Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons' client is awarded £5.6 million in clinical negligence case

Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons is pleased to announce that its client, Rajan Kanda, has been successful in obtaining substantial compensation from Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust.

At a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice on 29 January 2008, the Court approved an agreed settlement and ordered that Rajan receive a sum of £943,000 in addition to annual payments that he will receive for the rest of his life to pay for his care.  The compensation is equivalent to an award in the region of £5.6 million.

Rajan was born at Gravesend and North Kent Hospital on 12 September 1997.  He and his family live in Bedford.  Rajan claimed that as a consequence of a negligent delay at the time of his birth, he suffered a brain injury and subsequently developed moderate dyskinetic cerebral palsy.

Despite his disabilities, Rajan has made good progress and he attends a local middle school where is a popular pupil.  However, because the cerebral palsy affects the muscle tone in his limbs, he has difficulty walking and it is likely that as Rajan approaches middle age he will become increasingly wheelchair dependant and will require additional care. 

The NHS Trust admitted early on in the case that had it not been for the Hospital's negligence at the time of Rajan's birth, he would not have developed his disabilities.

Rajan was represented by Sue Jarvis, clinical negligence partner at Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons in Oxford, who commented: "This is an excellent settlement for Rajan because not only will he have the reassurance of the annual payments to pay for his care needs but he also has enough funds to pay for much needed physiotherapy, aids and equipment.  It is hoped that with the help of his carers, Rajan will be able to live as independently as possible once he reaches adulthood."

Rajan has a good life-expectancy and his parents, who have cared for him lovingly over the years, can now be confident that his needs will be met when they are no longer able to care for him.

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