South African law

FS50790422

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
South African law, Freedom of speech, Rights

The complainant has requested statistics relating to the number of information requests received, and responded to, by London Borough of Wandsworth in 2017/18. The Commissioner requires the London Borough to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation.
Issue a substantive response, under the FOIA, to the request. To the extent that the requested information is held, the public authority must disclose it or issue a refusal notice in relation to any information it wishes to withhold.

Key Points: 
  • The complainant has requested statistics relating to the number of information requests received, and responded to, by London Borough of Wandsworth in 2017/18.
  • The Commissioner requires the London Borough to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation.
  • Issue a substantive response, under the FOIA, to the request.
  • To the extent that the requested information is held, the public authority must disclose it or issue a refusal notice in relation to any information it wishes to withhold.

FS50790421

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
South African law, Freedom of speech, Rights, Freedom of Information requests to the Climatic Research Unit, Freedom of information in the United Kingdom, Freedom of Information Act

The complainant has requested statistics relating to the number of information requests received, and responded to, by Westminster City Council in 2017/18.
The Commissioner requires the council to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation.
Issue a substantive response, under the FOIA, to the request. To the extent that the requested information is held, the public authority must disclose it or issue a refusal notice in relation to any information it wishes to withhold.

Key Points: 
  • The complainant has requested statistics relating to the number of information requests received, and responded to, by Westminster City Council in 2017/18.
  • The Commissioner requires the council to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation.
  • Issue a substantive response, under the FOIA, to the request.
  • To the extent that the requested information is held, the public authority must disclose it or issue a refusal notice in relation to any information it wishes to withhold.

FS50769561

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
South African law

The complainant has requested information about the most recent version of the ASK Help Script for staff.  The BBC says it is not obliged to comply with the request under section 12(1) of the FOIA, as it would exceed the appropriate cost and time limit to do so. The Commissioner’s decision is that the BBC is not obliged to comply with the request under section 12(1) and is satisfied that the BBC met its obligation under section 16 to offer advice and assistance. The Commissioner does not require the public authority to take any steps.

Key Points: 
  • The complainant has requested information about the most recent version of the ASK Help Script for staff.
  • The BBC says it is not obliged to comply with the request under section 12(1) of the FOIA, as it would exceed the appropriate cost and time limit to do so.
  • The Commissioners decision is that the BBC is not obliged to comply with the request under section 12(1) and is satisfied that the BBC met its obligation under section 16 to offer advice and assistance.
  • The Commissioner does not require the public authority to take any steps.

FER0733914

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
South African law

The complainant has requested information held by Natural England on site works in a specific area, including all correspondence, letters and notes relating to conservation sites and protected species. Natural England initially refused the request on the basis of regulation 12(5)(d) and 12(4)(e) and later introduced regulation 12(5)(f) of the EIR as a further basis for refusing the request. During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation the majority of the requested information was disclosed to the complainant but some information continued to be withheld on the basis of regulation 12(5)(f). The Commissioner’s decision is that Natural England has correctly applied the exception from disclosure at regulation 12(5)(f) to withhold this information. She requires no steps to be taken; however as the majority of information was provided outside of 20 working days she finds that Natural England did breach regulation 5(2) of the EIR.

Key Points: 
  • The complainant has requested information held by Natural England on site works in a specific area, including all correspondence, letters and notes relating to conservation sites and protected species.
  • Natural England initially refused the request on the basis of regulation 12(5)(d) and 12(4)(e) and later introduced regulation 12(5)(f) of the EIR as a further basis for refusing the request.
  • During the course of the Commissioners investigation the majority of the requested information was disclosed to the complainant but some information continued to be withheld on the basis of regulation 12(5)(f).
  • The Commissioners decision is that Natural England has correctly applied the exception from disclosure at regulation 12(5)(f) to withhold this information.

FS50749059

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
South African law

The complainant has requested information from the public authority on various issues involving the gastroenterology department, including information on discussions about reviews and outcomes of reviews. The Trust initially refused the request on the basis of section 14 and later stated it was seeking to rely on section 12 as complying with the request would exceed the cost limit. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Trust applied section 14(1) and 12(1) incorrectly as it did not demonstrate that the cost of the request would exceed the limit or that the burden of responding would outweigh any serious value the request had. The Commissioner finds that the Trust did comply with section 16(1) by providing advice and assistance but that this was not necessary as section 12 had been incorrectly applied. The Commissioner requires the public authority to write to the complainant with a fresh response to the request that does not rely on either section 12(1) or 14(1) of the FOIA.

Key Points: 
  • The complainant has requested information from the public authority on various issues involving the gastroenterology department, including information on discussions about reviews and outcomes of reviews.
  • The Trust initially refused the request on the basis of section 14 and later stated it was seeking to rely on section 12 as complying with the request would exceed the cost limit.
  • The Commissioner finds that the Trust did comply with section 16(1) by providing advice and assistance but that this was not necessary as section 12 had been incorrectly applied.
  • The Commissioner requires the public authority to write to the complainant with a fresh response to the request that does not rely on either section 12(1) or 14(1) of the FOIA.

FS50704099

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Civil procedure, Abuse of the legal system, Law, Abuse, Vexatious litigation, South African law

The complainant has requested information held by the Cabinet Office relating to the Care Quality Commission between specified dates. The Cabinet Office originally refused the request under section 12 (cost limit), but during the course of the Commissioner’s investigation sought to rely on section 14 (vexatious request) instead. The Cabinet Office claimed that section 14 applied because compliance with the request would constitute a grossly oppressive burden. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Cabinet Office has failed to demonstrate that the request is vexatious. Therefore the Cabinet Office was not entitled to refuse the request under section 14 of the FOIA.

Key Points: 
  • The complainant has requested information held by the Cabinet Office relating to the Care Quality Commission between specified dates.
  • The Cabinet Office originally refused the request under section 12 (cost limit), but during the course of the Commissioners investigation sought to rely on section 14 (vexatious request) instead.
  • The Cabinet Office claimed that section 14 applied because compliance with the request would constitute a grossly oppressive burden.
  • The Commissioners decision is that the Cabinet Office has failed to demonstrate that the request is vexatious.

FS50749152

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
South African law, Criminal procedure

The complainant has requested information about any complaints made against a named officer employed by Hampshire County Council. The Council refused to comply with the request, and stated that it relied upon section 40(2) to do so. The Commissioner’s decision is that the exemption provided by section 40(5)(b)(i) is engaged, as the confirmation or denial that information is held would disclose the personal data of a third party. The Commissioner does not require the Council to take any steps.

Key Points: 
  • The complainant has requested information about any complaints made against a named officer employed by Hampshire County Council.
  • The Council refused to comply with the request, and stated that it relied upon section 40(2) to do so.
  • The Commissioners decision is that the exemption provided by section 40(5)(b)(i) is engaged, as the confirmation or denial that information is held would disclose the personal data of a third party.
  • The Commissioner does not require the Council to take any steps.

Malman Law Hires Five New Attorneys

Retrieved on: 
Friday, November 16, 2018
Attorneys in South Africa, South African law

CHICAGO, Nov. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --Malman Law announced their hiring of five new attorneys to help expand their capacity and serve more injury victims in the Chicago area.

Key Points: 
  • CHICAGO, Nov. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --Malman Law announced their hiring of five new attorneys to help expand their capacity and serve more injury victims in the Chicago area.
  • The team already consists of 13 highly seasoned attorneys, and the addition will build the team to 18 in-house attorneys.
  • The five new attorneys coming to Malman Law include: Neil Kilcoyne, Andrea Ramirez, Annabelle Borata, Daniel Sparks, and Elise Ruff.
  • About Malman Law: Malman Law is a law firm based out of Chicago, Illinois.

Four Day Seminar: Certificate in Employee Relations Law Seminar (Scottsdale, United States - March 4-8, 2019)

Retrieved on: 
Friday, November 9, 2018
South African labour law, South African law

The Certificate in Employee Relations Law Seminar provides the most comprehensive, practical, up-to-date employment law training available.

Key Points: 
  • The Certificate in Employee Relations Law Seminar provides the most comprehensive, practical, up-to-date employment law training available.
  • The seminar provides "best practices" insights and information on the full range of employee relations law issues.
  • Since 1979, the Certificate in Employee Relations Law Seminar has been widely regarded as the professional's choice for employment law training.
  • The Certificate in Employee Relations Law Seminar is designed to provide participants with a broad base of practical knowledge in all facets of employment law.

Four Day Seminar - Certificate in Employee Relations Law (Austin, TX, United States - January 28, 2019 February 1, 2019)

Retrieved on: 
Friday, November 9, 2018
South African labour law, South African law

The Certificate in Employee Relations Law Seminar provides the most comprehensive, practical, up-to-date employment law training available.

Key Points: 
  • The Certificate in Employee Relations Law Seminar provides the most comprehensive, practical, up-to-date employment law training available.
  • The seminar provides "best practices" insights and information on the full range of employee relations law issues.
  • Since 1979, the Certificate in Employee Relations Law Seminar has been widely regarded as the professional's choice for employment law training.
  • The Certificate in Employee Relations Law Seminar is designed to provide participants with a broad base of practical knowledge in all facets of employment law.