Chris Barnes KC successfully opposes the making of a Group Litigation Order

November 15, 2023

Chris Barnes KC, leading Amrit Atwal of Park Square Barristers, has successfully opposed the making of a GLO in Abbott v Ministry of Defence [2023] EWHC 2839 (KB). The application had been made by the existing solicitors in the 3,500 Abbott claims and was supported by the Defendant, following an earlier indication by the Divisional Court that a GLO might be considered. Chris was instructed by 18 firms of solicitors representing around 7,000 other claimants with military related noise induced hearing loss. He persuaded the court that the threshold criteria were not met; that there would be an impact on access to justice; that the risk of conflicting or contradictory judgments was not a significant one; and that management of the existing claims was feasible within the existing/historical framework.

The opposition was co-ordinated by Grant Evatt of Alma Law, Clare Stevens of JMW Solicitors and Alex Bruce of Clear Law and the instructing solicitors included Gorvins, Irwin Mitchell, Simpson Millar, Eldred Law and Slater & Gordon.