Ralli News

Justice won after 21 years of professional negligence
Mon 17th Jan 11 - 9:17

AFTER a painful 21 years of legal battles, the Reader-Wood family have finally found justice in a case involving unsatisfactory service from two sets of solicitors and a barrister.

In 1989, Peter Reader, from Smallbridge in Rochdale, was involved in a car accident with another vehicle. The injuries he suffered meant he had to stop working as a painter and decorator.

Through his insurance company Peter began personal injury legal proceedings against the other driver and although fault was admitted, it was disputed whether the accident had caused the loss of earnings Peter had claimed.

The stress and pressure of the accident took its strain on Peter and he became depressed which lead to his suicide in December.

After Peter’s death, his solicitors decided not to continue with his case.  Peter’s wife, Carol, was left to raise three children, working three jobs to support her family. She turned to another firm of solicitors to help her secure money for the upbringing of the children.

Carol was wary of progressing the case but was advised by her new solicitors to ‘fight for her children’. She believed this would be quick and easy. This was not the case.

The original part of the claim was completed in autumn 1999 but the case for children was not complete until 2009. The children were originally given legal aid but because of the very long period of time they lost it because of their ages and were faced with the possibility of financing their own case. Six years later, the Reader-Wood family lost at the Court of Appeal and were left facing legal fees of more than £50,000.

Naomi Sharp, Peter and Carol’s daughter, said: “It was a horrible time. The case had dragged on and we just wanted it to end. We felt totally let down by our solicitors; the professionals we had put our trust in.
“We had no way of paying the fees. I was planning my wedding, my brother had young children to look after and mum spoke of having to re-mortgage her house to raise money.

“A family friend with a legal background suggested we had a professional negligence case on our hands and recommended Chris MacCafferty at law firm Ralli.

“Working with Chris helped us regain our trust in the legal profession.

“Within a few weeks Chris was able to have our legal costs reduced and an interim payment paid to cover the costs we owed. This was a great weight off our mind.  Chris then negotiated a settlement for the family of £96,000 after examining the mistakes, delays and professional negligence which had taken place.

Chris MacCafferty, associate at Ralli specialising in bringing professional negligence claims, said: “The Reader-Woods had been completely let down by the legal profession and the mistakes made by their previous solicitors were inexcusable.

“When the family approached Ralli they wanted help to tackle the legal costs they faced, after reviewing the case we were determined we could help them further. We dealt with the legal fees and secured them the settlement they deserved.

“Ralli have worked hard to show the Reader-Woods the legal profession can be trusted.”