Entries by Charles Feeny

Chronic Pain, vulnerable or inevitable? Bagaley v Chesterfield Hospitals

Factual background and the court’s judgement Download judgement PDF A claim was brought against the Defendant hospital after the Claimant, Ms Baggaley, was mistakenly led to believe that she might be suffering from cancer. The Claimant argued that this belief had caused her severe depression as well as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (“CFS”). The Claimant approached […]

Will the BSB ABS bring Trial Lawyers to the UK?

Solicitors v barristers – the great ‘fusion’ debate A conversation is taking place over lunch between a barrister and his wife’s friend, visiting from Italy. “You mean the person who serves the coffee?” scoffs the Italian with surprise. “No. A barrisTER!’ is the retort. “Well how is that different to a lawyer?” This is an […]

IS IT TIME TO DISREGARD DE MINIMIS?

  By Charles Feeny & Sammy Nanneh The term “de minimis non curat lex” is an aphorism learnt by law students and has the advantage of being memorable.  Loosely translated, the maxim indicates that the law disregards trifling matters. Historically it has been used in a variety of legal contexts as an exclusionary tool to […]

Williams v Bermuda Hospitals Board: The search goes on?

Case Background Charles Feeny & Sammy Nanneh In our article in the PI Update Law Journal, “Material contribution: the search for the elusive third way“, we argued that the decision in Bailey v. The MOD appeared to accept an exception to ‘but for’ causation in tort. However, the precise basis and ambit of this approach was neither […]

Proving the Difference?

Case Background The Court of Appeal today handed down Judgment in the case of Christine Reaney v University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust and Another allowing the Defendant’s appeal against the Order of Mr Justice Foskett. The Court of Appeal have remitted the case to Mr Justice Foskett for further determination in the light of […]

Zurich Insurance v IEG [2015] UKSC 33

Case Background IEG is a solvent Guernsey company, a supplier of gas to the Channel Islands and a subsidiary of a global utilities, transport, energy and timber company quoted on the New York Stock Exchange. IEG is the successor in title of Guernsey Gas Light Co Ltd (“GGLCL”), which for a period of over 27 […]

The Labyrinth of information: the decision in Spencer v Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust [2015] EWHC 1058 (QB)

Case Background The Claimant, Mr Spencer, sought damages for personal injury caused by the alleged negligent actions of the Defendant hospital in the lead up to an operation and in the aftermath. The Claimant underwent an operation to correct a hernia in his right groin. The operation was initially undertaken with use of a laparoscope […]