“Extremely drunk” senior partner touched and kissed paralegal – Legal Futures

‘The “extremely drunk” senior partner of a London law firm has been fined £10,000 for touching a paralegal on the bottom and kissing her on the neck while sitting next to her in a bar.’

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Legal Futures, 8th September 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

GMB union institutionally sexist, inquiry finds – The Guardian

‘One of Britain’s biggest trade unions has been described as “institutionally sexist” in a highly critical independent report.

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The Guardian, 3rd September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

PI solicitor struck off for “stupid” decision to forge client’s signature – Legal Futures

‘An experienced personal injury solicitor who forged his client’s signature on two court documents to progress her case “acted stupidly” and had to be struck off, a tribunal has decided.’

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Legal Futures, 28th August 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judge lashes out at “shameful drivel” produced in RTA claims – Litigation Futures

‘A deputy district judge lambasted law firms’ approach to low-value road traffic claims, describing them as “drivel” and saying “they are mostly prepared in a way which makes me ashamed of our profession”.’

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Litigation Futures, 28th August 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Former trainee doctor in contempt for online campaign against judge – Legal Futures

‘A former trainee doctor has been found in contempt of court for repeatedly breaching injunctions imposed on him to stop using a website to harass a circuit judge.’

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Legal Futures, 26th August 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Is it an error of law to consider the requirements of s6 EQA in a sequential order? No, says the EAT in Khorochilova v Euro Rep Ltd UKEAT/0266/19/DA – 3PB

‘Following her summary dismissal for gross misconduct, the Claimant brought various claims against her former employer, including a claim of disability discrimination. A preliminary hearing was listed in July 2017 to determine whether she was disabled at the material time. The Claimant identified her disability as ‘Mixed Personality Disorder’, which she said, made her ‘somewhat obsessive’ and a bit of a ‘perfectionist’. She relied upon a report prepared by a Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Schuff, which had been prepared at some point in 2010. Dr Schuff declined to diagnose the Claimant as having a multiple personality disorder but described her as suffering with ‘problematic personality traits’. There was no reference to mixed personality disorder within the Claimant’s GP records until after she was dismissed.’

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3PB, 3rd August 2020

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Partner fired for ‘topping up’ fees overturns tribunal ruling – Legal Futures

‘The Employment Appeal Tribunal has overturned a ruling that a law firm was entitled to fire a partner who was accused of “topping up” legal aid fees with cash from a client’s father.’

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Legal Futures, 7th August 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Courts reluctant to strike-out negligence actions against the police – UK Police Law Blog

‘In Tindall v Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police [2020] EWHC 837 (QB) — available on Westlaw but not yet Bailii or the ICLR, the courts have again demonstrated a reluctance to strike-out a police negligence claim. This shows the difficulty of trying to show whether the police have positively created a danger / made it worse or merely refrained from protecting someone. A claim against the police for negligence will usually arise in the first instance but not, subject to exceptions, the second.’

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UK Police Law Blog, 4th August 2020

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

Model Code of Conduct consultation – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Most councillors work with tireless dedication to provide, promote and lead best-quality and responsive local services in their areas. But for their pains they can often be subject to rude abuse. Even Samuel Pepys, writing on 17 March 1662, recorded his Lord Mayor as “a talking, bragging Bufflehead” (blockhead) and was “confident there is no man almost in the City cares a turd for him”. On the other hand, the dark ghost of “Donnygate” haunts public perceptions of council members’ conduct. On 13 March 2002, the Guardian reported that: “The worst local government corruption case since the Poulson scandal of the 1970s ended yesterday” when former Doncaster planning chairman, Peter Birks, was imprisoned for four years and two former council leaders and two former mayors were among 21 councillors convicted of fraud.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 3rd August 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Former police chief convicted over child abuse video granted court of appeal hearing – The Guardian

‘A decorated former police chief has won two key battles in her fight to overturn her conviction for possessing a child abuse video and get her job back, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 2nd August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

New limits on compensation fund to save costs – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Maximum payments to clients of dishonest solicitors are to be slashed from £2m to £500,000 as part of measures to reduce the financial burden on the profession, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has announced.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 28th July 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Family of man Tasered in his home consider suing Met police – The Guardian

Posted July 17th, 2020 in firearms, news, ombudsmen, personal injuries, police, professional conduct by sally

‘The family of a man Tasered in his own home are considering suing Scotland Yard after the police watchdog said it had not exonerated officers involved in the case – despite the Metropolitan police claiming it had done so.’

