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Hold the cynicism

11 January 2013 / David Sawtell
Issue: 7543 / Categories: Features , Personal injury
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How should courts approach personal injury claims where fraud is alleged? David Sawtell reports

Fraudulent personal injury claims are hard to detect. It is even more difficult to prove their falsity. The medical evidence is often based on the claimant’s own account to the experts and is generally unsupported by any objective data. The vehicles involved in “cash for crash” claims might be repaired before the defendant insurance company has had an opportunity to examine them (if, in fact, any collision took place). Repair invoices and credit hire agreements might not be worth the paper they are written on. Given such difficulties, it is often tempting to allow suspicion to masquerade as evidence. The Court of Appeal has reminded trial judges that they must not approach cases where fraud is alleged with undue cynicism.

Hussain v Hussain

Despite their names, the two drivers involved in Hussain v Hussain and Anor [2012] All ER (D) 224 (Oct), [2012] EWCA Civ 1367 were not related. On 7 January 2009 the defendant driver drove into

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

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The boundaries of media access in family law are scrutinised by Nicholas Dobson in NLJ this week
Reflecting on personal experience, Professor Graham Zellick KC, Senior Master of the Bench and former Reader of the Middle Temple, questions the unchecked power of parliamentary privilege
Geoff Dover, managing director at Heirloom Fair Legal, sets out a blueprint for ethical litigation funding in the wake of high-profile law firm collapses
James Grice, head of innovation and AI at Lawfront, explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal sector
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