The Wasted Costs Jurisdiction

The wasted costs jurisdiction is flawed for six reasons, based on an analysis of all reported cases in the last nine years and five years of statistics provided by the Bar Mutual Insurance Fund Limited, and despite the guidance laid down by the Court of Appeal in Ridehalgh v Horsefield [1994] Ch 205. First, it is very costly proportionate to the amount recovered. Secondly, judges can initiate a wasted costs enquiry, which is unfair and even more disproportionately costly. Thirdly, it is procedurally complex. Fourthly, it is unpredictable whether the client will waive privilege, and what the consequences will be whether or not privilege is waived. Fifthly, it is not possible for solicitors and barristers to make contribution claims against each other. Sixthly, it is mostly used against lawyers representing legally aided litigants from whom costs cannot be recovered.     

'The environment in international relations'

Books reviewed in this article:
Desai, U. (ed.), Ecological Policy and Politics in Developing Countries:Economic Growth, Democracy, and Environment
Elliott, L. M., The Global Politics of the Environment
Hayward, T., Political Theory and Ecological Values
Homer-Dixon, T. F., Environment, Scarcity, and Violence
Jameson, F. and Miyoshi, M. (eds), The Cultures of Globalization
Kuetting, G., Environment, Society and International Relations:Towards More Effective International Environmental Agreements
Litfin, K. T. (ed.), The Greening of Sovereignty in World Politics
Maguire, D. C. and Rasmussen, L. L., Ethics for a Small Planet:New Horizons on Population, Consumption, and Ecology
McGinnis, M. V. (ed.), Bioregionalism
Renner, M., Fighting for Survival: Environmental Decline, SocialConflict and the New Age of Insecurity
Schaeffer, R. K. (ed.), Understanding Globalization: The SocialConsequences of Political, Economic, and Environmental Change
Weiss, E. B. and Jacobson, H. K. (eds), Engaging Countries:Strengthening Compliance with International Environmental Accords
Young, O. R. (ed.), Global Governance: Drawing Insights from theEnvironmental Experience     

Detection of Gunshot Primer Residue on Bone in an Experimental Setting—An Unexpected Finding*

Abstract: Pork ribs with intact muscle tissue were used in an experimental attempt to identify bullet wipe on bone at distances from 1 to 6 feet with 0.45 caliber, full metal jacket ammunition. This resulted in the unexpected finding of primer‐derived gunshot residue (GSR) deep within the wound tract. Of significance is the fact that the GSR was deposited on the bone, under the periosteum, after the bullet passed through a Ziploc^® bag and c. 1 inch of muscle tissue. It is also important to note that the GSR persisted on the bone after the periosteum was forcibly removed. The presence of primer‐derived GSR on bone provides the potential to differentiate gunshot trauma from blunt trauma when the bone presents an atypical gunshot wound. In this study, the presence of gunshot primer residue at a distance of 6 feet demonstrates the potential for establishing maximum gun‐to‐target distance for remote shootings.     

PCR-RFLP identification of Diptera (Calliphoridae,Muscidae and Sarcophagidae)--a generally applicable method

A simple, rapid method using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) within the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the ribosomal DNA gene repeat allows identification of insects and other organisms. We used the method to identify the morphologically similar Diptera larvae that are important in forensic entomology for estimating the time and location of death. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify a region from the 18S to the 28S rRNA genes. The ITS1 and ITS2 regions provided variation between species and homogeneity within species, with the exception of Cochliomya macellaria. Combinations of the restriction enzymes DdeI, HinfI and Sau3AI provided diagnostic bands for identification of the ten species from three families of Diptera (Calliphoridae, Muscidae and Sarcophagidae).