Welcome to weekly legal/business updates, sharing the latest developments and noteworthy events in the legal and business sectors

Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter and welcome! In today’s fast-paced world, it’s overwhelming to keep up. That’s why I’ve curated a weekly round-up of headlines that interest me. Stay informed, enhance your commercial awareness, and gain valuable insights. Sit back, relax, and let this newsletter be your companion in navigating news and knowledge.

Backlog At The Crown Court Reaches A Record High

The Ministry of Justice has published data showing that the backlog reached a new record high of 67,573 between October and December 2023. This makes the governments ambition of 53,000 by March 2025 look highly unlikely. Criminal Bar Association chair says the government must invest in more legal professionals required to deliver fair trials.

You can read more here.

Legislation On NDAs

The government has announced new legislation will be put in place to stop the misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). The legislation will ensure that victims are no longer prevented from accessing legal advice or reporting a crime. The Law Society and Bar Council president Nick Emmerson said ‘There should be no provision in NDAs that prevents disclosures to the police, regulated health and care professionals, and legal professionals’. With the increase in NDAS it will be interesting to see how the new legislation will affect these contracts.

You can read more here.

Supreme Court And Hybrid Injury Test Case

In the cases of Hassam and another v Rabot and another, the Supreme Court has dismissed insurers appeals in a long-running dispute. The court’s decision means that litigants using the Official Injury Claim for low-value RTA claims can be compensated for bodily injuries and soft tissue injury. There is a tariff for whiplash injuries implemented by The Civil Liability Act 2018 but not for other injuries. The Supreme Court’s findings are that the pain, suffering, and loss of amenity aspect of compensation in non-tariff disputes must be assessed on common law principles. This sets the principle for claimants recovering fair compensation for non-whiplash injuries.

You can read more here.

New Hate Crime Law In Scotland

The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act has come into force on 1st April, with the aim of providing greater protection for victims. It introduces new offences for threatening or abusive behaviour which is intended to stir up hatred based on prejudice towards characteristics such as age, disability, religion, sexual orientation and transgender identity. Siobhan Brown MSP, minister for victims and community safety, said that there is a “very high threshold in the act which would be up to Police Scotland and what would have to ve said online or in person would be threatening and abusive”.

You can read more here.

Fun facts for your friends…

Under the Library offences Act 1898, it is illegal to gamble in a British public library! This is because it may disrupt other library users.

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