Tess specialises in complex and catastrophic claims arising out of both motor and Employers’ Liability (EL) and Public Liability (PL) risks.

Tess has over 20 years’ experience advising clients across a range of sectors.

She handles claims for major insurers (AXA/AVIVA) and specialises in claims involving complex injury such as neurotrauma, chronic pain/catastrophizing, polytrauma, fatal accidents, amputations and claims involving complex special damages. She has developed particular expertise in claims involving difficult issues of causation, in particular subtle brain injury, audio/vestibular injury and functional neurological disorder. She regularly deals with contentious liability issues such as those arising out of complex or unusual accidents, inevitable accidents or workplace stress. She is able to use her broad range of experience to the client’s advantage in settlement negotiations.

Relevant experience includes:

• Successful defence of a claim for damages in excess of £1 million for chronic pain syndrome following an RTA. Proactive handling and effective use of CPR given repeated failure on the Claimant’s part to provide complete disclosure resulted in strike out.
• Dismissal of claim for damages in excess of £500,000 by tyre fitter at trial with finding of fundamental dishonesty.
• Strike out of six figure EL claim on the basis that the statement of case disclosed no reasonable grounds for bringing the claim with disapplication of QOCS.
• Secured fraud savings in excess of £900,000 acting for a veterinary practice in a claim made by a former employer following a cat bite. The Claimant sought damages in excess of £1 million for complex regional pain syndrome, care and inability to work. Issues of fundamental dishonesty arose following disclosure and the claim settled for a token sum of £40,000 inclusive of costs.
• Resolved cauda equina claim where Claimant alleged persistent back and urinary problems impacting on activities of daily living (ADL) and ability to work, for £40,000 on basis of identified intervening event that broke chain of causation. Saving of £410,000.
• Secured strike out of a claim made by two claimants as a result of a fire that broke out at the Defendant’s property resulting in both Claimants jumping from the first floor sustaining serious injury. Claim struck out for no reasonable cause of action as no duty of care owed by the Defendant and no action in accordance with Rylands v Fletcher.