Government facing legal challenge over urgent award of £108m PPE contract – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Good Law Project will today [15 June] launch judicial review proceedings over the Government’s award of an £108m contract to a pest control company for the supply of PPE.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th June 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Pet theft law change urged as cases go ‘through the roof’ in lockdown – BBC News

Posted June 18th, 2020 in animals, coronavirus, news, theft by sally

‘Campaigners have called on the government to make pet theft a specific offence after instances of the crime “went through the roof” in lockdown.’

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BBC News, 17th June 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police in England and Wales six times more likely to fine BAME people in lockdown – The Guardian

‘Police enforcing the coronavirus lockdown in England and Wales were more than six times more likely to issue fines to black, Asian and minority ethnic people than white people, figures show.’

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The Guardian, 16th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Yossi Nehushtan: The 14-Day Quarantine Policy is Illegal – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘Harsh criticism, mainly from politicians and the travel industry has been expressed regarding the new government policy, according to which, and from 8 June, nearly all international arrivals at UK ports must quarantine for 14 days. It is surprising that very little has been said about the clear illegality of this policy, despite a very recent judicial review process that has been brought against the policy by a few airline companies. In this post it is argued that the quarantine policy is irrational, unreasonable and disproportionate – and therefore illegal. A preliminary note about the differences between rationality and reasonableness will be followed by applying rationality, reasonableness and proportionality to our case.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 17th June 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Football in the time of COVID-19: lessons to be learned from the recent decision in South Shields FC v The FA – Sports Law Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

Posted June 17th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, news, sport by sally

‘A distinguished arbitral panel, chaired by Lord Dyson with Charles Flint QC and Andrew Green QC, recently delivered its award in the case of South Shields Football Club 1888 Limited v The Football Association Limited. The decision, which considered The FA’s powers to bring the 2019/20 football season to an end for Steps 3 to 7 of the NLS, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, is one of the first to examine the scope of regulatory decision-making in the field of sport in the wake of the current global health crisis. Nick De Marco QC discusses the case.’

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Sports Law Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 12th June 2020

Source: www.sportslawbulletin.org

Drop juries for less serious crimes in England and Wales, judges say – The Guardian

Posted June 17th, 2020 in coronavirus, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, juries, news, trials by sally

‘Less serious crimes should be tried in crown courts before a judge without a jury in order to tackle the thousands of cases building up during the pandemic crisis, judges have suggested.’

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The Guardian, 16th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Large chambers “should give space to smaller ones” – Legal Futures

Posted June 17th, 2020 in barristers, coronavirus, inns of court, landlord & tenant, news, rent by sally

‘Large chambers should be prepared to look after smaller sets “chased out” by their landlords by sharing premises and clerks, a senior criminal law barrister has said.’

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Legal Futures, 17th June 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Public prosecutor faces legal action over Cummings’ Durham trip – The Guardian

‘A judicial review is being sought over the failure of the director of public prosecutions, Max Hill, to investigate Dominic Cummings for alleged breaches of the coronavirus lockdown rules.’

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The Guardian, 16th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Should I claim or should I wait? – Falcon Chambers

Posted June 16th, 2020 in coronavirus, enfranchisement, leases, mortgages, news, sale of land by sally

‘Since the property market coronavirus restrictions were lifted on 13 May 2020, there has been a reported rush to buy and sell houses and flats. Where property is leasehold, the sale of the lease is often the trigger which leads to a claim being made for either a new lease or the freehold under the Leasehold Reform Acts. The purchaser will always be concerned to see exactly what term is being acquired. A lessee of a flat wishing to buy a new lease must have owned the lease for two years before serving a notice (s. 39(2)(a) of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993). The same ownership period applies to a claim to acquire the freehold of a house (s. 1(1)(b) of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967).’

