Newsletter

2011

Cases Reported


Seal v UK 1
Issue: Whether there were breaches of Art 6 and/or Art 14 ECHR as a result of the striking out of a claim against the police for the exercise of powers under s136 Mental Health Act 1983 for failing to seek leave under s139 of the Act.
 
R v Khan, Khan and Khan; Attorney General’s Reference Nos 37, 38 and 65 of 2010 14
Issue: Whether a custodial sentence for people trafficking was correct when the offender met the criteria for a hospital order; the effect of the mental disorder on the question of whether a sentence should be increased as unduly lenient.
 
R (Public Interest Lawyers and RMNJ Solicitors) v Legal Services Commission 17
Issue: The lawfulness of the process of tendering for legal aid contracts in public law and mental health law.
 
DL v South London & Maudsley NHS Trust Foundation & Secretary of State for Justice 34
Issue: Whether a decision not to grant an absolute discharge was adequately reasoned.
 
Secretary of State for Justice v RB 37
Issue: The relationship of the Upper Tribunal to the Court of Appeal and the High Court in terms of precedent; whether a conditional discharge under s73 Mental Health Act 1983 was unlawful if the conditions amounted to a deprivation of liberty for the purposes of Art 5 ECHR; whether a Tribunal had been entitled to discharge.
 
R v Coonan (formerly Sutcliffe) 49
Issue: Whether a whole life tariff was appropriate for a man who committed multiple murders; the approach to mitigation on grounds of mental disorder when the jury had rejected a claim of diminished responsibility.
 
R v Coonan (formerly Sutcliffe) 55
Issue: Whether a whole life tariff was appropriate for a man who committed multiple murders; the approach to mitigation on grounds of mental disorder when the jury had rejected a claim of diminished responsibility.
 
R (SP) v Secretary of State for Justice 65
Issue: Whether a transfer direction under s47 Mental Health Act 1983 was lawful in light of the failure of one doctor providing a report to express the view that appropriate treatment was available.
 
R v Welsh 71
Issue: Whether a life sentence was proper in relation to a conviction for manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility when the criteria for a hospital order were met.
 
JLG v Managers of Llanarth Court and Secretary of State for Justice 74
Issue: Whether a tribunal decision erred in law for failing to mention various matters of law, giving inadequate reasons and not explaining why detention was proportionate.
 
R (Hertfordshire County Council) v LB Hammersmith and Fulham (JM as Interested Party) 76
Issue: Which local authority was responsible for funding aftercare for a patient who had been detained under s3 Mental Health Act 1983.
 
AH v West London MHT and Secretary of State for Justice (Final) 85
Issue: Whether a request for a public hearing in a mental health case before a Tribunal should be allowed.
 
LB Hillingdon v Steven Neary and Mark Neary 89
Issue: Whether representatives of the media should be allowed to attend Court of Protection proceedings; the information they should be allowed to publish.
 
R v Maynard 93
Issue: Whether a sentence of life imprisonment was proper in light of the appellant’s refusal to cooperate with assessments for a hospital disposal and the danger he posed; the proper minimum term.
 
R v Lizzy Henz 96
Issue: Whether a hospital order should be substituted for a sentence of imprisonment.
 
R v David Hempston 99
Issue: Whether a hospital order with a restriction order should be substituted for a sentence of life imprisonment imposed in 1978.
 
R v O 106
Issue: Whether a hospital order with a restriction order should be substituted for a sentence of life imprisonment imposed in 1998.
 
In re MIG and MEG: Surrey County Council v CA, LA, MIG and MEG 108
Issue: Whether there was a deprivation of liberty in the placement in a foster home or a small group home of young people with severe learning disabilities; the principles applicable to whether such settings amounted to a deprivation of liberty.
 
P and Q (aka MIG and MEG) v Surrey County Council, CA and LA 125
Issue: Whether there was a deprivation of liberty in a placement in a foster home or a small group home of young people with severe learning disabilities; the principles applicable to whether such settings amounted to a deprivation of liberty.
 
