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NEW FERRY GAS EXPLOSION CLAIMS SETTLE !
Local firm , Phoenix Solicitors , have settled 61 peoples claims for personal injury and property damage , following a gas explosion in New Ferry on 25th March 2017 . The explosion was caused , in part by Mr Blasio , the owner of a local furniture store , Homes in Style . Mr Blasio was found guilty of causing an explosion likely to endanger life and of fraud in relation to an insurance claim he made for more than £ 50,000 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison . Mr Blasio opened a gas valve in the shop to release gas and switched on an electric fire in the hope to cause damage so he could make a claim on his insurance .
During the trial of Mr Blasio , Contract Natural Gas pleaded guilty to an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 as they had failed to ensure the gas supply pipes were disconnected and the company were fined £ 320,000 . Phoenix Solicitors pursued a claim on behalf of 61 people , against both Contract Natural Gas and Cadent Gas for their failings to identify the correct gas supply , despite two separate visits by staff , and as a consequence marked the supply as dead , resulting in the gas supply not being disconnected . Phoenix argued that had the supply been correctly disconnected Mr Blasio may not have been able to do what he did . The defendant gas companies argued that Mr Blasio ’ s actions broke what is called the “ chain of causation ” and that his actions were a “ novus actus interveniens ” which is a Latin legal term meaning “ new intervening act ” being an independent event which , after the wrongdoer ’ s act has been concluded either caused or contributed to the consequence concerned – being the gas explosion .
Novus actus interveniens was a real concern for many law firms who were approached by individuals following the gas explosion to bring claims , and many refused to pursue these claims . Phoenix Solicitors not only took the risk in running 61 claims , but also waived their right to a success fee of
up to 25 % of the compensation they secured for their clients , which would have been circa £ 100,000 .
Alisha Butler of Phoenix Solicitors said : “ For me , getting our clients justice was more important than getting our success fee from them . I knew that we would have a real fight on our hands against the gas companies and that the claims may need to be settled on what we call a “ litigation risk ” which is where the claimants settle for less than 100 % of the value of the claim , so as not to run the risk of getting nothing . I didn ’ t want to then cut that compensation further by deducting a fee for my costs , as these people had suffered enough . The case had gone on for over 5 years and all our clients just wanted to see an end to it , so they could move on . For me , as a person who grew up locally , it was very much clients before costs , and I am honoured that 61 people put their trust in my and my firm to help fight what was very much a David v Goliath case ”.
Phoenix Solicitors instructed Mr Nigel Lawrence KC , who had been instrumental in the prosecution of Mr Blasio , as the counsel for the civil claims . Mr Lawrence works on both Civil and Criminal cases and has been known to Alisha Butler since she started out on her career over 28 years ago , and she knew that he was the right counsel to help get justice for those involved . In the same week that these claims settled Phoenix also took Gold in the Law Firm and Finance category of the Wirral Life awards .
Phoenix Solicitors cover an array of areas of law and are always on hand to help people with their legal queries . If you need advice , on anything from Landlord or Tenant matters , Clinical Negligence , Wills and Probate , or if you have been the victim of a scam or fraud , they have specialists who can help you .
New Home , New Friends Please join us at Montrose Court for our OPEN DAY on , Saturday 15 t h March 2025 , between 11.00am and 4.00pm . Our spacious apartments will be available for viewing . Enjoy our new furnishings and decoration in our communal rooms , and beautiful landscaped gardens . Free Easter prize draw entry for every visitor . Refreshments available .
MONTROSE COURT LUXURY RETIREMENT PROPERTIES
1A Market Street , Hoylake , Wirral , CH47 2AP
0151 632 0543 montrose @ kingsdale . co . uk www . kingsdale . co . uk