Liars and Divorce Lawyers: can an OS/DS hearing help and a possible future for split hearings in financial remedies? – Family Law Week

Posted May 6th, 2014 in case management, divorce, financial provision, news by sally

‘Byron James, barrister, Fourteen considers the utility of OS/DS hearings in the resolution of financial remedies disputes.’

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Family Law Week, 2nd May 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Clean Break Orders and Spousal Maintenance: where are we now? – Family Law Week

Posted May 6th, 2014 in divorce, financial provision, news, periodical payments by sally

‘Liz Cowell, principal lawyer with Slater & Gordon analyses the case law and trends emerging from case law regarding clean breaks and termination of spousal periodical payments orders.’

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Family Law Week, 30th April 2014

Sorce: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Postman took millions meant for City firms – BBC News

Posted May 6th, 2014 in fraud, news, postal service, sentencing, theft by sally

‘Ajaz Budi, 33, wept uncontrollably as he was sentenced at the Old Bailey for stealing cheques ranging from £50 to £110,000 at Mount Pleasant, London.’

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BBC News, 2nd May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Gulf War soldier takes on MoD over vaccines – BBC News

Posted May 6th, 2014 in armed forces, legal aid, medical treatment, news, vaccination by sally

‘A soldier has won legal aid in his fight to find out what the Ministry of Defence knew of the health risks of the vaccinations given to troops ahead of the first Gulf War.’

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BBC News, 3rd May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Detention ruling shackles troops, says Philip Hammond – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 6th, 2014 in armed forces, detention, news by sally

‘The detention policy used by the Armed Forces in Afghanistan was unlawful, the High Court has said. After the ruling, Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, said the decision would tie the hands of soldiers abroad.’

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Daily Telegraph, 3rd May 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Abuse claim Beechwood children’s home residents awarded compensation – BBC News

‘Former residents at a children’s care home have been awarded compensation after claims they were sexually abused.’

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BBC News, 3rd May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Fraud lawyers not underpaid despite legal aid cuts, says justice minister – The Guardian

Posted May 6th, 2014 in barristers, financial regulation, legal aid, news, remuneration, trials by sally

‘Lawyers in complex fraud trials are not underpaid and the government is taking steps to prevent cases collapsing, the justice minister, Simon Hughes, has said. The Liberal Democrat, a critic of the legal aid cuts before entering government, said the row over very high cost cases (VHCCs) did not involve “hard-up” lawyers at the start of their careers.’

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The Guardian, 4th May 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Pre-signing abortion forms is illegal, General Medical Council admits – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 6th, 2014 in abortion, consent, crime, doctors, documents, illegality, news by sally

‘More than 60 doctors who pre-signed abortion forms without knowing anything about the women concerned did break the law, the head of the General Medical Council admitted last night as pressure grew on police to investigate.’

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Daily Telegraph, 5th May 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Review after ‘Skull Cracker’ Michael Wheatley absconds – BBC News

Posted May 6th, 2014 in fugitive offenders, news, prisons, release on licence by sally

‘A review has been ordered after an armed robber dubbed “the Skull Cracker” went missing when he was temporarily allowed out of an open prison.’

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BBC news, 5th May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Train driver traumatised by death on tracks fights loss of compensation – The Independent

‘It was around midday on 31 March 2012 that Nik Douglas’s life changed forever. The 37-year-old train driver was travelling through Northallerton station on the way to Newcastle when he saw a man in his sixties standing alone on the platform. He thought nothing of the lone figure, turning instead to check the opposite platform. By the time Mr Douglas looked back again, the man was crouching on the tracks in front of his train. But because of a recent change in the law, Mr Douglas could be the last person in the country to receive compensation for such trauma.’

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The Independent, 5th May 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Tougher sentences for banned drivers who cause deaths – BBC News

‘Tougher sentences for banned drivers who cause death on the roads and a new offence of causing serious injury while disqualified are to be introduced.’

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BBC News, 6th May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Max Clifford jailed for eight years for indecent assaults – BBC News

Posted May 2nd, 2014 in news, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘Disgraced celebrity publicist Max Clifford has been jailed for a total of eight years for a string of indecent assaults against girls and young women.’

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BBC News, 2nd May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mark Elliott: Judicial Review Reform — The Report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘Earlier this week, the parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights has published its report on The implications for access to justice of the Government’s proposals to reform judicial review (HL 174 HC 868 2013-14). The report is, perhaps unsurprisingly, generally critical of the proposals and of the way in which they have been or are being introduced. I have already summarised the proposals and commented on some of them in earlier posts. In this post, I draw attention to some key passages in the JCHR’s report, commenting on them briefly and, at the end of the piece, offering some reflections on some of the underlying constitutional issues highlighted by the Committee.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 1st May 2014

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Constance Briscoe jailed for 16 months for lying to police – BBC News

‘Barrister Constance Briscoe has been jailed for 16 months for lying to police in ex-cabinet minister Chris Huhne’s speeding points case.’

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BBC< News, 2nd May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Global Witness and the journalism exemption: ICO to have the first go? – Panopticon

Posted May 2nd, 2014 in data protection, news, rectification, stay of proceedings by sally

‘Panopticon has previously reported on the novel and important data protection case Steinmetz and Others v Global Witness [2014] EWHC 1186 (Ch). The High Court (Henderson J) has now given a judgment on a procedural point which will set the shape for this litigation.’

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Panopticon, 30th April 2014

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

High Court challenge to Solihull Local Plan succeeds in relation to housing numbers and green belt boundaries – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 2nd, 2014 in environmental protection, housing, news, planning by sally

‘A planning inspector’s approach to the policy requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in relation to housing provision in a local plan was not correct or lawful, a High Court judge has ruled.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 1st May 2014

Source: www.out-law.com

Operation Cotton – what next? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

‘When does the same Government that decides to prosecute someone have an obligation to ensure that that individual has representation? That was the question that HHJ Leonard had to answer at Southwark Crown Court on 1 May 2014. The case is called “Operation Cotton” and, as the argument proceeded, featured five legally aided defendants. The argument got more media attention this week than it perhaps otherwise would because the legally aided defendants were represented by Alexander Cameron QC, who happens to be the brother of the Prime Minister (Cameron QC was acting for free, which his brother would surely applaud as an example of the “Big Society” in action).’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 1st May 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Judge quashes licensing decision after “serious procedural irregularity” – Local Government Lawyer

‘A council’s decision to refuse to renew a lap-dancing club’s sexual entertainment venue licence must be quashed because of a “serious procedural irregularity” which led to it being taken by the wrong persons, a High Court judge has ruled.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st May 2014

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judge’s despair as costs hit £16,000 in dispute over £15 – Litigation Futures

Posted May 2nd, 2014 in costs, news, personal injuries, proportionality, road traffic, solicitors by sally

‘A district judge has been driven to despair as solicitors cranked up over £16,000 in costs in a dispute over an outstanding amount of only £15.’

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Litigation Futures, 1st May 2014

Source:  www.litigationfutures.com

Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 – Home Office

Posted May 2nd, 2014 in animals, consultations, experiments by sally

‘This paper sets out the government’s proposals for the review and indicates our preferred option. This consultation is seeking views on our proposals and invites suggestions as to whether they are appropriate, how they may work in practice and any alternatives available. We also seek advice to help quantify the potential impacts associated with the chosen options.’

Full text

Home Office, 1st May 2014

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office