Dove (Part 2): Article 2 ECHR, Rabone, and Responsibility – Doughty Street Chambers

‘Last week [24 March] the Court of Appeal gave judgment in Dove [2023] EWCA Civ 289, an appeal against the Divisional Court’s decision not to order a new inquest into the death of Jodey Whiting, in proceedings brought by her mother Joy Dove. Ms Whiting died a self-inflicted death in the community, after a mental health crisis, in which the decision of the Department of Work and Pensions to cease her benefits was said to have played a contributory role. An inquest in 2017 came to a conclusion of “suicide” (§1). In an earlier post I dealt with the first, successful, ground of appeal: that because of fresh evidence it was in the interests of justice to order a new Jamieson inquest. In this post I examine the Court of Appeal’s analysis of the case from the point of view of the engagement of Article 2 ECHR.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 24th March 2023

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Dove (Part 1): Jamieson Inquests, Causation, and Conclusions – Doughty Street Chambers

‘Last week [20 March] the Court of Appeal gave judgment in Dove [2023] EWCA Civ 289, an appeal against the Divisional Court’s decision not to order a new inquest into the death of Jodey Whiting, in proceedings brought by her mother Joy Dove. Ms Whiting died a self-inflicted death in the community, after a mental health crisis, in which the decision of the Department of Work and Pensions to cease her benefits was said to have played a contributory role. An inquest in 2017 came to a conclusion of “suicide” (§1).’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 20th March 2023

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

The High Court Considers the Guidelines for Diagnosis and Quantification of Military Noise-Induced Hearing Loss – Ropewalk Chambers

Posted April 11th, 2023 in armed forces, causation, news, noise, personal injuries by sally

‘This blog reviews the High Court decision in Barry v Ministry of Defence [2023] EWHC 459 (KB) and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the application of the Moore et al. Guidelines for Diagnosis and Quantification of Military Noise-Induced Hearing Loss.’

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Ropewalk Chambers, 14th March 2023

Source: ropewalk.co.uk

Case comment: Dove v HM Assistant Coroner for Teesside and Hartlepool [2023] EWCA Civ 289 – Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog

Posted March 30th, 2023 in benefits, causation, coroners, human rights, inquests, news, suicide by sally

’12KBW pupil Corinne Novell gives an update on this case and the outcome of the Court of Appeal hearing, in which challenges were brought with regard to Article 2 and seeking a fresh inquest.’

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Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog, 29th March 2023

Source: inquestsandinquirieslawblog.com

Timing the Medical Examination: Read v Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog

‘An interesting case came out of the Bear Garden at the end of February, which may be of interest to clinical negligence practitioners – Read v Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust [2023] EWHC 367 (KB)’

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Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog, 8th March 2023

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

Drax: Legal action against power station owners dropped – BBC News

Posted February 24th, 2023 in causation, employment, health & safety, industrial injuries, news, prosecutions by sally

‘A prosecution against the owners of the UK’s largest power station has been dropped by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), it has been announced.’

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BBC News, 23rd February 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Participation of vulnerable parties in civil litigation: split trials and stays (AXX v. Zajac) – Exchange Chambers

‘AXX (A protected party by his litigation friend XRE) v. Zajac [2022] EWHC 2463 is the first reported case in the High Court (KBD) concerning the ‘new’ CPR Practice Direction 1A which requires the court to take all proportionate measures to address any impediment to a party’s participation in proceedings caused by their ‘vulnerability’. Master McCloud granted an application made on behalf of the Claimant (who was a protected party due to a psychotic condition which had arisen after his accident) for a trial of causation as a preliminary issue on the basis that, if successful at that stage, the Claimant could seek interim funding for treatment to address his psychiatric symptoms and allow him to participate fully in the subsequent quantum trial. The Master also refused an application from the Defendant for an ‘unless’ order (whereby the claim would be stayed unless the Claimant cooperated with examinations to be performed by the Defendant’s instructed medical experts) because of concerns about the Claimant’s capacity to consent to examination. This decision illustrates the important role that PD1A has in shaping case management decisions to protect the interests of parties with vulnerabilities.’

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Exchange Chambers, 22nd December 2022

Source: www.exchangechambers.co.uk

Patient fault and contributory negligence in clinical negligence – Exchange Chambers

‘Professional experience and the reported cases (considered below) suggest issues of breach, causation and contributory negligence are invariably intertwined. The advisor’s role is to carefully unpick the strands. Whilst there is a factual and legal overlap, the issues need to be considered separately on their individual merits.’

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Exchange Chambers, 22nd December 2022

Source: www.exchangechambers.co.uk

Case Comment: Khan v Meadows [2021] UKSC 21 – UKSC Blog

‘In this post Rebecca Khan, a Legal Support Assistant at Matrix Chambers, comments on the case of Khan v Meadows [2021] UKSC 21 – handed down on the 18th of June 2021. This appeal raised important questions about the application of the scope of duty principle in clinical negligence cases. The judgment is handed down together with the court’s judgment in Manchester Building Society v Grant Thornton UK LLP [2021] UKSC 20.’

