Heartbroken and distraught parents of Ollie Lewis have spoken out about his tragic fate. Mother, Charmaine was left in agony for two hours, despite asking for treatment repeatedly. When midwives did eventually check on her, Ollie’s heart appeared to have stopped. He was born with the umbilical cord round his neck and had to be…
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Many children unlawfully restrained in Secure Training Centres
The High Court has concluded that physical force used on children in Secure Training Centres (STCs) was unlawful. This could potentially lead to hundreds, if not thousands, of claims for children assaulted between 1998 and July 2008 against the companies that run them. In 2004, 15 year-old Gareth Myatt choked to death whilst being restrained…
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Legislation delay for asbestos victims
The 2010 act designed to help people gain compensation for industrial diseases, including those suffering asbestos-related diseases such a mesothelioma, is unlikely to be implemented until 2013, the government has admitted. The Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act was pushed through two years ago, giving claimants the right to proceed against insurers without having to…
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Domestic Violence Horror
A woman has been left blind after her boyfriend gouged her eyes in an attack. Her attacker has admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and will be sentenced next month. The woman had been a victim of domestic violence previously and has said in the news this week that her advice to women in…
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Should Pitt and Jolie get a pre-nup?
Hollywood SuperStars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have announced their engagement this week, but should they be thinking about a pre-nup? Both Pitt and Jolie are wealthy in their own right, having successful careers. The couple have 6 children, three of whom are adopted. By having a pre-nup, although not technically legally binding, they have…
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NHS reserve £235.4 million for babies suffering brain damage
£235.4 million has been set aside by the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) for sixty babies that allegedly suffered brain damage, as a result of maternity staff who failed to notice their neonatal hypoglycaemia, The Guardian has reported. The sum is the NHSLA’s estimate of the total cost of settling the sixty claims. So far, £69.3…
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Secret Trial should be last resort
The Government proposals to extend the use of secret trials in cases where there evidence may breach national security go against the UK’s traditions of openness and fairness. In the report on the Justice and Security Green Paper, the parliament’s joint committee on human rights says the paper fails to justify a change in the…
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London is venue of choice for divorce of super-rich
A sixth of cases before the courts in London are for marriage break ups involving foreign nationals. This has led to London being branded the global divorce capital and the venue of choice for divorces of the international super-rich, or divorce tourists. This has also led to worries that the gap is widening in terms…
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Community Legal Advice Centres under threat
The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has signalled its intention to end all Community Legal Advice Centres and Networks (CLAC and CLAN) by 31st March 2013. The LSC has written to all contract holders and partner local authorities to inform them of this proposal in light of the government reforms on legal aid. CLACs and CLANs…
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87 year old Gosport Gran gets an ASBO
An 87 year old grandmother inGosportwith hearing problems has been given an ASBO for playing her radio too loudly. Neighbours of Georgina Sims say they have endured 13 months of relentless banging on walls with her walking stick and playing music loudly day and night. Daughter to Georgina Sims, Bev Batten, has slammed the ASBO…
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