David Knifton KC and Chris Gutteridge Secure £1.7m Interim Payment to Fund Specialist Housing for Child with Severe Brain Injury

March 18, 2025

The medical negligence team at Thompsons Solicitors, working with barristers David Knifton KC and Chris Gutteridge from Exchange Chambers, have secured a £1.7 million interim payment to help a young girl with severe brain injuries access the specialist housing and care she desperately needs.

The legal difficulties in obtaining substantial interim payments to fund accommodation needs have been highlighted in a number of recent High Court decisions. Careful planning and preparation in this case ensured the successful outcome, which will profoundly improve the girl’s quality of life.

Working closely with a team of medical, care, and accommodation experts, the legal team carefully assessed the child’s specific requirements to secure a sufficient interim payment. The funds will enable the family to purchase and modify a property that provides a safe and fully accessible living environment. Essential adaptations will include wheelchair-accessible pathways, hoisting systems, a ground-floor bedroom with an en-suite, and space for a live-in care team. The home will also incorporate therapy and sensory areas, storage for medical equipment, and specialist facilities to support her long-term care and development.

The child lives with severe cognitive and physical disabilities, requires 24-hour care, and will never be able to live independently. Her family has faced immense challenges in securing appropriate housing that accommodates her medical and care needs.

Commenting on the interim payment, Clare Jones from Thompsons Solicitors said:
“This payment is a crucial step in ensuring our client can access the specialist care and facilities she needs while we continue working towards a final settlement. By working with a team of dedicated experts and specialist barristers, we were able to fully identify her requirements and secure the necessary funds to meet them. Her family has shown remarkable resilience, and our priority remains ensuring she has the resources to support her lifelong needs.”

David Knifton KC added: “We are delighted to have secured a substantial interim payment to enable our client’s family to purchase and adapt the home she so desperately needs. An admitted failure by the hospital to manage our client’s delivery has left her with profound, lifelong disabilities. Whilst her family have devoted themselves to her care, her current home is totally unsuitable, with a need for her to be carried up and down stairs. She requires a team of carers to provide 2:1 care throughout the day and night, which can only be achieved in much larger, wheelchair-accessible accommodation. Careful planning and preparation by an experienced legal team has now enabled that to become a reality.”

Her mother also reflected on the significance of this development, stating:
“While nothing can undo what has happened, this payment gives us the chance to create a home that truly meets my daughter’s needs. Having a safe and accessible environment is vital for her well-being and future care.”

An article by David Knifton KC setting out an effective strategy for obtaining a substantial interim payment to fund accommodation appears in the March 2025 issue of APIL’s PI Focus magazine, accessible to APIL members on their website.