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UKSC Blog, 4th January 2023

Source: ukscblog.com

Clangers: LPAs and duties of care – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 11th, 2022 in causation, damages, duty of care, local government, negligence, news, planning by tracey

‘Does a local planning authority owe a duty of care to an applicant for planning permission? Simon Ricketts analyses a recent High Court ruling.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th November 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Diagnosis and Management of Strokes in Emergency and Primary Care Settings – Ropewalk Chambers

Posted October 20th, 2022 in causation, chambers articles, expert witnesses, medical treatment, news by sally

‘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 of duty is not in issue and/or is established in evidence, causation is likely to be contentious in all but the clearest of cases due to the absence of definitive evidence or trial data regarding the efficacy of anticoagulant treatment.’

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Ropewalk Chambers, 11th October 2022

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

Claimant Benevolence in a Clinical Negligence Setting, by Tom Bourne-Arton – Farrar’s Building

‘Tom Bourne-Arton reviews the relatively recent case of Richins v Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust [2022] EWHC 847 (QB) in which HHJ Kelly had to consider, amongst other matters, whether it was appropriate to apply “Claimant benevolence” otherwise known as “Keefe benevolence” when determining causation.’

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Farrar's Building, 4th May 2022

Source: www.farrarsbuilding.co.uk

Causation and Intervening Medical Treatment – Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog

Posted February 22nd, 2022 in causation, hospitals, medical treatment, negligence, news, personal injuries by tracey

‘As lawyers representing parties in clinical negligence cases, we will often encounter scenarios where the injured party has been involved in a road traffic accident or an accident at work and subsequently seeks medical assistance for the purpose of treating their injuries. As a result of negligent medical treatment, the Claimant’s injuries are aggravated, or further injury is suffered. In such circumstances, there may be multiple potential Defendants to any legal claim.’

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Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog, 17th February 2022

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

Identifying and Proving Breach of Duty Relating to Ambulance Response Time – Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog

Posted February 7th, 2022 in causation, chambers articles, delay, duty of care, hospitals, news by tracey

‘When you call for an ambulance, you generally want it now. To you, it’s an emergency and an emergency requires an immediate response.

The reality of a modern NHS generally and Ambulance Trusts specifically mean that such an expectation is rarely met. Thankfully, in the vast majority of cases the timing of the arrival of the paramedic is of no real consequence. More important to outcome can be what happens once the paramedic alights from the ambulance and attends to the patient, how long it takes from that point until admission to A&E or the unit to which the patient is taken for necessary specialist care. These latter issues can all have a bearing on the timing, the quality and the nature of care received by the patient.’

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Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog , 3rd February 2022

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

Causation Strikes Again: Dalchow v St George’s University NHS Foundation Trust – Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog

Posted January 28th, 2022 in causation, chambers articles, expert witnesses, medical treatment, negligence, news by tracey

‘On 20 January 2022, Hugh Southey QC (sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court) handed down judgment in the case of Dalchow v St George’s University NHS Foundation Trust [2022] EWHC 100 (QB). The decision gives rise to some interesting considerations on causation and the judicial assessment of expert evidence, and provides a useful illustration of the application of Wisniewski v Central Manchester Health Authority [1998] PIQR P324.’

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Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog , 25th January 2022

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

Paralysed jockey Freddy Tylicki sues rider Graham Gibbons for £6m over fall – BBC News

Posted November 30th, 2021 in causation, horse racing, negligence, news, personal injuries by tracey

‘Former Flat jockey Freddy Tylicki’s £6m negligence claim against fellow rider Graham Gibbons has begun in the High Court.’

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BBC News, 29th November 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The (Rebuttable) Presumption of Honesty – Hailsham Chambers

Posted November 2nd, 2021 in causation, fiduciary duty, loss of chance, negligence, news, set-off, solicitors by sally

‘The claim related to an opportunity to develop a Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) dealership in Wolverhampton (the Wolverhampton Opportunity), which the claimants alleged was lost due to the negligence of the defendant solicitors.’

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Hailsham Chambers, 8th October 2021

Source: www.hailshamchambers.com

Material Contribution in the Spotlight (Again) following Thorley v Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust – Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog

‘This blog deals with the causation aspects of Thorley v Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust [2021] EWHC 2604 (QB). Philip Godfrey dealt with the factual background and breach of duty aspects of this case in his recent blog. In short, Soole J preferred the evidence of the Defendant’s expert and dismissed the claim on that basis. In so doing, however, he concluded that as a matter of law the material contribution approach to causation does not apply when there is a single tortfeasor and an indivisible injury.
Soole J is surely right to acknowledge that this is an issue “ripe for authoritative review” (see [151]), but it is suggested that his reasons for reaching the above conclusion are somewhat questionable.’

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Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog, 26th October 2021

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

Breach of Duty and Hospital Guidelines: Thorley v Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust [2021] EWHC 2604 (QB) – Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog

‘This case considered the interplay between hospital guidelines and breach of duty in the clinical negligence setting.’

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Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog, 12th October 2021

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

‘Negligent’ London firm defeats £12m claim for lack of causation – Legal Futures

Posted October 1st, 2021 in causation, construction industry, damages, law firms, negligence, news by tracey

‘Leading London law firm Withers has fought off a £12m claim on the basis of causation after the High Court ruled that it gave negligent advice to a property developer.
However, His Honour Judge Pelling QC, sitting as a High Court judge, found that the firm gave negligent advice on a settlement agreement, leading to an award of £270,000 in damages.’

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Legal Futures, 1st October 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk