What About – ‘PPE – Does the Government owe a legal duty to provide it?’ – Nexus Chambers

‘There is no doubt that the Government owes a moral duty to provide those on the frontline fighting this virus with the tools they need to work safely. Beyond the undeniable moral duty, does the Government owe them a legal duty as well?’

Full Story

Nexus Chambers, 10th April 2020

Source: www.nexuschambers.com

Articles 3 and 8 in the Time of Coronavirus: A New Case With Implications for Local Authorities Using the Care Act ‘Easements’ – Coronavirus: Guidance for Lawyers and Businesses

‘The Care Act ‘easements’ were brought into force on 31 March 2020. Per the statutory guidance, local authorities may take a decision to apply the new and much higher threshold for receiving care. That threshold states that a person is not entitled to receive care and support from a local authority as a matter of right unless it is necessary to prevent a breach of the person’s human rights – most likely to be Articles 2, 3 or 8 of the European Convention. Arianne Kelly looks at the first case on the subject.’

Full Story

Coronavirus: Guidance for Lawyers and Businesses, 14th April 2020

Source: lawinthetimeofcorona.wordpress.com

High Court rejects attempt to adjourn £250m trial because of virus – Litigation Futures

‘The High Court has rejected an application to adjourn a five-week trial of a £250m insolvency claim because of the coronavirus pandemic.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 9th April 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

The Coronavirus Act 2020: When Legislation Goes Viral (Part Two) – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted April 14th, 2020 in coronavirus, emergency powers, health, human rights, news by sally

‘In Part One, I considered the background to the Coronavirus Act 2020 and some general aspects of the legislation. Here, I focus on some of the substantive provisions of the legislation and briefly explore the role that human rights law has to play in the management of the COVID-19 crisis.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 10th April 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Coronacontact- what about the children in care? – Transparency Project

‘Family life is significantly disrupted as a result of the ‘lockdown’, and many children in care will not have seen their parents for a number of weeks. This short article considers the legal position with regard to the duties of local authorities in England to looked-after children and contact, and the interaction between this and the Coronavirus Act 2020 and regulations.’

Full Story

Transparency Project, 11th April 2020

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Leviathan unshackled? – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The response to the Covid-19 pandemic by governments across the world has thrown into sharp relief the fact that at a time of crisis the institutions and functions of Nation States are still the key structures responsible for the most basic duty of protecting their citizens’ lives. In the United Kingdom, the recent weeks have seen interventions by the Government in the economy and in the freedom of movement that are commonly seen as unparalleled in the post 1945 era.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 10th April 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Revealed: surge in domestic violence during Covid-19 crisis – The Guardian

‘Shocking statistics revealed that domestic violence has surged since the start of the coronavirus lockdown, as the home secretary, Priti Patel, insisted that help for all victims of abuse was available.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 12th April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coronavirus: Ofcom assesses Eamonn Holmes 5G comments after complaints – BBC News

‘TV regulator Ofcom has said it is assessing comments made by presenter Eamonn Holmes about 5G technology and coronavirus “as a priority”.’

Full Story

BBC News, 14th April 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Changing the locks during lockdown:The Coronavirus Act 2020, Commercial Property and Forfeiture – 3PB

Posted April 14th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, forfeiture, landlord & tenant, news by sally

‘In recent years the rise of e-commerce has challenged the traditional High Street model as we know it. The high attrition rates on the High Street have been widely reported. For those retailers who have sought to avoid closing their businesses, Company Voluntary Agreements (“CVA’s”) have become popular in order to allow shops to keep trading.’

Full Story

3PB, 9th April 2020

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

New Act – legislation.gov.uk

Posted April 14th, 2020 in coronavirus, emergency powers, legislation by tracey

Coronavirus Act 2020

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

“Release QC money” to support Bar during Covid-19 – Legal Futures

‘The Public Access Bar Association (PABA) has urged the Bar Council to call in its share of the surplus held by QC Appointments (QCA) to support barristers struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 14th April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Coronavirus: How Will Exam Cancellations Affect Students? – Each Other

Posted April 14th, 2020 in coronavirus, education, examinations, news, school children by sally

‘With the cancellation of all GCSE and A level summer exams amid the coronavirus pandemic, the system for awarding student grades been transformed beyond recognition.’

Full Story

Each Other, 9th April 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Judge orders mental health patient to vacate bed for Covid-19 cases – The Guardian

Posted April 14th, 2020 in coronavirus, hospitals, mental health, news by sally

‘A high court judge has ruled a woman can be discharged from the hospital bed she has occupied for more than a year to relieve pressure during the Covid-19 pandemic.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 10th April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coronavirus: Ofcom formally probes David Icke TV interview – BBC News

‘The UK’s media watchdog has launched a formal investigation into a TV network’s broadcast of an interview with conspiracy theorist David Icke about coronavirus.’

Full Story

BBC News, 9th April 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK insurers face legal action from small firms over Covid-19 claims – The Guardian

Posted April 14th, 2020 in coronavirus, insurance, news by sally

‘Some of Britain’s biggest insurance companies are facing legal action from small business owners who say their legitimate business interruption claims have been unfairly turned down.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 12th April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Legal realities of an ‘extension’ to the football season – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 9th, 2020 in contract of employment, contracts, coronavirus, delay, news, sport by sally

‘The football world, like almost every other sector of the economy, is grappling with the unprecedented impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In English football, the official position remains as set out in the joint statement issued by the main professional stakeholders on 20 March 2020: football is currently suspended but ‘all options’ are being explored ‘to find ways of resuming the season when conditions allow’.’

Full Story

7th April 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The Values of Collaboration and Solidarity: Running a Chambers Through the Coronavirus Crisis – Coronavirus: Guidance for Lawyers and Businesses

Posted April 9th, 2020 in barristers, coronavirus, news by sally

‘Lawyers are nothing if not adaptable. On 27 February my chambers purchased additional hand sanitisers and issued advice about travel abroad. By Monday 23 March all barristers and staff had moved entirely to home working and we had adapted our management systems to cope with that massive change. That very evening the Prime Minister made his dramatic announcement of a complete lock down. And now we have to adapt again.’

Full Story

Coronavirus: Guidance for Lawyers and Businesses, 7th April 2020

Source: lawinthetimeofcorona.wordpress.com

Sean Molloy: Covid-19, Emergency Legislation and Sunset Clauses – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘On 25 March, the UK passed the Coronavirus Act 2020 as part of its attempt to manage the coronavirus outbreak. The Act introduces a wave of temporary measures designed to either amend existing legislative provisions or introduce new statutory powers in order to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 (See Nicholas Clapham’s Conversation post here on the content of Bill). As countries around the world enact similar laws, there are notable concerns regarding not only the impact of emergency provisions on human rights, but also the potential of emergency powers to become normalised. One response is to utilise sunset clauses. This piece argues that while sunset clauses are both welcome and necessary, they should nevertheless be approached with a degree of caution.’

Full Story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 8th April 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

UK domestic abuse helplines report surge in calls during lockdown – The Guardian

‘A helpline for perpetrators of domestic abuse who are seeking help to change their behaviour has received 25% more calls as the Covid-19 lockdown continues, fresh figures show.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 9th April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Too scared to speak out’: young legal aid lawyers highlight Covid-19 pressures – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 9th, 2020 in coronavirus, legal aid, legal profession, news, solicitors, standards by sally

‘Furloughed but asked to work, starting work at 5am, prevented from working from home despite living with vulnerable parents – these are some of the shocking stories to emerge from a survey of junior legal aid lawyers.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 9th April 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk