Plans to remove army service personnel’s right to pursue cases through the court are still alive, the government has confirmed. The plans, which effectively extend the principle of combat immunity and prevent claims coming before the court, were unveiled last December but a response to the MoD consultation has yet to materialise. There had been…

In July 2005, Pte Phillip Hewett, was killed by a roadside bomb while travelling in a lightly armoured “snatch” Land Rover in Iraq. He was the ninth of 37 service personnel to be killed in the vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan, which came to be known as “mobile coffins”. Twelve years later, following a legal…

A paratrooper injured during a tour of Afghanistan more than a decade ago has been forced to seek legal advice over his aftercare needs. Lance bombardier Ben Parkinson suffered a severe brain injury and lost both his legs after a Land Rover he was travelling in was struck by an anti-tank mine in the North…

The House of Commons has today debated Government proposals for better combat compensation. Under the proposals, combat immunity – which provides an exemption from legal liability for members of the armed forces and the government – would apply to all claims brought by those in combat, even when failings occurred far from the battlefield. An…

Hilary Meredith, Chair of Hilary Meredith Solicitors, has been appointed as Visiting Professor of Law and Veterans’ Affairs by the University of Chester. The University of Chester, founded in 1893, is one of the oldest higher education institutions in the country. In her role as Visiting Professor, Hilary will primarily support the outputs of the…

The Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) officially closes today, 30 June 2017. This follows the decision in February to bring IHAT to an end by the summer, enabled by the striking off of Mr Phil Shiner. The remaining cases, expected to number around 20, will now be dealt with by the Service Police – a…

Hundreds of armed forces service personnel are leaving their death in service benefits to the wrong person, it has emerged. Hilary Meredith Solicitors has been made aware of a situation where a serviceman was asked to nominate someone to receive his death in service benefit relating to his armed forces pension lump sum some years…

The Medical Protection Society issued its report on Friday – The Rising Costs of Clinical Negligence: Who pays the Price? The report states that there should be reasonable compensation for those harmed due to clinical negligence, but that this must be balanced against society’s ability to pay. The report goes on to state that NHS…

We welcome the government’s proposals to crack down on fraudulent whiplash claims – as long as the focus is on reducing fraudulent claims and better regulation of claims management companies and not taking away the rights of victims to recover compensation. All our staff are trained to identify potentially fraudulent cases.  We believe anti-fraud training…

Hilary Meredith, Chair of Hilary Meredith Solicitors Ltd, has received the Freedom of the City of London. As a solicitor practising within the City of London Square Mile, Hilary read the ‘Declaration of a Freeman’ and signed the Freeman’s Declaration Book, before being presented with the Copy of the Freedom – a parchment document inscribed…

Hilary Meredith will be a member of the discussion panel at tomorrow’s Military Mind business symposium, taking place in London. Hosted by Combat Stress, the UK’s leading mental health charity for veterans, the annual event coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week and will explain how and why some ex-service personnel and reservists develop mental health…

Hundreds of patients will seek compensation after a breast surgeon was convicted of carrying out needless operations, reports this morning suggest. Ian Paterson, 59, was found guilty of 17 counts of wounding with intent, relating to nine women and one man in the West Midlands. Paterson, of Altrincham, Greater Manchester, was also found guilty of…

Just over a week remains to sign Hilary Meredith Solicitors’ e-petition aimed at preventing the Government from widening the scope of combat immunity: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/18938 All petitions now have to close at 00:01am on 3 May. This is because Parliament will be dissolved and all parliamentary business – including petitions – must stop until after the…

The Defence Committee has today published its Ninth Special Report of Session 2016–17, Who guards the guardians? MoD support for former and serving personnel: Government Response to the Committee’s Sixth Report (HC 1149). The report is damning in its criticism of the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) saying it has cost the taxpayer £60 million…

Hilary Meredith Solicitors Ltd has been announced as Lancashire cricketer Tom Bailey’s new bat sponsor. Tom, a graduate of Lancashire’s Academy and Scholarship programmes,  made his first-class and County Championship debut in the closing stages of the 2012 season.  He has since become a vital member of the team in all forms of the game….

Hilary Meredith Solicitors Limited has appointed Peter Watson as its new CEO as the firm gears up for a period of national expansion. Peter Watson joins from leading national consumer firm Simpson Millar. Peter Watson joined Simpson Millar in 1992 and has held the position of Managing Partner since 1996 and more latterly Managing Director…

Hilary Meredith Solicitors has appointed army veteran, triple amputee and author Andy Reid as a community ambassador for the firm. In 2009, serving in the 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, Andy had only 10 days left in the Middle East when he stood on an improvised explosive device (IED). His injuries were such that he…

Hilary Meredith Solicitors was last night named as Personal Injury / Clinical Negligence Team of the Year at the 2017 Manchester Legal Awards. The awards, now in their eighth year, took place at the Midland Hotel in Manchester.  Organised by Manchester Law Society, the evening was attended by over 650 guests from Greater Manchester and…

Hilary Meredith Solicitors Ltd has appointed Zoe Holland as the firm’s first non-executive director. Nationally recognised for entrepreneurship, innovation, and strategic leadership, Zoe is managing director of ZebraLC, the UK’s leading technical due diligence, audit and consulting business focused on the legal sector. As the firm’s first appointed NED, the role will include input into…