Client M consulted the specialist abuse team at Farleys five years ago having suffered serious sexual abuse between the ages of 9 and 14 at the hands of her natural father.
Historic CICA claims are notoriously difficult but in the case of client M this was even more complex than usual because the abuser had been acquitted in the criminal proceedings.
The claim was so difficult that various barristers were approached but refused to accept instruction on a no win no fee basis because they simply did not believe that this is a case that would ultimately be successful.
The CICIA initially turned the claim down.
Farleys applied for review of that decision and this was also rejected. An appeal was therefore prepared and the matter went to a full CICA appeal hearing before a panel. They were successfully persuaded as to the legitimacy of the claim and the good reason why the claimant had been unable to bring a claim at an earlier stage and the appeal was allowed.
Thereafter began the difficult job of establishing the value of the claim. Farleys successfully argued on the part of the claimant that her ability to work had been significantly impaired by the abuse that she suffered at a crucial time in her education. She accordingly received a significant compensatory sum representing the difference between what she should have earned in her chosen career and what she actually earned in the work she was able to carry out despite her ongoing psychiatric symptoms. The award of £301.000 including award under the tariff scheme for the injury that she sustained together with past and future loss of earnings and a contribution to the cost of any medical treatment required. Client M was understandably delighted at the outcome of this case.
The claim was dealt with by Jonathan Bridge, the Partner who heads the department and who commented.
We are delighted at the outcome in this case. It is rare to see such significant awards now from the CICA and the persistence of our client and the Farleys team was vindicated in the eventual award which was secured against all the odds.