Brewer v London Electricity plc – QBD 9 May 199Claimant: Peter Brewer, 49
Incident: Electrical burns from explosion at sub-station
Injuries: Claimant, an engineer with London Electricity was redirecting 11,000 volt power cable at electricity sub-station; explosion occurred sending flames 30 feet; claimant's clothes and hands on fire but he attempted to drag colleague from sub-station; colleague died before arrival of emergency services; claimant in hospital for six weeks with severe burns over 36 per cent of his body; he has since undergone extensive skin grafting surgery and still bears physical and mental scars
Award: £325,000 (agreed damages)
Judge: Judge Wilcox
Plaintiff's solicitors: Lawford & Co
Defendant's solicitors: McGoldrick Cairns
Laughton v Ministry of Defence – QBD 9 May 199Claimant: Nigel Laughton, Incident: Air crash
Injuries: Claimant, a former army officer, was undergoing helicopter training when aircraft crashed; he suffered serious back injuries, still suffers nightmares over the incident and has suffered serious physical and psychological disability; he has also had to give up the career in the army
Award: £521,32Judge: Judge Wilcox
Plaintiff's solicitors: Leigh Day & Co
Defendant's solicitors: Treasury Solicitor
McDaid v Howletts & Port Lympne Estates – QBD 17 May 199Claimant: Matthew McDaid, 10
Incident: Arm ripped off by chimpanzee at zoo
Injuries: Claimant was just short of third birthday at time of accident; put arm through bars of cage at Port Lympne Zoo in Kent; chimpanzee seized arm and bit it and then pulled it off at elbow
Award: £132,09Judge: Mr Justice Collins
Plaintiff's solicitors: Woolsey, Morris & Kennedy
Defendant's solicitors: Jarvis & Bannister
