Blake Lapthorn secures payment of care for life for
severely handicapped client in Oxford
Blake Lapthorn is pleased to announce
that its Cerebral Palsy team has
secured a multi-million pound settlement for its client ('the
client') for alleged negligent treatment at the time of his birth
at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
At a hearing at The Royal Courts of Justice on
Friday 18 November, the Court approved an agreed settlement between
the parties that the client will receive a lump sum of £1 million,
which will enable suitably adapted property to be purchased for him
together with annual payments to provide care for the rest of his
life.
The annual payments will be £50,000 per annum
until he is 11-years-old, rising to £80,000 per annum until he is
18 then £140,000 each year for the rest of his life.
The monies will be paid into the Court of
Protection and used to purchase and adapt accommodation suitable
for his needs and to provide the care, equipment and therapies the
client will require throughout his life.
The client was born at the John Radcliffe
Hospital in in 2005. As a result of alleged mismanagement of
his Mother's labour, it is his case that he suffered catastrophic
brain damage.
The client has severe quadriplegic cerebral
palsy such that he cannot crawl, walk or sit without support.
He has little useful hand control and no speech, and he wears
nappies day and night He has no useful vision and
suffers from epilepsy. He is tube fed and suffers from severe
learning difficulties and behavioural problems, and requires
constant care and stimulation.
Despite his multiple disabilities, the client
is a happy child who has a close and loving relationship with his
Mother who has unstintingly cared for him since he was born.
The client's Mother has struggled mentally and
physically to cope with his disabilities in wholly inadequate
accommodation and the award will enable suitable property to be
purchased and adapted so the she will no longer have to carry her
son upstairs. Specialist equipment will be purchased to
ensure that he can be cared for in a safe environment for both him
and those caring for him.
The award will enable professional care to be
purchased to allow his Mother relief from the constant care which
she has given to him since he was born.
Sue Jarvis, a partner at Blake Lapthorn who
leads the cerebral palsy team in Oxford, said: "I am delighted that
we were able to obtain such a good settlement for my client, which
means that his Mother will not have to suffer the stresses of going
to Court as well as having the reassurance that he will have a
suitable environment for his needs and that she will be able
to call upon professional carers and therapists to help with her
son's care."
If you are the parent of adults or children with cerebral palsy,
please contact Sue Jarvis, head of Blake Lapthorn's Cerebral Palsy team in
Oxford, on 01865 254 293 or
email her at sue.jarvis@bllaw.co.uk
for a confidential discussion.
