Timothy Meakin
Year of call
1989
Instructing Timothy Meakin
For more information please contact our clerks by calling +44 (0)20 7242 3555.
Timothy Meakin is a leading barrister who specialises in Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury matters.
He has a particular interest in Sports Law cases and has represented many sports people and sporting bodies. He has contributed to leading publications in his specialist fields of practice, in addition to providing seminars for solicitors and other organisations on selected topics. He also sat for five years as a part time Tribunal Judge for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal. His specialism and expertise is recognised within the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners’ rankings.
Legal Expertise
Clinical Negligence
Clinical Negligence
Timothy’s experience in clinical negligence and healthcare work is extensive, both in advice, arbitrations, and representation at trial. He routinely advises and represents claimants and healthcare organisations on maximum severity injury claims with associated high level awards. His recent case law history demonstrates his experience in dealing with high value claims. This area of work includes:
- Neonatal and perinatal injuries (in particular cerebral palsy, Erb’s Palsy, paraplegia and quadriplegia) and wrongful birth claims.
- Neurology, including adverse outcomes of neuro-surgery, brain injury, cauda equina, CNS injury.
- Obstetrics, gynaecology and fetal medicine.
- General surgery-including bowel, intestinal and related complications arising from surgery.
- Orthopaedics, including foot, ankle, knee injuries, upper limb and spinal injuries.
- General Practice, negligence arising from delayed referral and late diagnosis of complex conditions.
- Oncology, including all aspects of breach of duty and causation of injury caused by late diagnosis of serious oncological conditions.
- Claims based on associated sub-specialisms including cardiology, renal/hepatic pathology, psychiatry, and consent to treatment issues.
- Fatal Accident Act claims based on the above, including representation at Inquests.
Timothy has a special interest in birth related injuries and associated severe brain injury cases. He acts for both claimants and defendant organisations. The value of the claims settled or obtained at judgment is in the region of £250,000 to £16.25 million.
Notable Clinical Negligence cases
T v Ramsey NHS Trust [2021]
A female claimant suffered permanent injury as a result of the negligent management of her cervical cancer, with additional damage to her bowel at surgery. Extensive injuries, including permanent neurological and oncological symptoms, requiring extensive future care. The claim settled at a mediation at £1.55m
M v Swansea NHS Trust [2021]
A male claimant claimed damages for clinical negligence relating to the treatment of a bowel condition. A liability and quantum case was listed for trial on this clinical negligence claim for alleged negligent general surgery leading to peritonitis and permanent irreducible hernia with long-term symptoms. The claim settled immediately before trial at £400,000.
T v Barnsley NHS Foundation Trust [ 2021]
A Fatal Accidents Act 1976 claim based on the death of the claimant’s partner from the negligent management of a pulmonary embolism. The assessment of the dependency included earnings and services of a high earning father, including assessing the value of his future shares and other capital assets. The claim settled at a mediation at £1.5m
B v Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust [2021]
A female claimant claimed damages for the late diagnosis of cervical cancer. The claim included future surrogacy costs in USA, with associated losses arising from negligent management. Settled at a mediation at £750,000.
S v Dr. E et al [2020]
The claimant suffered a severe neurological injury from the late diagnosis of a subarachnoid haemorrhage by his General Practitioners. The claimant’s permanent brain injury required extensive future care needs. The claim settled at mediation at £3m and approved by HHJ Gosnell, High Court of Justice, Leeds District Registry.
C v Isle Wight NHS Trust [2020]
A serving army officer suffered amputation of his leg consequent on the clinical negligence of NHS Trust leading to his medical retirement from the army. The claim included loss of army career earnings and pension, with associated prosthetic and future care costs- Settled at a mediation - £1.5m
Y v University of Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust [2020]
A claim for damages for the admitted negligent treatment and consequent death of the claimant’s wife relating to the failure to manage an intra-abdominal haematoma. This FAA claim related to the assessment of earnings and services dependency, in addition to extensive pre-death pain and suffering. The claim settled at a mediation at £750,000
R v Northampton NHS Trust [2020]
Cerebral palsy claim for negligent management of claimant’s birth. Liability settled and quantum disputed in relation to future care and case management. The claim settled at a mediation at £2.4m plus periodical payments at £225,000 pa.
Allan v Trust [2020]
A claim was brought for negligent surgery on the claimant’s spine that led to permanent neurological injury with significant future care and case management needs. The claim settled at a mediation at £885,000.
R v Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust [2018]
Cerebral palsy resulting from mismanagement of claimant’s delivery. Liability apportionment approved Lambert J.
P v Mr. W [2018]
Alleged negligent mismanagement of bladder surgery resulting in severe permanent urological complications. Settled at £137,000.
K v York Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust [2018]
Negligent treatment of ankle fracture leading to chronic pain and permanent severe lower limb disability. Settled at £300,000.
A v Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust [2017]
Cerebral palsy through negligent neonatal management. Quantum settlement on PPO and lump sum basis of £2.45m and £185,000 pa for life.
W v Leeds & York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust [2017]
Leeds County Court - Trial - settlement - suicide following alleged negligent treatment of mental health patient.
S v Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust [2017]
Trial – Leeds County Court – HHJ Saffman negligent obstetric management – stillbirth – psychiatric injury.
L v University Hospital Coventry NHS Trust [2017]
Settlement of claim relating to late diagnosis of lung cancer £315,000.
S v Doncaster Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2017]
Complications from appendicitis leading to intractable infection and stoma formation. Severe level of permanent disability. Settled at arbitration £1m.
H v Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust [2017]
Negligent treatment of cardiac condition resulting in graft infection and leg amputation. Provisional damages awarded £650,000.
R v Kremer [2015]
HHJ Saffman, Leeds County Court - Trial on allegations of negligently performed gynaecological procedures resulting in serious personal injury to the claimant.
R v Ackerley [2013] UK PC 26
Appeal before the Privy Council. Issues of capacity and intent of a defendant who suffered from autism. Instructions were based on Tim’s medico-legal specialism in autism (including Asperger’s Syndrome).
D D v Tees, Esk & Wear Valleys Foundation Trust (2013)
High Court - Settlement - Fatal Accidents Act claim based on death of deceased with history of mental health problems. Assessment of the estate and dependency claim, settled immediately before trial at £900,000.
Personal Injury
Personal Injury
Timothy is a specialist in high value death and personal injury claims, in particular as he has regular trial experience, which is invaluable in assessing both litigation risk and the value of claims in general. His expertise is in the following areas, representing both individuals, companies and other organisations. He is noted as a specialist within the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners.
He has an extensive practice in severe traumatic injury and fatal accident cases and undertakes serious personal injury work from county court to appellate level, on behalf of claimants and defendants. His personal injury practice includes three sub-specialties of claims; first, claims against the Ministry of Defence relating to serious injury incurred in the course of service by military, RAF and naval personnel. Secondly, as part of his specialist sports law practice, serious personal injury and clinical negligence claims incurred by sports personnel. Thirdly, group actions relating to damages for historical abuse against local authorities.
Timothy also appears before disciplinary tribunals and at inquests in relation to all such claims.
Severe Traumatic Injury in UK and Europe: Timothy has developed an extensive specialist practice in serious personal injury and fatal accident cases, from county court to appellate level, which he undertakes on behalf of both Claimants and Defendants. This area of his practice concentrates on serious trauma in the workplace and public areas (EL/PL). In addition he is regularly instructed on catastrophic traumatic injuries to the brain and spine from industrial accidents, military accidents (to service personnel), and road traffic accidents. Timothy’s severe road traffic injury practice incorporates disputes on jurisdiction/forum of a claim, including the judgments regulation regime and applicable law (under the Rome II/Brussels I and II Treaties) in relation to accidents in Europe.
Claims Against the Ministry of Defence: Timothy has a long established specialist practice in clinical negligence and personal injury actions against the Ministry of Defence in relation to death or serious injury suffered by members of the armed forces. The particulars of his practice are set out below.
Sport Related Personal Injury: Timothy specialises in advising and representing individual sports personnel, clubs and sports governing bodies on high value complex sports related injury, including both on-field injury arising from negligent play, but also the injury caused by the alleged negligence of medical and coaching staff.
Product Liability: Timothy advises and represents parties in relation to product liability cases, in particular in relation to medically related defective products and defective foodstuffs.
Immigration Related Damages: Timothy advises on a range of issues relating to personal injuries sustained whilst applicants have been unlawfully detained, or removed from the jurisdiction, including severe psychiatric injuries, leading to awards of damages for pain and suffering in addition to exemplary and aggravated damages awards.
Mesothelioma & Asbestos Related Death & Injury: Timothy has extensive experience in these types of work-place industrial disease claims, including Fatal Accidents Act and Law Reform (MP) Act 1934 claims, and in particular advising on “lost years” cases for reduced life expectancy.
Notable Personal Injury cases
B v Ministry of Defence [2021]
The claimant suffered a serious psychological injury, whilst serving as a civil servant in Afghanistan. He had long-term symptoms with associated loss of career and associated future losses. The claim settled at a mediation at £1.65m
G v M [2021]
The claimant suffered a severe brain injury in a RTA when he was 13 years of age. He was left with significant permanent neurological deficits, that resulted in a substantial loss of earnings and care claims in the future. Liability and causation of injury were disputed, in particular with extensive engineering and neurosurgical evidence on the prevention of his injury by wearing a cycle helmet. The claim settled at a mediation at £900,000.
R v Ministry of Defence [2021]
The claimant suffered severe facial injuries when he was assaulted in the course of his military service. In consequence he was medically discharged from the army and incurred a substantial loss of earnings and pension. The claim settled at a mediation at £450,000.
H v N [2021]
The child claimant was severely injured in a RTA which caused her permanent brain injury. The claimant had extensive future care and case management requirements in addition to a loss of future earnings. The claim settled at a mediation at £2,650,000 plus provisional damages.
D v MIB [2021] Approved Newcastle County Court
A family of claimants claimed damages for the death of the son in a RTA. The parents attended the scene of the accident and suffered a nervous shock injury and claimed as secondary victims. In addition the dependents claimed for the loss of dependency and services. The three claims were negotiated to a settlement at a mediation and thereafter approved at a total settlement of £450,000
H v Ministry of Defence [2020]
A claim at Winchester CC with a mediation meeting. The claimant suffered a brain injury in a RTA, when he was knocked from his bicycle. He was a member of special forces and his long-term military career was compromised, with significant issues regarding long term care and loss of earnings. The claim settled at a mediation at £800,000
D v Ministry of Defence [2020]
A high ranking army officer suffered bullying and psychological injury in the course of military service. The claimant incurred a consequent loss of army earnings, and pension with permanent disablement in the labour market. Settled at mediation at £395,000
B v British Cycling [2020]
The claimant was a member of special forces who was badly injured in a negligently managed road race and suffered severe head injury. The claim included a loss of earnings and future care, with associated therapies. Liability settled on a 50:50 basis and settled thereafter at mediation at £460,000 (50% of total claim)
N v MID [2020]
A young female suffered a brain injury and urological injury in a RTA claim. She had on-going neuropsychological symptoms and a claim was made for loss of earnings and associated care expenditure. The claim settled at £400,000
P v Aviva [2018]
Tetraplegia of claimant following RTA. Total care required for rest of life expectancy, and settlement based on a maximum severity injury. Settled at arbitration, £16.25m.
D v Titan Limited [2018]
Issue on liability only, and instructed on behalf of the defendant main contractor- Claimant suffered severe head injuries when a lift car dropped down to the bottom of a lift shaft at this place of work. Case settled immediately before trial.
B.V v P.P [2018]
Settlement of RTA claim. Claimant struck by a lorry at a junction; issues of contributory negligence and liability. Below knee amputation. Settlement offer of £600,000.
H v S Bros [2018]
Claimant suffered serious permanent brain injury when he fell down a defective lift shaft- multiparty litigation of a complex brain injury-allegations of contributory negligence- settlement at £1.65m.
ABC v Ministry of Defence [2018]
Judgment of issue of anonymity of claimant relating to more than one party. Judgment Foskett J.
C v Ministry of Defence [2018]
Settlement at mediation prior to trial of head injury and consequent psychological symptoms to claimant during his service with the army, causing his discharge and loss of army career. Settlement £240,000.
M v P [2017]
High Court District Registry, Leicester HHJ Hampton- claimant suffered severe brain injury in RTA, which resulted in permanent deficits and in need of long-term care. Award £2.7m.
F v Ministry of Defence [2017]
Settlement at mediation of claim for deafness induced during army service. Permanent deafness and tinnitus caused loss of valuable army career. Settlement £1m.
E v TB Resort Operations T/A The Belfry [2016]
Walsall County Court. HHJ Rawlings- Claimant suffered severe eye injury whilst playing golf. Liability and quantum trial.
Soldier AP v Ministry of Defence
Member of special forces injured on deployment suffered permanent head injury with neuropsychological symptoms leading to discharge and loss of valuable military career; settlement £1.2m.
G v Commercial Car Bodies Ltd [2105] EWCA Civ 47
Appeal to the Court of Appeal on the issue of employers’ vicarious liability for workplace serious injury.
D v Co-operative Society (2014)
Trial, Northampton County Court: HHJ Hampton- RTA with severe facial and orthopaedic injuries-contributory negligence allegations dismissed.
R v Ackerley [2013] UK PC 26
Appeal before the Privy Council, relating to issues of capacity and intent of a defendant who suffered from autism-instructions were based on Tim’s medico-legal specialism in autism (including Asperger’s Syndrome).
Weddall v Barchester Healthcare Ltd: Wallbank v Wallbank Fox Designs Ltd [2012] EWCA Civ 25
Court of Appeal - leading case relating to the vicarious liability of an employer for the assaults by an employee in the workplace.
L v Ministry of Defence (2011)
Trial Recorder Potts: judgment for £223,000 for psychiatric injury as a result of bullying and harassment in the work place.
Sports Law
Sports Law
Timothy has a specialist interest in sports law, accepting instructions from sportsmen and major sporting bodies on a wide variety of cases, relating to injury, professional negligence and disciplinary matters.
Timothy’s practice covers various aspects of sports law, including:
- specialist personal injury and professional negligence issues, against clubs, medical personnel and physiotherapists/coaches
- disciplinary cases, and in particular doping in sport cases
- child protection issues
In particular he accepts instructions from sports personnel and major sporting bodies, (including the Rugby Football League, UK Athletics, Premier League, British Bobsleigh Association and other sports governing bodies) providing both advice and representation in courts and tribunals. He has extensive experience of managing high value injury claims of this type both in advice and representation at trial. He has represented a number of sports personnel on sports-related cases in 2017-2018, including the British Bobsleigh Association at trial in 2018. Timothy successfully represented a UK Athletics Coach in a professional negligence action brought by an international athlete. (Davenport v Farrow [2010] EWHC 550). In addition, Timothy successfully defended an action at trial brought against British Cycling, which alleged negligence in the management and implementation of a UK Road Race. (B v (1) Brent (2) British Cycling Federation Ltd (2011) HHJ Atkins).
Timothy also undertakes a wide range of disciplinary cases and has advised on disciplinary proceedings brought before various sports governing bodies, including the Football Association, the Rugby Football League, British Gymnastics and the British Canoe Union. Timothy specialises in anti-doping cases, including representation of athletes and sports personnel before the National Anti-doping Panel (NADP)and the Appeals Panel. Clients include national athletes, rowers ice hockey players charged with multiple doping offences relating to steroid use in sport. Tim also writes and speaks on issues relating to Sports Law and he is a member of Lawinsport, including:
- Chairing the expert doping panel seminar at the 2017 Lawinsport Conference
- Article Lawinsport [2017] “Confidential data leaks – what are the vicarious liability risks for sports organisations?”
- Article Lawinsport [2015] “Prosecuting historic doping: Why the 2015 WADA Code’s new limitation period is an opportunity missed?”
- Article; BASL [2015] – “The Evolving Legal Issues in Rugby Related Neuro-trauma”
- Speaker at a BASL North Sports Law Conference in 2014- traumatic neuro-injury in sport
Notable Sports Law cases
H v A Premiership Rugby Club, and others [2021]
A clinical negligence claim relating to a brain injury suffered by premiership rugby player, and returned to play prematurely leading to permanent neurological symptoms. Liability not admitted but settled at £600,000.
UK Anti-Doping v R [2021]
Welsh rugby union player charged with anti-doping offences including failure to provide a sample. Fully contested hearing in defence of the player and acquitted of all charges.
UK Anti-Doping v R [2021] Appeal
An appeal on behalf of a rugby union player charged with anti-doping offence and heard before the National Anti-Doping Appeals Panel at a full hearing
Shone v British Bobsleigh Association [2018]
Trial- HHJ Parke- injury to member of British Bobsleigh team in practice.
UKAD v X [2018]
Appeal from NADP on 4 year period of ineligibility relating to national athlete for ingestion of prohibited substances.
UKAD v X [2018] NADP
Allegations of ingesting prohibited substances relating to rowing.
West Ham United v X
Advice on child protection issues.
J v Chelsea FC [2018]
Advice on a damages claim for assaults and associated psychiatric injury.
E v X Rugby Football Union Club [2018]
Case relating to serious head injury sustained in rugby game.
A v P [2018]
Case relating to alleged negligence management by a premiership rugby doctor of a knee injury.
UKAD v S v [2015]
Anti-doping case brought against rugby league player, who tested positive for an exogenous anabolic androgenic steroid, drostanolone. 4 year period of ineligibility.
UKAD v W & W [2015]
Anti-doping case brought by UKAD before NADP against two Olympic athletes for doping offences relating to contaminated supplements, which is a leading case on this area of the law under the WADA Code [2015]. Representation of Warburton and securing reduced sanction.
UKAD v W [2015]
Before the NADP, representing an ice-hockey player charged with multiple doping offences relating to steroid use.
B v (1) Brent (2) British Cycling Federation Ltd [2011] LTL 17.8.11
Successfully defended a personal injury action brought against the British Cycling Federation.
Davenport v Farrow [2010] EWHC 550
Successfully defended on behalf of UK Athletics a professional negligence claim relating to an international athlete.
Instructing Timothy Meakin
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