MATTERS PENDING IN THE HARRY POTTER DIVISION

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Police v Dobby the House Elf

2003 KCA 380

CATCHWORDS: Criminal law – Property offences – Theft – Defendant House Elf stole underwear from employer’s laundry-room – Sentencing – Submissions on sentence – Evidence – Admissibility – Whether human psychologist qualified to give expert evidence on House Elf sexuality.

STATUS: This matter is permanently stayed owing to the suicide of the defendant.

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Sorting Hat v Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

2004 KCA 300

CATCHWORDS: Employment law – Contract of employment – Termination of contract – Redundancy – Plaintiff Sorting Hat made redundant as result of implementation of School’s online computer enrolment system – Whether School took adequate steps to secure alternative role for Hat within School – Whether role as traffic cone on School driveway constituted satisfactory employment – Whether breach of contract established.

Winky the House Elf v Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

2004 KCA 301

CATCHWORDS: Employment law – Contract of employment – Termination of contract – Redundancy – Plaintiff House Elf made redundant from position as kitchen assistant – Whether School took adequate steps to secure alternative role for House Elf within School – Whether role as speed bump on School driveway constituted satisfactory employment – Whether breach of contract established.

STATUS: Judgment in matters 300 and 301 is reserved.

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Rubeus Hagrid v Department of Social Security

2004 KCA 302

CATCHWORDS: Social Security – Qualification for benefits – Cancellation of Giant Allowance – Where appellant’s Allowance cancelled as result of false information provided on application – Appellant claimed to be half giant – Credibility of appellant - Whether possible for giant to have sexual intercourse with normally proportioned human female so as to produce half caste offspring – Respondent department unable to exclude possibility of exceptionally large vagina – Whether appellant discharged onus of proof of demonstrating giant ancestry.

STATUS: This appeal is allowed.

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Dementors v Rowling

2004 KCA 303

CATCHWORDS: Defamation – Defamatory imputations – Defendant author wrote series of books featuring plaintiff Dementors – Dementors aggrieved at manner of portrayal of Dementors throughout series – Whether Dementors have standing to bring defamation action on behalf of species – Alternative actions – Racial vilification – Offensive Publications Act 1997 - Ambit of Act – Whether extending to non-human races.

STATUS: Judgment in this matter is reserved.

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