Personal Injury/Clinical Negligence
Lawyer cleared of contempt over bogus whiplash claim
The senior partner of a law firm who acted on a bogus whiplash claim arising from an accident in which he was also injured has been cleared of contempt of court.
“Tokenistic” whiplash tariff “hard to explain to claimants”
It is “very difficult to explain” to claimants why they are receiving a “tokenistic tariff amount” for their whiplash injuries, APIL has told the government.
Government reviews role of apologies in civil litigation
The government today launches a consultation on whether it should be easier to apologise in civil proceedings without admitting liability.
APIL drops fixed costs judicial review after government “concessions”
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers has withdrawn its judicial review against the government challenging aspects of last October’s extension of fixed recoverable costs.
Stayed OIC claims need to conclude quickly post-Rabot, say lawyers
Claimant representatives have called for Official Injury Claim cases stayed pending yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling on mixed injuries to progress quickly now that there is certainty.
Supreme Court rejects appeals in whiplash mixed-injuries case
The Supreme Court has unanimously rejected the appeal and cross-appeal against the decision on how judges should value claims that combine both whiplash and non-whiplash injuries. It upheld the approach of District Judge Hennessy at first instance and then the… Read More
Defendant law firms “scaring off” legitimate employer’s liability claims
At least £284m has been unclaimed from accidents at work in 2023, with workers increasingly reluctant to seek compensation from their employer, according to National Accident Helpline.
Government rejects multiple calls to reform whiplash claims process
The Ministry of Justice has rejected all but some technical changes to the Official Injury Claim portal put forward by both claimant and defendant representatives.
High Court upholds wasted costs order against law firm
A circuit judge was entitled to make a wasted costs order against a firm of solicitors that failed to translate their client’s statement and pleadings for use at trial, the High Court has ruled.
Lawyers can recover costs of attending rehab meetings “in principle”
The Court of Appeal has overturned a significant ruling last year that the costs of a fee-earner’s attendance at rehabilitation case management meetings are irrecoverable.
Simpson Millar buys personal injury practice out of administration
National firm Simpson Millar has rescued personal injury firm Novum Law out of administration, with the funder that owns the former also a creditor of the latter.
Credit hire firm “voluntarily assumed” risk of claimants being dishonest
A High Court judge has refused to overturn a non-party costs order against a credit hire company, saying the firm “voluntarily assumed the risk” of the claimants turning out to be dishonest.
Lawyers support Spinal Injuries Association bowel care campaign
Medical negligence law firm Hudgell Solicitors is supporting calls for a parliamentary inquiry to be held into the ‘inadequate and dangerous’ state of bowel care for patients with spinal cord injuries in healthcare settings.
ABI urges extension of injury damages tariff beyond whiplash
The fixed tariff for whiplash claims should be extended to other injuries to help reduce motor insurance premiums, the Association of British Insurers argued yesterday.
Value of legal services market “to hit £50bn” this year
The legal services market will continue to grow in 2024, hitting a turnover of £50bn with a “resilient” corporate law sector boosted by “stronger economic conditions” later in the year.