header-logo header-logo

Doc brief

12 June 2008 / B Mahendra
Issue: 7325 / Categories: Features , Personal injury , Mental health
printer mail-detail

Trauma
Assessment
Mental Disorder

Earnings loss after trauma

In Jones (Administratrix of the Estate of Bron Bawdon- Jones) v Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust [2008] EWHC 558, [2008] All ER (D) 313 (Mar), the claimant, then aged 31, had given birth to a baby girl. It had been a protracted and complicated labour, the baby eventually being delivered by vacuum extraction. It had suffered severe brain damage as a result of lack of oxygen. It was said to have been effectively dead at birth but had been resuscitated. The prognosis was hopeless and life support had been turned off after she had survived just 25 hours.

The defendants had admitted breach of duty. The issue was in relation to damages for personal injury sought by the claimant who alleged significant and ongoing psychiatric injury and consequential losses including loss of earnings and pension loss. The defendants contested these claims with vigour.

Conflicting evidence
The psychiatric evidence that was produced was conflicting. One expert had said the claimant had suffered post traumatic stress disorder and a depressive illness that were both chronic. Another expert denied this

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ career profile: Liz McGrath KC

NLJ career profile: Liz McGrath KC

A good book, a glass of chilled Albarino, and being creative for pleasure help Liz McGrath balance the rigours of complex bundles and being Head of Chambers

Burges Salmon—Matthew Hancock-Jones

Burges Salmon—Matthew Hancock-Jones

Firm welcomes director in its financial services financial regulatory team

Gateley Legal—Sam Meiklejohn

Gateley Legal—Sam Meiklejohn Premium Content

Partner appointment in firm’s equity capital markets team

NEWS

Law school partners with charity to give free assistance to litigants in need

Magic circle firms, in-house legal departments and litigation firms alike are embracing more flexible ways to manage surges of workloads, the success of Flex Legal has shown

Walkers and runners will take in some of London’s finest views at the 16th annual charity event

Law school partners with charity to give free assistance to litigants in need

Could the Labour government usher in a new era for digital assets, ask Keith Oliver, head of international, and Amalia Neenan FitzGerald, associate, Peters & Peters, in this week’s NLJ

back-to-top-scroll