Heathcliff actor who racially harassed partner given conditional discharge – The Guardian

Posted May 29th, 2012 in conditional discharge, costs, harassment, mental health, news, racism by tracey

“A young film actor chosen from a jobcentre to play the role of Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights has been given a conditional discharge for the racially aggravated harassment of his partner and mother of their young daughter.”

Full story

The Guardian, 28th May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Suffer Little Children – Zenith Chambers

“On 24 February, the Court of Appeal delivered its judgment in the joined appeals of Dockerill & Healey -v- Tullett, Macefield -v- Bakos and Tubridy -v- Sarwar. The decision may have a significant impact on whether claimant solicitors continue to represent children in personal injury claims where likely damages will be less than £1,000.”

Full story (PDF)

Zenith Chambers, 10th May 2012

Source: www.zenithchambers.co.uk

Litigation funders become big business, enjoying booming market in UK – The Guardian

Posted May 26th, 2012 in champerty, costs, damages, legal profession, news, third parties by sally

“Champerty used to be a crime. Now it is known as third-party litigation funding and has developed into an investment industry backed by up to £500m of investor cash looking for lucrative courtroom opportunities.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Regina (Eastenders Cash & Carry plc and another) v Revenue and Customs Commissioners (No 2) – WLR Daily

Regina (Eastenders Cash & Carry plc and another) v Revenue and Customs Commissioners (No 2) [2012] EWCA Civ 689; [2012] WLR (D) 159

“The protection against costs provided to HM Revenue and Customs by section 144(2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, in respect of proceedings brought against them on account of the seizure or detention of any thing on reasonable grounds, applied to claims for judicial review.”

WLR Daily, 22nd May 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Mediation a success in civil justice system – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 23rd, 2012 in civil justice, costs, dispute resolution, news by sally

“Bill Wood, who is the acting Chair of the Civil Mediation Council, talks about the success of mediation in the civil justice system.”

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Ministry of Justice, 23rd May 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Court of Protection Update – Thirty Nine Essex Street

Court of Protection Update (PDF)

Thirty Nine Essex Street, May 2012

Source: www.39essex.com

Jackson – The New Bills – Thirty Nine Essex Street

Posted May 21st, 2012 in bills, budgets, costs, legal aid, news by sally

“The Final Report of the Jackson Review made a number of recommendations which he wanted to be considered, and introduced, as a package. Today I shall be looking at some of the recommendations which have received the least publicity and which do not feature in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (‘LASPO’), but will be of great interest to Costs Lawyers.”

Full story (PDF)

Thirty Nine Essex Street, May 2012

Source: www.39essex.com

CoA judge raps defendant for spurning mediation – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 17th, 2012 in appeals, arbitration, costs, news, personal injuries by sally

“A Court of Appeal judge has criticised a defendant for rejecting mediation offered at a previous hearing – warning it will be a costly decision.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 17th May 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judical Review and Costs: The Latest from the Court of Appeal – Garden Court Chambers Blog

Posted May 15th, 2012 in appeals, costs, judicial review, news by sally

“Tim Baldwin analyses the decision of the Court of Appeal in M v London Borough of Croydon and its impact on costs in judicial review cases.”

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Garden Court Chambers Blog, 14th May 2012

Source: www.gclaw.wordpress.com

Association of Costs Lawyers’ Annual Conference 2012 – Speech by Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Master of the Rolls

Posted May 14th, 2012 in costs, fees, judges, solicitors, speeches by sally

Association of Costs Lawyers’ Annual Conference 2012 (PDF)

Speech by Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Master of the Rolls

Judiciary of England and Wales, 11th May 2012

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Hourly billing for lawyers should end, says top judge – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 14th, 2012 in costs, fees, judges, news, solicitors by sally

“The practice of huge hourly rates charged by solicitors should end because they reward inefficiency, the country’s second most senior judge said.”

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Daily Telegraph, 12th May 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

In support of business dispute resolution – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 11th, 2012 in costs, dispute resolution, news by tracey

“Paul Turner, who leads on conciliation and mediation at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, explains why they are supporting the business dispute resolution commitment, part of reforms outlined in ‘Justice for business: supporting business and promoting growth’.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 10th May 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Regina (M) v Croydon London Borough Council – WLR Daily

Posted May 10th, 2012 in appeals, costs, law reports, local government, news by sally

Regina (M) v Croydon London Borough Council [2012] EWCA Civ 595; [2012] WLR (D) 141

“A claimant in the Administrative Court whose public law claim resulted in a settlement of the claim, whether before a hearing of the case or after a full hearing so that the claimant obtained all the relief sought, was entitled, just as a claimant in general civil litigation, to all of his costs unless there was good reason to the contrary.”

WLR Daily, 8th May 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Abusive tweeter John Graham Kerlen avoids jail – The Independent

Posted May 10th, 2012 in community service, costs, internet, news, restraining orders by sally

“A blogger who called a councillor a ‘c***’ on Twitter and invited people to put excrement through his letter box avoided a jail sentence today.”

Full story

The Independent, 9th May 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 – legislation.gov.uk

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 published

Full text of Act

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Appeal court backs law firm in ‘you’re fired’ retainer row – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 3rd, 2012 in appeals, contracts, costs, fees, news, solicitors by sally

“Solicitors are entitled to suspend work for clients who have not paid their bill in accordance with the contractual term of business agreed, the Court of Appeal has ruled in a key case on retainers.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd May 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Financial Remedy Cases: Piecing Together The Jigsaw – Family Law Week

Posted April 23rd, 2012 in costs, dispute resolution, divorce, family courts, news, privacy by sally

“An examination of the pros and cons of the available methods for resolving financial remedy cases.”

Full story

Family Law Week, 20th April 2012

Source: www.familylawweek.com

Villagers lose High Court battle against ‘lord of the manor’ banker – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 19th, 2012 in commons, costs, land registration, news by tracey

“A group of villagers was yesterday left with a six-figure legal costs bill after losing a court battle with a retired banker who styled himself lord of the manor.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th April 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Interpreting error leads to £25,000 retrial costs – The Lawyer

Posted April 17th, 2012 in costs, interpreters, news, retrials by sally

“A trial at a London court collapsed last Friday after it was revealed that an interpreter employed by Applied Language Solutions had made a grave interpreting error.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 17th April 2012

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Author Chris McGrath faces six figure legal bill after unfavourable Amazon reviews case is struck out – The Independent

Posted April 5th, 2012 in appeals, costs, defamation, litigants in person, news, striking out by sally

“An author who tried to sue a father of three from the West Midlands over comments made in a series of unfavourable reviews on Amazon is facing a six figure legal bill after a judge struck out his case.”

Full story

The Indpendent, 4th April 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk