Stuart McKechnie KC

Stuart has extensive experience across the full spectrum of catastrophic injury claims, including severe traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, brachial plexus injury, amputations and poly-trauma. He acts only for Claimants. Stuart regularly appears in the High Court and spends much of his time in conference with experts, drafting complex Schedules of Loss and representing Claimants at Joint Settlement Meetings. His role as General Editor of the APIL Guide To Catastrophic Injury Claims places him at the forefront of work within this field, meaning he is frequently instructed on the very highest value cases.

Notable Personal Injury cases

• TR v MIB [2023]
  

  8 figure settlement (including contributory negligence) for 19-year-old man rendered paraplegic in RTA. The case proceeded over several years with expert evidence in 13 different disciplines obtained. Stuart was integral to setting the case strategy and marshalling the expert evidence. The case settled at a JSM in November 2023 for a sum that, gross of contributory negligence, is thought to be a record for an adult male paraplegic. This settlement was £4 million higher than a written offer made by the Defendant 12 months earlier.

• XY v OX [2023]
  

  Settlement on behalf of adult claimant rendered paraplegic in Northern Ireland. Stuart was chosen as leading counsel and was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in order to act on this case over a period of several years. The case eventually settled at mediation shortly before a 3 week trial in Belfast. The outcome is subject to a strict confidentiality clause requested by the Defendant’s legal team / insurer.

• CXR v Haven (2022)
  

  £3.8 million lump sum plus PPO £220,000 for 38 year old man who sustained catastrophic brain injuries in a RTA. Case settled several weeks after a JSM where the Defendant had made lump sum only offers. Post JSM the Defendant made further increased lump sum only offers to try to buy off the PPO including a £13.6 million global offer. These offers were all rejected and a combined lump sum and PPO settlement was subsequently agreed and approved.

• JXE v KXA (2022)
  

  Settlement of £9.75 million net of contributory negligence (agreed at 20%), interim payments and CRU without any Peters Promise re ongoing CCG funding of £163,000 pa. Case involved 32 year old man who suffered catastrophic brain damage in RTA. The parties worked collaboratively from the outset, with the Defendant paying professional care costs with a reverse indemnity in place for social care funding. Following transition to CCG funding, a lump sum settlement was agreed equivalent to £13.275 million gross but with the Claimant entitled to keep future CCG funding, which would potentially add another £6.5 million across his predicted lifetime.

• B v. M (2021)
  

  £6.35 million settlement (including costs) for 36-year-old above knee amputee who was run over in a RTA. One of the highest known settlements for an above knee amputee.

• W v. X (2021)
  

  £7.2 million settlement for father of 2 who sustained severe orthopaedic injuries (lower and upper limb) in a RTA. One of the highest known settlements for poly-trauma without amputation or spinal cord injury.

• XYZ & XYL (2020-ongoing)
  

  A unique case involving 2 young sisters (both children) rendered paraplegic in a road traffic accident. Combined, this will be one of the largest ever PI claims.

• JWF [A Protected Party] v YWC (2018)
  

  Lump sum settlement of £1,850,000 plus PPOs for care, case management and therapeutic needs for retired GP who suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and multiple orthopaedic injuries in RTA. Settlement approved at High Court.

• XXP v. Metodiev (2018)
  

  £10,000,000 lump sum settlement for catastrophically brain damaged student. 95:5% split liability. Lump sum settlement required because there was no reasonable security for a PPO. Settlement approved at High Court.

• M v X (2017)
  

  £9 million settlement for motorcyclist who sustained severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (ASIA grade C, at level T6), with secondary complications arising from post-traumatic syrinx. Significantly limited life expectancy.

• Peters v. MOD (2017)
  

  Claim against MOD on behalf of a civilian forensic scientist who was badly injured in an explosion whilst working in a MOD laboratory in Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2011. Case covered across national media. Details of settlement confidential.

• JDF v Hampshire County Council (2017)
  

  Claim on behalf of catastrophically brain damaged child injured in a RTA. Thought to be the highest ever RTA personal injury damages award made or approved by a Court, with a lump sum of £9,113,074 combined with PPO’s for care and case management. The settlement had a capitalised equivalent value of £28 million. Stuart conducted the vast majority of the case as junior counsel without a leader but was led at the JSM by Frank Burton QC in his last case at the Bar before retirement.