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The Guardian, 16th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK undercover officer accused of encouraging activist to buy shotgun – The Guardian

Posted July 15th, 2020 in firearms, inquiries, news, police, professional conduct by sally

‘Scotland Yard is investigating one of its former undercover officers over allegations he incited an animal rights activist to commit illegal acts that resulted in him being jailed for four years.’

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The Guardian, 15th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Watchdog challenges ruling on lethal force by UK firearms officers – The Guardian

‘A police watchdog has begun an appeal after failing to bring misconduct proceedings against a specialist firearms officer who shot and killed a man while trying to foil an attempt to snatch two prisoners from a prison van.’

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The Guardian, 7th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Misconduct panel’s decision to impose a final written warning for racist remarks quashed by the High Court – UK Police Law Blog

‘The Chief Constable of West Midlands Police has successfully challenged a misconduct hearing panel’s decision to impose a Final Written Warning (FWW), after an officer made racist remarks about a fellow officer: R (Chief Constable of West Midlands Police) v Panel Chair, Police Misconduct Panel [2020] EWHC 1400 (Admin). The decision confirms that the High Court will be prepared to intervene where panels fail to follow the College of Policing’s Guidance on Outcomes, and that misconduct involving discrimination will be treated especially seriously.’

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UK Police Law Blog, 3rd July 2020

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

Figures reveal low level of negligence claims against barristers – Legal Futures

Posted July 3rd, 2020 in barristers, negligence, news, professional conduct, statistics by sally

‘The average barrister only makes one notification of a possible professional negligence claim every 20 years, figures from the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund (BMIF) have revealed.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd July 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Drunken barrister reprimanded for threatening colleague – Legal Futures

‘A drunken barrister who threatened a fellow member of chambers in a bid to have them accede to a tenancy application has been reprimanded by a Bar disciplinary tribunal.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd July 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

GMC Allowed to Investigate Dual-Qualified Doctor/Solicitor for Actions Taken in Legal Practice – Old Square Chambers

‘In the recent case of Dr Ogunsanya and Taylor Woods Solicitors v General Medical Council [2020] EWHC 1500 (QB), Eady J rejected the Claimants’ application for an injunction against the General Medical Council (‘GMC’) preventing the GMC from investigating the actions of the First Claimant (who is dual qualified as a doctor and as a solicitor) on the basis that the GMC had no jurisdiction because he was acting in his capacity as a solicitor, and not as a doctor, at the time. In rejecting the application, Eady J held that the allegations, amounting as they did to potential allegations of dishonesty, did fall within the GMC’s jurisdiction given their potential to prejudice the reputation of the profession. That there might be an overlap with another regulatory regime (that of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (‘SRA’)) did not oust that jurisdiction.’

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Old Square Chambers, 23rd June 2020

Source: www.oldsquare.co.uk

Employment law: Dealing with race discrimination complaints following the Black Lives Matter movement – Parklane Plowden Chambers

‘The recent tragic death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has highlighted the need to tackle race discrimination in the workplace. Many businesses both in the UK and worldwide have made public statements reinforcing their commitment to equality and the BLM movement. Just as the #MeToo movement raised awareness of sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace, recent events should be the catalyst for a renewed emphasis on preventing and tackling race discrimination and ensuring that BAME employees are supported in the workplace.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 19th June 2020

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Solicitor fined after conviction for abusive Facebook messages – Legal Futures

‘A junior solicitor diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome who was convicted after sending a woman he briefly dated a series of abusive Facebook messages has been fined £10,000 by a disciplinary tribunal.’

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Legal Futures, 24th June 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk