Andrew Ritchie QC settles a case for a man made tetraplegic due to a clinical negligence event

Andrew Ritchie QC settled a case for a 65 year old man who suffered a clinical negligence event at Medway Hospital in 2011 which made him tetraplegic. He was unable to move his legs and unable to feel them, doubly incontinent and needed hoisting into and out of his wheelchair and bed. He had been imprisoned in care homes since the event without adequate local authority funding. Eventually 7 weeks before trial the NHSLA attended a JSM and after 4 hours of negotiations the case was settled for a lump sum of £1.5 million with PPOS of £215,000 pa rising by ASHE 6115 at the 80th centile. The two main issues were 2 or 1 carers 24/7 and breaking the rule in Roberts v Johnstone which did not provide enough compensation for the Claimant to buy accommodation and adapt it.