On 30 March 2011 at the culmination of a two week inquest into the death of 24 year old Mark James Dakin, a patient detained under the Mental Health Act in a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in Bolton, a jury sitting at Bolton Coroners Court returne
The Latest Housing Law News Housing Cases in the County Court: on 29 March 2011, the UK coalition Government launched a consultation exercise on proposals to reform the handling of cases in the county courts. In relation to Housing cases, the proposals include retaining the £1000 small claims limit for housing disrepair and making the […]
News The Immigration Minister Damien Green made a ministerial statement last week, detailing the Government’s proposed changes to Tier 4 of the Points Based System. To read further, click here. Cases Secretary of State for the Home Department v MK (Tunisia) [2011] EWCA Civ 333The Court of Appeal in found that S.3D(2)(a) of the Immigration […]
Kirsten Heaven has acted for the husband of a vulnerable woman who died shortly after being released from police custody. The case highlights the responsibilities of police officers towards members of the public during and after arrest.
Employment Appeal Tribunal Amendment Walsall MBC & Housing 21 Ltd v Birch & ors UKEAT/0376/10/JOJThe Employment Tribunal had not erred in applying Selkent and granting permission to the Claimants to amend their equal pay claims to join the transferee to an existing claim for Equal Pay against the transferor, even though the claims had not […]
The Latest Housing Law News Squatting: on 21 March 2011, the UK coalition Government announced that it will take steps in the New Year to make squatting a criminal offence. Meanwhile it has published ‘strengthened’ and updated guidance for homeowners, indicating what steps they can take if a squatter invades their home. For the announcement, […]
News Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi, the current holder of the EU presidency, states that Western air strikes on Libya have averted a refugee crisis that could have seen hundreds of thousands of Libyans flood into Egypt. To read further, click here. Meanwhile, International agency Oxfam welcomed the visit of UN High Commissioner for Refugees, […]
Leslie Thomas has once again secured substantial damages plus costs for a man who was wrongly arrested and assaulted by police officers. The case demonstrates the need for the legal system to hold the police and others in public office to account.
The Latest Housing Law News More Housing Contracts for Legal Advisers: prospective providers of housing law advice have until 23 March 2011 to register expressions of interest with the Legal Services Commission for providing social welfare law services in North Lincolnshire, Warwickshire South, and Oxfordshire. Also, on 17 March 2011 further bid-rounds opened for contracts […]
Editor’s note: The Immigration Law Bulletin has not been issued for three weeks due to the editors being on leave. Consequently this issue covers developments since 1 March. News A National Audit Office report published last week, criticised the UKBA’s failure to carry out checks on whether overstayers had left the country and their reliance […]
Court of Appeal EAT Procedure Korashi v Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Local Health Board [2011] EWCA Civ 187In the circumstances, the invitation to the Employment Tribunal to supplement its written reasons under the Burns/Barke procedure, by the use of extensive questioning was close to exceeding the ambit of discretion that the procedure allows. However, while […]
At a time when government spending cuts and caps on housing benefit are starting to bite, Liz Davies paints a bleak picture of how this is going to affect the homeless.
The Latest Housing Law News Housing allocation, homelessness and more: on 28 February 2011 the UK coalition Government published a summary of responses to its consultation paper Local decisions: a fairer future for social housing. For the summary, click here. The ministerial statement made on the same day indicated that the Government would press ahead […]
The Court of Appeal handed down its judgment in R (RO) v East Riding of Yorkshire Council allowing the Appeal and quashing the Council’s decision.
Court of Appeal Unfair Dismissal Bowater v Northwest London Hospitals NHS Trust [2011] EWCA Civ 63The Court of Appeal over-turned the EAT decision that the Employment Tribunal had substituted its opinion for that of the Respondent when finding that the Claimant had been unfairly dismissed for making an inappropriate comment when restraining a patient. Although […]
News The UNHCR is calling on countries to open their borders to migrants fleeing from the violence in Libya. To read further, click here. For UKBA announcement re temporary closure of the visa application centre in Tripoli and re advice for Libyans whose leave is due to expire shortly. To read further, click here. For […]
Garden Court Chambers is delighted to announce that Rajiv Menon has been appointed as Queen's Counsel by the Lord Chancellor.
Garden Court Chambers is pleased to announce that Ali Naseem Bajwa, formerly of 25 Bedford Row, has joined the Crime Team. At the same time, he has also been appointed as Queen's Counsel by the Lord Chancellor.
The Latest Housing Law News Housing law amendments: this week, the Commons Committee considering the Localism Bill will be debating amendments to the Housing provisions in Part 6 of the Bill. Among the amendments tabled for consideration are proposals to reform the law on tenancy deposits in the light of the Court of Appeal decision […]
The Supreme Court today handed-down judgment in three appeals brought by council tenants, all of whom were represented by Jan Luba QC. None of the tenants had security of tenure, but the Court decided that evicting them would not be "proportionate&qu
