News

A judicial review petition challenging the policy of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority to withhold compensation for victims with unspent criminal convictions has been refused by the Outer House of the Court of Session. A, the petitioner, had applied to CICA, the second respondent, for com

A senior judge has found the University of Bristol liable for multiple breaches of legal duties it owed to undergraduate student Natasha Abrahart in the lead up to her suicide on 30 April 2018. Ms Abrahart's body was found in her private flat on the day she was due to give a presentation to fel

The case of Hastings v Finsbury Orthopaedics Ltd and another has already made Scottish legal history. It was the first case in which evidence was heard by a Scottish court on an alleged defect in a hip replacement product in litigation raised under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 (CPA).

In a blog written for and originally published by the Scottish Sentencing Council, Sheriff Jillian Martin Brown explains the work of the problem-solving court in Forfar. The problem-solving court in Forfar originated out of a partnership between sheriffs sitting in Arbroath Sheriff Court and the Gle

A round-up of human rights stories from around the world. Yemen: Huthi authorities must release four journalists sentenced to death

A former director of Rangers is now seeking £60 million in compensation for career losses after being a victim of Scotland's malicious prosecution scandal. Lawyers for Imran Ahmad told the Court of Session that a new expert report estimates the losses as being "in excess of £57 million",

A barrister who sexually assaulted a younger colleague has won an appeal against his disbarment and will be allowed to return to the profession next year. Kevin Farquharson, who called to the Bar in 2011, was given a suspended six-month sentence in Cardiff Magistrates' Court last year after pleading

Law firm CMS has announced a new partnership with Bee Conservation to introduce beehives to its offices across the UK and internationally in order to enhance biodiversity in local communities. Announced today to coincide with World Bee Day, the programme will see CMS establish "bee clubs" where staf

A coffee shop in Florence has been fined €1,000 (£847) after a customer got angry over the price of an espresso. The customer called the police after being charged €2 (£1.70) for his decaffeinated coffee at Ditta Artigianale in the centre of the city.

The dedicated fund to compensate women who paid for private transvaginal mesh removal surgery will open next month, the Scottish government has confirmed. Established under the Transvaginal Mesh Removal (Cost Reimbursement) (Scotland) Act 2022, which was passed by MSPs in January, the Transvaginal M

A judge in the Outer House of the Court of Session has found that an airline was liable for injuries sustained by a paraplegic man who fell out of a wheelchair being pushed by one of its employees on an air bridge. Colin Mather, the pursuer, had flown from Edinburgh to Hamburg, Germany, on a flight

Volunteer police officers in England and Wales will be armed with Tasers under controversial UK government plans. In a speech to the Police Federation annual conference, home secretary Priti Patel said special constables would be authorised to carry the electric stun guns in response to calls from p

Aberdein Considine has announced that it is to merge with Edinburgh law firm and solicitor estate agent Russel+Aitken Edinburgh LLP. The combined businesses – which will trade under the Aberdein Considine brand – will together employ over 480 staff and have a turnover

One of Italy's best-known TV presenters is suing her employer for forcing her to share a room with a farting colleague. Dania Mondini, 58, alleges that state broadcaster RAI made her endure "noisy, repeated and malodorous bodily emissions" as part of a campaign of intimidation against her.

Graeme Macaloney, a businessman who operates a drinks company in Canada, has agreed to cut "Scottish sounding" names from his products after being sued by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA). The SWA released a statement revealing it had resolved its dispute with Macaloney Brewer & Distille