The Gazette 1981

GAZETTE

APRIL 1981

WHAT'S NEW? A Miscellany of Recent Legal References by Andrew Dillon, Solicitor Did you know

27.7.1980, p. 2). This subject might be discussed more generally in Ireland as, as yet, there is no legislation compelling solicitors to take out insurance in this country. In New Zealand, the Legal Practitioners' Amendment Act 1980 has recently introduced a scheme of compulsory professional indemnity insur- ance. -that in California's Supreme Court, a claim has been allowed for damages for emotional and mental distress when no physical injury was suffered. Plaintiff sued a hospital for reporting that his wife had syphilis, which was untrue and led to the collapse of Plaintiff's marriage. (Milien v. Kaiser Foundations Hospitals, Nat. Law Journal, 3.9.1980, p. 3). -that the Liberian Government has, in its wisdom decided that should one be caught importing marijuana, the culprit should be held in port until such time as the entire consignment has been smoked - by the culprit. (West Africa, 6.10.1980, p. 1992). —that we may all expect to hold and EEC driving licence as and from the beginning of 1983, which will be issued and recognised by all member states, except Britain ('Euroforum', No. 12, 1980 p. 7).

—that the British High Court has held that in assessing the amount of financial provision from a husband to wife on divorce it may be proper to consider periods spent in unmarried cohabitation prior to marriage. In K. v. K. the parties had lived together for 24 years prior to marriage and for four months thereafter (Times, 4.12.1979, p. 15). —that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a person who engages in criminal conduct does not auto- matically become a "public figure", unable to com- plain of defamation, unless he can show actual malice by the Defendant. (Wolston v. Readers Digest, New Law Journal, 3.1.1980, p. 20). —that the British Court of Appeal has rules that the Court has no jurisdiction, either statutory or inherent, to grant a declaration of paternity (see in re JS, Times, 23.1.1980, p. 10). —that in Britain a new form of Writ is to be introduced by the Rules of the Superior Courts, which will replace the 'Entry of an Appearance in response to the Writ' by an 'Acknowledgement of Service'. (Solicitors' Journal, 25.1.1980). —that Afghanistan has, not surprisingly, acquired a new Constitution. Unlike Chile, whose government has decided to hold a referendum on the matter, the central committee of the Democratic Peoples Party has simply adopted one. This presumably saves the much harrassed Afghanis the trouble of voting. (Neue Zurischer Zeitung, 16.4.1980, p. 4). —that the State Government of Queensland is to restrict abortion to women who are at risk of death or serious physical injury, or likely to commit suicide should the pregnancy continue (Times, 18.4.1980, p. 10). —that slavery has at last been abolished in Mauritania? The military committee of national salvation announced this on 5th July 1980 to the great relief, one is sure, of the Irish Anti-Slavery Movement. Apparently the country's Islamic judicial experts advised this move, but did propose that former slave masters should receive full compensation. (West Africa Report, 14.7.1980, p. 1312). —that the English Bar has agreed on the principle of compulsory insurance for negligence liability (Times,

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