Medical negligence action settles for a considerable sum
“The firm recently represented an elderly lady who was diagnosed in January 2011 with end stage glaucoma in the right eye. Given her history of glaucoma, she should have been followed up on a six monthly basis to ensure that the pressure in her eye remained under control. However this did not occur and she “fell through the cracks” which led to her being rendered effectively blind, given that she also had difficulties with her other eye.
Her case was listed for trial and the week beforehand, it settled for €600,000.00 plus all legal costs.”
Settlement in Cerebral Palsy Case
“Emmet Halley represents client of Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow who suffered severe injuries at birth in 1986 at St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny. She has dyskinetic cerebral palsy, is unable to walk and has no consistent control over the movements of her limbs.
We received instructions from the family to commence High Court proceedings in 2012 against the HSE.
It was claimed that the management of the pregnancy and delivery fell below the requisite standard of care.
The claim was denied and the HSE contended in their defence of the case that they were prejudiced by the long delay in the case being taken, as one of their witnesses, involved in the management of the delivery, had died.
A settlement offer of €2,100,000.00 plus costs was made a short time before the case was due to go to trial and the offer was approved by the High Court on the 4th June 2015.
Comment –
This was a very complex case. It was necessary to source expert witnesses such as obstetricians and midwives who were practising at the time when Ruth was born in 1986. This was not an easy task however we were lucky to secure the assistance of a retired Irish obstetrician and midwife, along with some support witnesses from the UK.
In our opinion it is always more beneficial to a case to have Irish experts giving evidence for you.”