Ben Bradley KC secures record cauda equina settlement

Ben Bradley KC (instructed by Stewarts) has secured what is thought to be the highest ever recorded settlement arising from a delayed diagnosis of cauda equina compression.

The liability issues had previously been compromised on a 95% basis in the Claimant’s favour (less than 21 days before the liability trial).

The case settled on a lump sum and Periodical Payment Basis (allowing sufficient funds for 24-hour sleep-in care in the period towards the end of life); and assumed that the Claimant would require adapted single storey accommodation in London.

Allowing for full life expectancy, the capitalised value of the claim (allowing for the liability discount) was c.£6.5m (or. c.£6.85m on a full liability basis). Allowing for minor reductions in respect of life expectancy, the capitalised value of the claim would still easily exceed £6m.

Ben Bradley KC took silk this year in March. He was previously recognised by Chambers and Partners as a Band 1 junior for his clinical negligence work. He is a seasoned trial advocate and negotiator, having recently successfully appeared for the Claimant in MJF v Birmingham Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2024] EWHC 3156 (KB) (upon which the Defendant’s application for permission to appeal has now been refused). Since taking silk, he has already settled numerous cases at multi-million pound valuations.

Further details about the work undertaken by Ben’s instructing solicitors can be found here.

Find out more

To find out more about Ben, contact Paul Barton on +44 (0)20 7427 4907 for a confidential discussion.

News 2 Sep, 2025