Jonathan specialises all areas of personal injury litigation, including RTAs, occupiers’/public/employers’ liability, Highways Act, defective premises, product liability, claims brought under the Animals Act, and many others. He is regularly involved in claims where there are complex issues of fact and law, including claims where there is multiple, overlapping expert disciplines.
Jonathan’s recent caseload has included:
- Obtaining settlement of over £250,000 for a claimant who suffered bilateral open ankle fractures whilst at work. The claimant required bilateral ankle fusions in order for them to mobilise out of a wheelchair, extensive rehabilitation, and suffered from significant psychological symptoms.
- Assisting more senior counsel for a claimant, on a claim involving amputation of an index finger following an accident at work. The claimant required prosthetics, both functional and cosmetic, and had developed a pain condition. The claim ultimately settled for over £200,000.
- Successfully defending, at trial, a six-figure claim brought by a claimant who had suffered from a traumatic amputation of part of a finger in the tail lift of a lorry whilst at work.
- Obtaining settlement for a claimant who had been involved in a “hit and run” where they had been dragged underneath the defendant’s vehicle. The claim was brought against the MIB under the uninsured driver’s agreement. The case required consideration of the law concerning intentional torts, self-defence, ex turpi causa, and contributory negligence in the context of a violent crime.
- Successfully resisting an application for relief from sanctions in which a claimant sought to rely on pain evidence. The exclusion of the evidence meant a claim pleaded in excess of £50,000 with a substantial CRU certificate settled for less than £10,000 with a revised CRU certificate of nil.
- Successfully defending a claim brought against a national chain of vehicle maintenance garages, where the claimant (who was employed by the defendant), alleged that their brakes had been negligently damaged, causing catastrophic failure whilst on the motorway. The trial involved careful consideration of the law concerning the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur.
- Success on appeal for a defendant insurer in a credit hire matter where the first instance Judge had incorrectly applied the law regarding the applicability of BHR rates in a case where a claimant had allegedly been sent to the credit hire organisation by the repairing garage.
- Successfully defending a claim at trial brought by a care worker who alleged they had been assaulted by a service user, causing them to fall down the stairs and suffer orthopaedic injuries.
- Successfully obtaining discontinuance at CMC stage of a multi-party claim where it was alleged that the defendant had given a party of 6 food poisoning.
Jonathan’s particular specialisms and interests include Highways Act claims, employers and public liability claims, claims involving Animals, and claims involving credit hire (in which he has appeared at appellate level). Jonathan also has significant experience and success in securing and resisting findings of fundamental dishonesty and exaggeration, and the consequent disapplication of QOCS.
As a keen sportsman, Jonathan also has a particular interest and insight into cases involving sporting injuries, both on and off the field.
Jonathan is fully conversant with all costs provisions in personal injury claims, including those relating to the new Intermediate Track and the consequent amendment to Part 45, and is regularly instructed to attend CCMCs, often involving multi-party claims and also to advise on complex costs issues.
He enjoys good relationships with his clients, and is sympathetic to their needs, particularly where costs recovery is limited. He provides a well-considered, professional, and approachable service to his clients, and is happy to accept instructions on a CFA basis in appropriate cases.
