Legal News

Deaths in prison custody 2009 ? Ministry of Justice

Posted on January 04, 2010
“The Ministry of Justice has announced today that there were 60 apparently self-inflicted deaths among prisoners in England and Wales in 2009.” Full story Ministry of Justice, 1st January 2010 Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Hammonds LLP (a Firm) v Jones ? Times Law Reports

Posted on January 04, 2010
Hammonds LLP (a Firm) v Jones Court of Appeal “‘All partners’ in the context of a clause in a partnership deed dealing with accounts, meant partners at any time during the accounting year to which the particular accounts related, whether or not, by the relevant time, they were still partners in the firm...

Lucasfilm Ltd and Others v Ainsworth and Others ? Times Law Reports

Posted on January 04, 2010
Lucasfilm Ltd and Others v Ainsworth and Others Court of Appeal “Plastic toy models of storm trooper helmets featured in the Star Wars films were not sculptures for the purposes of the Copyright Design and Patents Act 1986 and their maker was entitled to a defence under section 51 of that Act on the basis that [...

Islington London Borough Council v Ladele ? Times Law Reports

Posted on January 04, 2010
Islington London Borough Council v Ladele Court of Appeal “A local authority was entitled to compel a registrar to officiate at the registrations of same-sex civil partnerships although she objected to such unions on the ground of her religious beliefs...

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Freedom of information: caught in the act ? The Guardian

Posted on January 04, 2010
“The Freedom of Information Act is five years old ? a piece of groundbreaking legislation that has forced public bodies to reveal data they would really rather not.” Full story The Guardian, 4th January 2010 Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Court of Public Protection should be opened to media, top judge says ? The Times

Posted on January 04, 2010
“One of Britain?s most secret courts is set to be opened up to the media in a move that could boost public confidence after widespread criticism of its workings.” Full story The Times, 4th January 2010 Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

MPs invoke 1689 Bill to avoid prosecution ? The Independent

Posted on January 04, 2010
“Three labour MPs are arguing they cannot be prosecuted over expenses claims because they are protected by parliamentary privilege.” Full story The Independent, 4th January 2010 Source: www.independent.co.uk

Legal aid cuts could prevent crucial cases being heard, say lawyers ? The Guardian

Posted on January 04, 2010
“New plans to slash the legal aid bill will deprive the public of a crucial way of challenging government policy in the courts, preventing some of the most important cases from being heard, experts warn.” Full story The Guardian, 3rd January 2010 Source: www...

Smacking children: the law ? Daily Telegraph

Posted on January 04, 2010
“The law on smacking children is a grey area, which campaigners have sought to change in recent years.” Full story Daily Telegraph, 3rd January 2010 Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Christmas Break

Posted on December 21, 2009
 There will be no posts during the Inner Temple Library’s Christmas closed period which starts at 1pm on 21st December. We will resume posting on 4th January 2010.

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted on December 21, 2009
Court of Appeal (Civil Division) Papas Olio JSC v Grains & Fourrages SA & Anor [2009] EWCA Civ 1401 (18 December 2009) Land Securities Plc & Ors v Fladgate Fielder (A Firm) [2009] EWCA Civ 1402 (18 December 2009) Perrett, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government & Anor [2009] EWCA [...

Recent Statutory Instruments ? OPSI

Posted on December 21, 2009
The Designation of Schools having a Religious Character (England) Order 2009 The Biofuel (Labelling) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 The Community Legal Service (Financial) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2009 The Accounts and Audit (Amendment No. 2) (England) Regulations 2009 The Climate Change Levy (Solid Fuel) (Revocation) Regulations 2009 The Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 The Blood Safety [...

Legal aid: reforming advocates graduated fees ? Ministry of Justice

Posted on December 21, 2009
“This consultation paper sets out proposals to bring the rates paid to advocates for defence work more in line with the rates paid by the Crown Prosecution Service. We are aiming to save £50m from advocates fees in order to contribute towards overall efficiency savings...

Office of the Public Guardian: Amendments to secondary legislation ? Ministry of Justice

Posted on December 21, 2009
“This consultation paper represents the next step in the review process of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and addresses areas of legislation and policy that in practice have not worked as well as intended.” Full consultation paper Ministry of Justice, 17th December 2009 Source: www...

Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Bill ? Ministry of Justice

Posted on December 21, 2009
“This Bill implements Law Commission and Scottish Law Commission recommendations about the rights of a third party to claim directly against an insurer.” Full press release Ministry of Justice, 18th December 2009 Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Legal aid funding reforms ? Ministry of Justice

Posted on December 21, 2009
“The Ministry of Justice has today published a set of reforms that aim to rebalance the legal aid budget to ensure that the £2.1 billion currently spent every year goes as far as possible in favour of civil help for those who need it most.” Full press release Ministry of Justice, 16th December 2009 Source: www...

Independent panel to oversee Hillsborough disclosure ? Home Office

Posted on December 21, 2009
“The Home Secretary has announced the creation of an independent panel, which will be responsible for overseeing the release of documents related to the 1989 Hillsborough football disaster.” Full press release Home Office, 15th December 2009 Source: www...

Changes to UK Border Agency policy on judicial reviews ? UK Border Agency

Posted on December 21, 2009
“The UK Border Agency is changing the way it manages judicial review challenges from those being removed from the UK.” Full press release UK Border Agency, 18th December 2009 Source: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

Attorney General welcomes ?one punch? legal changes and sentence increases ? Attorney General?s Office

Posted on December 21, 2009
“Sentences for manslaughter deaths will be dealt with differently in future, the Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC, said today, following a landmark judgement at the Court of Appeal in London which will give new guidance in cases of manslaughter where death was a result of unlawful violence...

All change? Or not? Seminars in Your Area ? The Bar Council

Posted on December 21, 2009
“The Bar Standards Board made an historic announcement on 20 November 2009, signalling change. How will the Bar now maintain its unique attributes? What does the public interest demand? Seminars are being held in conjunction with each Circuit of England and Wales...

?One-punch? killers to get longer jail sentences ? The Times

Posted on December 21, 2009
“Hefty jail terms are to be imposed when people die after a violent punch to the head, after a landmark ruling by a rare five-strong panel of senior judges yesterday.” Full story The Times, 19th December 2009 Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Macclesfield man jailed for driving wrong way drunk ? BBC News

Posted on December 21, 2009
“A man, 44, who drove six miles the wrong way along a dual carriageway has been jailed for eight months and banned from driving for three years.” Full story BBC News, 19th December 2009 Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rapist jailed for attacking girl ? BBC News

Posted on December 21, 2009
“A 39-year-old man who raped a 17-year-old girl in Milton Keynes has been jailed for at least seven years.” Full story BBC News, 20th December 2009 Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ministers in U-turn over torture documents for Guantanamo Briton ? The Independent

Posted on December 21, 2009
“Ministers have agreed to the release of secret documents that could prove MI5 agents were present during the torture of a British resident held by the US government for eight years.” Full story The Independent, 21st December 2009 Source: www...

UK libel law has gagged me, says leading Danish radiologist ? The Guardian

Posted on December 21, 2009
“A leading medical scientist is refusing to speak in England about findings from his work because he fears being sued for libel. Henrik Thomsen, a Danish radiologist, has said the health of patients in England is being put at serious risk because he and other scientists are prevented from sharing their knowledge, due to what [...

Names of innocent people will stay on police database ? The Guardian

Posted on December 21, 2009
“The names of nearly a million people who have not been convicted or cautioned for any crime will continue to be stored on the police national computer, even though the government is changing the law so that their DNA profiles are deleted.” Full story The Observer, 20th December 2009 Source: http://observer...

Takeover bid by Sports Direct ?broke City rules? ? The Times

Posted on December 21, 2009
“Sports Direct, the retailer controlled by Mike Ashley, has been reported to the Financial Services Authority (FSA) for allegedly breaking City rules in its attempt to buy a smaller rival, The Times has learnt.” Full story The Times, 21st December 2009 Source: www...

Government to pay £20m and apologise to victims of thalidomide ? The Times

Posted on December 21, 2009
“The Government is set to pay millions of pounds to thalidomide victims and to apologise for their suffering.” Full story TheTimes, 21st December 2009 Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Village People threaten lawsuit over Jamie Oliver advert ? The Guardian

Posted on December 18, 2009
“It could make for an interesting scenario: a construction worker, a cowboy, a traffic cop, a Native American chief, a sailor, Jamie Oliver, a leather queen, some lawyers and a judge ? together in court.” Full story The Guardian, 18th December 2009 Source: www...

Former Humberside police officer jailed for sex attacks ? BBC News

Posted on December 18, 2009
“A former police officer who was convicted of attempted rape and two sexual assaults has been jailed for five years.” Full story BBC News, 18th December 2009 Source: www.bbc.co.uk

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