Personal Injury

 

• Fisher v. Minhas – a whole family was run down when the defendant mounted the pavement, killing the grandfather and catastrophically injuring the father as well as injuring other members of family physically and psychologically. Liability is admitted but quantum is complex involving a fatal claim, a catastrophic injury claim and various others.
• Lakanal House Fire Inquest – represented the families of the deceased in the Inquests following the Lakanal House fire, a major fire at one of the London Borough of Southwark's 14 storey residential tower blocks in south London in July 2009 resulting in six deaths.
• Pamela Somerville v. Chief Constable of Wiltshire – acting for claimant in controversial and high profile claim against the police for assault, wrongful arrest and breach of her human rights. Claimant alleges that she was denied access to lawyers, given no explanation for her detention and then suffered serious facial, ophthalmic and psychiatric injury when thrown on to her cell floor
• Lightfoot v. Go Ahead Group plc [2011] RTR 27 – claimant suffered serious injuries when hit by a bus at night on an unlit road while intoxicated. Favourable 60/40 decision on liability achieved after a number of years of litigation.
• Catrin Cullen v. Daniel Williams – representing claimant who suffered severe brain injuries as a young girl in a road traffic accident involving collision with the poorly-lit trailer of a lorry turning right and partially blocking one lane of the dual carriageway in which her mother was also killed
• Baldwin v. Baldwin – both leading and junior counsel in a high value claim for catastrophic brain injury following a road traffic accident.  The claim settled for £5.5 million at a Joint Settlement Meeting.
• Daniel Kwesi-Boadi (a minor) v. Richard Derroux – both leading and junior counsel in complex RTA involving young child crossing road at designated crossing (not regulated crossing) in North London. Issues surrounding stopping distance issues with contradictory eye witness evidence. Settlement approved at £3.25m conventional lump sum on 80% liability basis.
• Inquest Touching the Death of Edward Barry – a 14-year old boy, subject to assistance from Kent County Council was found dead of a drugs overdose. Police and Medical agencies had been involved in his life prior to his demise. A three week jury inquest was held, with 6 interested parties, to consider the circumstances surrounding his demise.
• Mohamed El-Salamouny v. London Central Mosque Ltd (aka Regents Park Mosque) –both leading and junior counsel represented claimant (Imam at Regents Park Mosque) who was totally blinded by perpetrator who illegally obtained entry and struck the claimant in the eyes with a key.  Complex legal issues as to the liability of the mosque (his employer) to keep him safe by suitable/effective security measures post the “London bombings”.  Settled for £400k.
• Parker v. Philpot – claimant 40+ tetraplegia.  Liability admitted.  Complex claim value circa £7.5m but claimant in receipt of £125k pa PCT funding.   Compromise £6m conventional lump sum but no Peters undertaking and claimant will continue to receive £125k pa PCT funding.    Compromise, November/December 2013.
• Watson Woodhouse (a firm) v. The Chief Constable of Cleveland Police – admissions were obtained that officers of Cleveland Police had falsely imprisoned a leading criminal defence solicitor, Mr Watson, together with members of his family, and that they had unlawfully searched his premises and those of his firm.  Cleveland Police also accepted that it had no defence to the claim that officers maliciously procured the search warrants and had committed misfeasance in public office.  The case was settled for an exceptionally high sum of £550,000, including £80,000 in exemplary damages.
• Danya Gabriel v. Donna Young – the Defendant, driving a friend’s car, collided with a tree, causing severe injuries to the Claimant, who now faces a surgical amputation of her leg.  The Claimant’s case is likely to be valued at over a million pounds.  A dispute arose between the insurers of the Defendant (by whom I was instructed) and the insurers of the vehicle actually driven by the Defendant as to who would be required to satisfy any judgment obtained.  Following a number of interim hearings, my client was accepted to bear no liability and to be released from the litigation.
• Inquest touching the death of Jason Griffin – Mr. Griffin died, after sadly being shredded to the waist by an industrial compacting machine at his work, inadvertently activated during maintenance repair works.

“​Acclaimed for its accessibility, bench strength and the breadth of its members' expertise, Old Square Chambers is home to specialists in every field of personal injury. Sources note the set's professionalism, and comment favourably on the service offered: "They provide very useful seminars and letters to keep you abreast of changes in the law."  "The clerks, led by William Meade, are incredibly helpful; nothing's too much trouble. They're second to none." ”

Chambers & Partners

“​This set is a “hothouse of talent that is home to some of the circuit’s key individuals.” It has both clerks and barristers who are seen as accessible and accommodating. ”

Chambers & Partners

“​​Old Square Chambers has ‘over the years, demonstrated a very high standard in personal injury work’. ”

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