Bill Braithwaite QC and Chris Gutteridge secure ‘£9 million settlement’ for double amputee

November 13, 2018

Bill Braithwaite QC and Chris Gutteridge have settled a long running compensation claim on behalf of a catastrophically injured child.

The child, who is now thirteen, was the victim of medical negligence when she was nine months old. She was sent home from hospital despite suffering from a devastating staphylococcal illness and, as a result, developed septicaemia. She suffered a brain injury and required amputations of both legs.

Liability was only admitted shortly before breach of duty was to be tried as a preliminary issue in 2014. A settlement was agreed one week before a fifteen day trial on causation and quantum was due to begin at the High Court in London.

The Claimant’s claim included loss of future earnings (because she will probably only ever work on a part-time basis because of her injuries), prosthetics and accommodation. The Claimant will require specially adapted single-storey accommodation, complemented by aids and equipment to maximise her independent function.

The Claimant will, however, still need to rely on support workers for assistance for the rest of her life – the amount of support needed increasing in later life. She will receive a lump sum of £4,700,000 and annual payments for care and case management which equate to about £4,300,000 over her lifetime.

At a hearing to approve the settlement at the Royal Courts of Justice, Mr. Justice Foskett agreed that the compromise brokered by the Claimant’s legal team was a good one – and gave special mention to the Claimant’s family, who had dedicated themselves to her rehabilitation.

Of the settlement, Chris Gutteridge said: “The amount of compensation we have secured for this claimant will have a tremendous impact on her life. It will fund the purchase of single storey accommodation and the adaptations needed to make a property suitable for a double amputee. It will fund a bespoke regime of assistance which will be a permanent feature of the claimant’s life. Of particular importance, it will fund the provision of prosthetics, wheelchairs, specialist vehicles and other items of aids and equipment which the Claimant will use to maximise her independence.”

Chris added: “This also represents the culmination of years of work by the Claimant’s solicitors and in fact the whole legal team who have been tireless in their efforts to secure just compensation for these horrific injuries.”

Bill and Chris were instructed by Yasmin Ameer of Nockolds Solicitors.