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Falcon Chambers, June 2020

Source: www.falcon-chambers.com

South Shields Football Club 1888 Limited v The Football Association Limited – Blackstone Chambers

‘A legal challenge to The FA’s decision to end the 2019/20 football season in Steps 3-7 of the English football National League System without promotion or relegation on account of the COVID-19 pandemic has been dismissed. The arbitral panel, chaired by Lord Dyson with Charles Flint QC and Andrew Green QC, rejected the challenge brought by South Shields FC, a club sitting in an automatic promotion position at the point of cessation of the season.’

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Blackstone Chambers, 11th June 2020

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

Triaging Coronavirus treatment – (3) the Guidance and discrimination – Cloisters

As part of our series considering the human rights and equality implications of Covid-19, Catherine Casserley and Declan O’Dempsey consider BMA Guidance on the use of characteristics of age and disability in medical triage in the light of discrimination law. This article considers the impact of discrimination law on the guidance.

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Cloisters, 9th June 2020

Source: www.cloisters.com

Covid-19 Update: CPR PD51Z Applies to Appeals – Becket Chambers

‘London Borough of Hackney v Okoro [2020] EWCA Civ 681

This case follows the Court of Appeal decision in Arkin v Marshall [2020] EWCA Civ 620 which was recently handed down on 11 May 2020.’

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Becket Chambers, 1st June 2020

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

Coronavirus and police drone use – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 16th, 2020 in aircraft, coronavirus, data protection, evidence, news, police, video recordings by sally

‘The police have an important role to play at the time of a pandemic when social distancing and self-isolation are so important. However, any action they take must be proportionate, transparent and, above all, lawful. Anything else will erode public confidence in the police and make their job more difficult.’

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Law Society, 15th June 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Re C – appeal about a hybrid hearing – Transparency Project

‘The issue was that the case required a resumption of a finding of fact hearing and that the leading barrister for the children’s mother was “shielding” so could not attend court in person with her client. The mother appealed a decision in the High Court by Mr Justice Williams that the hearing go ahead in June as a “hybrid” hearing i.e. with some parties and lawyers in the court room and others online.’

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Transparency Project, 12th June 2020

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Nyasha Weinberg and Claudia Pagliari: Covid-19 reveals the need to review the transparency and independence of scientific advice – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted June 16th, 2020 in coronavirus, health, ministers' powers and duties, news by sally

‘The tragedy of Covid-19 demonstrates the profound, life-saving, importance of good advice. It is essential that the governance system enables the best possible provision of scientific advice, a mechanism for correcting sub-optimal advice, and clarity around the difference between scientific advice and political decision making.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 16th June 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Negligent advice warning over coronavirus jobs scheme – Legal Futures

Posted June 16th, 2020 in coronavirus, law firms, negligence, news, remuneration by sally

‘Lawyers and others who advised clients on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) are at risk of claims as the government looks to claw back payments to which recipients were not entitled, a professional negligence specialist has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 16th June 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Nazir Afzal joins legal fight for new inquiry into Dominic Cummings – The Guardian

‘Nazir Afzal, a former regional chief prosecutor, has joined a legal campaign for a new investigation into Dominic Cummings over alleged breaches of the coronavirus lockdown rules.’

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The Guardian, 14th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

MPs offer hope for lawyers locked out of Covid-19 support – Legal Futures

‘The Law Society and Bar Council have urged the government to act on a report from MPs that that would help lawyers who have fallen through the gaps of the coronavirus support schemes.’

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Legal Futures, 16th June 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Employment lawyers should brace for advice rush – Legal Futures

Posted June 16th, 2020 in citizens advice bureaux, coronavirus, employment, news, redundancy by sally

‘Employment lawyers could be about to see a surge in enquiries, with data from Citizens Advice showing that people are becoming increasingly concerned about redundancy.’

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Legal Futures, 16th June 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Over 1,000 prison leavers left homeless amid pandemic, MoJ figures show – The Guardian

Posted June 16th, 2020 in coronavirus, homelessness, housing, news, prisons by sally

‘More than 1,000 prisoners were released into homelessness at the height of the coronavirus pandemic in England and Wales, figures show, prompting the government to increase funding for accommodation for prison leavers.’

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The Guardian, 15th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com