Personal injury solicitors claim Jackson gave in to insurers
Personal injury lawyers have accused Lord Justice Jackson of bowing to insurers and reducing reduce access to justice, the Law Society Gazette reports
“The champagne corks will be popping at insurers’ headquarters”’ said Tom Jones, head of policy and public affairs at national trade union firm Thompsons. ‘
“They have got almost everything they have been lobbying for. Claimants are going to be paying out of their damages and insurers will be paying out to their shareholders.”
Less access to justice
John McQuater, president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, said costs would shift to the claimant and a 10% increase in damages will not compensate.
Law Society president Robert Heslett said: “We are hopeful… that the proposition to abolish the recovery of success fees from the wrongdoer does not result in less, rather than more, access to justice.”
Injuries will be a price worth paying
In a letter to the Guardian Stephen Cavalier, chief executive of Thompsons said: “Its is claimants and not lawyers who will be the losers from Lord Justice Jackson's recommendations.”
He said they would “rob injured people of up to 50% of their compensation while insurers get extra profits.
He also warned companies would neglect health and safety because it would be cheaper to pay compensation. “Fixed costs will enable employers to work out what an injury to a worker will cost them in total and to calculate whether it is a price worth paying,” he said.
