Inquests open into deaths of four Grenfell Tower fire victims – The Guardian

Posted August 24th, 2017 in adjournment, fire, inquests, news by sally

‘The inquests of four people who died in the Grenfell Tower fire were opened at Westminster coroner’s court on Wednesday.’

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The Guardian, 23rd August 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Overcoming the hurdles – Tanfield Chambers

Posted August 21st, 2017 in fire, health & safety, housing, local government, news by sally

‘The recent tragedy at Grenfell Tower in west London has brought into sharp focus the importance of having adequate fire safety in large blocks of flats. There has been much public debate about landlords cutting corners with fire protection or failing to retro-fit sprinklers. There are now calls for landlords to be required to bring older blocks up to modern standards of fire protection. This is an imperative but there are obstacles to achieving it. This article examines the legal and financial hurdles that landlords face in bringing their blocks up to an acceptable standard and proposes legislative reform to bring about the much needed works quickly.’

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Tanfield Chambers, 25th July 2017

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

Grenfell Inquiry: terms of reference ‘won’t satisfy government’s legal obligations’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 16th, 2017 in fire, housing, inquiries, judges, legal aid, London, news by sally

‘Terms of reference for the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire may not satisfy the government’s legal obligations to investigate the full circumstances of the tragedy, lawyers representing some of the victims have warned.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 15th August 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Grenfell Tower: Government dismisses conflict of interest concerns over chair of independent buildings review – The Independent

‘There is no “conflict of interest” over a former role held by the woman leading a probe into building regulations in the wake of the Grenfell disaster, the Government has said.’

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The Independent, 9th August 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Grenfell fire inquiry may have to suspend work if CPS brings charges – The Guardian

Posted August 1st, 2017 in corporate manslaughter, fire, health & safety, inquiries, news, prosecutions by sally

‘The judge-led inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire is in danger of having to suspend operations entirely for a lengthy period if prosecutors authorise corporate manslaughter charges.’

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The Guardian, 31st July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Building regulations to be reviewed after safety tests following Grenfell – The Guardian

‘The government has announced an independent review of building regulations after tests showed that at least 82 residential high-rises use a combination of insulation and cladding that does not meet fire safety standards.’

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The Guardian, 28th July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Grenfell Tower: Corporate manslaughter considered by police – BBC News

Posted July 28th, 2017 in corporate manslaughter, fire, health & safety, news by sally

‘Police investigating the Grenfell Tower fire say they have “reasonable grounds” to suspect that corporate manslaughter offences may have been committed.’

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BBC News, 27th July 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘You do not represent us and you do not look like us’: Grenfell residents turn on inquiry panel – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 26th, 2017 in fire, health & safety, inquiries, judges, news by sally

‘Survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire have challenged the retired judge heading the inquiry into the disaster at an impassioned meeting.’

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Daily Telegraph, 25th July 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Underfunded and overstretched: the lawyers seeking justice for Grenfell – The Guardian

Posted July 25th, 2017 in bereavement, fire, housing, law centres, legal aid, news, pro bono work, victims by sally

‘North Kensington Law Centre was the first in the UK to offer access to justice for the poor and vulnerable. Now fighting for financial survival, the tragedy on its doorstep has meant NKLC’s services are more in demand than ever.’

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The Guardian, 24th July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

What is Corporate Manslaughter and How Does it Work? – Rightsinfo

Posted July 14th, 2017 in corporate manslaughter, fire, health & safety, news by sally

‘Interviewed on Radio 4 following the Grenfell Tower fire, MP David Lammy attacked the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, stating: “This is the richest borough in our country treating its citizens in this way. We should call it what it is: It’s corporate manslaughter”. While the investigation into the fire is still ongoing, and criminal liability (if any) for the fire has yet to be established, it’s still always worth taking a look at the offence of corporate manslaughter and its history.’

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Rightsinfo, 11th July 2017

Source: rightsinfo.org

Grenfell judge bows to pressure to extend inquiry consultation period for survivors – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 12th, 2017 in consultations, fire, inquiries, judges, news, time limits by sally

‘The judge presiding over the Grenfell Tower fire inquiry had bowed to pressure from campaigners to extend the consultation period for the families involved.’

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Daily Telegraph, 12th July 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The Grenfell Tower inquiry: is Moore-Bick the fact-finder for the job? – Legal Futures

Posted July 11th, 2017 in evidence, fire, judges, news by sally

‘If you write a blog on civil procedure, it is not hard to steer a course away from the issues of the day.

However, there is one issue of the day that is hard to ignore. The criticisms of the appointment of Sir Martin Moore-Bick to chair the inquiry into the Grenfell Tower disaster.’

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Legal Futures, 11th July 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Grenfell Tower— a different perspective – New Law Journal

‘Theo Huckle QC compares & contrasts the public safety policy agendas of administrations in Westminster & Wales.’

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New Law Journal, 7th July 2017

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Insurer Justified in Refusing Indemnity for Misrepresentation – Park Square Barristers

‘Last month I discussed the Court of Appeal decision in Ashfaq v International Insurance Company of Hannover PLC [2017] EWCA Civ 357 in which the insurers were held to be entitled to avoid a commercial landlord policy on grounds of non-disclosure of pending criminal proceedings. The Courts again considered avoidance for misrepresentation and non-disclosure in this latest case heard by Judge Slater in the Queens Bench Division.’

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Park Square Barristers, 19th June 2017

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Government says unlawful subletting at Grenfell Tower should not be prosecuted – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 4th, 2017 in fire, illegality, landlord & tenant, news, prosecutions, victims by sally

‘The Government has issued guidance to prosecutors not to bring charges for unlawful subletting at Grenfell Tower so that victims can be identified.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 3rd July 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Protection from prosecution for unlawful subletting at Grenfell Tower – Attorney General’s Office

‘Guidance has been issued to prosecutors not to bring charges for unlawful subletting at Grenfell Tower so that victims can be identified.’

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Attorney General's Office, 2nd July 2017

Source: www.gov.uk

Grenfell Tower fire: No prosecutions for subletting of flats, government promises – BBC News

Posted July 3rd, 2017 in fire, health & safety, leases, local government, news, prosecutions, rent by sally

‘No-one will be prosecuted for illegally subletting a Grenfell Tower flat, the government says, as work continues to identify all those killed in the fire.’

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BBC News, 2nd July 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Grenfell Tower fire: Judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick ‘doubtful’ public inquiry will satisfy residents – The Independent

Posted June 30th, 2017 in fire, health & safety, inquiries, judges, news by sally

‘The judge leading the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire has said he is doubtful that the scope of the investigation will be broad enough to satisfy all survivors.’

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The Independent, 29th June 0217

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Grenfell Tower: Retired judge to lead disaster inquiry – BBC News

Posted June 29th, 2017 in fire, health & safety, housing, inquiries, judges, news by sally

‘Retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick has been chosen to lead the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire, sources say.’

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BBC News, 29th June 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal aid cuts ‘may have stopped Grenfell tenants pursuing safety concerns’ – The Guardian

‘Cuts to legal aid may have stopped tenants in Grenfell Tower from pursuing safety concerns that could have prevented the fire, the president of the Law Society, Robert Bourns, has suggested.’

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The Guardian, 29th June 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com