Category: expert witnesses

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

Colston’s firm enslaved the most Africans, David Olusoga tells Bristol court – The Guardian

Posted December 17th, 2021 in criminal damage, expert witnesses, forced labour, news, trafficking in human beings by michael

‘Edward Colston was “chief executive officer” of a company responsible for enslaving more Africans than any other in British history, the historian David Olusoga has told a court, as defendants argued they acted “lawfully” in toppling his statue.’

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The Guardian, 16th December 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Castello v Gonschior: The Importance of Choosing the Right Discipline of Expert in Clinical Negligence Claims and the Limitations of Res Ipsa Loquitur – Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog

Posted November 12th, 2021 in chambers articles, compensation, complaints, cosmetic surgery, damages, expert witnesses, negligence, news, personal injuries by tracey

‘In Castello v Gonschior [2021] EWHC 2742 (QB), Lambert J provides an important reminder of the importance of choosing the right experts and an example of the relevance, or lack of relevance, of complaints by other patients, and the evidential principles of “res ipsa loquitur” and Keefe v The Isle of Man Steam Packet Co Ltd [2010] EWCA Civ 683 (“Keefe”) in clinical negligence claims.’

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Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog, 11th November 2021

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

Expert evidence ‘expressing opinion’ in JRs inadmissible, High Court rules – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 9th, 2021 in care homes, coronavirus, expert witnesses, government departments, judicial review, news by tracey

‘Expert evidence in a judicial review which “goes beyond comment and expresses [an] opinion” about a decision under challenge is inadmissible, the High Court has said in dismissing an application to adduce a witness statement which consists “almost entirely of opinion evidence”.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 8th November 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Toning down the theatrics: Barristers “less aggressive” in remote hearings – Legal Futures

Posted November 5th, 2021 in barristers, coronavirus, cross-examination, expert witnesses, news, remote hearings, statistics by michael

“A significant number of expert witnesses who have been appeared in court remotely over the past 18 months say barristers have been “less aggressive” in their cross-examination.”

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Legal Futures, 5th November 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Court of Appeal decision in Griffiths v TUI UK Ltd [2021] EWCA Civ 1442: judicial evaluation of ‘uncontroverted’ expert evidence – St John’s Chambers

Posted November 2nd, 2021 in burden of proof, cross-examination, evidence, expert witnesses, news by sally

‘Jimmy Barber of our Personal Injury team summarises the Court of Appeal’s decision in the case of Griffiths v TUI UK Ltd [2021] EWCA Civ 1442, which was handed down on 7th October 2021.’

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St John's Chambers, 18th October 2021

Source: www.stjohnschambers.co.uk

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

Posted October 29th, 2021 in causation, chambers articles, damages, expert witnesses, hospitals, negligence, news, personal injuries by tracey

‘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

Costs Order against Dental Expert who Showed a Flagrant, Reckless Disregard for his Duties to the Court – Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog

Posted October 25th, 2021 in chambers articles, costs, dentists, expert witnesses, negligence, news, third parties by tracey

‘Having blanked his screen and left the ongoing court proceedings to pick up his son from school, the Claimant’s expert witness in Robinson v (1) Liverpool University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (2) Mercier (County Court at Liverpool, 9 September 2021), Dr Mercier, was initially oblivious of the court’s direction that the Defendant trust would have 21 days to consider whether to pursue a third-party costs order (“TCPO”) against the expert.’

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Ropewalk Clinical Negligence Blog, 19th October 2021

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

Claimant loses in Court of Appeal despite defendant offering no evidence – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 8th, 2021 in appeals, compensation, cross-examination, damages, evidence, expert witnesses, holidays, news, personal injuries by tracey

‘The Court of Appeal has found – albeit by a majority verdict – in favour of a defendant who offered no evidence to support their case and did not cross-examine the claimant’s instructed expert. The ruling on uncontroverted evidence in Griffiths v Tui will be a blow for personal injury firms with hundreds of holiday sickness claims waiting on the result.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 7th October 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

No case to answer: prosecution under s. 82 Environmental Protection Act 1990 dismissed – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 1st, 2021 in environmental protection, expert witnesses, health & safety, housing, landlord & tenant, local government, news, nuisance, private prosecutions by tracey

‘Sarah Salmon reports on how a social landlord successfully defended a private prosecution brought by an occupier of one of its properties under section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judge lambasts government lawyers who ignored court rules – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 1st, 2021 in civil procedure rules, coronavirus, disclosure, expert witnesses, government departments, judicial review, news, public procurement by tracey

‘The Department of Health and Social Care has been publicly censured by the courts for repeatedly failing to comply with civil procedure rules on disclosure protocol in a case brought by a campaign group.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 1st October 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Giving evidence “not a game”, judge tells expert witness – Legal Futures

Posted September 28th, 2021 in accounts, company law, expert witnesses, insolvency, news by sally

‘An expert witness has apologised to the High Court after being told by a judge not to treat giving evidence in court “as a game”.’

