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Settlement of £40,000 for medical negligence
An NHS Foundation Trust has reached an out of court settlement of £40,000 with the widow of a patient who died from blood poisoning caused by colitis. He was admitted to hospital suffering from stomach ache, diarrhoea and was passing blood...
Online Published Date:
23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
£150,000 in compensation for mesothelioma
The widow of a mesothelioma victim has received over £150,000 in compensation. The man worked for marine steam turbine company as an apprentice fitter/engineer from 1948 to 1953. During that time he was exposed to asbestos during the re-fit of..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
£22,500 settlement for motorcycle injury
A motorcyclist who suffered serious injuries when a car performed a U-turn on a busy main road, crashing into him, has received a £22,500 settlement from the driver’s insurers to cover his pain, suffering and the loss of earnings he..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
Lord Justice Jackson’s reforms – no April Fool
Finally, the Jackson reforms of civil litigation funding and costs have now been implemented, three years after his report. The reforms came into effect on 1 April 2013. The Ministry of Justice has provided a handy summary of the changes:
No win..
Online Published Date:
23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
Six figure compensation for back injury
A bricklayer left permanently disabled and unable to return to work after breaking his back in a rooftop fall has received a six figure sum in compensation. He fell from the roof at a building site after the ladder his employer made him use slipped...
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
£300,000 out of court settlement for mesothelioma
A former carpenter who developed mesothelioma has received £300,000 in an out of court settlement. He was exposed to asbestos whilst working for three shop-fitting firms more than 30 years ago. His job at all three firms involved refitting..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
Transport Committee in whiplash call for evidence
The Transport Committee has called for evidence on reducing the number and costs of whiplash claims, following up its recent inquiries into the cost of motor insurance. The Chair of the Committee, Louise Ellman MP, said, “It is vitally..
Online Published Date:
23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
Law Society attacks insurers “propaganda”
The Law Society has told the Government that its proposals to increase the small claims limit in personal injury cases stem from propaganda, generated by insurers.
Responding to a consultation on arrangements concerning the small claims limit for..
Online Published Date:
23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
LawCare reveals areas of support to lawyers
LawCare, an advisory and support service to help lawyers, their staff and their immediate families to deal with health problems, opened 378 case files in 2012, with 1,206 further calls involving follow up related to these original calls, and 77..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
£62,500 in damages for double hernia
A man who lost his job and is in constant pain after suffering a double hernia through pushing and pulling heavy tools at work has received £62,500 in damages. He needed three major operations over three years after the repetitive nature of his..
Online Published Date:
23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
£100,000 in compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder
A woman who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder after escaping from her burning London flat has received more than £100,000 in compensation. The fire had started in a restaurant directly beneath the home she shared with her son and..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
Compensation Culture: Fact Or Fantasy ?
Lord Dyson, Master of the Rolls, gave a speech recently entitled, “Compensation Culture: Fact Or Fantasy?” He began by explaining, “Compensation culture encapsulates the idea that for every accident, for every injury or loss..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
House of Lords votes to ditch Clause 62
The House of Lords has removed part of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill as the result of an amendment introduced by Lord McKenzie of Luton (Labour). He told the Lords, “Amendment 80A is an attempt to defeat the fundamental purpose of..
Online Published Date:
23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
APIL warning over claims management companies
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has warned that spam texting and cold calling could explode under Government plans to force hundreds of thousands of road traffic victims into the small claims court system.
The Government..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
£26,000 settlement for horse fall
A former stable hand who was nearly killed when the horse he was riding reared up and landed on top of him has received £26,000 in an out of court settlement. He was tasked with taking a difficult colt “to the gallops.’” The..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
Opposition minister defends health and safety
The Shadow Minister for Employment has commended the health and safety industry’s commitment to saving lives in the workplace. Labour’s Stephen Timms, MP, praised safety professionals at the IOSH 2013 Conference, but warned against..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
DAC Beachcroft on diagnosis of whiplash injuries
DAC Beachcroft is calling for a sea change in the approach to medico-legal reporting in soft tissue injury claims, urging the Government to review both the timing of reports and the way claims are evidenced.
Speaking at the recent ABI Motor..
Online Published Date:
23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
£115,000 settlement for crushed thumb
A welder whose thumb was crushed by a heavy steel girder in an accident at work has received £115,000 in an out of court settlement. He was forced to give up his career. He was moving some girders with an overhead crane, but he was ordered to..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
Potential link between night shift and ovarian cancer
Research published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine has shown a potential link between working night shifts and risk of developing ovarian cancer, with the risk lower for night types (”owls”) than for morning types..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
AA on Transport Committee’s new inquiry
Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance said he welcomed the Transport Committee’s enthusiasm to understand the impact that whiplash injury claims is having on motor insurance premiums, but added, “It seems odd that it has taken a year..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
Argo International appoints professional indemnity underwriter
Lloyd’s insurer Argo International has appointed James McPartland as an underwriter in its professional indemnity team. He will report to Ryan Barnes, Class Underwriter. McPartland has over a decade of experience as a professional indemnity..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
Employment Tribunal rules delayed until summer
Jo Swinson MP, Minister for Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs, has confirmed that new rules governing Employment Tribunal practice and procedure which had been expected to come into force next month, will now be delayed until the summer.
In..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
HSE enforcement action on construction sites
Nearly one in five construction sites visited across Britain have been subject to enforcement action after failing safety checks. In a month long initiative, inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited a total of 2,363 sites where..
