Blogs Archive

In a case believed to be the first of its kind, a South Wales coroner has ruled that a death from COVID-19 constitutes death from an industrial disease. The inquest, listed before the Senior Coroner for South Wales Central, and enquiring into the deaths of two nurses, Gareth Roberts and Domingo David, each of whom died…

Two important recent cases have grappled with the issue of how qualified one-way costs shifting (“QOCS”) affects the situation where a defendant’s offer is belatedly accepted. Can the defendant enforce a costs order against the settlement sum? The issue arises because the core QOCS provision, CPR 44.14, as it presently stands is worded as follows:…

Ex turpi causa non oritur actio literally translates to ‘the action does not arise from a shameful cause’. In other words, as stated by Lord Mansfield CJ in Holman v Johnson (1775) 1 Cowp 341, 343: “no court will lend its aid to a man who founds his cause of action upon an immoral or an illegal act”.…

Philip Turton, counsel for the Defendant in the case, offers an appraisal of the recent judgment of Jeremy Hyam KC, sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court, in White v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care [2022] EWHC 3082 (KB). The judgment can be read here. Thomas White was yet another victim of mesothelioma,…

On 10 November 2022, in the High Court, King’s Bench Division, Damian Powell, instructed by James Traynor of Plexus Law, appeared on behalf of the Defendant’s insurer at an assessment of damages hearing in an asbestosis claim. On 24 November 2022, HHJ Blair KC (sitting as a Judge of the High Court), handed down his judgment arising…

The last 12 months have seen political and economic changes which would have been hard to imagine even a few years ago. Everyone will have their own views of how we have got into this position but this short blog focuses on how this turmoil might affect presentation and resolution of personal injury claims. Interest…

On 16 November 2022, the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) published its “COVID-19 and Occupational Impacts” paper. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the IIAC has been continually reviewing and assessing the rapidly accruing scientific evidence on the occupational risks of COVID-19 and an interim position paper was published in February 2021. In its…

On 25 October 2022, the High Court handed down judgment in the case of BAE Systems Marine Ltd v Alfa Laval Ltd [2022] EWHC 2686 (KB) dismissing BAE’s claim for contribution pursuant to section 1(1) of the Civil Liability (Contribution) Act 1978. Kam Jaspal, instructed by Clyde & Co, represented the Defendant. A link to the judgment…

The past decade has seen incremental expansion in the scope of the duty of care imposed on public authorities, from the imposition of vicarious liability in Armes v Nottingham City Council [2018] AC 355 to the confirmation that there is no public interest special immunity for police in Robinson v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police [2018] AC 736.…

In another step forward, the use of Instrumented Mouthguards (iMGs) is being included by the RFU in their mission to reduce players’ risk of concussion.  Following research across the 2020/21 season using Harlequins and other men’s and women’s top tier teams, iMGs are to be offered to all elite English teams this season. The RFU,…

The diagnosis and treatment of suspected strokes and transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) is a very broad topic. Depending on the context, determination of the issue of breach of duty is likely to involve consideration of relevant NICE guidance and individual NHS Trust guidelines. It is invariably fact-sensitive and involves detailed expert evidence. Even when breach…

This blog was written by Philip Godfrey of Ropewalk Chambers and Christine Allen of Weightmans. In a recent appeal in the case of Thrush v RG Buckle before HHJ Gosnell sitting in the County Court at Leeds, the issue of disclosure of occupational health records held by unpursued employers was considered by the Court. Philip Godfrey,…