
Brent McDonald provides some clarity to the correct approach in cases involving trips abroad
This month many personal injury practitioners will be nervously waiting for the Court of Appeal’s decision in Dixie v British Polythene Ltd. In Dixie it will be remembered that the Court of Appeal is being asked to determine whether the judge was right to hold that a strike out for a failure to serve proceedings in time precludes a second action started outside the primary limitation period being saved by a s 33 application. This practitioner knows of a number of cases that depend on the outcome.
In the meantime, two recent cases are worthy of mention. In the first, the Court of Appeal clarified to test to be applied in claims relating to accidents suffered during holidays abroad; and the second provides the latest guidance as to the preferred way to assess claims for future loss of earnings by disabled claimants.
In Gouldbourn v Balkan Holidays Ltd and Anr [2010] EWCA Civ 372, [2010] All ER (D) 135 (Mar) Mrs Gouldburn sought damages