D Rodgers v Leeds Laser Cutting Ltd: Court of Appeal dismisses landmark Coronavirus case – St Philips Barristers

Posted January 10th, 2023 in chambers articles, coronavirus, health & safety, news, unfair dismissal by sally

‘At the start of the Coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, the employer (via an external professional) carried out a Coronavirus risk assessment to identify areas of risk and put in place measures to protect its staff who worked in a large, ventilated factory space (about five employees in a space the size of half a football pitch). Despite this, on 27 March 2020 Mr Rodgers left the premises and subsequently made it clear to his employer he would not be returning until lockdown eased. A month later, having had no contact from Mr Rodgers, his employer terminated his employment.’

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St Philips Barristers, 20th December 2022

Source: st-philips.com

Covid loans secrecy is in the public interest, tribunal rules – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The public interest in preventing prejudice to commercial interests trumps the public interest in publishing details of recipients of emergency Covid loans, the First Tier Tribunal has ruled. In Spotlight on Corrupton & Anor v The Information Commissioner & The British Business Bank, tribunal judge Sophie Buckley rejected two appeals against the information commissioner’s decision not to require the British Business Bank to identify all the businesses that had taken out loans under four government schemes during the pandemic.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 6th January 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Government claims more than £130 million after suing pandemic gown supplier – The Independent

‘Lawyers say the Government is claiming more than £130 million after suing a firm at the centre of a row over the supply of personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic.’

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The Independent, 5th January 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Names of UK Covid business loan borrowers to stay secret, tribunal rules – The Guardian

Posted January 6th, 2023 in anonymity, company law, coronavirus, fraud, government departments, loans, news by tracey

‘The British government has been given the go-ahead to keep concealing the names of companies that received in total more than £47bn in state-backed Covid loans, after a tribunal ruled in its favour.’

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The Guardian, 5th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

“The end of the beginning: 2021 in construction law” – Atkin Chambers

Posted January 5th, 2023 in building law, chambers articles, construction industry, coronavirus, news by sally

‘Rupert Choat highlights standout developments in construction law over the last 12 months as we sought to emerge from the pandemic.’

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Atkin Chambers, 16th December 2022

Source: www.atkinchambers.com

No jab no job: 5 care home workers dismissed for not taking the vaccine – Lamb Chambers

‘In Dimitrova et Ors v Barchester Healthcare Ltd ET 1803315/2021, 5 care home workers brought claims against Barchester Healthcare Ltd, the second largest provider of care home services in the UK. These 5 Claimants were heard in the first tranche of several other claims. They all brought claims of unfair dismissal and two brought claims of direct/indirect religion/belief discrimination. Another Claimant brought a belief related harassment claim.’

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Lamb Chambers, December 2022

Source: www.lambchambers.co.uk

Appeal Begins For People Fighting For The £20 Uplift In Universal Credit Payments – Each Other

Posted December 8th, 2022 in appeals, benefits, coronavirus, disability discrimination, judicial review, news by sally

‘Two million people on legacy benefits missed out more than £1,500 in extra Universal Credit support payments during the Covid-19 lockdown in the UK. Four claimants brought a challenge to the High Court in November 2021 in relation to the UK government’s failure to apply a similar increase to legacy benefits. Today, the Court of Appeal will heard the case.’

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Each Other, 7th December 2022

Source: eachother.org.uk

Wait time for county court trials reaches new all-time high – Legal Futures

Posted December 6th, 2022 in coronavirus, county courts, delay, news, reports, statistics by sally

‘The time between issue and trial for fast- and multi-track claims has now exceeded 75 weeks, the longest this century, according to the latest government figures.’

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Legal Futures, 6th December 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Cloudside man who served mince pies in lockdown jailed – BBC News

‘A man who broke Covid lockdown rules by serving wine and mince pies at a shooting club, then later attempted to destroy evidence, has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 9th November 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Man who took posters to Sajid Javid’s home not guilty of criminal damage charge – The Independent

Posted November 4th, 2022 in coronavirus, criminal damage, demonstrations, government departments, news by tracey

‘A man has been found not guilty of intent to cause criminal damage after turning up at Sajid Javid’s home with adhesive spray and posters.’

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The Independent, 3rd November 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Covid: Uni students’ legal action over pandemic education – BBC News

Posted November 3rd, 2022 in complaints, coronavirus, education, fees, news, universities by sally

‘Thousands of students are taking legal action against their universities over their education during the pandemic.’

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BBC News, 1st November 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The King (on the application of the Good Law Project Limited) v The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care v Abingdon Health Plc [2022] EWHC 2468 (TCC) – Part Two: Procurement principles – Local Government Lawyer

‘In the second in a two-part series on a recent procurement challenge brought by the Good Law Project, Juli Lau looks at the procurement principles considered by the court.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th October 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Pupillage offers have recovered post-pandemic, Bar Council finds – The Bar Council

Posted October 21st, 2022 in barristers, coronavirus, news, pupillage, statistics by tracey

‘The number of pupillage offers and applications is once again at pre-pandemic levels, according to a new report from the Bar Council published today.’

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The Bar Council, 17th October 2022

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Covid: Woman accused of Sheffield lockdown rave has case thrown out – BBC News

Posted October 14th, 2022 in coronavirus, fines, news, police by tracey

‘A woman accused of hosting a rave during a coronavirus lockdown said court proceedings had been “a con” after the case against her was dropped.’

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BBC News, 14th October 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Wife’s ‘nightmare’ as man waits four years for trial – BBC News

‘The wife of a man who has been told he will spend at least four years and four months in jail before standing trial says she is living in a “nightmare”.’

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BBC News, 14th October 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bereaved families to ask Covid contract PR firms not to bid for inquiry work – The Guardian

Posted October 14th, 2022 in bereavement, coronavirus, families, inquiries, news, public procurement by tracey

‘Families bereaved by Covid will write to eight PR companies that received hefty government contracts during the pandemic asking them to withdraw from a tender process to manage part of the inquiry.’

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The Guardian, 14th October 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Dying patient should have been seen in person – BBC News

Posted September 29th, 2022 in coronavirus, doctors, news, nurses, telecommunications by sally

‘NHS officials ruled a man who died after his ear infection was not picked up in GP telephone consultations should have been seen face to face, a BBC Newsnight investigation has found.’

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BBC News, 29th September 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Surge in ‘no-fault evictions’ prompts calls to renew UK-wide ban – The Guardian

‘The number of renting households made homeless because of “no-fault” evictions has surged higher than pre-pandemic levels, sparking fresh calls for the government to ban the practice.’

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The Guardian, 22nd September 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Unfavourable Treatment and section 15 Equality Act 2010 – Local Government Lawyer

‘Peter Doughty unpacks the decision in Michael Cowie and Others v Scottish Fire and Rescue Service [2022] EAT 121, which involved a Special Leave scheme set up during the pandemic.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th September 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Delays leave man facing four years in Leicester jail without trial – The Guardian

‘A man has been told he will have to spend at least four years and three months in jail without trial as a result of Covid, barrister strikes and a malfunctioning courtroom.’

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The Guardian, 15th September 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com