Six men drop Lord Janner compensation claims – BBC News
‘Six men who accused the late Lord Janner of child sexual abuse have discontinued a legal case aimed at winning damages from his estate.’
BBC News, 28th May 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: civil justice
35th Blackstone Lecture by Lady Justice Hallett: Trial by Jury – Past and Present – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
‘It is a pleasure to have been asked to give this year’s Blackstone lecture. Lord Devlin at the outset of his Hamlyn Lectures in 1956 observed: that trial by jury was a subject on which it was not possible to ‘say anything very novel or very profound’. If not a subject suitable for original comment, why did I choose it?’
Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 22nd May 2017
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
Low-Budget Litigation – Not Necessarily A Good Thing – Parties Should Not Treat Costs Budgeting As Some Sort of Game – Zenith PI Blog
‘It is far from unknown, in my own experience of costs management hearings, for a party which does not expect to recover any costs (for example, a defendant in a case where liability has been admitted) to serve a very low costs budget.’
Zenith PI Blog, 16th May 2017
Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com
A Stitch in Time Saves Nine – Hardwicke Chambers
‘In the well-known case of Cobbold v London Borough of Greenwich (LTL 24/5/2001) Gibson LJ said:
‘The overriding objective (of the CPR) is that the court should deal with cases justly. That includes, so far as is practicable, ensuring that each case is dealt with not only expeditiously but also fairly. Amendments in general ought to be allowed so that the real dispute between the parties can be adjudicated upon provided that any prejudice to the other party or parties caused by the amendment can be compensated in costs, and the public interest in the efficient administration of justice is not significantly harmed…’.’
Hardwicke Chambers, 11th April 2017
Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk
High Court rejects litigation privilege claim in test case – Litigation Futures
‘The High Court has rejected a mining company’s claim for litigation privilege in a test case which for the first time involves potential criminal, rather than civil, litigation.’
Litigation Futures, 10th May 2017
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Fixed-cost plans for clinical negligence “will prevent many cases being brought”, CJC warns – Litigation Futures
‘Government plans to impose fixed costs on clinical negligence cases worth up to £25,000 “will prevent many cases being brought”, the Civil Justice Council (CJC) has warned.’
Litigation Futures, 11th May 2017
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Legal aid safety net applications up by 43% – Legal Voice
‘There has been a 43% increase in applications to LASPO’s safety net regime compared to last year and theLegal Aid Agency granted almost six out of 10. There were 441 applications for exceptional case funding received between October and December 2016, comprising 383 and 58 re-submissions. This compares to 308 in the same period for 2015.’
Legal Voice, 6th April 2017
Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk
Prisons and Courts Bill to improve access to justice and better protect the vulnerable – Ministry of Justice
‘Plans to revolutionise the courts to make them more straightforward and efficient, and deliver swifter justice for victims.’
Ministry of Justice, 20th March 2017
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Business and Property Courts – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
‘From June of this year, the specialist civil courts are to be known as the “Business and Property Courts of England and Wales”.’
Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 13th March 2017
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
Legal problem and resolution survey 2014 to 2015 – Ministry of Justice
‘These reports present the findings from the Legal Problem and Resolution Survey 2014 to 2015, a telephone survey of 10,058 adults in England and Wales.’
Ministry of Justice, 3rd march 2017
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Online court “visible by September and no big bang”, top judge reveals – Legal Futures
‘The first signs of an online court (OC) will be visible in tribunals by September, online processes will be extended to a wide range of civil court proceedings by May 2020, and the reforms will be incremental, according to one of the judges in charge.’
Legal Futures, 22nd February 2017
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Introducing the litigant in person network – Legal Voice
‘The Litigant in Person Network is an online platform which aims to connect a wide range of people with a common goal of improving access to justice. Coordinated by the Litigant in Person Support Strategy, and supported by The Legal Education Foundation, the network is a place for interested professionals to share, discussion and collaborate across sectors on issues relating to both actual and potential Litigants in Person (LiPs).’
Legal Voice, 20th February 2017
Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk
Soldiers could be ‘shut out of justice’ under combat immunity plans – The Guardian
‘Soldiers will be “shut out of justice” and military equipment failures will be covered up under plans to extend combat immunity and prevent military claims going to court, ministers have been warned.’
The Guardian, 14th February 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Fathers4 (Access2) Justice: Administrative Court ruling on the public’s right to attend court hearings and the Court Service’s limited powers of control – UK Human Rights Blog
‘On 20 February 2015 Matthew O’Connor, the Claimant in this judicial review and the founder of the campaign group Fathers4Justice, was due to go on trial at Aldershot Magistrates’ Court for a public order offence. He arrived at court with around ten of his supporters, but when they tried to gain entry to the court building they were prevented from doing so by HMCTS staff. Only the Claimant and his Mackenzie Friend were allowed to enter.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 8th February 2017
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Legal services at forefront of Global Britain – Ministry of Justice
‘A bold and bright future awaits the UK’s world-leading legal services as we prepare to leave the EU, Lord Chancellor Elizabeth Truss declared today.’
Ministry of Justice, 19th January 2017
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Rape victims shouldn’t have to pay for their own justice through the civil courts – The Independent
‘The jury in a criminal case must believe the accused is guilty ‘beyond reasonable doubt’, meaning that a victim can be believed and yet a ‘not guilty’ verdict is still returned. This is part of the reason that many cases never reach trial: the police or CPS think the evidence may not fulfil the tough requirements of the criminal courts.’
The Independent, 18th January 2017
Source: www.independent.co.uk
