John McNeill
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Personal Profile
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Year of Call: 1974
John McNeill has practised as a Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence specialist for more than 20 years. His cases include multi-track litigation and the majority of his work involves either maximum severity and catastrophic injury claims valued in excess of £1,000,000 or smaller claims with a particularly interesting point of law or complex medical evidence.
PRACTICE AREAS
John’s practice includes all types of litigation, including:
• Employers' liability
• Road traffic accidents
• Local authority accidents
• Fraudulent claims
• Advises on the use of experts in relation to both liability and quantum and holds conferences with experts
• Drafting Schedules and Counter Schedules in high value litigation
• Joint Settlement Meetings
• Advising solicitors on the best way to proceed in particularly complex litigation
• Involved at the CMC stage when necessary
• In recent years he has also developed a strong interest in the defence of large scale fraudulent claims for insurers and solicitors
Areas of Expertise:
Email: clerk@stjohnsbuildings.co.uk
Telephone: 0161 214 1500
Personal Injury
LEVEL OF WORK
John has lengthy experience in dealing with maximum severity cases including catastrophic brain damage claims, paraplegic claims, cerebral palsy cases, major disease litigation and fatal accident claims. Opponents are often represented by Queen’s Counsel.
In addition, John handles a number of complex PI cases involving chain of causation issues and Novus Actus points.
RECENT NOTEWORTHY CASES
Spencer v Wincanton Holdings Ltd [2010] P.I.Q.R P8 – Leading Andrew Bridgman for the Claimant. Leading Court of Appeal decision on the chain of causation. A Claimant who had his leg amputated following a minor accident at work was able to recover damages for the consequences of a second incident which confined him to a wheelchair. Dominic Nolan QC for the Defendant. Click here for further details.
Maher -v- Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust [2011] - Very high profile case concerning quantum and liability after a death following the refusal of a blood transfusion by a Jehovah’s witness. Click here for further details.
Carol Furbush v East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust [2009] Clinical Risk Journal ISSN 1356-2622 – Clinical Negligence case settled at Joint Settlement.
McMurray v Padiham Cotton Holdings Company Ltd. [2010] – settled for £2 million on the fifth day of trial following a £1.2million part 36 offer. Leading Henry Vanderpump. Click here for further details.
Blackie -v- Jones [2009] 4 day trial (listed for 2 weeks) Case settled on the 4th day for £2m. Complex issues concerning loss of earnings following serious injury.
Robert Field -v- H&F Eccles & Sons [2009] Settled for £2.3 million at a Joint Settlement Meeting and received substantial press coverage due to the nature of the Claimant.
Peter Riley -v- Southwell [2008] Leading a senior junior in a 6 day loss of earnings trial. Awarded £1.7m (including £150,000 Part 36 interest).
ASSOCIATIONS
Professional Negligence Bar Association
Personal Injury Bar Association
OUTSIDE CHAMBERS
John is a committed supporter of Blackburn Rovers and a keen golfer.