Egg and sperm donors in UK to lose right to anonymity at birth under new plans – The Guardian

Posted November 14th, 2023 in anonymity, assisted reproduction, birth, DNA, news by sally

‘People who donate sperm, eggs and embryos to help others have children will lose the right to anonymity from the moment the child is born, under proposed changes to UK fertility law.’

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The Guardian, 14th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sizing up the competition – The Upper Tribunal considers the public authority VAT exemption in Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust v Revenue and Customs – Devereux Chambers

Posted November 14th, 2023 in competition, evidence, hospitals, news, parking, VAT by sally

‘The Upper Tribunal has ruled that an NHS Trust did not provide car parking under a “special legal regime” such that its supplies would be zero-rated. The case is important because (i) it sets a limit on what can be considered a “special legal regime” for the purposes of Article 13 of the Principal VAT Directive and section 41A of the Value Added Tax Act 1994, and (ii) it confirms that detailed factual and expert evidence is not required for a Tribunal to find that treating a public authority as a non-taxable person would lead to significant distortions of competition.’

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Devereux Chambers, 27th October 2023

Source: www.devereuxchambers.co.uk

Mothers who kill: A look at infanticide – Doughty Street Chambers

Posted November 14th, 2023 in birth, child neglect, children, homicide, murder, news, pregnancy, prosecutions by sally

‘Murders where mothers kill their babies are thankfully rare, however recent cases raise questions about the legal framework surrounding this offence, and whether laws concerning murder, manslaughter and infanticide are applied in a way that protects not only vulnerable children but also vulnerable women.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 9th October 2023

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Killer doctor Michael McGrane jailed for raping a child – BBC News

Posted November 14th, 2023 in child abuse, doctors, news, rape, sentencing by sally

‘A former doctor who was jailed in Australia for the murder of a pregnant patient has been convicted of raping a child before he emigrated from the UK.’

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BBC News, 13th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BSB social media guidance “will do little to protect women’s voices” – Legal Futures

Posted November 14th, 2023 in barristers, bullying, harassment, internet, news, women by sally

‘The new social media guidance from the Bar Standards Board (BSB) “will do little to protect women’s voices an increasingly digitised world”, two leading female barristers have argued.’

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Legal Futures, 14th November 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Man jailed after Birmingham crash leaves boy with brain injury – BBC News

Posted November 14th, 2023 in criminal damage, dangerous driving, drug offences, guilty pleas, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man has been jailed after he caused a crash that left a five-year-old boy with a brain injury.’

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BBC News, 13th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

How will recent and future legislation affect the right to protest in the UK? – The Guardian

Posted November 14th, 2023 in demonstrations, human rights, news, proscribed organisations, public order by sally

‘We examine the myriad of current laws and others being proposed to curb different types of protests and activism.’

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The Guardian, 13th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted November 13th, 2023 in legislation by tracey

SI 2023/1172 – The Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 7) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/1171 – The War Widows Recognition Payment Scheme (Income Tax Exemption) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/1197 – The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications, Deemed Applications, Requests and Site Visits) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2023

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted November 13th, 2023 in law reports by tracey

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Last Bus Ltd (t/a Dublin Coach) v Dawsongroup Bus and Coach Ltd & Anor [2023] EWCA Civ 1297 (10 November 2023)

Frangou v Frangos [2023] EWCA Civ 1320 (10 November 2023)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Exolum Pipeline System Ltd, R (On the Application Of) v Crown Court at Great Grimsby [2023] EWHC 2811 (Admin) (10 November 2023)

Ramaswamy v General Medical Council (No. 2) [2023] EWHC 2809 (Admin) (10 November 2023)

LXP, R (On the Application Of) v Central Criminal Court [2023] EWHC 2824 (Admin) (10 November 2023)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Phones 4U Ltd v EE Ltd & Ors [2023] EWHC 2826 (Ch) (10 November 2023)

Richefond & Ors v Dillon & Ors [2023] EWHC 2796 (Ch) (10 November 2023)

Chedington Events Ltd v Brake & Anor [2023] EWHC 2804 (Ch) (10 November 2023)

Evans v McTeare & Ors [2023] EWHC 2828 (Ch) (10 November 2023)

High Court (Commercial Court) Decisions

Star Axe I LLC v Royal and Sun Alliance Luxembourg SA – Belgian Branch & Ors [2023] EWHC 2784 (Comm) (10 November 2023)

Al Jaber v Al Ibrahim & Anor [2023] EWHC 2831 (Comm) (10 November 2023)

High Court (King’s Bench Division)

Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon & Ors v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2023] EWHC 2789 (KB) (10 November 2023)

Amjad v UK Insurance Ltd [2023] EWHC 2832 (KB) (10 November 2023)

Source: www.bailii.org

Court of Appeal adds additional hurdle to pension trustees recouping payments – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 13th, 2023 in appeals, courts, enforcement, jurisdiction, local government, news, ombudsmen, pensions by tracey

‘Pension trustees in the UK will have to take an extra step to recover a disputed overpayment, as the English Court of Appeal has recently ruled that the Pensions Ombudsman (PO) is not a “competent court” for such purpose.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 10th November 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

How should schools and colleges investigate allegations of sexual assault against its staff? – Local Government Lawyer

‘Investigating allegations against staff is one of the most challenging issues for schools and colleges. Some lessons can be learned from a recent case, writes Joanne Moseley.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 10th November 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Explaining Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil County – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 13th, 2023 in appeals, damages, housing, local government, news, nuisance by tracey

‘Elizabeth England, of Five Paper Chambers, runs through the key points of the latest Court of Appeal Japanese Knotweed case.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 10th November 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

AI helps lawyers complete work quicker, study finds – Legal Futures

Posted November 13th, 2023 in artificial intelligence, legal profession, legal services, news by tracey

‘A groundbreaking study has found that using generative AI to support, rather than replace, humans results in “large and consistent increases in speed” in completing legal tasks.’

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Legal Futures, 13th November 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Man who sexually targeted woman with dementia jailed – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted November 13th, 2023 in Crown Prosecution Service, elderly, imprisonment, news, rape, sentencing, sexual offences by tracey

‘A man who sexually assaulted a 93-year-old woman with dementia while employed to deliver hot meals to elderly and vulnerable people has been jailed.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 10th November 2023

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Right-wing supremacist sentenced over plot to kill worshipping Muslims while disguised as armed police officer – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A teenage right-wing supremacist has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment after he was convicted of planning to disguise himself as an armed police officer and kill Muslims worshipping at nearby mosques.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 10th November 2023

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

News focus: Media Bill fails to address SLAPPs – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 13th, 2023 in bills, damages, defamation, freedom of expression, media, news, public interest by tracey

‘While the king’s speech pledged “legislation to protect public interest journalism”, a new Media Bill fails to address SLAPPs. This has sparked renewed calls to extend corrective measures beyond economic crime.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 10th November 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Royal Mail fined £5.6m by UK regulator for missing delivery targets – The Guardian

Posted November 13th, 2023 in fines, news, ombudsmen, postal service by tracey

‘Royal Mail has been fined £5.6m by the regulator for missing its first- and second-class delivery targets.’

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The Guardian, 13th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Woman who suffered complications from vaginal mesh implant awarded at least £1m – The Guardian

Posted November 13th, 2023 in compensation, consent, hospitals, medical treatment, negligence, news, women by tracey

‘A woman who suffered traumatic complications from a vaginal mesh implant has been awarded a record settlement of at least £1m from the NHS.’

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The Guardian, 13th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

South Gloucestershire families needing respite care failed by council – BBC News

‘Almost a third of families with SEND children needing respite care have been failed by a council, according to a watchdog.’

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BBC News, 12th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prince Harry wins latest stage in case against Mail publisher – BBC News

Posted November 13th, 2023 in interception, limitations, news, privacy, royal family, telecommunications by tracey

‘The Duke of Sussex can go ahead with claims against Associated Newspapers of unlawfully obtaining information, as a court ruling opens the way for a trial.’

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BBC News, 11th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk