Jerome is a purposeful and tenacious litigation lawyer with over 30 years’ experience. He has particular expertise in defending professional indemnity and injury compensation claims.

He was admitted as a solicitor in 1978. After undertaking a wide range of litigation in High Street practice for a few years, Jerome then specialised in acting for defendants on instructions from insurers, practising with various leading firms in this sector and also for a period undertaking an in house role with a firm of specialist liability adjusters. Jerome joined Watmores in March 2009.

Professional Risks

Jerome has dealt with a wide spectrum of claims in the area of professional risks. These have often involved claims against construction professionals, typically
• architects
• engineers and
• surveyors.

Other professionals on whose behalf Jerome has acted include
• accountants
• agronomists
• barristers and
• solicitors.

Lawyers’ liability claims have included the defence of
• lenders’ claims
• mishandled property transactions
• under-settlement of financial claims in matrimonial proceedings
• and – a particular favourite – failed personal injury claims.

Examples of cases:
• Miller v Garton Shires and another Court of Appeal 2007 PNLR 11
Succeeded in obtaining a reverse summary judgment to dismiss a claim against solicitors for alleged negligence in the conduct of a brain injury compensation claim valued at more than £1 million and then upheld the judgment on two appeals, the second being in the Court of Appeal.
• Haines v a Firm of Solicitors and Others
At mediation achieved favourable settlement of negligence proceedings brought against a number of firms of solicitors for the conduct of a compensation claim for serious leg injuries sustained overseas by a Master Mariner in which the damages claimed exceeded £1million.
• Anderson v a Barrister and Others
Secured the dismissal of proceedings brought against a barrister for alleged negligence in relation to advice provided to the claimant “at the door of the court” in earlier litigation for wrongful dismissal.
• N’Gouala v a Firm of Solicitors and Others
Negotiated settlement of proceedings brought against several firms of solicitors for the alleged negligent conduct of a serious injury compensation claim on behalf of an asylum seeker, who was working illegally at the time of the accident, for the amputation at work of several fingers of the claimant’s dominant hand.
• Pelling v a Firm of Solicitors and a Firm of Surveyors
Achieved settlement on favourable terms of proceedings brought against conveyancing solicitors for failure to pass on information to their clients, the buyers of the property, and then pursued a contribution claim against the mortgagee’s valuers for alleged negligence causing the same damage.
• Chandler v a Firm of Solicitors
Negotiated settlement of a claim against solicitors for negligence in failing to take instructions on an offer in settlement made by the defence team on the eve of the trial at which the judge at first instance awarded a lower amount in damages and the claimant’s subsequent appeal to the Court of Appeal on quantum failed.

Public Sector Risks

The main area in which Jerome has been involved on behalf of public sector clients is the defence of claims against Social Services Departments or Education Departments arising from historical abuse. These comprise vicarious liability claims for abuse said to have been committed by employees of local authorities in the course of their employment, e.g. school teachers or staff at residential homes, or alternatively claims against social workers for alleged negligent failure to remove children from harmful home environments or indeed for alleged negligent placing of children in residential establishments, or with foster/adoptive parents where harm has later occurred.

Where liability is established against the employer for deliberate criminal acts by the employee, Jerome is adept at successfully pursuing recovery actions against the principal wrongdoer.

Examples of cases:
• TCD v London Borough of .Harrow, Warwickshire County Council and Birmingham City Council 2008 EWHC 3048 QB
Successfully defended a claim for historical sexual abuse by defeating, at the trial of limitation as a preliminary issue, the claimant’s claim of “lack of knowledge” and also her application for the court to exercise its discretion to allow her action to proceed out of time under s.33 Limitation Act.
• Mason v a London Borough
Appeal to the Court of Appeal in a historical abuse claim based on allegations of failure to remove from harm.
• Short v a County Council and a Third Party
Negotiated out of court settlement of proceedings for historical abuse brought against an education authority for the actions of a teacher and subsequently pursued successfully a contribution claim against the teacher.
• Weeks and Weeks v a London Borough
Successfully defended allegations of negligence against Social Services in their placement of two sisters for adoption, in the context of claims of alleged historical abuse, and induced the claimants to discontinue their proceedings.
• Scamp v a London Borough and Others
Defended the claimant’s protracted proceedings against Social Services alleging “failure to remove” in the context of claims of claims of alleged historical abuse and eventually forced the claimant to discontinue.
• Tugman v a London Borough and Others
Resisted successfully proceedings brought against a social services department alleging that the social workers had been negligent in placing an autistic person in a specialist residential establishment where it was said he was then assaulted.

Personal Injury/Casualty

Jerome has undertaken personal injury litigation throughout his career, principally on behalf of Defendants. During this time he has dealt with the full spectrum of value of claims ranging from injuries of the utmost severity to minor injury claims, and straddling all the categories - employers’ liability, public liability and road traffic.

Examples of cases:
• ABC v DEF and GHJ
Achieved a very favourable negotiated settlement of an extremely sensitive claim for harassment and workplace stress, the action having been anonymised by the court because of the importance and delicacy of the issues raised.
• Stilwell v a London Borough
Induced the claimant to discontinue on the eve of the trial proceedings brought for alleged work related stress.
• Ramelli v a London Borough
Achieved economic settlement of a claim for work related stress.
• Yamoah v a London Borough
Negotiated settlement of proceedings brought for damages for spinal fractures sustained in a fall from a ladder caused by an electric shock.
• Taylor v a Diocese
Repudiated successfully a claim for damages for serious burns sustained by a tenant in a gas explosion.
• Singh v a National Airline Carrier
Achieved economic settlement of a claim brought for upper limb disorder, allegedly work related, brought by a call centre operator.

Email: jcurran@watmores.co.uk