Archive

Libel lawyers threaten Straw with judicial review

Libel lawyers working mainly for claimants have threatened justice secretary Jack Straw with a judicial review over his plans for a huge cut in success fees.

Catholic Care wins gay adoption challenge

Catholic Care, the charity providing adoption services to the Catholic community, has succeeded in a last-ditch attempt at the High Court to escape regulations which could prevent it from excluding gay couples.

Strasbourg blow to expats in index-linked pensions case

Thirteen British expats who brought a test case to have their pensions index-linked have lost the final possible appeal against the government's decision not to up-rate them in line with those of pensioners living in Britain.

Straw scraps court fees for care proceedings

In an extraordinary U-turn, justice secretary Jack Straw has decided to scrap the court fees paid by councils for care proceedings.

Calling the experts

Expert witness immunity could soon be removed, creating a new field of professional negligence; but are there any public policy reasons for retaining it? Andrew Wigston and Rebecca Mandal report

Beyond belief

Several recent cases have brought workplace discrimination into the spotlight, but what beliefs are protected and how can employers reduce the risk of a claim being brought against them? Philip Henson reports

Dubious privilege

Challenges to the 'without prejudice' rule continue to come thick and fast. Andrew Butler considers where three recent authorities have left the principle

Group therapy

Three recent developments have highlighted the difficulty the courts have when dealing with collective actions, says Anthony Maton