News

Blackhurst Budd win record settlement against MOD  

A Blackpool law firm has won a record payout for a solider’s wife, following mistakes prior to the birth of her twin boys.

 

Blackhurst Budd LLP working on behalf of Lynne Steele, has won a £3.55 million settlement from the Ministry of Defence after army doctors admitted negligence.

 

Blackhurst Budd had fought the Army's lawyers for 13 years after Lynne’s sons, Shane and Dean suffered brain damage. 

 

Warren Spencer, managing partner of Blackhurst Budd and the lawyer on Lynne’s case said: “When Mrs. Steele first came to see me in 1996, she explained the circumstances surrounding Shane and Dean’s birth, and I was immediately concerned with the lack of treatment she received.”

 

Lynne at 30 weeks pregnant, had gone to the army clinic with stomach pains and despite the potential of premature labour, the doctor would not see her and tried to diagnose her from what a nurse told him on the phone. 

 

Within five hours she was back at the medical centre about to give birth and past the stage when doctors could attempt to delay the delivery so that they could administer steroids to protect the unborn twins from brain injury.

 

Lynne was rushed to a civilian hospital where her sons were born brain damaged.

 

Warren said: “I was confident that the MOD had been negligent but the difficulty was proving that that negligence had caused the twins’ disabilities. 

 

It took them a year to respond to my first letter with a total denial.  Two years later following the issuing of a Writ, they were still in denial.”

 

By assembling detailed medical records and witness statements from medical professionals, Warren was able to prove that the army doctor had been negligent in trying to diagnose over the phone, there was no management plan in place for multiple or premature births and the Army failed to organise special care facilities.

 

He argued had Mrs Steele been given steroid treatment and taken to a special care baby unit, the twins would not have suffered irreversible damage – tearing apart an Army assertion they would have been brain-damaged wherever they had been born.

 

He said: “There were times when I thought this case would collapse but persistence, patience and belief have won through.” 

 

Read more about this case in the Blackpool Gazette...

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Mother-tells-of-joy-over.5434127.jp

 

 

Exclusive event celebrates launch of the Fylde’s largest legal firm  

Leading business figures gathered for an exclusive party at Blackpool Football Club last Friday, celebrating the launch of the Fylde’s largest legal practice.

The new firm Blackhurst Budd LLP is the result of a merger between three leading Blackpool firms, Blackhursts, John Budd & Co and LSC Solicitors. 

More than 150 people attended the event, with the firm’s staff toasting to the launch alongside friends, family and press. Champagne and canapés were on offer with background music provided by a classical guitarist.

 Warren Spencer the Managing Partner of Blackhurst Budd LLP said: “The merger of the three firms to create Blackhurst Budd has made us the leading practice in the Fylde, unequalled in terms of size, expertise and the range of services we offer.”

 He added: “The night has been a great success and I’m looking forward to the coming months leading the new Blackhurst Budd practice.”

ENDS:

Media enquiries: Paul Owen, Kenyon Fraser, phone: 0151 706 9971, E-mail: paul@kenyons.co.uk 

 

Legal firms officially merge to create the largest practice based on the Fylde Coast  

Partners of the Fylde’s leading legal firms met this week to sign official documentation creating the largest legal practice on the Fylde Coast.

Senior partners of Blackhursts LLP, John Budd & Co and LSC Solicitors agreed to merge the three companies to create new firm Blackhurst Budd LLP.

The new firm will include 50 staff and 11 Partners making it the largest practice based in the area.

Warren Spencer the Managing Partner of Blackhurst Budd LLP said: “This merger has made us the leading practice in the Fylde, unequalled in terms of size, expertise and the range of services we offer.”

Neil Jones, a Partner at the firm added: “Merging the three firms has generated more capital for us to invest back into the business.  We plan to use this to fund further growth and development.  The practice will also be restructured to create specialist legal teams in different areas.  This will benefit our new and existing clients because they will have access to a team of lawyers with a wealth of experience and talent.”

Media enquiries: Paul Owen, Kenyon Fraser, phone: 0151 706 9971, E-mail: paul@kenyons.co.uk  

No Win - No Fee - what you need to know  

The following is an Article published by the Law Society on Conditional Fee Agreements:-

'No win no fee' system improved by the Law Society
Tuesday 01 November 2005

Reforms to the conditional fee system will make obtaining compensation quicker and easier for people, says the Law Society.

Over recent years, people's ability to seek justice in civil cases has been obstructed by continued uncertainty about the recoverability of costs in conditional fee cases.  Complex regulations surrounding the losing side paying the winning party's costs have created significant problems.  Technical breaches have, in some cases, resulted in costs not being recovered from losing parties, thus threatening solicitors' ability to continue offering conditional fee arrangements to their clients.

From 1 November most of the complex regulations are being swept away.  Instead the necessary client protections will be provided through the Law Society's rules on cost information and client care.

Kevin Martin, Law Society President, believes the changes will enable the conditional fee scheme to operate more effectively:

"When the Government abolished legal aid in personal injury cases, the aim was to replace it with a fast, effective and simple system.  The conditional fee system has great potential and is now available in most areas of civil litigation.

"But the arrangements have been jeopardised by litigation on costs, causing uncertainty and confusion.  The Law Society is pleased that its lobbying has at last led to a much simpler regulatory structure for conditional fees.  This is an important part of our work to improve the justice system."