JEF MITCHELL, MEDIATOR.

Many will have come across the highly respected Jef who ran claims for the MOD. He has retired , prematurely , and is now available to mediate .He is accredited but also has fabulous experience of liability , quantum and costs issues. His website is www.jefmitchellmediator.co.uk.
Recommended unreservedly.

ANOTHER JACKSON MYTH DISPELLED.

A story emerged last week which understandably frightened many practitioners. The gist of it was that Sir Rupert wanted recoverability to end in current cases if proceedings were not commenced by October this year ( 6 months after reform took effect).
I am happy to say that this is utter tosh. I have it from the man himself. Lord Justice Jackson fully appreciated that lawyers would enter into funding arrangements prior to the date the guillotine dropped. Ample notice was given for that very reason.

LORD JUSTICE JACKSON.

On Wednesday Sir Rupert is to deliver his first speech in 15 months.
In Bologna.
To the Australian Bar Association.
Really.

BIG CASES THIS WEEK

Tomorrow the Court of Appeal hears , for a second time , the professional negligence case of PADDEN .What duty is owed by a solicitor giving initial , unpaid advice to a client ? Thank you to Judith Thompson for the tip off.
On wednesday we have the Supreme Court handing down a judgment of colossal importance about battle immunity. What duty does the military owe to personnel in conflict ? 

MOJ SPENDING

I return from lovely Venice in a serene frame of mind. I then open 'The Times ' to see more MOJ lunacy .It paid £4.5 million to taxi drivers in a year to move prisoners around .
The prison service spent £5m in moving the police killer between Preston prison and Manchester for his recent trial. It would have made more sense to hold the trial at Preston prison but it was not secure enough ( except to hold the killer there every night of course).
The SFO is employing the excellent Slaughter and May firm to defend the action for damages brought against it by the innocent Tchenguiz brothers. The SFO is also using 35 (thirty five ) barristers to help with disclosure and appears to be in breach of orders or so the Judge intimated. Does Mr Grayling know about this ? Did Slaughters beat Serco and Stobarts in the tender ?

PRIVATISING JUSTICE

The Chief Inspector of Prisons report , just published , about the privately run Ashfield Young Offenders Institution can only add to the case for the public administration of the Criminal Justice system.
Even though only one third full it was out of control with young people self - harming and , worse still , some being hurt by use of force .
An outrageous state of affairs .

NEW INJURY CLAMPDOWN ?

'The Times ' reported yesterday ( page 4 ) that the MOD paid out compensation of £2,200 to a parrot owner . The poor bird died due to a low flying Hercules plane . Mr Grayling is concerned about cage chasing claimant solicitors . Expect a consultation paper on reform soon , probably .