Remedies in First-tier Tribunal discrimination claims – Local Government Lawyer

‘A recent Upper Tribunal decision has potentially far-reaching implications for schools considering excluding pupils with disabilities, write Tom Amraoui and Rachel Sullivan.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 10th January 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

MS patient found not guilty of cultivating cannabis for medical use – Garden Court Chambers

‘Carlisle Court acquitted an MS patient today of cultivating cannabis, following the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision not to offer evidence in court today on a public interest basis.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 6th January 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Blind sex offender cannot take guide dog to prison – BBC News

‘A man who sexually abused a 10-year-old girl has been jailed for seven years.’

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BBC News, 2nd January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Paralysed Leeds man Paul Lamb loses ‘right to die’ case – BBC News

Posted December 20th, 2019 in assisted suicide, disabled persons, euthanasia, human rights, news by tracey

‘A paralysed ex-builder has lost a High Court bid to challenge the law on assisted dying.’

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BBC News, 19th December 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Disabled woman called ‘lying bitch’ by welfare official awarded £5,000 – The Guardian

‘A disabled woman has been awarded £5,000 in an out-of-court settlement after being called a “lying bitch” by a welfare official in formal legal papers after challenging a decision to cut her disability benefits.’

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The Guardian, 12th December 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Solicitor fined £50,000 for misusing client’s interim payments – Legal Futures

‘A solicitor who spent £46,600 of a disabled client’s interim payments on costs and disbursements instead of on rehabilitation, has been fined £50,000 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).’

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Legal Futures, 13th December 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘National disgrace’: Hundreds of disabled people detained in UK hospitals for more than 10 years – The Independent

‘More than 350 people with special needs have been detained in hospitals for more than 10 years, analysis has revealed.’

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The Independent, 8th December 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The Future Could Be Accessible, But Only If All Disability Shortlists Are Made Legal – Oxford Human Rights Hub

‘Tuesday 3 December marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD), but with only one week to go until the UK General Election, the prospects of sufficient Members of Parliament with disabilities being elected looks dismal. The theme of the 2019 IDPWD is ‘The Future is Accessible’, examining what barriers need to be removed to enable full inclusion of people with disabilities. Reforming Section 104 of the Equality Act 2010 on selection of candidates to allow for All Disability Shortlists would remove a significant barrier. The legitimacy of our democracy and political engagement by disabled people requires it.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 5th December 2019

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Education Newsletter – 39 Essex Chambers

‘The Winter edition of 39 Essex Chambers’ Education Newsletter is now available.’

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39 Essex Chambers, November 2019

Source: www.39essex.com

Disabled workers paid 12% less, ‘damning’ UK official figures show – The Guardian

‘Disabled people continue to face prejudice in the workplace campaigners have said, after latest government figures showed they were paid on average 12.2% less than those without impairments, equivalent to £1.48 an hour.’

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The Guardian, 2nd December 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Vulnerable witnesses and parties in the Family Courts – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 22nd, 2019 in children, disabled persons, family courts, mental health, news, witnesses by tracey

‘Natalie Cross summarises important guidance on the approach to be taken to vulnerable witnesses and parties in the Family Courts.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd November 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

UK government loses supreme court fight over bedroom tax – The Guardian

Posted November 14th, 2019 in benefits, disabled persons, housing, human rights, news, Supreme Court by tracey

‘The supreme court has ruled against the UK government’s attempts to force the bedroom tax on 155 partners of people with severe disabilities, in a decision that will hamper ministerial attempts to water down human rights legislation.’

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The Guardian, 13th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Call for reform of pupil exclusions ‘as schools unaware of legal duties’ – The Guardian

The law reform group Justice has called for a radical overhaul of exclusions amid concerns that too many schools do not fully understand their legal duties and that the appeal process available to parents wishing to challenge an exclusion is inadequate.

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The Guardian, 11th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Dangerous’ government advert for universal credit ruled misleading by watchdog – The Independent

Posted November 6th, 2019 in advertising, benefits, complaints, disabled persons, news by sally

‘A complaint that a government advert extolling the benefits of universal credit was misleading, and thus “dangerous to the health and financial security of disabled people”, has been upheld by the UK’s advertising watchdog.’

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The Independent, 6th November 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ombudsman raps council for taking 21 months to reassess care needs of vulnerable woman – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 1st, 2019 in carers, delay, disabled persons, local government, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) has criticised a council for taking 21 months to carry out a reassessment of a vulnerable woman’s care needs.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 31st October 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

The limits of the inherent jurisdiction (1) – Local Government Lawyer

‘Mr Justice Cobb recently handed down two important decisions on the scope of the inherent jurisdiction at the border of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. In the first of two articles on these rulings, the Court of Protection team at 39 Essex Chambers examine a case concerning a young adult and the use of the inherent jurisdiction to authorise deprivations of liberty where there is no statutory framework in place.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th October 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Court of Appeal orders council to pay cost of attendance of young woman at weekly placement – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Court of Appeal has ruled that North East Lincolnshire Council should have paid the cost of a disabled young woman attending a weekly placement, overturning an earlier High Court decision.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th October 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Violent hate crime against disabled has risen by 41 per cent in the last year, figures suggest – The Independent

Posted October 10th, 2019 in disabled persons, hate crime, news, statistics, violence, violent offenders by tracey

‘Disability hate crime involving violence has risen by 41 per cent in the last year, figures suggest.’

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The Independent, 9th October 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Families lose challenge over special-needs funding – BBC News

Posted October 8th, 2019 in budgets, disabled persons, judicial review, news, special educational needs by tracey

‘Three families who challenged the government over its approach to special needs and disability (Send) funding have lost their case at the High Court.’

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BBC News, 7th October 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mother sentenced for making false disability claims for her son who was in the Philippines – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted October 3rd, 2019 in benefits, children, disabled persons, families, fraud, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A woman who claimed her son was living in the loft when he had moved to the Philippines has been sentenced for dishonestly claiming thousands of pounds of benefits for him.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 1st October 2019

Source: www.cps.gov.uk