Blake Lapthorn

Blake Lapthorn Secures £3.45m Settlement in Clinical Negligence Case Against MoD

On Monday 15 March at the Royal Courts of Justice, Mr Justice Ouseley approved the award in respect of Mrs Grannia East's clinical negligence claim against the MoD valued at £3.45 million.

 

London, England -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/17/2010 -- The case arises from Mrs East's condition of severe brain damage resulting from failures in care at the Royal Hospital Haslar, near Portsmouth, formerly run by the MoD, when she was undergoing treatment there for gallstones in 2001.

Mrs East, who is now aged 44 years, will receive an award with a capitalised value of £3.45 million, which will be paid to her both in a lump sum and annual payments to meet the costs of caring for her. She has widespread defects of memory and concentration and is dependent upon a wheelchair for mobility. She has been totally reliant upon her husband, Mr Shawn East, to look after her and provide the day-to-day care and support she needs.

Mr East said: "We have had a very hard fight getting compensation for Grannia but we have a magnificent legal team who fought brilliantly for us all the way. In 2007, the case went to the High Court and we won but then the MoD appealed and in July 2008 we won in the Court of Appeal. I am very pleased that the case has now settled before we had to go through another trial. It means that we can now get on and adapt a property for Grannia that is a suitable place to care for her."

John White, the family's solicitor said: "This is a landmark case and important points of clinical negligence law were decided in the High Court and Court of Appeal. Grannia has suffered terrible injuries with tragic effects on her life. After the battles establishing liability I am delighted that we have achieved an excellent award, which will meet Grannia's complex care, accommodation and therapeutic needs."