Grant v Moreton – QBD 3 July 1997

Claimant: Stephen Grant, 21 years

Incident: Road traffic accident

Injuries: Claimant, rear seat passenger in car driven by defendant which struck verge and crossed carriageway before ending up in woodland copse, received broken jaw and fractures to the right collar bone, left thigh and left ribs and serious head injuries. He has since made what was described in court as "a remarkable recovery from his orthopaedic injuries" and overcome his disabilities to qualify and find work as a mechanic

Award: £450,000 agreed damages

Judge: Judge Roger Cox

Plaintiff's counsel: Colin Mackay QC

Plaintiff's solicitor: Osborne Morris & Morgan, Milton Keynes

Lawrence v McPhail and anor – QBD 1 July 1997

Claimant: Stephen Lawrence, 34 years

Incident: Road traffic accident

Injuries: Claimant was stationary in his car at traffic lights when it was hit from the rear by a coach causing the roof of his car to collapse. He received serious head injuries necessitating a life-saving operation to stop internal bleeding to his brain. His injuries have led to a major personality change. He suffers from speech disturbances, right-sided weakness, clumsiness and aggressive behaviour and will always need assistance with his day-to-day living

Award: £250,000 agreed damages

Judge: Mr Justice Moses

Plaintiff's counsel: Nicholas Yell

Plaintiff's solicitors: Bull & Bull, Canterbury

Pullan v Poulton and anor – QBD 30 June 1997

Claimant: Stephen Pullan, 40 years

Incident: Fall blamed on alleged negligence by care authorities

Injuries: Mentally handicapped man rendered quadriplegic after falling over icy ramp outside residential care home and being allegedly mishandled by ambulance crew. Claimant was already severely handicapped at time of accident and suffered frequent epileptic seizures.

Unclear whether fall was result of an epileptic seizure or not. Although claimant would in any event have required care throughout his life, the amount he needs has been greatly increased by his injuries

Award: £138,000 agreed damages

Judge: Mr Justice Alliott

Plaintiff's counsel: Andrew Spink

Plaintiff's solicitors: Stewarts, London