6 Local News
Eileen Quinn acts as liaison with
Liverpool accountants
Chartered accountant Eileen Quinn has been appointed by the
Liverpool Society of Chartered Accountants to act as a liaison
between the accountants and members of the Liverpool Law
Society Executive and Committees. This is part of a continuing
move by both societies to work closely together where possible, for
example, putting on joint courses and social events.
Eileen is a native of Liverpool, attending what was then Bellerive
Convent Grammar School in Sefton Park. After Reading Modern
Languages at Manchester University Eileen trained as a Chartered
Accountant with Ernst & Young. Since the mid 1990s she has
worked as a sole practitioner with a number of clients, ranging
from professional services companies to property and
pharmaceutical manufacture. Lately, she has served as a NonExecutive Director of Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust and
stood in to act as Chair of the Trust during the temporary absence
of the current Chair.
Eileen was President of the Liverpool Society of Chartered
Accountants in 2007 and continues to serve as a Committee
member.
Many members will know Eileen’s husband, Peter Quinn, of Quinn
Melville and Quinn Barrow, city centre based legal practices.
Eileen commented “I am delighted to undertake this role and help
to strengthen connections between our two societies. My work on
the LSCA Committee has brought me into contact with many of
your recent Presidents such as Anne Heseltine, Donal Bannon and
more recently, Alistair and Glenys. In addition, Law Society
training courses on accounting-related issues have always been a
useful part of my own CPD and I would hope to be in a position to
further encourage our members to attend each others’ courses.”
Located in Liverpool & Preston, Oriel Chambers is a
dynamic and progressive set, housing some of the most
renowned and experienced practitioners on the
Northern Circuit.
Specialist practice areas include:
Personal Injury
Road Traffic Accidents
Employers’ Liability
Public Liability
Industrial Disease
Clinical Negligence
Employment
Commercial & Chancery
Family & Ancillary Relief
Regulatory
Crime
Mediation
Oriel Chambers @ Liverpool
0151 236 7191
Oriel Chambers @ Preston
01772 254 764
www.orielchambers.co.uk
Pain Syndrome
Conference 2013
This was an excellent conference with first rate speakers.
The first speaker was Cath Howells of Exchange Chambers.
She emphasised that usually there will be issues as to causation
in pain syndrome claims and that often the Defendants will
take a cynical view. She reminded us that victims of pain
syndrome will not just be looking for compensation but for
support and assistance which may include adaptation of the
home and help in returning to work. Cath gave very helpful
tips in relation to the Schedule of Loss and advised the best
form of a Schedule was one that told a story and not just
supplied numbers.
Our next speaker was Peter Harthan of Harrington Street
Chambers. He spoke about surveillance evidence. He pointed
out that such evidence is becoming far more common place
because of the lower cost of technology and the ease with
which surveillance can be carried out. Furthermore Defendants
are turning more and more to surveillance evidence because of
a perceived increase in fraudulent claims. The case of Rall v.
Hume deals with the admissibility of video evidence. It falls
within the definition of a document under CPR r31.4 and will
be deemed authentic unless a Notice is served requiring it to be
proved. Furthermore the Defendants should make known their
intention to rely on video evidence at the first practicable
opportunity. He had useful tips for Claimant’s Lawyers in
particular they should seek all un-edited footage, witness
statements and surveillance logs. Those logs will indicate how
many hours of surveillance were undertaken and will assist in
making sure that all footage is disclosed.
The third speaker was Jonathan Boyle of Cobden House
Chambers who addressed fraud and exaggeration in pain
syndrome cases. He advised that contempt of Court
Proceedings may be brought against a person who makes a
false statement in a document verified by a Statement of Truth
without an honest belief in its truth. Indeed in the case of
Haringey v. Fari the Claimant admitted making false statement
and was sentenced to three months imprisonment. Her
defence included that she wanted to settle for less but her
Solicitor “pushed her”. A cautionary tale!
Two excellent medical speakers, Dr Munglani, a Consultant in
Pain Medicine and Dr Spencer a Psychiatrist gave fascinating
talks on the medical issues in relation to pain syndrome.
Our thanks to all the speakers and also to Gerard Martin QC
for making sure the day ran to timetable. Thanks also to our
sponsors Jennings Costs Consultants.
Paul McCarthy