Liability, awards and settlements

7.3, medical negligence

UK: a high-flying City of London lawyer who claimed more than £5.0mn in damages after being mis-prescribed medication for a minor ailment was awarded £1.43mn in compensation at the High Court. Cathy Horton, 44, described by the judge as a “woman of many accomplishments” suffered paranoia, depression and psychotic episodes after taking steroid tablets eight times the strength of her normal dose. Mrs Horton, who is also an ordained priest, launched a claim against her doctor and Lloyds Pharmacy for compensation for the deterioration in her health and the “enormous disruption to her life” which followed. In November, Mr Justice Keith found that Lloyds had been negligent in prescribing the medication without questioning its suitability. The judge awarded Mrs Horton, a former corporate lawyer, £1,435,950 in damages including £40,000 for pain and suffering. The judge said the award took into account the fact that Mrs Horton had already secured a £1.5mn settlement from the doctor who incorrectly prescribed the medicine in a separate case.