Category: statutory interpretation

Out of time but not out of mind – Nearly Legal

Posted February 3rd, 2020 in appeals, delay, homelessness, housing, legal aid, legal representation, news, reasons, statutory interpretation, time limits by sally

‘We saw the High Court in this case take an incredibly strict approach to homelessness section 204 appeal timescales (our report), deciding that seeking legal aid representation could not be a good reason for filing an appeal out of time because, well, the substance of any appeal should be obvious to an unrepresented homeless applicant. We expressed considerable doubts about the realism of this decision at the time. Now, as it turns out, the Court of Appeal has had similar doubts.’

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Nearly Legal, 2nd February 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Bateman v Devon CC (HHJ Mitchell, Plymouth CC, 2nd September 2019): Falling in between the portals – Guildhall Chambers

Posted January 21st, 2020 in costs, news, personal injuries, road traffic, statutory interpretation by sally

‘The facts of the case were straightforward. The Claimant was riding his motorcycle along a road for which the Local Authority were responsible when he fell and injured himself as a result of a pothole. A claim was brought against the Local Authority. Liability was denied, but after proceedings were served the case settled for a sum of £800.’

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Guildhall Chambers, 17th January 2020

Source: www.guildhallchambers.co.uk

Ethical Veganism as a Protected Characteristic – St John’s Building

Posted January 17th, 2020 in appeals, disclosure, employment, employment tribunals, equality, interpretation, news, statutory interpretation, unfair dismissal, veganism by sally

‘An employment tribunal has ruled that ethical veganism is a philosophical belief that is protected by law against discrimination. In Jordi Casamitjana v the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) JC complains of unfair dismissal having raised concerns with colleagues that its pension fund invested in companies involved in animal testing. The charity did not contest that ethical veganism should be protected but will argue at trial that JC was dismissed for gross misconduct.’

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St John's Buildings, 9th January 2020

Source: stjohnsbuildings.com

The role of CAFCASS in relation to non-subject children: A Case Study of A County Council v Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) [2019] EWHC 2369 (Fam) – Parklane Plowden

Posted January 16th, 2020 in child abuse, children, family courts, guardianship, local government, news, statutory interpretation by sally

‘In a recent decision of the High Court, Mr Justice Keehan considered the extent to which, if at all, the Court has the power to appoint CAFCASS to undertake work with and advise non-subject, non-party children.’

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Parklane Plowden, 13th January 2020

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Theodore Konstadinides and Riccardo Sallustio: Clause 26 of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill 2019-20: An Exercise of Constitutional Impropriety? – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted January 14th, 2020 in bills, brexit, EC law, ministers' powers and duties, news, precedent, rule of law, statutory interpretation by sally

‘The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill 2019-20 will pave the way for the UK to ratify the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement and thus depart from the European Union (EU) soon thereafter, having received its third reading in the House of Commons just last week. This contribution examines certain major consequences deriving from the Bill becoming law and, in particular, the controversial, but little discussed Clause 26 which (as Lord Pannick remarked in a recent article in the Times) requires particularly careful scrutiny.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 14th January 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

VAT charges on digital versions of newspapers overturned – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 9th, 2020 in EC law, electronic commerce, internet, media, news, statutory interpretation, VAT by sally

‘A major publisher has been successful in overturning a previous ruling that found that the digital versions of its newspapers were subject to VAT charges.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 8th January 2020

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Some oddities of the law on age: So you thought you reached age 21 on your 21st birthday? – Wilberforce Chambers

Posted January 9th, 2020 in news, pensions, statutory interpretation, time limits, wills by sally

‘Well, yes you probably did as a legal matter reach (or attain) age 21 at the start of your 21st birthday – ie at midnight at the start of that day (even if you had been born later in the day). But legally this has not always been the case in England and Wales.’