Re T (A child: murdered parent) 133
Issue: Whether a conditionally discharged restricted patient who had killed his partner should be allowed contact with the child of the couple; the relationship between a Tribunal order and the Family Court’s powers; whether the Family Court should make orders that mirrored Tribunal-imposed conditions.
 
MP v Mersey Care NHS Trust 146
Issue: Whether a decision to set aside a discharge on the basis of a comment by the Tribunal that consideration should be given to a community treatment order was lawful.
 
CM v DHNHSFT and Secretary of State for Justice 153
Issue: Whether the upholding of detention on the basis of the nature of the patient’s disorder was rational.
 
R v Taher Ahmed Chowdhury 157
Issue: Whether a restriction order was necessary; undertakings from a patient to deal with risks posed.
 
PS v Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust 159
Issue: Whether a reference made on the revocation of a Community Treatment Order lapsed when the patient was placed on a fresh CTO; whether a letter complaining about a Tribunal decision should be treated as an application to the Tribunal.
 
R v MB 163
Issue: Whether a trial of the facts in relation to a defendant who was unfit to stand trial jointly with a trial of the guilt of co-defendants was unfair in light of attacks by co-defendants on the unfit defendant.
 
R (TTM (By his Litigation Friend TM)) v LB Hackney and East London NHS Foundation Trust 171
Issue: Whether a patient released from detention under s3 Mental Health Act 1983 on a grant of habeas corpus based on a finding that the nearest relative had not withdrawn his objection was entitled to a declaration that his detention had been unlawful; whether damages should be awarded for this detention or for breaches of Arts 5 and/or 8 ECHR; whether the requirement of leave under s139 of the 1983 Act to bring a claim for damages was compatible with Art 6 ECHR; whether it had been proper to make use of 2 medical recommendations from doctors without previous acquaintance with the patient; whether a local authority is liable for the actions of an Approved Mental Health Professional and so a party to a potential action for damages.
 
R v Creed 186
Issue: Whether the propensity evidence provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 applied to the determination of whether a defendant who was unfit to stand trial had committed the actus reus of the offence charged.
 
TR v Ludlow Street Healthcare Ltd 190
Issue: The correct route to challenge a case management decision by a Tribunal; whether permission to appeal should be granted in relation to decisions not to order disclosure and adjourn a hearing.
 
KL v Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 194
Issue: Whether there was adequate treatment in hospital to justify liability to detention.
 
R (Cart) v Upper Tribunal; R (MR (Pakistan) v Upper Tribunal 196
Issue: The extent to which decisions by the Upper Tribunal were amenable to judicial review.
 
R v McKenzie 220
Issue: Whether findings that a defendant who was unfit to stand trial had committed the acts of various sexual offences were safe; the use of propensity evidence.
 
P v Independent Print and Others 226
Issue: Whether the judge had erred in hearing an application by the media to attend a hearing in the Court of Protection without proper notice; whether he had erred in the decision to allow them to attend; the role of the best interests of the subject of the proceedings in such a decision.
 
R (NM) v Secretary of State for Justice 235
Issue: Whether an investigation into a sexual assault on a prisoner with learning difficulties was adequate.
 
MB v BEH MH NHST & Secretary of State for Justice 246
Issue: Whether an indication that an application for discharge would not succeed and a suggestion that it be withdrawn breached natural justice; whether a remedy should be granted.
 
DN v Northumberland Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust 249
Issue: Whether a Tribunal decision was adequately reasoned; the interplay between the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
 
R v Abdi 256
Issue: Whether a restriction order under s41 Mental Health Act 1983 was proper.
 
In re A and In re C 258
Issue: Whether locked bedrooms in a domestic setting, designed to protect a child and an adult with learning disabilities and behavioural problems, amounted to a deprivation of liberty under Art 5 ECHR; whether there was any state responsibility.
 
Massie v H 288
Issue: The proper appeal route in relation to the displacement of a nearest relative under s29 Mental Health Act 1983
 
CL v Board of State Hospital 290
Issue: Whether there had been adequate consultation before a new policy prohibiting patients receiving food from visitors or outside sources had been introduced; whether the policy breached Art 8 ECHR.
 
RB v Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (Merits) 296
Issue: Whether a decision not to reconvene when a recommendation for transfer had not been followed was adequately reasoned.
 
RB v Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (Costs) 299
Issue: Whether the Upper Tribunal could award costs against the First-tier Tribunal.
 
R (Elham Modaresi) v Secretary of State for Health, First-Tier Tribunal (Mental Health), West London Mental Health NHS Trust 300
Issue: Whether the failure of the Trust to process an application for a s2 Tribunal made just before a public holiday, such that the right to apply was lost, was unreasonable; whether the application should have been treated as received in time; whether the Secretary of State acted unreasonably in declining to make a reference to the Tribunal.
 
R (Elham Modaresi) v Secretary of State for Health, First-Tier Tribunal (Mental Health), West London Mental Health NHS Trust 311
Issue: Whether the failure of the Trust to process an application for a s2 Tribunal made just before a public holiday, such that the right to apply was lost, was unreasonable; whether the application should have been treated as received in time; whether the Secretary of State acted unreasonably in declining to make a reference to the Tribunal.
 
R (Gary Baisden) v Leicester City Council 317
Issue: Whether an assessment that there was no duty to provide accommodation under s117 Mental Health Act 1983 was arguably irrational.
 
S v South West London and St George’s NHS Mental Health Trust 322
Issue: Whether a working diagnosis of bi-polar affective disorder and a decision to use ss5 and 2 Mental Health Act 1983 was negligent; whether damage was proved.
 
RN v Curo Care 337
Issue: Whether a Tribunal decision should be set aside for refusal to consider and/or explain the reasons for not recommending consideration of release on a Community Treatment Order.
 
CX v A Local Authority 339
Issue: Whether a patient’s detention under s3 Mental Health Act 1983 was unlawful because the nearest relative was misled about her rights to object which vitiated her decision not to do so.
 
In Re JR 49 351
Issue: Whether a decision to transfer a detained juvenile patient from Northern Ireland to a specialist service in England was lawful; the approach to the statutory test of whether a transfer “appears” to be in the “interests” of the patient.
 
R v Annette Hopkins; R v Margaret Priest 357
Issue: Whether the defendants had been convicted properly of wilful neglect of a person lacking capacity; the elements of the offence.
 
Hadžić and Suljić v Bosnia and Herzegovina 367
Issue: Whether detentions were in breach of Art 5(1)(e) ECHR.
 
R (Sunderland City Council) v South Tyneside Council 374
Issue: Whether and in what circumstances admission to hospital may alter a patient’s place of residence for the purposes of s117(3) Mental Health Act 1983, so as to change the local authority responsible for the provision of aftercare under that section.
 
Manchester City Council v G, E and F 381
Issue: Whether the local authority that was responsible for breaching the Art 5 and 8 ECHR rights of a learning-disabled adult by removing him from his carer and placing him in a residential placement without an order under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 should have been ordered to pay costs in Court of Protection proceedings.
 
G v MHTS 387
Issue: Whether it was appropriate not to make an order that efforts be made to find an alternative hospital for a patient who did not need to be detained in high secure conditions.
 
DP v Hywel DDA Health Board 394
Issue: Whether the Tribunal had jurisdiction to consider a purported application by a nearest relative under s66(1)(g) Mental Health Act 1983 after a barring order had been withdrawn because it was not accepted that the person was the nearest relative.
 
S v Estonia 396
Issue: Whether detention was in breach of Art 5(1)(e) ECHR.
 
LB Hillingdon v Neary and Neary (Merits) 404
Issue: Whether the placement in a care home of a young adult without capacity was with the consent of his father; whether it amounted to a deprivation of liberty; whether DOLS authorisations were lawful; whether Arts 5(1), 5(4) and 8 ECHR were breached; the liability of a supervisory authority under the DOLS regime.
 
Cheshire West & Chester Council v P (by his litigation friend, the Official Solicitor) 430
Issue: Whether a regime to manage the treatment, care and residence of an adult lacking capacity to decide on such matters and who presented with challenging behaviour was a deprivation of liberty
 
View as
Sort by
Display per page