Henry Slack

Call:1999

Introduction and Contact details

Henry is a specialist practitioner in the fields of personal injury, health and safety law and related insurance issues. He has experience of acting for both Defendants and Claimants and has a strong practice encompassing employer, public liability, motor claims and occupiers’ liability with a strong interest in health and safety law and environmental law.

Tel:    020 7242 2523 (switchboard)
Fax:   020 7691 1234

Email: henry.slack@hardwicke.co.uk

INSURANCE

The principal focus of Henrys’ Insurance practice is in health and safety work for insurers and claimant’s, employer, public, occupiers’ liability and in road traffic accidents. He has a particular interest in cases where issues of exaggeration and fraud arise following road traffic accidents and resultant insurance policy issues. He also regularly represents companies facing health and safety prosecutions and environmental prosecutions relating to pollution issues.

BTE & ATE

Henry regularly acts for Claimants bringing injury claims funded by BTE policies and via conditional fee agreements backed by ATE insurance policies. Further details are set out under ‘Personal Injury’.

Clinical negligence

Henry has experience of a range of clinical negligence claims including failure to diagnose and/or refer, delays in and errors in treatment including in the A&E, by GPs and Dentists.

Construction/ Engineering

Henry has experience in cases (both civil and criminal) arising out of construction site incidents & engineering failures giving rise to serious injuries. He is used to dealing with the technical issues and considering complex expert evidence. Further details can be found under ‘Personal Injury’, ‘Employers’ Liability’ and ‘Health & Safety’.

Recent Work

• Acting on behalf of a claimant who sustained burns and severe psychological injury after being electrocuted. The claimant was a ceiling fitter who was electrocuted whilst working in a ceiling space. Issues as to causation and Ogden 6 disability.

Employers’ Liability

Henry is regularly instructed by both the insurers of major employers and claimants, arising out of serious injury accidents. He is instructed both to defend claims for EL insurers, and to bring and defend contribution proceedings and recovery actions arising out of EL claims. He assists with issues of coverage and policy interpretation. He is also instructed by leading claimant firms representing employees injured or killed at work.

He is also regularly instructed to represent companies facing Health and Safety Prosecutions and prosecutions under environmental law involving cases of pollution.

Rcent Work

• Representing a major employer and its insurer in a claim brought by the Environment Agency relating to the contamination and pollution of a river in the Lake District. 

Cases

The Environment Agency v. First Milk Cheese Company Limited

Defending FMCC Ltd against a prosecution for pollution brought by the Environment Agency relating to the leakage of chemicals into the River Ellen in the Lake District. Successfully kept case in the Magistrates’ Court with fine limited to £12,000 plus costs.

Health & Safety

Henry is regularly instructed to represent companies facing Health and Safety Prosecutions arising out of serious injuries and fatalities, particularly in the workplace or on construction sites.

Recent Work

• Representing a kitchen manufacturer prosecuted following a serious neck and shoulder injury suffered by labourer when he fell during work at height within the company’s warehouse. Successfully kept case in Magistrates’ Court, with fine limited to £6,000 plus costs.

Cases

The Environment Agency v. First Milk Cheese Company Limited

Defending FMCC Ltd against a prosecution for pollution brought by the Environment Agency relating to the leakage of chemicals into the River Ellen in the Lake District. Successfully kept case in the Magistrates’ Court with fine limited to £12,000 plus costs.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/.../cumbria/7511961.stm

Severn Trent Water Limited v. Kanes Foods Limited

Defending Kanes Foods Ltd against a prosecution relating to the statutory allowance for discharge rate and volume of processed water into the public sewerage system. Successfully kept case in the Magistrates’ Court with fine limited to £10,000 plus costs.

Occupiers’ Liability

Henry has extensive experience in occupiers’ liability cases arising out of fatalities and serious injuries for both insurers and Claimants. Further details can be found under ‘Personal Injury’. He also advises insurers on coverage and policy interpretation issues arising in this area.

Recent Work

• Acting on behalf of a child claimant who sustained severe burns as a result of a faulty thermostat within local authority premises.

Personal Injury

Solicitors and insurers recognise Henrys’ expertise in dealing with all injury related claims including road traffic accidents, employer’s liability, occupier’s liability, public liability and product liability, particularly where exaggeration or credibility issues arise or where fraud is suspected in RTAs. He is also regularly instructed in cases with technical aspects on liability (e.g. construction site accidents) or quantum (e.g. self-employed/ business losses claimed, complex medical history and causation issues, life expectancy and cost of care arguments). Henry has experience in serious injury claims, employer’s & public liability, product liability, sports/leisure related claims, RTAs and costs issues. He advises on a range of insurance law and costs issues arising out of, principally, employer’s liability and in relation to Conditional Fee Agreements. He has experience of acting for both Defendants and Claimants in all types of claims.

He is instructed for round-table settlement meetings and negotiating favourable compromises in claims.

Cases

Bailey v. The Estate of Mr R Bates (Deceased)

Acting on behalf of the claimant who sustained serious leg and psychological injuries when her car was deliberately crashed into by the Defendant in the act of committing suicide. The third party insurer argued that the collision was a deliberate act by their policy holder and as such they are able to waive their legal liability imposed by the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the matter should be directed to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. Successfully argued that the third party insurer’s legal liability to the claimant remained under section 151(5)(a) notwithstanding that the third party insurer may be entitled to avoid or cancel the policy with its insured.

Davies v. Fox & Fox

Acted on behalf of the Defendant in a serious back injury claim caused in the workplace. Claimed at over £500,000 and involved a range of issues including causation, care and future ability to work. Compromised at £75,000 shortly before trial in line with advice given by Counsel.

Dowdall v. Dowdall

Acted for Defendant’s insurers in an injury claim for a severe arm injury sustained in a waterskiing accident. Range of issues including evidential matters where one brother was reluctant to give evidence against his brother who was the claimant, and technical issues relating to specialist evidence regarding waterskiing.

 Product Liability

Henry has experience in product liability cases arising out of injuries for both insurers and Claimants. He also advises insurers on coverage and policy interpretation issues arising in this area.

Professional indemnity

The focus of Henrys’ professional indemnity work is acting for insurers representing solicitors in claims arising out of injury litigation. He also has experience of cases involving allegations of professional negligence in relation to other professionals arising out of construction and workplace accidents.

Public Liability

Henry has extensive experience in public liability cases arising out of fatalities and serious injuries for both insurers and Claimants. Further details can be found under ‘Personal Injury’. He also advises insurers on coverage and policy interpretation issues arising in this area.

Recent Work

Instructed for contractors arising from construction site accidents, in proceedings by employees of sub-contractors: e.g. claim by banksman who suffered a crushed hand on construction site, issues of protective equipment, credibility, as well as range of issues on quantum in relation to losses.

Road Traffic

Henry regularly acts in road traffic cases both for insurers and Claimants. Further details can be found under ‘Personal Injury’. He also advises insurers on coverage and policy interpretation issues arising in this area.

Cases

Bailey v. The Estate of Mr R Bates (Deceased)

Acting on behalf of the claimant who sustained serious leg and psychological injuries when her car was deliberately crashed into by the Defendant in the act of committing suicide. The third party insurer argued that the collision was a deliberate act by their policy holder and as such they are able to waive their legal liability imposed by the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the matter should be directed to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. Successfully argued that the third party insurer’s legal liability to the claimant remained under section 151(5)(a) notwithstanding that the third party insurer may be entitled to avoid or cancel the policy with its insured.