Litigation Personal Injury 09/07/96

King v Waltham Forest Health Authority - 14 June 1996

Claimant: Sarah King, 20

Incident: Medical negligence

Injuries: Claimant left in perfect physical health but severely mentally handicapped; normal life expectancy

Award: £1.3 million (agreed damages)

Judge: Mr Justice Morland

Plaintiff's solicitors: Field Fisher Waterhouse

Plaintiff's counsel: Robert Francis QC



Hannigan v North Hertfordshire Health Authority - 17 June 1996

Claimant: Stacie Hannigan, Incident: Medical negligence

Injuries: Claimant left totally blind following failure to check her eyes thoroughly following premature birth; had correct screening been carried out it is believed there would have been 70 per cent chance of saving claimant's sight to an extent that she would have been able to undergo normal education and anticipate normal employment; now she is left with only perception of light and dark, is functionally blind and has no hope of any improvement

Award: £400,000 (agreed damages)

Judge: Mr Justice Wright

Plaintiff's solicitors: Brignalls (Stevenage)

Plaintiff's counsel: Richard Davies QC and Charles Brown



Steinhausen v Plymouth health Authority - 17 June 1996

Claimant: Craig Steinhausen, Incident: Medical negligence

Injuries: Delayed forceps delivery following signs of foetal distress; when born claimant needed resuscitation and did not breathe independently for 10 minutes; as a result he suffers from cerebral palsy

Award: £1.1 million (agreed damages)

Judge: Mr Justice Popplewell

Plaintiff's solicitors: Rowley Ashworth (Exeter)

Plaintiff's counsel: Jeffrey Burke QC and Robert Glancy