Online Published Date:
23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
Equal pay for men and women
Kenny v Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform · European Court of Justice · The Weekly Law Reports (www.iclr.co.uk) · 28 February 2013
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
ABI report uncovers “real cost of motor insurance”
Personal injury claim costs now make up the largest proportion of motor insurance claim costs, with whiplash claims alone accounting for 20% of premium income, according to an ABI report.
“Lifting the bonnet on car insurance – what..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
£7.3 million clinical negligence compensation
Clinical negligence compensation totalling £7.3 million has been awarded to the family of a teenager who sustained brain damage a few days after his birth. He will require round-the-clock care for the rest of his life as he suffers from..
Online Published Date:
23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
Guidance for small businesses on Equality Act
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has launched “easy to understand” advice for businesses on how to prevent discrimination and avoid costly legal challenges.
One guide, “The Equality Act: Guidance for Small Business,”..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
Seven-figure compensation for brain damage from trip
A seven-figure compensation sum has been awarded to a man who was left severely brain damaged after an accident in London. He sustained a major head injury when he fell heavily after stumbling into a pothole. His injuries were so severe that he..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
New report on human sensitivity to radiation
Evidence suggests that the risk of developing cancer or tissue damage after exposure to ionising radiation varies among people because of genetic and lifestyle factors, according the Health Protection Agency’s independent Advisory Group on..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
Higher education staff survey highlights stress
A survey of more than 14,000 higher education staff in the UK, carried out by the union UCU, has found academics and academic-related staff are increasingly stressed by a feeling of loss of control over the way they work.
The report found that..
Online Published Date:
23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
Rights of part-time fee-paid judge
Ministry of Justice (formerly Department for Constitutional Affairs) v O’Brien · Supreme Court · The Weekly Law Reports (www.iclr.co.uk) · 6 February 2001
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
£21,000 in compensation for occupational asthma
A man who developed occupational asthma after he was exposed to high levels of “Western Red Cedar” sawdust through his work has received £21,000 in an out of court settlement. He was employed by a joinery that specialises in making..
Online Published Date:
23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
£150,000 settlement for RTA victim
A woman who developed complex regional pain syndrome after she was injured in a head-on collision has received £150,000 in an out of court settlement. She had been travelling as a front-seat passenger in a car which collided head-on with an..
Online Published Date:
23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
Reducing the Number & Costs of Whiplash Claims: Civil Justice Council Response
In its response to the Government consultation on whiplash claims, the Civil Justice Council responded to the question: “Should the Small Claims track threshold be increased to £5,000 for RTA related whiplash claims, be increased to..
Online Published Date:
23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
Employment Tribunal award over disability discrimination
Agency workers are set to have better anti-discrimination rights after an Employment Tribunal awarded a woman over £35,892 for disability discrimination and unfair dismissal in a case funded by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
The..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
£27,000 settlement for injured cyclist
A cyclist who was struck by a car and thrown from his bike has received £27,000 in an out of court settlement. The force of the impact threw him from his bike and caused him to land heavily on his left shoulder and arm. The man suffered a..
Online Published Date:
23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
Survey of personal injury law firms reveals concerns
Nearly a fifth of the North West’s specialist personal injury law firms are considering shutting up shop due to the financial impact of the Government’s sector reforms coming into force this spring, according to law firm O’Connors..
Online Published Date:
23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
County Courts (Financial Limits) Order (Northern Ireland)
The County Courts (Financial Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 came into effect on 25 February 2013. This increased the jurisdiction of the District Judges’ Court from £5,000 to £10,000, and the jurisdiction of the County Court..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
RoSPA calls for A&E injury data collection
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has joined the call for detailed injury data in a bid to tackle the huge burden of accidents at A&E. According to the NHS, A&E attendances in England have doubled during the last 20..
Online Published Date:
23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
Employment law 2013: progress on reform By Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Businesses have told us that dismissing staff is time-consuming and difficult, sometimes inadvertently leading to unnecessary employment tribunal claims. The risk is that the fear of being faced with tribunal claims impedes growth because businesses..
Online Published Date:
23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
£43,857 settlement for back injury
A man who lost his job after injuring his back lifting a heavy memorial stone at work has received £43,857 in an out of court settlement. The man was helping a colleague move the large memorial stone, and the only equipment they were provided..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
£7,000 in damages for frozen shoulder
A man who suffered a frozen shoulder in a fall after his vision was clouded by ammonia vapour has received £7,000 in damages. He was walking past an incinerator when it blew out a cloud of ammonia vapour temporarily affecting his sight. He then..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
ABI call for medical assessment of whiplash claims
Anyone claiming whiplash injury should be required to undergo examination by an accredited medical expert under proposals to curb the UK’s whiplash epidemic published by the Association of British Insurers (ABI). The association said it has..
Online Published Date:
23 April 2013
Appeared in issue:
272 - 23 April 2013
£6,500 damages for fractured foot
A factory worker who suffered a fractured foot has received £6,500 in compensation. He suffered two fractured metatarsals in his left foot and was off work for seven weeks. The machine operator had been trained to move the five foot long alloy..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
EEF survey on health and safety issues
Senior managers in manufacturing companies are increasing their investment in, and commitment to, health and safety issues and continue to see significant benefits from this, according to a survey published by EEF, the manufacturers’..
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23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
Marsh highlights government’s claims reforms
The Ministry of Justice’s claims reforms, set to be implemented between 2 April and 31 July, will have a profound impact on the way in which organisations in England and Wales manage their insurance claims notification procedures, according to..
Online Published Date:
23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013
IOSH advice on needlestick and sharps injuries
Health and safety professionals have been given advice from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) Health-care Group on how new laws can help them reduce needle, scalpel blade and other sharps injuries in the healthcare..
Online Published Date:
23 April 2013
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272 - 23 April 2013