News & Events
News & Events
The Court of Appeal has now handed down judgment in Paul v Wolverhampton, Polmear v Cornwall and Purchase v Dr Ahmed – three conjoined appeals on the ‘secondary victim’ criteria for psychiatric injury claims in a clinical negligence setting. Tom Gibson takes a closer look at the implications. While medical negligence practitioners everywhere may have been hoping for clarity in the law, it looks as though the secondary victim claims saga will continue to run. Though the Court of Appeal decided the appeals, perhaps reluctantly, in favour of the defendants, the Court also encouraged the claimants to appeal to the Supreme Court. All three cases featured claimants who suffered psychiatric injuries resulting from family members’ tragic, sudden deaths following medical…
Legal Blogs 18 Jan, 2022
Jonathan Hand QC, instructed by CL Medilaw, represented the Claimant who suffered severe brain damage at the time of her birth. In this case, liability had already been settled on the basis that the Claimant would receive 90% of the full value of the claim, leaving the amount of compensation to be decided by the Court. Following further consideration of the claim, the High Court approved a settlement with a capital value of over £22 million (equivalent to over £24.5 million on a full liability basis). The settlement was structured so as to allow the Claimant to receive periodical payments for care and case management for her lifetime. In addition, annual payments of £265,000 were ordered up to age 25,…
News 7 Jan, 2022
Jonathan Hand QC successfully represented the Claimant in this clinical negligence claim, in which judgment was given on 9 November 2021. The following is a summary of the judge’s decision in the case. The claim was brought on behalf of Mrs Miller’s estate together with a claim by her husband and her half-brother, as dependents under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 after Mrs Miller was involved in a serious road traffic accident in 2016. The background In the accident, Mrs Miller suffered multiple orthopaedic injuries, including multiple fractures. Following arrival at the hospital by air ambulance, Mrs Miller underwent surgery for the fractures and was admitted to the ICU. Several weeks later, by which time Mrs Miller’s condition appeared to…
News 22 Dec, 2021
Outer Temple is very proud to announce that Rachel Vickers has been formally sworn in today as a member of Queen’s Counsel at the QC Appointment Ceremony 2021. Some of the finest legal minds have been sworn in today at Westminster Hall including Outer Temple’s Rachel Vickers. Whilst the celebrations have understandably been scaled down due to ongoing Covid restrictions, Rachel was able to celebrate with family and friends including her proud clerk, Paul Barton and we all look forward to getting together as a Chambers to raise a glass as soon as we can. Silks Day ‘Silks Day’ 2021, is the culmination of a rigorous application process to demonstrate excellence in advocacy in the higher courts. These appointments are…
News 1 Nov, 2021
Outer Temple Chambers is delighted to welcome Practice Manager Ben Fitzgerald to our health team. We are delighted to welcome Ben Fitzgerald to the Practice Management Team at Outer Temple Chambers. Ben has taken up the position of Practice Manager and will be supporting the Health Department, which includes Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury and Travel, Sports and Public Law practices. Ben will work alongside Mark Gardner and Chris Rowe to ensure the efficient day to day running of the team and support Paul Barton, the Health Team Practice Director. Ben has been clerking since 2008, with experience in multiple practice areas, most recently focusing on personal injury, clinical negligence and international practices. He has also managed employment and professional discipline…
News 18 May, 2021
Outer Temple is proud to sponsor the Action Against Medical Accidents (Not The) ACNC Online Event, a virtual alternative to their Annual Clinical Negligence Conference. Jonathan Hand QC will be speaking on Wrongful Birth Claims. On the mornings of 29th and 30th April 2021, rather than a trip to Bournemouth for the 32nd Annual Clinical Negligence Conference (ACNC), you are invited to virtually join a collection of expert speakers at the second online ‘(Not the) ACNC’. The event will have an obstetrics theme and there will be a live Q&A with the speakers at the end of both mornings. Wrongful Birth Claims Jonathan Hand QC has been asked once again to join the event as a speaker. Jonathan joins Miles…
Events 29 Apr, 2021
