Sir Alex Ferguson and Ryan Giggs appear as witnesses

Sir Alex Ferguson, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville all appeared in Manchester High Court this Wednesday 17 January to give evidence in Michael Appleton’s multi-million pound case against a surgeon who treated him following a knee injury in 2001 while football training.

Mr Appleton played for Manchester United some years prior to joining West Bromwich Albion where he sustained his injury.  He was forced to retire three years ago following both the injury and subsequent treatment from which he was unable to recover.  Mr Appleton adduced expert evidence from John Hodgkinson, the surgeon who treated him after his previous surgeon, Medhat El-Safty, against whom the claim has been brought. 

Mr Hodgkinson said that physiotherapy rather than operative procedures should have been recommended and would have led to Appleton’s recovery. Mr El-Safty admitted that he misadvised Appleton.

Mr Appleton, who has argued that his career has come to a premature end as a result of treatment received, is seeking compensation for loss of earnings.

For further information please contact Alison McClure in the Clinical Negligence team on 023 8085 7345 or email alison.mcclure@bllaw.co.uk