Chapman v Newberry – QBD 1 July 1997
Claimant: Heather Chapman, 16
Incident: Road traffic accident
Injuries: Claimant, now 22, suffered spinal injuries which have left her a paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life. She was a rear-seat passenger in car which ran out of control
Award: £679,051 (agreed damages)
Judge: Mr Justice Potts
Plaintiff's counsel: Philip Mott QC and Alison McCormick
Plaintiff's solicitor: Stewarts, Taunton
Willbye v Gibbons – CA 16 July 1997
Incident: Road traffic accident
Appeal issue: Liability
Appeal contentions: Plaintiff's appeal from order of Recorder Goldstraub QC, Nottingham County Court, 11 July 1996, giving judgment for defendant. Appellant, aged 12, claims damages for injury caused by defendant's car hitting her as she ran across road. Contended judge wrong to hold defendant not negligent when he agreed in evidence he saw appellant and she looked as though she might dash across road. Judge erred in finding that even if defendant had sounded horn appellant would still have run into road.