Edward James

Ed has a busy, high value personal injury practice, acting for Claimants and Defendants, in the County Court and High Court.

Ed’s current caseload includes traumatic brain injuries, complex pain and serious orthopaedic injuries leading to amputation or other lifelong disability.

Ed is regularly instructed to attend conferences with experts in multiple different disciplines and to attend Joint Settlement Meetings.

Notable cases: 

Weston v Hepworth
Represented wife and children of the deceased who tragically lost his life when riding his motorcycle along a country road, when an elderly lady pulled out into his path. Settled for substantial damages at JSM. Settlement and apportionment approved by Master Sullivan

Green v Decathlon UK Limited
Represented Defendant (well known national sports retailer) defending a claim by skier seriously injured in the French Alps. Skiing, ergonomic and forensics engineering experts involved. Robustly defended, particularly given concerns of dishonesty. Claimant eventually discontinued.

Jenson v Topps Tiles PLC
Represented Claimant in sepsis claim, leading to amputation (leg and hand). Settled for £850,000 at JSM.

Clarke v Catt
Represented Defendant in this multi day Animals Act 1971 trial involving a Farrier kicked by a horse in his chest. Life-threatening injury. Equine experts on both sides attended trial. Claim dismissed at trial.

Gazi v Exlabesa Ltd
Represented wife and children of the deceased fatally injured at work when he fell into tank of boiling water. Succumbed to injuries several weeks later and died. Settled by Part 36. Judicial approval secured.

Crawshaw v Northenden Golf Club Limited
Representing Defendant golf club sued by golfer who was struck in the eye by a golf ball and partially blinded. Golf experts involved. Listed for 5 day liability trial.

Jenkins v Haythorne
Represented Claimant, a 14 year old boy, struck by a motor vehicle whilst running with friends across a road. Catastrophic injuries sustained, including severe traumatic brain injury. Liability resolved with judicial approval. Quantum ongoing.

Hales v Ministry of Defence
Representing Claimant involved in a road collision on the M1. Diagnosed with complex pain condition: Fibromyalgia (FMS) Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and Bodily Distress Disorder (BDD). Claim valued well in excess of £2 million.

Matova v Covea Insurance PLC
Representing Claimant, an infant, a rear seated passenger in a motor vehicle, which collided with a stolen car being chased by the Police. Policy issues due to the ‘use’ of stolen vehicle. Both Defendants represented by Kings Counsel.

Burrows v Wasteney
Represented Claimant who sustained life-threatening injury at illegal ‘car meet’ and was struck by vehicle at speed. Leg amputated. Pleaded value £4.4 million. Settled for substantial damages at JSM.

Ed has been instructed to attend numerous Inquests on behalf of a range of interested parties, including the family of the deceased, insurers, employers and individuals.

Over the years, Ed’s exceptional client care skills have been particularly sought after in these difficult and sensitive hearings in the Coroner’s Court.

Notable Cases: 

Inquest touching on the death of Melanie Chalklen
Represented Paediatric Consultant as part of the complex and long running Ian Paterson, Consultant Breast Surgeon, Inquest in the Birmingham Coroner’s Court (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpv82l9xvp1o)

Inquest touching on the death of Adam Hussain
Represented the family at a lengthy Inquest in Nottingham Coroner’s Court, touching on death of Adam Hussain. Deceased failed by NHS and Prevention of Future Death (PFD) report secured at Inquest (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn81162gpqpo)

Inquest touching on the death of Tommy Kneebone
Represented a Paediatric Consultant during this near two week Inquest in Maidstone Coroner’s Court, touching on the death of Tommy Kneebone. Infant tragically died of cardiomyopathy. Finding of neglect against the NHS. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyl9w43ex0o)

Inquest touching on the death of Gavin Wheale
Represented one of several Interested Persons at this two week death in custody Jury Inquest in Birmingham Coroner’s Court, touching on the death of Gavin Wheale (https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/hmp-birmingham-prisoner-who-hid-32037871)

Inquest touching on the death of Maureen Gilbert
Represented Derbyshire County Council at this week long Inquest in Chesterfield Coroner’s Court, touching on the death on Maureen Gilbert. Deceased tragically drowned in flooding at Tapton Terrace during Storm Babet (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg7d809key0o)

Inquest touching on the death of Robert Cake
Represented the family at this Inquest in Lincoln Coroner’s Court, touching on the death of Robert Cake. Surgeon ligated the deceased’s vena cava causing circulatory failure and death. Claim settled at JSM.

Inquest touching on the death of Janet Jasper
Represented the family at a 5 day Jury Inquest in the Loughborough Coroner’s Court, touching on death of Mrs Janet Jasper. Deceased was fatally injured in a residential gas explosion caused by a gas pipe failure in her kitchen. Prevention of Future Death (PFD) report secured at Inquest (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-51109607)

Ed has a particular interest in claims arising from the field of sport, or other adventure activities and is instructed to bring or defend such sport related injury claims in the County Court and High Court.

Ed is becoming increasingly involved in the disciplinary and regulatory side of sports law and is a current member of the Leicestershire Rugby Union Disciplinary Panel.

Ed has an interesting clinical negligence practice, which compliments his Inquest work, principally advising and representing Claimants, or their families in tragic fatal cases, at settlement meeting or trial.

Ed has recently advised on three notable cases where negligently delayed diagnosis and surgery resulted in death.

Notable cases: 

Cake v United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Represented wife and children of the deceased where a negligently performed open nephrectomy resulted in the tragic death of a young father and husband. Settled at JSM.

Brown v United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Represented the family of the deceased in a case where the hospital failed to identify and treat gestational diabetes resulting in the mother giving birth to a stillborn infant.

Rudge v James
Represented the Claimant in this delayed cancer diagnosis and treatment claim, resulting in complex surgery involving colonoscopy and urostomy. Settled at JSM.