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Legal Futures, 28th September 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Public procurement update – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 17th, 2021 in expert witnesses, judicial review, local government, news, public procurement by tracey

‘Lynsey Oakdene and Kathryn Vickers consider recent decisions on the role of expedited trials in maintaining automatic suspensions and the admissibility of expert evidence; other notable cases; and the government’s newest judicial review reform proposals.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th September 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Costs and costs of repairs – Nearly Legal

Posted August 31st, 2021 in damages, expert witnesses, landlord & tenant, local government, news, repairs, small claims by sally

‘An interesting, though non-binding, county court decision on the issue of costs of a disrepair claim that settled pre-allocation.’

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Nearly Legal, 30th August 2021

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Expert witnesses “prefer preparing in-person for virtual hearings” – Legal Futures

Posted August 18th, 2021 in coronavirus, cross-examination, expert witnesses, news, remote hearings by sally

‘Expert witnesses prefer to travel to prepare themselves for a trial in person with their legal teams even when the trial itself is to be conducted remotely, a report has found.’

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Legal Futures, 18th August 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Try before you buy: the price of expert shopping – Practical Law: Construction Blog

Posted August 13th, 2021 in construction industry, expert witnesses, news by tracey

‘When it comes to replenishing my wardrobe, I have little patience for the careful selection of clothes for style and fit (this should come as no surprise). Instead, I am one of those who buys a job-lot of clothes once or twice a year to see me through the next couple of seasons. When I may not have been sufficiently realistic about size, I rely on the ability to change my mind and send things back or exchange for something more appropriate. However, do the same with experts at your peril! The case of Matthew Rogerson (t/a Cottesmore Hotel, Golf and Country Club) v Eco Top Heat & Power Ltd provides a very useful reminder of the court’s approach to expert shopping. As well as a recap on that approach, it invites reflection on how we go about selecting, instructing and managing experts when proceedings are anticipated.’

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Practical Law: Construction Blog, 11th August 2021

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com

Professional Discipline & Regulatory Team Bulletin – Summer 2021 – 23 Essex Street

Posted August 6th, 2021 in chambers articles, expert witnesses, hospitals, news, professional conduct by sally

‘In this edition of the Professional Discipline & Regulatory Team quarterly bulletin, Carolina Cabral discusses the need for expert evidence where matters are of common sense(pp.2-4) and Divya Puri helpfully reminds us of the process and procedure to be undertaken when applying for a High Court extension to an interim order (pp.5-7) We also include our usual brief summary of some recent cases.’

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23 Essex Street, 2nd August 2021

Source: www.23es.com

Medico-legal market contracts as Covid hits PI cases – Legal Futures

Posted July 8th, 2021 in compensation, coronavirus, damages, expert witnesses, news, personal injuries, statistics by sally

‘The value of the medico-legal market fell by 18% to £650m last year because of Covid reducing the number of new personal injury cases and slowing down those already in progress.’

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Legal Futures, 8th July 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Capacity to make decisions on care and alcohol dependency – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 2nd, 2021 in alcohol abuse, alcoholism, Court of Protection, expert witnesses, local government, news by tracey

‘Laura Wares analyses a recent case in which the assessment of capacity of an individual with a history of alcohol misuse was considered by the court.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 2nd July 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

36 Crime Criminal Updates – The 36 Group

Posted July 2nd, 2021 in animal cruelty, animals, appeals, chambers articles, criminal justice, evidence, expert witnesses, news by sally

‘We are grateful to the contributors to this Newsletter. Sam Skinner’s case note on the recent decision in R -v- Brecani addresses the consequence of this important shift away from accepting as expert evidence the conclusive decisions made by civil servants within the Home Office on referrals for human trafficking and modern slavery. Kate Kelleher provides a timely reminder that the provisions of the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 is in force from 29th June 2021 and provides a commentary on the most notable recent developments in the prosecutions of animal welfare offences. In April and May Catherine Rose and Tom Parker ran a 2-part webinar session on Open-Source Evidence with contributions from a panel of leading experts from the US and UK. Their article is just a taster of the material covered in greater depth in the sessions. A timely warning to apply the basic critical analysis we use in relation to evidence from many scientific fields to all such evidence before relying on it at face value. Mary Prior Q.C. has provided a comprehensive round up in the Crime Bulletin of all the recent decisions of importance in a broad spectrum of procedural and offence-based areas.’

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The 36 Group, 28th June 2021

Source: 36group.co.uk