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.

AI In Court?

Lord Justice Birss, deputy head of civil justice, says courts are using algorithm-based decision making. In particular it is solving a problem at the online money claims service, an formula is applied where defendants accept a debt but ask for time to pay. This is just one example of where the justice system is using advanced technology, and it looks promising in over areas too. Lord Birss said that 'AI used properly has the potential to enhance the work of lawyers and judges enormously.'

You can find out more here.

New Sentencing Guidelines In Force

New guidelines introduce a new mitigating factor, that judges and magistrates should take into account the difficult and/or deprived background of offenders when sentencing. This includes experience of discrimination, early experience of loss, neglect, low educational attainment, and others. However there has been a negative reaction from judges and magistrates, and the Daily Telegraph have said the criteria for judging disadvantage is ‘subjective’.

You can find out more here.

Google Have Sued Alleged Scammers

Google have sued two Chinese nationals accusing them of misusing Google Play app store to scam users out of their money with fake cryptocurrency apps. Yunfeng Sun in Shenzhen and Hongnam Cheung allegedly lured people into giving them money to “invest” but only let them withdraw small amounts. Google have accused them of violating their terms and policies and have disabled 87 apps from Yunfeng Sun in Shenzhen and Hongnam Cheung over the past four years with nearly 100,000 downloads. The case is Google LLC v. Sun, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, No. 1:24-cv-02559.

You can find out more here.

European Court Of Human Rights To Rule On Climate Change Cases

The European Court of Human Rights is set to rule on a climate change case next week. The claim was brought by six young people against 30+ states. They argue that the countries are failing to comply with obligations under Article 2 Right to Life and Article 8 Right to respect for private and family life of the ECHR. It is the first climate change case ever filed with the ECtHR making ‘legal history’. It will be interesting to see what the court decides next week and whether 31 states will be required to increase their climate actions to reduce carbon emissions.

You can find out more here.

Fun facts for your friends…

Cows cannot be walked down the street in daylight in England. Section 57 of the Metropolitan Streets Act states that ‘Cattle are not to be driven through streets within certain hours’. You can however get special permission from the Commissioner of the Police. Watch out for the nocturnal cows!

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