Ruwena is a specialist personal injury practitioner with a particular interest and experience in industrial disease disputes and clinical negligence. Her practice, in all areas of personal injury litigation, involves representation of both Claimants and Defendants in fast track and multi-track cases at all stages of proceedings.
Alongside her court work she also has a busy paper practice and regularly prepares written advices on liability and quantum and drafts pleadings. She is happy to consider matters on a CFA, where appropriate
Areas of Expertise
- Industrial Disease Disputes – Ruwena is a member of the Industrial Disease Group at Zenith Chambers and has particular experience in personal injury claims for noise induced hearing loss and hand arm vibration syndrome.
- Clinical Negligence - her practice includes advisory work and drafting of pleadings on a variety of clinical negligence claims.
- Occupiers’ Liability
- Employers’ Liability
- Public Liability
- Contractual Disputes
- Road Traffic Disputes
- Credit Hire Claims
- Costs Disputes
- CRU Appeals
Notable Cases
W (By his L/F) v B: The adult Claimant, who had a pre-existing general poor level of neuropsychological functioning, was injured in a road traffic accident when he was knocked down by the Defendant’s motor vehicle whilst cycling. The case, pleaded in excess of £150,000, involves complex issues in respect of traumatic brain injury, exacerbation of pre-existing vulnerability, future long-term case management/support and legal capacity. Numerous medico-legal experts have been obtained by both parties in respect of the Claimant’s neuropsychological and psychiatric state. (Ongoing case)
M v W: Advised in multi-track matter in respect of a Claimant who suffered from PTSD and sustained multiple physical injuries, including a fracture to her mandible, when the vehicle in which she was travelling as a passenger veered down a 50 foot embankment and landed on its roof on train tracks. The case also involved issues in respect of rupture of PIP breast implants which resulted in the Claimant being left with silicon laden nymph nodes in her system.
C v HL and Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust and S v DSGL and Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust: Advised as to quantum and prepared pleadings in both multi-track matters involving claims against the Claimants’ employers (First Defendants) for injuries suffered during the course of their respective employments and against the NHS Foundation Trust (Second Defendants) for the negligent medical treatment received by the Claimants thereafter.
R v HCL: Advised as to quantum in a multi-track matter in which an 8 year old child sustained burns to 20% of his body surface area when the fumes from paint thinner ignited and caught fire in an explosive fashion. He required active scar management for 4 years, including 3 skin graft operations. Now an adult, he has been left with extensive, significant and permanent scarring with particular disfigurement to his left knee area. (Ongoing case)
Naylor v Monahan [2011] EWHC 1412 (QB) - successfully defended an appeal before the Honourable Mr Justice Coulson in respect of His Honour Judge Moorhouse's summary assessment of costs following a quantum only trial. This matter has been referenced in Halsbury's Laws of England as a noteworthy case detailing the relevant procedure for assessing costs.
Seminars
Ruwena has vast experience in providing Seminars tailored to the needs and requirements of all levels of solicitors, legal executives and case workers. Recent Seminars include:
- Briefs to Counsel – 11th August 2009
- RTA Liability and Case Law – 30th October 2009
- Limitation in the Context of Industrial Disease – 27th May 2010 (In House Zenith)
- Case Preparation and Evidence – Summer 2010 (various dates)
- CPR Part 20 – 6th September 2010
- Slips, Trips and Broken Hips - 11th April 2011
- How to Conduct a PI Claim - Parts I and II - May 2011
- An Introduction to Clinical Negligence in PI Claims – 16th December 2011
- Fraud in Personal Injury Claims - 9th March 2012
Articles
- Bar National Mock Trial Competition 20th Anniversary (13th March, 2011 for The Times) Click here to read the full article.
- Keeping Abreast of Implants (January 2012) Click here to read the full article.
- A Perception on Deception - Part I (March 2012) Click here to read the full article.
- •A Perception on Deception - Part II (April 2012) Click here to read the full article.
- Louise Godfrey QC Advocacy Competition Winner 2006 (North Eastern Circuit)