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Wilberforce Chambers, 7th January 2020

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk

Council acted unlawfully when assessing whether applicant was ‘former relevant child’ – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 16th, 2019 in benefits, children, local government, news, statutory interpretation by sally

‘The High Court has ruled that the London Borough of Ealing acted unlawfully in its assessment of whether applicant AB was a “former relevant child” within the meaning of section 23C of the Children Act 1989.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th December 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

ALI V BARBOSA [2019] EWHC 2776 (Fam)– Void or Voidable. Maintaining the discretion of the family court and the importance of the circumstances of the case – Becket Chambers

Posted December 13th, 2019 in divorce, families, family courts, news, Scotland, statutory interpretation by sally

‘In October 2019, Mrs Justice Lieven DBE considered an application by a husband that the wife’s divorce proceedings, and the decree absolute, should be set aside for breaches in relation to service of the proceedings.’

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Becket Chambers, 6th December 2019

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

A ‘fair hearing’ in the family court includes the judge creating the appropriate atmosphere – 5SAH

Posted December 13th, 2019 in appeals, care orders, children, family courts, human rights, news, Scotland, statutory interpretation by sally

‘Within the U.K. there are two judicial systems: the law of England and Wales and the law of Scotland; which differ slightly. The Human Rights Act 1998 came into force on the 2nd October 2000 to incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 1950 (‘the Convention’) into the law of England & Wales. At the same time that the Human Rights Act 1998 was passing through parliament the Scotland Act 1998 was also making its’ way through parliament. Under the Scotland Act 1998, in May 1999, the U.K. devolved legislative and executive power to Scotland. The primary function of the Scotland Act 1998 was to set up a system of devolved government for Scotland, but it also included important provisions relating to the protection of the rights guaranteed by the Convention (‘Convention rights’).’

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5SAH, 10th December 2019

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

Does a Limb B) worker qualify as an employee for purposes of TUPE? – Littleton Chambers

Posted December 10th, 2019 in contracts, news, statutory interpretation, transfer of undertakings by sally

‘The Claimants were cycle couriers who provided services to City Sprint in relation to City Sprint’s contract with HCA Healthcare. City Sprint lost this contract to Ecourier.’

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Littleton Chambers, 9th December 2019

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

New Judgment: Royal Mail Group Ltd v Jhuti [2019] UKSC 55 – UKSC Blog

Posted November 27th, 2019 in appeals, employment, news, postal service, reasons, statutory interpretation, Supreme Court, unfair dismissal, whistleblowers by sally

‘The appeal concerned the dismissal of Ms Jhuti from her employment by Royal Mail Group Ltd. The key question of law that it raised was whether in a claim for unfair dismissal under Part X of the Employment Rights Act 1996, the reason for the dismissal can be other than that given to the employee by the employer’s appointed decision-maker.’

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UKSC Blog, 27th November 2019

Source: ukscblog.com

Holocaust denial, hyperlinks and YouTube: Chabloz again – Law & Religion UK

Posted November 21st, 2019 in internet, Judaism, judicial review, malicious communications, news, racism, religiously aggravated offences, statutory interpretation by sally

‘Alison Chabloz was convicted in 2018 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court of three offences contrary to s.127(1) of the Communications Act 2003.

On appeal, in R v Alison Chabloz [2019] Southwark Crown Court 13 February, the issue was whether or not the three songs were “grossly offensive” [2]. She lost.

She then sought to appeal by way of case stated; however, following a hearing in May concerned with how the matter should proceed, the judge refused to state a case and indicated that the proper course was for her to seek permission for judicial review of the written ruling. No such application was ever formally made, although written grounds for judicial review were produced in September 2019. In Chabloz v Crown Prosecution Service [2019] EWHC 3094 (Admin), Coulson LJ sets out the rather confusing procedural history of the case at [2]-[5].

