Harvey v East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust

Harvey v East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust

A single stage success fee of 100% is not justified in this case because the solicitors did not undertake sufficient investigation before entering into the CFA. A reasonable success fee, based on the information that would have been available after reasonable investigation, is 80%.

Source-derived case information.

Parties
Claimant: Jean Irene Harvey; Defendant: East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
21 September 2009
Procedural Posture
Costs Assessment (clinical Negligence) / Detailed Assessment of Success Fee
Outcome
Success fee allowed at 80% (not 100%)
Legal Topics
Conditional Fee Agreements (cfa), Success Fee Assessment, Clinical Negligence, Costs Recovery
Civil Procedure Costs Law Medical Negligence Conditional Fee Agreements (cfa) Success Fee Assessment Clinical Negligence Costs Recovery

Source-derived case record

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 4 Authorities cited 8 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 8
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Jean Irene Harvey

Claimant

East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Costs Assessment (clinical Negligence) / Detailed Assessment of Success Fee

  1. 1 What is the appropriate percentage for a success fee in a clinical negligence claim under a single stage CFA?
  2. 2 Was it reasonable for the solicitors to enter into a CFA with a 100% success fee at the outset without further investigation?

Ratio Decidendi

A single stage success fee of 100% is not justified in this case because the solicitors did not undertake sufficient investigation before entering into the CFA. A reasonable success fee, based on the information that would have been available after reasonable investigation, is 80%.

Court Disposition

Success fee allowed at 80% (not 100%)

Orders

  • Claimant's success fee limited to 80% of base costs