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RAISSI RULING

A British-based Algerian pilot arrested in the UK in connection with the 9/11 terror attack in the US has had his name cleared by the Court of Appeal and could be in line for a multi-million pound compensation payout. Lotfi Raissi was arrested at his home soon after the attack. He was released after a week but re-arrested under an extradition warrant issued at the request of the US government. He was finally released after no evidence was put before a court to back the allegations. The Court of Appeal has ordered the Home Office to reconsider its decision not to compensate him.
 
DISABILITY SURVEY
Disabled people are reaping the rewards of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, a new survey reveals. The research, which uses data from the disability module of the Office for National Statistics Omnibus Survey between 1996 and 2006, looks at: the awareness of the Act; access to goods and services; access to transport; and renting or buying a home. It shows that over 70% of people are aware of the Act by name, compared to only 40% in 1996. Over 75% of disabled people reported no problems using public transport and 79% of disabled people in paid work had no trouble accessing goods and services, compared to 59% of those not in paid work.
 
BANK PROTOCOL
A protocol of procedures to clarify and speed up the estate administration process has been agreed by the Law Society and Lloyds TSB. It aims to address the problems solicitors have experienced in relation to assets held by banks. The protocol sets out the information that Lloyds TSB will require from the solicitor/Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners member on first contact or shortly afterwards. If this information is provided, it says, delays in dealing with the account or investments will be reduced. Further protocols with other banks will follow. The protocol is at www.lawsociety.org.uk.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

DWF—19 appointments

DWF—19 appointments

Belfast team bolstered by three senior hires and 16 further appointments

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Firm strengthens leveraged finance team with London partner hire

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Double hire marks launch of family team in Leeds

NEWS
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve reports on Haynes v Thomson, the first judicial application of the Supreme Court’s For Women Scotland ruling in a discrimination claim, in this week's NLJ
Charlie Mercer and Astrid Gillam of Stewarts crunch the numbers on civil fraud claims in the English courts, in this week's NLJ. New data shows civil fraud claims rising steadily since 2014, with the King’s Bench Division overtaking the Commercial Court as the forum of choice for lower-value disputes
The Supreme Court issued a landmark judgment in July that overturned the convictions of Tom Hayes and Carlo Palombo, once poster boys of the Libor and Euribor scandal. In NLJ this week, Neil Swift of Peters & Peters considers what the ruling means for financial law enforcement
Small law firms want to embrace technology but feel lost in a maze of jargon, costs and compliance fears, writes Aisling O’Connell of the Solicitors Regulation Authority in this week's NLJ
Artificial intelligence may be revolutionising the law, but its misuse could wreck cases and careers, warns Clare Arthurs of Penningtons Manches Cooper in this week's NLJ
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