We are delighted to announce that Rachel Vickers has been elevated to the ranks of silk and, from 15 March 2021, will officially be Rachel Vickers QC. Rachel Vickers has over 20 years experience undertaking personal injury and clinical negligence cases. During this period she has been involved in cases covering nearly all areas of clinical specialism. In recent years she has gained considerable expertise litigating high value birth injury, neurological and spinal injury claims. She is instructed on behalf of Claimants and by the NHS Resolution, MDU and MPS and is totally dedicated to achieving the best result for her clients in a wholly compassionate manner. This year, clients fed back to Legal 500 that Rachel “has the incredible…
News 15 Mar, 2021
We are delighted to announce that Rachel Vickers has been awarded Clinical Negligence Junior of The Year at the Chambers Bar Awards 2020. The 2020 Chambers Bar Awards were held virtually on Thursday, 19 November 2020. Chambers stated “To be ranked by Chambers means that your set and its members are at the top of the profession. To be shortlisted at the Chambers Bar Awards means, as a result of extensive objective research by our dedicated team of over 200 analysts, you are at the pinnacle of the profession. Congratulations!” Rebecca Priestley, Chief Executive, commented: “Our warm congratulations to Rachel Vickers on this well deserved recognition for her excellent and dedicated work on clinical negligence and commitment to client care…
News 20 Nov, 2020
Outer Temple Chambers is delighted to welcome David Haines to our clinical negligence and personal injury team. David qualified in medicine in 1998 and practised as a junior doctor prior to joining the Bar in 2005. He has since built a broad ranging, complex, clinical and dental negligence and personal injury practice. He also undertakes sports, Court of Protection and inquest work. He has considerable experience in advisory work, settling pleadings including schedules of special damages and counter schedules. David is a particular authority in clinical negligence and is ranked in Chambers and Partners 2021. The legal directory notes that he is “clear, fastidious and bright…excellent with clients and experts alike and has a great understanding of medical issues”. They…
News 18 Nov, 2020
We are delighted to be nominated Client Service Set of the Year whilst Rachel Vickers has been nominated Clinical Negligence Junior of The Year at the Chambers Bar Awards 2020. Despite the difficulties of lockdown, Chambers & Partners have been busy completing the research process to decide the rankings for their 2020 edition. As part of this process they identify those worthy of their Chambers Bar Awards and have taken notice of the hard work by the Outer Temple team in not one but two categories: Clinical Negligence Junior of the Year – Rachel Vickers, Outer Temple Chambers Client Service Set of the Year – Outer Temple Chambers Chambers stated “To be ranked by Chambers means that your set and…
News 28 Sep, 2020
Outer Temple is proud to sponsor the Action against Medical Accidents Medico-Legal Issues in Surgery Conference, where James Counsell QC will be chairing and Jonathan Hand QC & Katarina Sydow will present. The event has been designed for solicitors and barristers to illustrate the key medico-legal issues in surgery, and is an excellent opportunity to learn from leading surgeons and develop your understanding to assist you in cases. An event not to be missed and essential for your clinical negligence caseload. James Counsell QC will be chairing the conference on both days and Jonathan Hand QC and Katarina Sydow will be presenting a lecture on Informed Consent and Causation. Registration You can view the programme and register for the conference here.…
News 15 Sep, 2020
Carin Hunt considers limitation issues resulting from the COVID-19 lockdown in her article for Lexis PSL. In the Lexis PSL article, ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19)—limitation provisions during lockdown for PI and clinical negligence matters’, Carin Hunt considers the consequences of Covid-19 for the limitation of personal injury and clinical negligence claims. Carin looks at delays to the conduct of litigation caused by the pandemic, and considers the use of standstill agreements and the operation of section 33 of the Limitation Act 1980 to keep claims in time. Article If you have subscription to Lexis, you may read the article here. About the Author Carin Hunt joined Chambers in September 2019, following her pupillage and she is developing a busy practice in the…
Covid-19 12 Aug, 2020
