Litigation Personal Injury 13/08/96

Quested v HW Sladden and Co - QBD 18 July 1996

Claimant: Alan Quested, 56

Incident: Asbestosis

Injuries: Claimant joined Canterbury-based company (defendants) in 1963 as pipe fitter and worked his way up to become a director of the company in 1990; however, he died in August 1995 of asbestosis said to have developed as a result of his work as a pipe fitter

Award: £175,000 (agreed damages)

Judge: Judge Simon Fawcus

Plaintiff's solicitors: Field Fisher Waterhouse

Plaintiff's counsel: Kieran May



Bell v South Essex Health

Authority - QBD 22 July 1996

Claimant: Zoe Elizabeth Bell, 39

Incident: Medical negligence

Injuries: After two difficult Caesarean deliveries claimant underwent sterilisation by tying off of fallopian tubes in 1989; despite this she became pregnant again in 1990 and gave birth to a third son in February 1991; son now five suffers from a number of behavioural problems; health authority sued on basis they failed to warn sterilisation could fail

Award: £100,000 (agreed damages)

Judge: Mr Justice Waterhouse

Plaintiff's solicitors: Prettys

Plaintiff's counsel: Richard Davies QC



Cave v Dartford and Gravesham Health Authority - QBD 16 July 1996

Claimant: Danielle Cave, 10

Incident: Medical negligence

Injuries: Claimant suffered devastating brain damage at birth; her intellect remains intact but she can barely communicate or move and will always depend on the full-time care of others; she can just manage to communicate by hitting a computer with her fist

Award: £1,100,000 (agreed damages)

Judge: Mr Justice May

Plaintiff's solicitors: Argles & Court (Maidstone)

Plaintiff's counsel: Daniel Brennan QC