PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE NEWS 3: INADEQUATE ATTENDANCE NOTE LEADS TO WOEFUL RESULTS: THE APPEAL THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED
Here we are looking at a decision where manifold service failures on the part of solicitors were identified. However we will look at one issue – the consequences of an attendance note not being full and complete. Counsel advised on…
PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE NEWS 2: HOW TO CALCULATE LOSSES TO A SOLICITOR WHEN OTHERS HAVE DONE THE WORK BADLY
Here we look at the assessment of damages in a professional negligence/breach of contract case. The facts are unusual in that damages were assessed in a case where a solicitor had counterclaimed for losses due to inadequate work done by…
PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE NEWS (1): I’VE SUED THE WRONG DEFENDANT: CAN THE COURT DO ANYTHING TO HELP? FIRST OF (WHAT MAY WELL BE) A LONG RUNNING SERIES
There is much to be said for starting a new (and what may well be a long running) series looking at professional negligence cases, in particular the procedural and practical issues that arise. Firstly, if (as here) it is a…
CLINICAL NEGLIGENCE CORNER 1: ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGES FOR PAIN AND SUFFERING IN A CLINICAL NEGLIGENCE CASE: IT HELPS IF THE PSLA IS IN THE SCHEDULE
It is relatively rare for litigators to get a detailed insight into the court’s approach to an award for pain and suffering. We see any example here. Of course every case is fact specific, but practitioners have to be aware…
AVOIDING UNDERSETTLEMENT: PROTECTING THE CLIENT AND PROTECTING YOURSELF: WEBINAR 29th MAY 2025
“We go back through your claim in fine detail and if we find that your previous solicitor wasn’t thorough enough and your claim was mishandled, we’ll squeeze out all the compensation that you’re entitled to, getting you more money, and…
THE COURT WOULD NOT ORDER A SPLIT TRIAL: FUZZY LINES, COSTS, PREJUDICE AND OTHER FACTORS MEAN ALL ISSUES SHOULD BE HEARD TOGETHER
In Tatiana Soroka v Payne Hicks Beach (A Firm) [2025] EWHC 602 (Ch) Master Kaye refused the claimant’s application for a split trial. The judgment considers in detail the guidance from the authorities and the matters the court should take into account….
JUDGE DOES NOT ALLOW A WITNESS TO GIVE EVIDENCE IN A PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE CASE: IT CONTAINED “INADMISSIBLE AND IRRELEVANT EVIDENCE” THAT “ATTEMPTS TO USURP MY ROLE IN A CASE”
In Russell v Coulter (Rev1) [2025] EWHC 493 (KB) Mr Justice Saini disallowed the calling of a witness that the claimant planned to call in an action for professional negligence. The witness statement relied upon contained opinion and inadmissible commentary. …
SOLICITORS, SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE DUTY TO THE COURT: THREE CASES REVIEWED
The judgment in Williams-Henry v Associated British Ports & Anor (Re Wasted Costs Order) [2024] EWHC 2415 (KB) we looked at last week contained some important observations about the limit of a solicitor’s duty to check their own client’s social media…
WHEN A PARTY IS BANKRUPT: WEBINAR ON THE 16th SEPTEMBER 2024: AN IMPORTANT TOPIC THAT MAY HELP FLOAT YOUR BOAT
In The Mayor And Burgesses of the London Borough of Richmond v Trotman [2024] EWHC 2145 (KB) Mr Justice Kerr was critical of the claimant’s failure to consider the consequences of the defendant being bankrupt. Insolvency issues in litigation…
COURT REFUSES TO EXTEND TIME FOR SERVICE OF THE CLAIM FORM: CLAIMANTS COME TO GRIEF
In Playfair & Ors v Pannells LLP & Ors [2024] EWHC 1933 (Ch) Master Brightwell refused the claimants’ application for an extension of time for service of the claim form. The application was made before the time of expiry for…
