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07 April 2011 / Dominic Regan
Issue: 7460 / Categories: Features , Personal injury
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Dark days ahead?

Claimant solicitors face a bumpy road ahead says Dominic Regan

The good news is that the government is not looking to increase the small claims limit of £1,000 in injury claims. That is the end of the good news. Claimant solicitors will be appalled at the extreme changes anticipated in two major pieces of government thinking published last week. The first was the response to the Jackson consultation. All the lobbying and meetings behind closed doors has had as much impact as a blow from a wet lettuce leaf upon Mike Tyson. The core Jackson proposals are embraced wholeheartedly. I am not going to recite them, but a few issues do call for comment.

Success fees

One profound argument against ending recoverability of success fees is that the claimant will not recover full compensation. Out of damages there will be paid a contribution to the success fee, capped at 25% of the damages with future loss immune from deductibility.

It is disingenuous of the government to say that there is no such principle as

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Eversheds Sutherland—Claire Petheram

Eversheds Sutherland—Claire Petheram

Eversheds Sutherland strengthens top-ranked pensions practice with appointment of former global head of pensions

mfg Solicitors—Hannah Finnegan

mfg Solicitors—Hannah Finnegan

Law firm strengthens private client team to support continued growth

Devonshires—Andrew Cromb

Devonshires—Andrew Cromb

Devonshires expands offering with appointment of tax partner Andrew Cromb

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