Month: September 2017

15.09.17

Business as usual?  The Court of Appeal considers the threshold for bringing a libel claim in Lachaux v Independent Print Ltd.

The long-awaited decision in Lachaux v Independent Print Ltd [2017] EWCA Civ 1334 has brought some badly-needed clarity and certainty to the law of libel, and it seems fair to say that reports of the death of the libel writ have been greatly exaggerated.  The decision interprets both the meaning of section 1(1) of the Defamation Act…

12.09.17

Think before emailing or posting on social media, Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) warns solicitors

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has issued a guidance note to solicitors covering their communications following an increase in the number of complaints regarding inappropriate communications both in email and on social media. Examples of the nature and content of complaints received (and which have been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal) include making offensive…

Badly drafted legislation is no laughing matter

Under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, Parliament approved a change of approach in drugs control. The aim of the Act was described as ‘making legal highs illegal’. The motivating factor was the belief that existing legislation (such as the Misuse of drugs Act 1971) was too slow in reacting to the emergence of new and potentially…

Rough justice for ethnic minorities – diversity deficit, or budget deficit?

Labour MP David Lammy, has now completed his commission report into the treatment of black, asian and minority ethnic (‘BAME’) individuals in the Criminal Justice System. The report, published this week, makes 35 recommendations chiefly aimed at achieving better representation, as well as a better perception of representation, for BAME defendants, and indeed all parties…