UPDATED VERSION OF THE DENTON RESOURCE: “A BUMPER CROP OF PROCEDURAL ERRORS”
The Sanctions Case Watch section of this blog has, for many years, included a link to the Denton Resource. A new edition of the Resource was published on the 7th February 2023 and it can be found here. THE DENTON…
AVOIDING UNDER-SETTLEMENT: A GUIDE FOR PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS: WEBINAR 20th SEPTEMBER 2022
A webinar on “avoiding undersettlement” for personal injury lawyers is being held on the 20th September 2022. Booking details are available here. “We go back through your claim in fine detail and if we find that your previous solicitor…
PROVING THINGS 230: NEGLIGENCE AND BREACH MUST STILL BE PROVEN WHEN BRINGING CONTRIBUTION PROCEEDINGS
In Percy v White & Anor [2022] EWCA Civ 493 the Court of Appeal overturned a decision based on a contribution notice. This case makes it clear that a party bringing contribution proceedings still has to establish breach and causation…
SUING YOUR LAWYER: SOLICITORS NOT NEGLIGENT IN FAILING TO PASS ON COUNSEL’S VIEWS OR ADVISE ON THE RISKS OF LITIGATION
In Mervyn Lambert Plant Ltd & Anor v Knights Solicitors [2022] EWHC 165 (QB) Dan Squires QC, sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge, rejected the claimant’s argument that his former solicitors had been negligent in failing to inform him…
THAT CASE WHERE A CLAIMANT’S LAWYERS FAILED TO SERVE THE CLAIM FORM PROPERLY (THE SECOND TIME AGAINST THE SOLICITORS WHO WERE NEGLIGENT ON THE FIRST OCCASION)
If ever a case illustrated the dangers of not appreciating the rules as to service of the claim form. Dzekova -v- Thomas Eggar LLP [2015] EWHC 2600 (QB) which we have looked briefly before. It reveals a sorry tale of…
SOLICITORS AND FUNDERS ENTITLED TO TERMINATE THEIR AGREEMENT: FORMER CLIENTS LIABLE TO PAY COSTS: WHEN LITIGATION GOES AWRY
The judgment of HHJ Cadwallader in Escalate Law Ltd & Anor v Kennedy & Anor [2021] EWHC 2232 (Ch) is an example of legal funders and solicitors falling out with their clients. The judge upheld the decision to withdraw from…
PROVING THINGS 209: SOLICITORS NEGLIGENCE ACTION DISMISSED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO LOSS: THE CLAIMED JEWEL WAS BIGGER THAN THE SOCKET
In Kingsley Napley LLP v Harris & Anor [2021] EWHC 901 (QB) Margaret Obi, sitting as a high court judge dismissed a claim for professional negligence on the basis that there had not been any loss. There are important lessons…
A BARRISTER OF “GOOD JUDGEMENT”: WHEN THE PERSON WHO USUALLY DOES THE CROSS-EXAMINING IS IN THE WITNESS BOX
The judgment of Mr Justice Jay in Torrance v Bradberry [2020] EWHC 3260 (QB) is one that should be read by every practising lawyer. It is a case of a lawyer as defendant, being accused of negligence in their conduct…
LITIGATION: NO DUTY TO THE OTHER SIDE IN LITIGATION TO PUT FORWARD YOUR BEST EVIDENCE
The Court of Appeal judgment this morning in Revenue And Customs v Charles (t/a Boston Computer Group Europe) [2019] EWCA Civ 2176 contains some important observations in relation to the duties that litigating parties owe to each other. “If…
STAYING SANE AS A LITIGATOR 5: THINGS WILL GO WRONG: “YOU GOTTA HAVE A PLAN”: DON’T CRASH…
No matter how hard you try, on occasions, things will go wrong in litigation. Do you have a plan? Here we examine the need to have a plan to cover default and other issues in litigation. We then look in…
PROVING THINGS 154: CLOSE CONNECTION IN TIME DOES NOT ESTABLISH CAUSATION IN A CLINICAL NEGLIGENCE CASE: EXPERTS STRAYING BEYOND THEIR AREA OF EXPERTISE
In AXO v Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust [2019] EWHC 1454 (QB) Mrs Justice YIP considered the issue of causation in a clinical negligence case. Liability was admitted but the claimant failed to establish causation. THE CASE The claimant child was…
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG FOR A DEFENDANT AT TRIAL: FOUR LESSONS FROM ONE CASE: WHEN YOU HAVE AN EXPERT WHO STATES THEY ARE “BIASED”…
In Hanbury & Anor v Hugh James Solicitors (a firm) [2019] EWHC 1074 (QB) Mrs Justice Yip found that a firm of solicitors had been negligent in its conduct of a fatal accident case. There are a number of lessons…
PROVING THINGS 147: CLAIM FOR NOT PURSUING NEGLIGENT SOLICITORS LEADS TO NOMINAL DAMAGES ONLY: NO DAMAGES FOR “LOSS OF CHANCE”
The judgment in Waraich & Anor v Ansari Solicitors (A firm) [2019] EWHC 1038 (Comm) HHJ Pearce also contains yet another example of claimants failing to prove any loss at trial. There was no evidence to support any claim for…
LIABILITY OF McKENZIE FRIEND: EXCLUSIVE NOTE OF JUDGMENT:
There was considerable discussion yesterday about the decision of HHJ Eady (sitting as a High Court judge) in Wright -v-Troy Lucas. My colleague Colm Nugent has been kind enough to send me a note of the judgment (where he appeared…
PROVING THINGS 141: CREDIBILITY WAS IMPORTANT IN CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST SOLICITORS: SUPREME COURT RESTORES DECISION OF TRIAL JUDGE
In Perry v Raleys Solicitors [2019] UKSC 5 the Supreme Court restored the decision of the trial judge in relation to damages. One of the key issues was whether the Court of Appeal was correct to overturn the trial judge’s factual…
5th BIRTHDAY REVIEW 3: AVOIDING NEGLIGENCE CLAIMS
This is the third post that looks back at series of posts over the past five years. The series on avoiding negligence claims was written at the end of 2013. The emphasis was on avoiding negligence claims, particularly for personal injury…
PROVING THINGS 110: ASSESSING DAMAGES: “BEGIN WITH FIRST PRINCIPLES”: PROVING AND ASSESSING LOSS IN A CLAIM FOR PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE
In Edwards v Hugh James Ford Simey (a firm) [2018] EWCA Civ 1299 the Court of Appeal overturned a finding that the claimant had not established causation for damages in a professional negligence action. When assessing damages the court should begin…
SUMMARY JUDGMENT FOR DEFENDANT IN A NEGLIGENCE ACTION AGAINST SOLICITORS
I am grateful to my colleague at Hardwicke, Laurence Page, for sending me a transcript of the judgment of District Judge Langley in the case of Wright -v- Rix & Kay Solicitors, Central London County Court, 30/11/2017 (available here Wrighttranscript)….
THE DANGER OF ISSUING UNDER PART 8 AND THEN DOING VERY LITTLE: COURT UPHOLDS REFUSAL TO LIFT STAY: ACTION STRUCK OUT
I am grateful to barrister Richard Whitehall for sending me a copy of the decision of His Honour Judge Pearce in the case of Lyle -v- Allianz Insurance plc (Liverpool CC 21st December 2017). It is a case that illustrates…
THE DUTIES OF A SOLICITOR IN LITIGATION: NO DUTY TO TEMPT THE CLIENT TO PURSUE LARGE SUMS: ADVERTISING “TURNED THE CLIENT’S HEAD” AND LED TO INCORRECT ASSERTIONS
In Thomas v Hugh James Ford Simey Solicitors [2017] EWCA Civ 1303 the Court of Appeal considered the extent of a solicitor’s duty and retainer. It is significant in that it: States that the courts should approach the issue of fixed…
"SECOND HAND" SIGNATURES WILL NOT DO -"PRE-SIGNING" THE STATEMENT OF TRUTH? – NOT A GOOD IDEA
This blog has covered the importance of the statement of truth on many occasions. However the issues revealed in the Solicitors Disciplinary hearing in SRA -v- Jackson reveals a remarkably insouciant approach to the statement of truth. THE CASE The…
PROVING THINGS 33: CAUSATION AND THE BURDEN OF PROOF IN CLAIMS AGAINST SOLICITORS
We have looked before at the decision in The Connaught Income Fund, Series 1 -v- Hewetts Solicitors [2016] EWHC 2286 (Ch). The previous post was in connection with witness evidence. However the judgment on the burden of proof is significant in terms…
I'VE LOST £5 MILLION AND ITS ALL MY SOLICITOR'S FAULT: WHEN THE CLIENT BLAMES YOU FOR THEIR OWN BAD DECISIONS
This post is unusual in that it deals with a case from a different jurisdiction (Northern Ireland) and a professional negligence action against a conveyancer not a litigator. However the decision of Deeny J in Eden (NI) Limited -v- Mills,…
BANQUO’S GHOST NOT AT THE FEAST: WHEN A KEY WITNESS IS NOT CALLED – THE INFERENCES A COURT WILL DRAW
There is an interesting discussion of the role of the “absent witness” in the judgment today of Mr Justice Kerr in O’Hare -v-Coutts & Co [2016] EWHC 2224 (QB). There are dangers in a party not calling someone who is…
FRAUDULENT CLAIMANTS AND THE NEED FOR SELF-PROTECTION BY LAWYERS
A report in Litigation Futures last week illustrates the need for “self protection” by lawyers. The headline says it all “Insurance Fraudster who tried to blame his solicitor jailed for 18 months”. “IT WAS ALL MY SOLICITOR’S FAULT” The claimant…
PROVING THINGS 26: DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN WHAT YOU CAN REMEMBER AND WHAT YOU NOW THINK YOU DID
There have been a large number of posts on this blog about witness evidence, in particular the way that the courts assess the accuracy of evidence. A surprising number of these have been in the context of clinical negligence claims….
WITNESS EVIDENCE, RECOLLECTION,RECONSTRUCTION AND CLINICAL NEGLIGENCE
There were eighteen (factual and expert) witnesses in the trial in Dr Sido John -v- Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2015] EWHC 407 (QB). However, ultimately, the case on liability rested rested on which lay witness…
LEGALLY STREETWISE: WHAT YOU DON’T LEARN IN LAW SCHOOL
Initially it was a surprise to discover that law students were being told to read this blog (I am not sure I need that kind of pressure). Apparently prospective pupils and trainees are advised to read it to answer interview…
WITNESSES, TRIALS AND ACCURACY OF RECOLLECTION: ANOTHER EXAMPLE
In XYZ -v- Warrington & Halton NHS Foundation Trust [2016] EWHC 331 (QB) Mr Justice Dove considered a trial where the outcome, as so often, depended on the accuracy of recollection. THE CASE The claimant brought an action in…
WITNESS CREDIBILITY, ATTENDANCE NOTES AND FINDINGS OF FACT
In Mansion Estates Ltd -v- Hayre & Co (A Firm) [2016] EWHC 96 (Ch) His Honour Judge Saffman (sitting as a judge of the High Court) went, carefully, through the principles relating to witness credibility and findings of fact. Given…
TEN NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR LITIGATORS IN 2016
Some resolutions to keep you prosperous and out of difficulties in 2016. (Happy New Year) 1. NEVER, EVER, GUESS ABOUT A LIMITATION PERIOD (OR TAKE A CLIENT’S WORD FOR IT) Litigators of all types must have a clear idea about…
WITNESS EVIDENCE AND CONTEMPORARY DOCUMENTS 2: A USEFUL COUNTERBALANCE
A post earlier this month looked at a case where the judge favoured the witness evidence over a written medical record. The decision in Grimstone -v- Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust [2015] EWHC 3756 (QB) is a…
"THAT PART OF MY WITNESS STATEMENT IS NOT TRUE": NEVER A GREAT START TO A CASE
In Monks -v- National Westminster Bank PLC [2015] EWHC 2310 (Ch) HH Judge Simon Baker (QC)(sitting as a judge of the High Court) had some acute observations about the witness statements and witness evidence adduced by the defendant bank. “…it…
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