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 Law
NEWS SNIPPETS
2000
Shipping law firm, James Tan Jude Benny Anne Choo, has announced
that it will open three new offices in Hamburg, Dubai and
Bangkok next month. This adds to the Greek branch in the shipping hub of
Piraeus which was opened earlier this year. (Straits Times 25 Dec 2000)
Estrangled spouses
who are unhappy with the amount of maintenance awarded by the Family
Court have a right of appeal to the High Court, even if the sum is
small. This is because matrimonial cases are not affected by the
rule that requires claimants to seek special permission for sums that
are less than S$50,000. In a judgment, the High Court ruled that no such
permission was needed for matrimonial cases because the right of appeal
in these cases was provided under the women's charter. (Straits Times 21
Nov 2000)
A lawyer was on 25
Oct 2000 suspended from practising for two years for borrowing
S$28,000 in 1998 from a client, Mr HAU Tau Khang, one of the owners
of Sanur Restaurants. Devadas NAIDU, 42, a lawyer for 13 years, pleaded
guilty to violating the rules when brought before the Law Society's
disciplinary committee earlier this year. He had to show cause in a
three-judge court on 25 Oct 2000 why action should not be taken against
him.
The judiciary here is
the first in the world to launch an online mediation facility,
enabling commercial and Internet-related disputes to be settled via
cyberspace, without the need to go to court. This mediation service
will be speedy, confidential and free of charge. Announcing this on 16
Sep 2000, Chief Justice YONG Pung How said such a facility would
maintain Singapore's competitiveness as an international e-commerce hub.
With e@dr, parties do not have to start with a court action. Nor do they
need links with Singapore to use it. Both parties consent to the
jurisdiction of the e@dr centre at the sub-ordinate courts and have an
e-mail address for correspondence, he said. No physical presence of the
parties is required and they can participate from the convenience of
their home or office. Parties need only pay when the case is referred to
another forum, such as the Small Claims Tribunals or the Singapore
Arbitration Centre. |
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