across the world of professional football for players, clubs and fans alike. Almost all domestic football leagues have been suspended for the past several weeks (save for holdout Belarus, which has continued to hold professional matches in front of fans). As the lockdowns in European countries have been extended, many have speculated about the possible need to cancel domestic seasons outright. However, a vexed question has remained about the effect any such cancellation might have on one of the most prestigious and lucrative elements of the sport: qualification for European competitions.’

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Littleton Chambers, 24th April 2020

Source: littletonchambers.com

Judge sounds warning about ‘lazy’ solicitors over years of inactivity – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A High Court judge has narrowly allowed a case to survive despite a wait of almost three years following the identification of a party. Solicitors for the claimant in Gregory v H J Haynes had applied for the limitation period to be extended after a fruitless search for the defendant’s insurer had taken them past the initial three-year limitation date.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 28th April 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Re P (A Child remote Hearing) [2020] EWFC 32 – No. 5 Chambers

‘On 16th April 2020, Sir Andrew McFarlane handed down a case management judgment on a public law case which may have significant implications for case management decisions until court services return to normal. The case in question was on the issue of fabricated or induced illness and the issue was whether the final hearing should proceed remotely. The Mother opposed the local authority care plan. It was listed for a fifteen day hearing addressing whether she had harmed her seven year old daughter. Despite the coronavirus pandemic both the Father and the local authority supported the hearing continuing remotely. The Mother’s Solicitors’ had assumed it would proceed with plans to take instructions by Zoom or in between each piece of evidence. There were to be three expert witnesses.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 24th April 2020

Source: www.no5.com

Now That We Care About Carers: Temporal Casualisation in Mencap and Uber – Oxford Human Rights Hub

Posted April 28th, 2020 in carers, coronavirus, minimum wage, news, Supreme Court, taxis by sally

‘A few weeks before the lockdown, one of the most important UK labour law cases of the last decade was heard by the Supreme Court. Royal Mencap Society v Tomlinson Blake has not attracted the attention paid to the Uber litigation, also to reach the Supreme Court later this year. Yet Mencap will have significant ramifications for a segment of the British workforce at the front line of the coronavirus response, namely care workers.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 27th April 2020

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

MPs to try to ban ‘rough sex’ murder defence in domestic abuse bill – The Guardian

Posted April 28th, 2020 in bills, defences, domestic violence, murder, news by sally

‘MPs are to try to outlaw the courtroom murder defence of “rough sex gone wrong” during parliamentary debates on the domestic abuse bill, as cases of domestic violence soar during the coronavirus lockdown.’

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The Guardian, 28th April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

How Does Cohabitation Affect Divorce Settlement? – St Paul’s Chambers

Posted April 28th, 2020 in cohabitation, divorce, news by sally

‘Going through a divorce can be an overwhelming process whereby those involved are seeking answers and security during a time of uncertainty. Questions often asked by divorcing spouses signing up to spousal maintenance orders in favour of their soon-to-be former spouse may be, “what happens if they cohabit? How does cohabitation affect divorce settlement? Surely I will not have to continue to pay maintenance in these circumstances?”. And the answer is that you might. Cohabitation after divorce and cohabitation before divorce is final do not necessarily have bearing on spousal maintenance payments, division of goods, or their rights in a divorce, unless clearly stipulated in your court order.’

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St Paul's Chambers, 23rd April 2020

Source: www.stpaulschambers.com

EP 109: Medical Law Updates with Rajkiran Barhey – Law Pod UK

Posted April 28th, 2020 in medical treatment, news, podcasts by sally

‘In Episode 109, Emma-Louise Fenelon speaks to Kiran Barhey about the most recent edition of the Quarterly Medical Law Review, a new resource for practitioners looking to stay up to date in medical law.’

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Law Pod UK, 28th April 2020

Source: audioboom.com

“For every promise, there is a price to pay” – St Ives Chambers

Posted April 28th, 2020 in estoppel, news, succession by sally

‘The basic ingredients for proprietary estoppel are well known, and many property practitioners would feel comfortable in spotting an estoppel when it has arisen. However, there is a shadowy question that is often avoided – assuming the estoppel is established, what is the actual result? After all, that is what the client will be most interested in!’

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St Ives Chambers, 23rd April 2020

Source: www.stiveschambers.co.uk

Nathan Davis discusses Bains v Arunvill Capital Limited and others [2020] EWCA Civ 545 – Park Square Barristers

Posted April 28th, 2020 in contracts, interpretation, news by sally

‘This is an interesting case concerning whether the steps taken by the Appellant were sufficient for him to establish that he had remedied his material breach of contract.’

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Park Square Barristers, 27th April 2020

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Putting the court before the horse – No. 5 Chambers

Posted April 28th, 2020 in change of use, interpretation, local government, news, planning by sally

‘In the recent case of T&P Real Estate Limited v The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Sutton [2020] EWHC 879 (Ch) Deputy Master Bowles described the background to the claim, and the application before him, as “…for a non-planner, not wholly straightforward”. In fairness, even for a planner, the subject matter of the claim is not uncomplicated involving as it did consideration of the interpretation, and effect of, an Article 4 Direction made in relation to the exercise of permitted development rights.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 24th April 2020

Source: www.no5.com

Case Comment: Whittington Hospital NHS Trust v XX [2020] UKSC 14 – UKSC Blog

Posted April 28th, 2020 in cancer, damages, hospitals, negligence, news, Supreme Court, surrogacy by sally

‘As a consequence of the admitted negligence of the Whittington Hospital in failing to detect signs of cancer, the claimant developed cancer of the cervix for which she required chemoradiotherapy treatment that led to infertility. The claimant decided to have their own biological children by surrogacy. The experts for the parties agreed that on the balance of probabilities the claimant would achieve two live births from her 12 cryopreserved eggs. If her cryopreserved eggs do not result in 3-4 children, the claimant intends to use donor eggs. Her first choice of surrogacy is California, primarily because surrogacy is lawful and binding there. She claimed damages in respect of the expenses of four pregnancies either in California or the UK using her own eggs and, if necessary, donor eggs.’

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UKSC Blog, 27th April 2020

Source: ukscblog.com

Future for the Bar “bleak” as workload collapses for many – Legal Futures

Posted April 28th, 2020 in barristers, coronavirus, legal aid, loans, news, remuneration by sally

‘The future for the Bar is “bleak” if work streams and earnings do not improve, with over half of barristers now working less than 18 hours a week, the Bar Council has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 28th April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Frankenstein’s monster, group litigation and solicitor disputes – Six Pump Court

Posted April 28th, 2020 in case management, class actions, competition, news, solicitors by sally

‘This short article looks at some of the lessons which can be learnt from disputes between solicitors wanting to be active in key roles in group litigation, in particular from the recent TCC decision in Lungowe v. Vedanta (27 March 2020).’

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Six Pump Court, 24th April 2020

Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk

Jennifer Collins: Coronavirus and the Spread of Crime Control – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘In this post I analyse some of the contradictions present in the current penal response to Covid-19 in England and Wales, represented in a recent Crown Prosecution Service press release. Coercive criminal law measures which clearly and proportionately penalize those who endanger emergency workers, or engage in fraudulent conduct, may be justified. But civil liberties must be considered on both sides. I challenge the punitive narrative which celebrates sending those convicted of coronavirus crimes to prisons where Covid-19 has the potential to be rampant. The rights to life and health of offenders—put at risk in overcrowded prisons—must also be considered.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 28th April 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

ABI/ACSO deal aims to keep medicals and rehab going – Litigation Futures

Posted April 28th, 2020 in coronavirus, insurance, medical treatment, news, rehabilitation by sally

‘Insurers, law firms and suppliers have agreed a ‘statement of intent’ to keep non-MedCo medical examinations and rehabilitation going remotely during the Covid-19 crisis.’

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Litigation Futures, 27th April 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

The Care Act, Article 8 And Local Authority Duties: What Can A Recent Case Tell Us About A Local Authority’s Duty? – Coronavirus: Guidance for Lawyers and Businesses

‘The recent judgment in R(Idolo) v London Borough of Bromley [2020] EWHC 860 (Admin) provides an important discussion of the positive duties of the state under Article 8 ECHR – and specifically, the issue of when an Article 8 breach may arise in the absence of any failure of a local authority to carry out statutory duties. Arianne Kelly discusses the case and its practical implications following the amendments that the Coronavirus Act made to the Care Act.’

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Coronavirus: Guidance for Lawyers and Businesses, 27th April 2020

Source: lawinthetimeofcorona.wordpress.com

It’s not right but it’s OK – Nearly Legal

Posted April 28th, 2020 in appeals, human rights, judicial review, landlord & tenant, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal have their way with the judicial review of the ‘Right to Rent’ scheme. This was the Secretary of State’s appeal of the remarkable first instance judgment which had found the scheme to be incompatible with Art 14 with Art 8. (For transparency, I acted for the Residential Landlords Association on their intervention in both the High Court and Court of Appeal.)’

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Nearly Legal, 27th April 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk