MoJ plans to cut “hopeless” Upper Tribunal appeals – Litigation Futures

‘The current test for appeals from the Upper Tribunal to the Court of Appeal is “not strict enough to prevent misuse” of the system by those wanting to benefit from delays caused by “hopeless challenges”, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said.’

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Litigation Futures, 7th December 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Lucy McHugh: Social workers caseload ‘too high’ before girl’s murder – BBC News

Posted December 7th, 2020 in local government, murder, news, rape, sexual grooming, sexual offences, social services by sally

‘Social workers’ caseloads were “too high” in the months before a 13-year-old girl was murdered by a man lodging in her home, a council boss has said.’

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BBC News, 6th December 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ombudsman criticises council after cancellation of transport sees teenager with autism miss start of term – Local Government Lawyer

‘A council has agreed to pay more than £2,400 in compensation after an investigation from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman into the termination of a child’s transport to school.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 4th December 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judge orders jury to clear woman of murdering Emily Jones in Bolton – The Guardian

‘A woman with a history of violence and mental health problems who confessed to killing seven-year-old Emily Jones, has been cleared of murder.’

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The Guardian, 4th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Public school boy jailed after being caught trying to swallow 50 packets of cocaine and heroin – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 7th, 2020 in drug abuse, drug offences, drug trafficking, imprisonment, news, sentencing by sally

‘A former public schoolboy and professional rugby player was in jail last night (Sun) after trying to swallow 50 packets of crack cocaine and heroin.’

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Daily Telegraph, 6th December 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ex-judge Sir Peter Gross to head human rights law review – BBC News

‘Former Court of Appeal judge Sir Peter Gross has been appointed to lead an independent review of the Human Rights Act.’

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BBC News, 7th December 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Times pays damages to advocacy group falsely linked to Reading killer – The Guardian

Posted December 7th, 2020 in compensation, damages, defamation, Islam, media, murder, news, terrorism by sally

‘The Times has apologised to the advocacy organisation Cage and agreed to pay it £30,000 in damages for suggesting it was supporting a man who stabbed three people to death in what police said was a terrorist rampage in a Reading park.’

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The Guardian, 4th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Trump’s challenges to the US election: What would happen here? – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

‘In light of the recent challenges to the US presidential election, Richard Price OBE QC and Vivienne Sedgley draw comparison with the means of challenging elections in England.’

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4-5 Gray's Inn Square, 2nd December 2020

Source: www.4-5.co.uk

Commercial Court urges more use of junior advocates – Litigation Futures

‘The Commercial Court and COMBAR are looking at ways to ensure that junior advocates can get more time on their feet, encouraging solicitors and clients to consider their use on discrete issues.’

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Litigation Futures, 4th December 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Puberty Blocking — can a child consent? – UK Human Rights Blog

‘A case about medical treatment for children experiencing gender dysphoria is bound to evoke strong feelings. So, in early October, when the parties in R (on the application of Quincy Bell and A v Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust and others arrived for the hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice, they found a buzz of press photographers and a throng of campaigners with placards.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 4th December 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Covid-19: ‘Do not resuscitate’ decisions complaints up – BBC News

Posted December 4th, 2020 in bereavement, care homes, complaints, coronavirus, doctors, families, medical treatment, news by sally

‘Doctors may have made “do not resuscitate” decisions on a blanket basis in the first wave of the pandemic, the care watchdog has warned.’

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BBC News, 3rd December 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Racing Partnerships Ltd v. Sports Information Services Ltd: Court of Appeal sheds light on economic torts of breach of confidence and unlawful means conspiracy – Littleton Chambers

‘The Court of Appeal’s recent decision in Racing Partnership Ltd & others v. Sports Information Services Ltd [2020] EWCA Civ 1300 has provided clarity on the economic tort of unlawful means conspiracy and provided much food for thought on claims for breach of confidence.’

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Littleton Chambers, 1st December 2020

Source: littletonchambers.com

Changes to ACAS Early Conciliation – Cloisters

Posted December 4th, 2020 in chambers articles, employment, employment tribunals, news, time limits by sally

‘Nathaniel Caiden considers the recent changes being made to ACAS Early Conciliation and their practical effects.’

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Cloisters, 1st December 2020

Source: www.cloisters.com

Highgate mental health unit death: Killer detained indefinitely – BBC News

Posted December 4th, 2020 in detention, homicide, mental health, negligence, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man who beat, strangled and set alight a fellow patient at a secure mental health unit in north London has been detained for an unlimited time.’

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BBC News, 3rd December 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The law applicable to an arbitration agreement: Part 1 of our analysis of Enka v OOO Insurance – Hardwicke Chambers

‘In the eagerly awaited judgment in Enka Insaat Ve Sanayi AS v OOO Insurance Company Chubb [2020] UKSC 38, the Supreme Court finally settled an important issue in the law of arbitration that has long divided the authorities and commentary: in the absence of a choice by the parties, where the law applicable to the main contract differs from that of the seat, it is the law of the seat that governs the validity and scope of the arbitration agreement. Our Overview on the decision sets out the key holdings; Part I (below) of our commentary on the decision examines the reasoning of the Majority in greater depth.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 2nd December 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Bolton v Stone Revisited – Ropewalk Chambers

‘The seminal case of Bolton v Stone [1951] AC 850 concerned a Claimant on a residential side road who was hit by a ball struck by a batsman on an adjacent cricket ground. The claim ultimately failed. Some 67 years later, the Claimant in Lewis v Wandsworth London Borough Council was walking along the boundary path of a cricket pitch in Battersea Park. She was struck in her left eye by a cricket ball, hit from the game of cricket being played on the pitch. Her claim succeeded before Mr Recorder Riza QC, who distinguished Bolton. Stewart J allowed the Defendant’s appeal and dismissed the claim.’

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Ropewalk Chambers, 30th November 2020

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

Child abuse carried out under guise of medical treatment, report finds – The Guardian

‘Healthcare practitioners who committed child sexual abuse commonly did so under the guise of medical treatment, which went unchallenged by other staff even when unnecessary or inappropriate because of their position of trust, research has found.’

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The Guardian, 3rd December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Increase guideline hourly rates by 35% pending CJC review, judge says – Litigation Futures

Posted December 4th, 2020 in civil procedure rules, costs, fees, judges, news, solicitors by sally

‘The guideline hourly rates (GHR) should be increased to take account of inflation while they are being reviewed, meaning an increase of 35%, the High Court ruled this week.’

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Litigation Futures, 3rd December 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Harry Dunn’s family can appeal against High Court ruling – BBC News

‘The parents of Harry Dunn have been granted permission to appeal against a High Court ruling over the diplomatic immunity of his alleged killer.’

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BBC News, 3rd December 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Dolan’s latest lockdown defeat – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The appellants challenged Lockdown regulations made in response to the Covid-19 pandemic on 26 March 2020. Their argument was that the regulations imposed sweeping restrictions on civil liberties which were unprecedented and were unlawful on three grounds. First, the Government had no power under the legislation they used to make the regulations, namely the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, as amended by the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (“the 1984 Act”). Secondly, they were unlawful under ordinary public law principles (failing to take account of relevant considerations, fettering of discretion); and thirdly they violated a number of the Convention rights which are guaranteed in domestic law under the Human Rights Act 1998 (“HRA”). Although the regulations were amended on several occasions and have since been repealed, the appellants contended that it remained important that the legal issues which arose should be authoritatively determined in the public interest.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 3rd December 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com