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Law & Religion UK, 20th November 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

‘Pitiful’ £350 fines for fox hunters caught in video footage – BBC News

Posted November 21st, 2019 in animal cruelty, animals, fines, hunting, imprisonment, news, prosecutions, sentencing, statutory interpretation by sally

‘An animal welfare charity has called for people who illegally hunt foxes to be given prison sentences – after two men were fined a “pitiful” £350.’

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BBC News, 21st November 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tribunals and human rights – Nearly Legal

Posted November 18th, 2019 in appeals, disability discrimination, government departments, housing, human rights, news, statutory interpretation, Supreme Court, tribunals by sally

‘The question of the powers of the First Tier and Upper Tribunals (and indeed initial decision makers) to disapply secondary legislation where there is a breach of the appellant’s human rights has reached the Supreme Court. The decision has some far reaching implications for bedroom tax appeals and beyond.’

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Nearly Legal, 15th November 2019

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Civil partnerships legislation – unfinished business – Law & Religion UK

Posted November 18th, 2019 in civil partnerships, consultations, equality, homosexuality, marriage, news, parliament, statutory interpretation by sally

The draft Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) Regulations 2019 (“the Regulations”) was the first item of the secondary legislation within the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Act 2019 (“the Act”) to achieve the necessary approval of both Houses under the affirmative resolution procedure. It was also the last item of debated business before parliament was dissolved on 6 November. Through section 2(2) of the Act the regulations were subject to a “sunset clause” which required them to be in force by the end of December, and as such, only limited time was available for its scrutiny and approval; this left a number of items of unfinished business, and these are summarized below.

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Law & Religion UK, 18th November 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

New Judgment: R v TRA [2019] UKSC 52 – UKSC Blog

Posted November 13th, 2019 in appeals, criminal justice, news, statutory interpretation, Supreme Court, torture, war, war crimes by sally

‘The appellant was arrested in the United Kingdom in 2017 and charged with one count of conspiracy to commit torture and seven counts of torture, contrary to the Criminal Justice Act 1988, section 134. The charges relate to events in the early stages of the first Liberian civil war in 1990 when an armed group, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia took control of parts of Liberia. Its leader, Charles Taylor, subsequently became President of Liberia in 1997. The point of law raised in the appeal related to the correct interpretation of the term “person acting in an official capacity” in the CJA, section 134(1). The Court of Appeal held that CJA, section 134 is not confined to individuals acting on behalf of a State.’

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UKSC Blog, 13th November 2019

Source: ukscblog.com

Ten years on: how has the Supreme Court fared? – Counsel

Posted November 7th, 2019 in appeals, brexit, constitutional law, judicial review, jurisdiction, news, parliament, prorogation, statutory interpretation, Supreme Court by sally

‘An assessment of the court’s performance in decision-making delivered over its first ten years; and what bearing, if any, the Article 50 and Prorogation cases have on the big picture.’

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Counsel, November 2019

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Gilham v Ministry of Justice [2019] UKSC 44 – Old Square Chambers

Posted October 30th, 2019 in appeals, employment, equality, freedom of expression, human rights, judges, judiciary, news, statutory interpretation, whistleblowers by sally

‘In Gilham v MOJ the Supreme Court considered the novel question whether judges are workers for the purposes of the protection against whistle blowing detriment in the Employment Rights Act 1996.’

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Old Square Chambers, 16th October 2019

Source: www.oldsquare.co.uk

Bath Hill Court v Coletta [2019] EWCA CIV 1707 – Old Square Chambers

Posted October 30th, 2019 in appeals, compensation, employment tribunals, limitations, minimum wage, news, remuneration, statutory interpretation, time limits by sally

‘In an important decision, the Court of Appeal in Bath Hill Court v Coletta has held that, in an unauthorised deduction of wages claim for non payment of the national minimum wage in the ET, there is no backstop on the recovery of deductions, enabling Mr Coletta to claim 15 years’ worth of losses.’

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Old Square Chambers, 17th October 2019

Source: www.oldsquare.co.uk