Infected blood scandal: Bereaved relatives in government compensation plea – BBC News

‘The son of a man who died after he was given infected blood is among those handing in a letter to the government calling for wider compensation.’

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BBC News, 25th July 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

NHS trust accused of cover-up is refusing to release report into deaths – The Guardian

‘An ambulance trust accused of hiding information from a coroner about patients that died is keeping a damning internal report about the deaths secret, the Guardian can reveal. A consultant paramedic implicated in the alleged cover-ups continues to be involved in decisions to keep the report from the public.’

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The Guardian, 24th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

R (on the application of Maguire) v HM Senior Coroner for Blackpool & Fylde and another – Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog

‘In this post, Alex Carington considers the Supreme Court’s decision in an appeal by the family of the Deceased who sought to challenge the Coroner’s decision that Art. 2 of the Human Rights Act 1998 did not require an expanded conclusion having heard all of the evidence at the inquest such that the jury were requested to return a short form conclusion only. The appeal also raised issues about the boundary of the systems duty and operational duty (and the content of both) as well as the boundary between the enhanced procedural obligation on one hand and basic procedural obligation together with the redress procedural obligation on the other.’

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Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog, 18th July 2023

Source: inquestsandinquirieslawblog.com

Met Police apologise over Daniel Morgan murder probe – BBC News

Posted July 19th, 2023 in bereavement, corruption, damages, families, inquiries, murder, news, police by tracey

‘The Met Police has apologised to the family of private detective Daniel Morgan, who was murdered in 1987.’

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BBC News, 19th July 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Metropolitan Police investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence – House of Commons Library

‘On 22 April 1993, Stephen Lawrence, an 18-year-old Black man, was stabbed to death at a bus stop in Eltham, south-east London by a group of White youths in an unprovoked, racist attack. Stephen’s friend, Duwayne Brooks, was with him at the time and witnessed the attack.’

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House of Commons Library, 9th July 2023

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Nottingham maternity review set to become UK’s largest – BBC News

Posted July 10th, 2023 in bereavement, birth, children, families, hospitals, inquiries, news, pregnancy by sally

‘A review into failings in maternity care in hospitals in Nottingham is set to become the largest in the UK, the BBC understands.’

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BBC News, 10th July 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Met Police: Doreen Lawrence concerned about pace of reform – BBC News

‘The mother of Stephen Lawrence says she is “profoundly concerned” about the slow pace of reforms in the Met Police.’

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BBC News, 10th July 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Stephen Lawrence’s mother says decision not to charge police over murder inquiry ‘disgraceful’ – The Independent

‘Stephen Lawrence’s mother says a decision not to charge four retired officers over their handling of the original murder investigation has caused her immense distress and she will challenge it.’

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The Independent, 6th July 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK’s largest pub firm guilty of health and safety breach over student’s death – The Guardian

Posted July 7th, 2023 in accidents, bereavement, fines, health & safety, licensed premises, news by tracey

‘The UK’s largest pub company has been found guilty of breaching health and safety law after the “senseless and avoidable” death of a first-year university student who was queuing to get into a busy venue.’

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The Guardian, 6th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Supreme Court rules in ‘death ends everything’ divorce case – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 30th, 2023 in appeals, bereavement, divorce, families, financial provision, news, Supreme Court by tracey

‘The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed a wife’s appeal for financial relief against her husband’s estate after he died before the final determination of her application.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 30th June 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Inquiry into 2,000 mental health deaths in Essex NHS trusts given legal powers – The Guardian

Posted June 29th, 2023 in bereavement, hospitals, inquiries, mental health, news, suicide, witnesses by sally

‘An independent inquiry into the deaths of almost 2,000 mental health patients across NHS trusts in Essex is to be given legal powers to compel witnesses to give evidence, after pressure from bereaved relatives and the chair of the inquiry.’

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The Guardian, June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

War widows who lost pensions to receive compensation – BBC News

‘War widows who were forced to forfeit their pensions will receive a lump sum payment after a long-running campaign. The compensation scheme will benefit spouses who lost their government income if they remarried or moved in with a new partner before 2015.’

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BBC News, 18th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Infected blood victims and families urge UK government to drop defence – The Guardian

‘More than 500 people taking the government to court over the contaminated blood scandal are urging it to concede the case in light of evidence heard by a public inquiry and an interim report produced by its chair.’

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The Guardian, 23rd April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

No case for extending bereavement damages, says minister – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 21st, 2023 in bereavement, damages, families, limitations, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice has rejected broadening eligibility for bereavement damages despite accusations the current limits are outdated and unfair.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 20th April 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Should Those Convicted of Serious Offences be Compelled to Face Their Victim’s Family? – Pump Court Chambers

‘The current Justice Secretary Dominic Raab thinks so. The recent, tragic murders of Sabina Nessa and Zara Aleena have prompted Mr Raab to consider new legislation which will see those convicted of serious offences compelled to attend court and face the families of those they have harmed. Both convicted murderers Jordan McSweeney and Koci Selamaj refused to attend their sentencing hearings which meant the families of Sabina and Zara were unable to put their Victim Personal Statements to them. Mr Raab says he wants to “make sure courts have the power to compel someone who’s been convicted of a serious crime to come and face the sentence… is the very least the victims deserve… and is a basic principle of British justice”[1] but what are the implications of this proposal?’

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Pump Court Chambers, 9th March 2023

Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com

Dove v Assistant Coroner for Teeside [2023] EWCA Civ 289 (17 March 2023) – Parklane Plowden

‘Mrs Dove’s daughter took her own life after DWP benefits were withdrawn. In September 2021, the Divisional Court refused her application under s13 of the Coroners Act 1988 to quash the Coroner’s determination and direct a new inquest. The Divisional Court considered that the question of ‘how’ someone died in a Jamieson inquest was directed only to the means by which the deceased died, and did not encompass the wider circumstances of their death. In this case, the Court of Appeal considered the meaning of ‘by what means’.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 29th March 2023

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Dove (Part 2): Article 2 ECHR, Rabone, and Responsibility – Doughty Street Chambers

‘Last week [24 March] the Court of Appeal gave judgment in Dove [2023] EWCA Civ 289, an appeal against the Divisional Court’s decision not to order a new inquest into the death of Jodey Whiting, in proceedings brought by her mother Joy Dove. Ms Whiting died a self-inflicted death in the community, after a mental health crisis, in which the decision of the Department of Work and Pensions to cease her benefits was said to have played a contributory role. An inquest in 2017 came to a conclusion of “suicide” (§1). In an earlier post I dealt with the first, successful, ground of appeal: that because of fresh evidence it was in the interests of justice to order a new Jamieson inquest. In this post I examine the Court of Appeal’s analysis of the case from the point of view of the engagement of Article 2 ECHR.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 24th March 2023

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Dove (Part 1): Jamieson Inquests, Causation, and Conclusions – Doughty Street Chambers

‘Last week [20 March] the Court of Appeal gave judgment in Dove [2023] EWCA Civ 289, an appeal against the Divisional Court’s decision not to order a new inquest into the death of Jodey Whiting, in proceedings brought by her mother Joy Dove. Ms Whiting died a self-inflicted death in the community, after a mental health crisis, in which the decision of the Department of Work and Pensions to cease her benefits was said to have played a contributory role. An inquest in 2017 came to a conclusion of “suicide” (§1).’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 20th March 2023

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

More than 900 people affected by Grenfell Tower fire settle claims – The Guardian

Posted April 12th, 2023 in accidents, bereavement, compensation, damages, fire, health & safety, housing, inquiries, news by sally

‘More than 900 bereaved family members, survivors and local people who were affected by the devastating Grenfell Tower fire have agreed on a settlement of their civil claims arising from the blaze.’

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The Guardian, 11th April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Stephanie Jones jailed for 2 Wish Upon A Star fraud – BBC News

Posted March 24th, 2023 in bereavement, charities, fraud, imprisonment, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A fraudster who made up a fake counsellor to con a bereavement charity has been jailed for a year.’

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BBC News, 23rd March 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk