Chris Barnes KC successfully opposes the making of a Group Litigation Order

Chris Barnes KC, leading Amrit Atwal of Park Square Barristers, has successfully opposed the making of a GLO in Abbott v Ministry of Defence [2023] EWHC 2839 (KB). The application had been made by the existing solicitors in the 3,500 Abbott claims and was supported by the Defendant, following an earlier indication by the Divisional Court that a GLO might be considered. Chris was instructed by 18 firms of solicitors representing around 7,000 other claimants with military related noise induced hearing loss. He persuaded the court that the threshold criteria were not met; that there would be an impact on access to justice; that the risk of conflicting or contradictory judgments was not a significant one; and that management of the existing claims was feasible within the existing/historical framework.

The opposition was co-ordinated by Grant Evatt of Alma Law, Clare Stevens of JMW Solicitors and Alex Bruce of Clear Law and the instructing solicitors included Gorvins, Irwin Mitchell, Simpson Millar, Eldred Law and Slater & Gordon.

"Very pleased at the Judgement today in the case of Abbott v Ministry of Defence.  The court refused an application for a Group Litigation Order in noise induced hearing loss claims against the MOD.  Together with Alma Law and JMW solicitors, Clear Law co-ordinated the opposition to the application."

"If we had not joined forces our clients would have faced uncertainty and intolerable delay in their claims."