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29 June 2012
Issue: 7520 / Categories: Case law , Law reports , In Court
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Motor insurance—Minor traffic accident—Measure of damages

Coles and others v Hetherton and others [2012] EWHC 1599 (Comm), [2012] All ER (D) 102 (Jun)

Queen’s Bench Division, Commercial Court, Mr Justice Cooke, 15 Jun 2012

Where a vehicle was negligently damaged and has been reasonably repaired, rather than written off, the measure of the claimant’s loss is the reasonable cost of repair. Further, the reasonableness of the repair charge, as a measure of the diminution in the value of the damaged car, is to be assessed by reference to the position of the individual claimant, without reference to his insurers or to any benefits which he has obtained under his insurance policy.

Christopher Butcher QC and Jonathan Hough (instructed by Herbert Smith LLP) for the claimants. Michael Curtis QC and Justin Davis (instructed by DAC Beachcroft LLP) for the defendants.

Thirteen actions on the subject of combined case management orders were before the court. In each case, the claimants had been involved in minor road traffic accidents in which their vehicles had been damaged by the

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

DAC Beachcroft—Clare Dewar

DAC Beachcroft—Clare Dewar

DAC Beachcroft strengthens Scottish real estate capabilitywith partner appointment

Womble Bond Dickinson—Brendan Ryan

Womble Bond Dickinson—Brendan Ryan

Womble Bond Dickinson appoints Brendan Ryan as partner in Public Law Projects team

Parklane Plowden Chambers—five appointments

Parklane Plowden Chambers—five appointments

Parklane Plowden Chambers welcomes five new barristers

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A time-restricted bank tax, a ‘roadmap to fiscal devolution’, extension to parental leave, entrepreneur’s relief and a giveaway on energy bills for households are the headlines in Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey’s 2026 Autumn Budget
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Respect orders, which enable police, councils, housing associations, transport networks and other authorities to take enforcement action against anti-social behaviour, have come into force across England and Wales
The Land Registry has launched two consultations aimed at making its information more publicly accessible, ‘Restructuring HM Land Registry fees’, and ‘Future of access to HM Land Registry information’
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