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