Timeline
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A look back at the news affecting the claims sector over the last two months November 2013
A06ccording to a report from the Ministry of Justice's (MoJ) Claims Management Regulation Unit (CMRU), the number of personal injury claims management companies fell from 2,316 to 1,485 from January to September 2013. The report also states that the claims management industry as a whole shrunk by 23 per cent between April and September.
Ir 14 win Mitchell buys out MPH Solicitors as it
looks to maintain its position as one of the country's leading personal injury firms. All five directors from the Manchester firm will move across to Irwin Mitchell along with 24 lawyers and support staff.
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I 27n what many regard as the most important civil litigation judgment of the year, the Court of Appeal upholds a strict costs judgment in the 'Plebgate' Andrew Mitchell MP v News Group Newspapers Limited case. The court refuses relief from sanctions to Mitchell's lawyers after they missed their costs budget deadline. Tracey Head, a partner at Kennedys, says that lawyers and judges will have to undergo a large culture change following the decision.
T28
he Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL) elects David Johnson, a partner at Weightmans, as its new President. The large loss litigation specialist, at 38, is one of the youngest FOIL presidents in the organisation's history. He takes over from Rod Evans, a partner at Greenwoods. See page 25 for more details.
On the same day, Slater & Gordon buys the majority of Pannone's legal divisions, including its personal injury and clinical negligence departments.
Michael Napier (pictured) and Rodger Pannone, founders of the first specialist multi-party action firm in the UK, are presented with the Lifetime Achievement award at the Eclipse Proclaim Personal Injury Awards on Tuesday 26 November at The Riverbank Park Plaza Hotel in central London. See pages 12-13 for more details.
A 29 year after deciding to do so, the Government promises to make every effort to switch the handling of complaints against claims management companies (CMCs) from the Claims Management Regulator (CMR) to the Legal Ombudsman (LeO). During a House of Lords debate, Lord Newby says that the Government hopes to bring an amendment forward next month to the third reading of the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Bill. Prompted by Baroness Dianne Hayter, Lord Newby says that he will push for an amendment at the third reading of the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Bill for the switch to take place. See page 11 for more details.
06 /Claims Magazine/Issue 11
December 2013 02
Neil Hudgell Solicitors opens a new office in London following the acquisition of a book of high value and catastrophic injury cases from Harris Cartier Solicitors, which was placed into
administration in October. With premises now in Chancery Lane, the firm plans to continue further nationwide expansion.
Elsewhere, Crusader, a Quindell-owned CMC, files a counterclaim against Doctors Chambers and Bodycare Clinics after being sued by the two companies for allegedly breaking a contract prematurely.
T04he Government performs a U-turn on its proposals to introduce a new set of rules to handle out-of-court mesothelioma settlements. It scraps the Mesothelioma Pre Action Protocol (MPAP), with Justice Minister Shailesh Vara saying that the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) would now work with victims groups, and insurers representing employers, on a new plan.
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David Johnson, the new president of FOIL, says that he wants clarification on a number of areas including costs budgeting and qualified one-way costs shifting (QOCS). Speaking
to Litigation Futures, Johnson also says that FOIL now has a more serious voice as shown by its engagement with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Civil Justice Council.
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