The family home will often be the most important matrimonial asset during any divorce case, and a...
The widow and five children of a man who died following an operation at a private hospital that was meant to relieve the pain of his bad back have achieved a seven-figure settlement of their claim against a negligent surgeon.
A vein was damaged during the operation and the 51-year-old IT worker suffered catastrophic blood loss. One of his legs was later amputated in a bid to save his life, but his condition became hopeless and his family eventually agreed that life-supporting treatment should be withdrawn.
The family brought a claim against the surgeon, who apologised in open court for the mistakes he had made and for the tragic outcome. The amount of compensation payable by his professional indemnity insurers was kept confidential but lawyers confirmed that it was a seven-figure sum. The man's 16-year-old daughter suffers from cerebral palsy and, as part of the settlement, she will receive index-linked and tax-free payments to help with the costs of her care.