Khan (Respondent) v Meadows (Appellant) [2021] UKSC 21 – Hailsham Chambers

‘In this highly anticipated judgment, the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the appeal and held that the Defendant doctor was only liable for losses which fell within the scope of her duty of care, thereby significantly reducing the damages recoverable by the Claimant.’

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Hailsham Chambers, 21st July 2021

Source: www.hailshamchambers.com

Negligence action against lawyers over amputation not time-barred – Legal Futures

‘A man who received “devastating news” that his lower leg needed to be amputated seven years after settling his personal injury claim is not prevented by limitation from suing his lawyers for negligence, the High Court has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 21st July 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Right to repair may lead to increased claims against manufacturers – OUT-LAW.com

‘New regulations which will extend the life of domestic electrical products by up to 10 years, could mean manufacturers face more claims for defective products or negligence, experts at Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law have warned.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 14th July 2021

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Secondary Victims: Still Second-Class Claimants? – Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog

‘In King v Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust [2021] EWHC 1576 (QB), the High Court once again demonstrated the difficulties faced by Claimants who suffer psychiatric conditions as a result of witnessing loved ones (in this case, a new-born baby) die in hospital.’

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Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog, 12th July 2021

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

Family of murdered sisters considering suing Met police – The Guardian

‘The family of two sisters whose killer was this week convicted of their murders are considering suing the police over alleged failures to act when they were reported missing.’

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The Guardian, 7th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Grenfell bereaved and survivors bring multimillion pound case to high court – The Guardian

‘More than 800 bereaved and survivors from Grenfell Tower and 102 firefighters are seeking up to tens of millions of pounds in compensation from organisations involved in the disastrous refurbishment in a case that reaches the high court on Wednesday.’

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The Guardian, 6th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Reporting restrictions in end of life cases: anonymity for treating clinicians – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The focus of this judgment was on the jurisdiction, if any, that the High Court Family Division has to maintain a Reporting Restriction Order (‘RRO’) prohibiting the naming of any medical clinicians as being involved in the care and treatment of a child who had been the subject of “end of life” proceedings before the High Court prior to their death, and where an RRO had been made at that time preventing the identification of any of the treating clinicians and staff until further order.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 6th July 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

‘A cascade of catastrophic failings’: the UK’s baby death scandals – The Guardian

‘An investigation into baby deaths at Furness general hospital in Barrow between 2004 and 2013 found a “lethal mix” of failings at almost every level.’

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The Guardian, 6th June 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Susan Nicholson: Murdered woman failed by police, inquest rules – BBC News

Posted July 6th, 2021 in domestic violence, inquests, murder, negligence, news, police by sally

‘Police failings caused or contributed to the death of a woman killed by her partner, an inquest jury has ruled.’

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BBC News, 5th July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

CA rejects privilege challenge to file access in lawyer negligence claim – Legal Futures

‘The solicitors to claimants who acquired a cause of action to sue the insolvent defendant’s lawyers for professional negligence cannot be prevented from accessing privileged material, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd July 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Meadows v Khan in the Supreme Court: Scope of Duty in Clinical Negligence Claims – Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog

‘In Meadows v Khan [2021] UKSC 21, the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed Ms Meadows’ appeal, finding that there was no principled basis for excluding a clinical negligence claim from the ambit of the ‘scope of duty principle’ in the tort of negligence. The judgment can be read here. This short blog looks at the majority’s reasoning.’

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Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog, 24th June 20201

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

Supreme Court Revisits Wrongful Birth Claims: an extended look — Robert Kellar QC and Owain Thomas QC – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In Khan v. Meadows [2021] UKSC 21 the Supreme Court has revisited the principles to be applied in “wrongful birth” claims: claims for the cost of bringing up a disabled child who would not have been born but for a doctor’s negligent medical advice/treatment. However, the judgment has implications beyond the world of clinical negligence litigation. The Supreme Court has taken the opportunity to clarify the components or ingredients of the tort negligence more generally. In particular, the Court has affirmed the importance of the “scope of duty” principle: a principle which limits the recoverability of damages wherever it applies. In particular, it is not sufficient for a claimant to establish that – with competent advice – they would have made a different decision about their treatment or care. They must also demonstrate that the particular harm that they have suffered fell within the scope of the defendant’s duty of care.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 24th June 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Judge stops draft ruling publication after parties settle dispute – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 22nd, 2021 in costs, indemnities, judgments, negligence, news, notification by sally

‘A judge has decided that her ruling on an issue of indemnity costs should remain unpublished after the parties settled the dispute at the last minute.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 21st June 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Supreme Court lays out “new legal roadmap” for professional negligence – Legal Futures

Posted June 22nd, 2021 in costs, economic loss, negligence, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘The Supreme Court has provided a “wholly new legal roadmap” for professional negligence after its ruling last week in two linked cases, the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association (PNLA) has said.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd June 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Supreme Court clarifies duty test in Grant Thornton ruling – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Supreme Court has backed a building society’s claim against its former auditor, in a ruling that provides a “more generous” test for the duty of care owed by professional advisers.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 18th June 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Professionals, continuing duty and limitation – Mills & Reeve

Posted June 15th, 2021 in contracts, limitations, mistake, negligence, news by sally

‘Does a professional such as a solicitor, architect or pensions adviser have a duty to revisit their work and to correct a mistake they’ve made earlier? This is an important question for any professional and can be particularly significant when a client alleges that work done many years ago was negligent.’

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Mills & Reeve, 14th June 2021

Source: www.mills-reeve.com

Failure to remove claims and section 20 accommodation – Local Government Lawyer

‘A High Court Master has recently considered whether in ‘failure to remove’ cases where a child has been accommodated under section 20, the accommodation of the child gives rise to a duty of care by way of assumption of responsibility, even if other steps taken by the local authority do not do so. Paul Stagg analyses the ruling.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th June 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Documents privileged despite ‘element of deception’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 10th, 2021 in disclosure, documents, misrepresentation, negligence, news, privilege by sally

‘The High Court has ruled that a litigant’s legal documents must remain privileged despite it being accepted they were part of an information-gathering deception.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 9th June 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Duty of care for the acts of third parties – Law Society’s Gazette

‘In Begum v Maran (UK) Ltd [2021] EWCA Civ 326, the Court of Appeal recently refused to dismiss a claim seeking damages from a UK-domiciled company following its sale of a ship to a third party, which arranged for its disposal in an unsafe manner. Although limited to arguability, it offers key insights into how duties could evolve into the consequences of corporates’ interactions with third parties.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 7th June 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Claimants awarded £2,000 damages – and ordered to pay £500,000 interim costs – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A litigant in a building dispute who claimed £3.7m in damages – only to be awarded just £2,000 at trial – has been hit with a costs bill of at least £500,000.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 2nd June 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk