Civil court recovery: More in-person hearings and longer hours – Litigation Futures

‘Up to two-thirds of civil hearings will take place face-to-face over the coming months as the caseload increases, with longer operating hours an option for courts if needed.’

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Litigation Futures, 10th November 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Justice delayed might be justice denied… but for which side? A look at Nigeria v Process & Industrial Developments – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted November 11th, 2020 in arbitration, chambers articles, civil justice, delay, energy, fraud, news, time limits by sally

‘Last month, Sir Ross Cranston handed down judgment in The Federal Republic of Nigeria v Process & Industrial Developments [2020] EWHC 2379 (Comm), marking the latest stage in what has proved a notoriously long-running dispute since arbitration between the parties was first commenced in 2012.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 14th October 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Virus backlogs must not become “new normal”, says Lord Chief – Legal Futures

‘The Lord Chief Justice told MPs yesterday that he is “extremely concerned” that the backlogs that have grown across the justice system since March should not be “viewed by anybody as the new normal”.’

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Legal Futures, 11th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Three for the Price of One: A Case Note on Diriye v Bojaj – Ropewalk Chambers

Posted November 10th, 2020 in delay, news, personal injuries, postal service, sanctions, service by sally

‘Diriye v Bojaj [2020] EWCA Civ 1400, handed down on 4 November 2020, was a procedural appeal in a credit hire case. It raised a point about pleading allegations of impecuniosity in such cases alongside two points of wider application: whether the Royal Mail “Signed For 1st Class” service is covered by the description “First class post (or other service which provides for delivery on the next business day)” in CPR 6.26; and the proper approach to applications for relief from sanctions under CPR 3.9.’

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Ropewalk Chambers, 5th November 2020

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

Reducing Family Law Cases Backlog: Is Arbitration the Answer? – 33 Bedford Row

Posted November 10th, 2020 in arbitration, coronavirus, delay, dispute resolution, family courts, news by sally

‘Since the outbreak of Covid-19, the pandemic has led to delays in the court system, hearings being adjourned and a substantial backlog of all types of cases but especially family cases. Parties wanting speedy justice are resorting to out of court processes such as mediation and arbitration as a means to resolve disputes efficiently to overcome this time-lag.’

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33 Bedford Row, 30th October 2020

Source: www.33bedfordrow.co.uk

Windrush: At least nine victims died before getting compensation – BBC News

‘At least nine people have died before receiving money applied for through the Windrush compensation scheme, according to Home Office figures.’

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BBC News, 2nd November 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The importance of acting with “reasonable promptitude” when applying for relief from forfeiture: Keshwala and another v Bhalsod [2020] EWHC 2372 (QB) – Hardwicke Chambers

‘The tenants (Claimants) had a twenty-year lease of 89 Narborough Road, Leicester (Property) which commenced on 12 March 2008. The Property consisted of a lock-up shop on the ground floor with residential accommodation above. The Claimants mistakenly paid only £1,500 of the £2,000 quarterly instalment of rent that fell due in June 2018, leaving arrears of £500.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 14th October 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Courts backlog ‘tipping point’ for justice system – BBC News

Posted October 30th, 2020 in coronavirus, county courts, criminal justice, delay, news, trials by sally

‘The number of criminal cases waiting to be dealt with by Crown Courts threatens to overwhelm the justice system in England and Wales, a study suggests.’

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BBC News, 30th October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Windrush man wrongly classified as illegal immigrant left destitute for a year – The Guardian

‘An electrician who was wrongly classified as being an illegal immigrant, despite living in London for more than 45 years, was destitute as he waited a year for the Windrush taskforce to decide on his application to stay in the UK, the parliamentary ombudsman has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 25th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Covid: ‘Perfect storm’ causing employment tribunal backlog – BBC News

Posted October 22nd, 2020 in benefits, coronavirus, delay, employment tribunals, mental health, news, redundancy by sally

‘Concerns are being raised over a Covid-related backlog of tribunal cases involving people who believe they have lost their jobs unfairly.’

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BBC News, 22nd October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Extending custody time limit will hit BAME people hardest, MoJ told – The Guardian

‘Extending the amount of time unconvicted defendants can await trial in prison will have a disproportionate impact on people who are black, Asian or from other ethnic minorities, according to official advice handed to ministers.’

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The Guardian, 16th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Remote hearing success means no backlog in some family courts – Legal Futures

Posted October 15th, 2020 in coronavirus, delay, family courts, news, remote hearings by tracey

‘The family court system has adapted so well to remote working that some courts do not have a backlog of cases, the president of the Family Division said yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 15th October 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

David Greene: Condemning lawyers for doing their jobs is inherently dangerous – The Guardian

‘The new president of the Law Society on why it’s crucial to defend the rule of law in these febrile times.’

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The Guardian, 14th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court of Appeal dismisses challenge to increase in state pension age – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In Delve and Anor v SSfWP [2020] EWCA Civ 1199, the Court of Appeal dismissed the challenge brought against the series of Pensions Acts between 1995 and 2014 which equalised the state pension age for women with that of men by raising the state pension age for women from 60 to 65 and then raising the age at which both men and women can claim their state pension.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 9th October 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Hillsborough trial of three men delayed again – BBC News

‘The trial of two former police officers and a police solicitor accused of altering police statements after the Hillsborough disaster has been delayed.’

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BBC News, 8th October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Inheritance delays causing financial hardship for the bereaved – The Independent

Posted October 7th, 2020 in bereavement, coronavirus, delay, executors, families, news, probate, wills by tracey

‘With probate applications now taking three times longer to approve, more than 8,000 estates remain unclaimed.’

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The Independent, 6th October 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

For this relief, much thanks – Nearly Legal

Posted October 5th, 2020 in appeals, debts, delay, forfeiture, landlord & tenant, leases, news, rent by tracey

‘Keshwala & Anor v Bhalsod & Anor (2020) EWHC 2372 (QB). An appeal from a Circuit Judge’s decision refusing relief from forfeiture, focussing on the issue of delay in making the application for relief. This was a commercial lease, though with living accommodation above. Mr Keshwala had taken a 20 year lease of the property in 2008. In 2015, the current freeholder had bought the freehold. Also in 2015, the rent first fell into arrears. The freeholder forfeited by re-entry and Mr K obtained relief from forfeiture on payment of arrears and costs.’

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Nearly Legal, 4th October 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Government paying junior barristers less than national minimum wage – The Bar Council

‘Some barristers are being paid the equivalent of £6.25 per hour by the government, less than the National Minimum Wage, despite their central role in clearing the 500,000-plus backlog of cases in the criminal courts, says the Bar Council in its Spending Review submission to the Treasury.’

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The Bar Council, 1st October 2020

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Time isn’t on your side and resolving old disputes is never easy – Practical Law: Construction Blog

‘Time flies when you are having fun, or so the saying goes. I think it flies whether you are having fun or not, although I’m sure we’ve all experienced those moments when it isn’t flying at all and it feels like it has stood still. As Pink Floyd famously sang, “Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day”. You may wonder why I am talking about time. Well, it’s because of the events leading up to Fraser J’s judgment in John Doyle Contractors Ltd v Erith Contractors Ltd. They are all to do with time.’

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Practical Law: Construction Blog, 29th September 2020

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com

Courtroom drama: Salford’s Lowry Theatre to become Nightingale court – The Guardian

Posted September 23rd, 2020 in coronavirus, courts, Crown Court, delay, Ministry of Justice, news, statistics, theatre, trials by sally

‘There are many barristers who like to imagine they could have succeeded on the stage, hamming it up in their wigs and gowns and addressing the jury like Laurence Olivier doing Richard III.’

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The Guardian, 23rd September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com