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22 May 2008 / Ian Smith
Issue: 7322 / Categories: Features , Employment
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Employment Law Brief: 22 May 2008

illegality and tax status
burden of proof and automatic unfairness
protection from harassment

Several years ago, one learned lord justice said extra-judicially that he had always thought that slavery had been abolished in this country until he had been appointed to the Court of Appeal. That sentiment has perhaps been borne out in the employment law sphere with a sudden rush of cases in that court in the last month.

In Kalwak and another v Consistent Group Ltd  [2008] EWCA Civ 430, [2008] All ER (D) 394 (Apr) the court overturned a well known decision of the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) extending employment status (and hence protection) to Polish workers imported into this country by an agency whose documentation then went out of its way to deny any employment relationship. The decision was largely because of defective reasoning by the tribunal and the result was that the case was remitted for a rehearing (which will be interesting).

In Amicus and others v Dynamex Friction Ltd and another [2008] EWCA Civ 381, [2008] All ER (D) 251 (Apr) the court had to

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

International hospitality and leisure specialist joins corporate team as partner

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Firm appoints head of intellectual property to drive northern growth

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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