Linda Jacobs

Year of Call

2000

Email

Areas of Practice

Personal Injury / Clinical Negligence
Inquests
Social and Healthcare Law
Public and Regulatory Law

Profile

Linda Jacobs specialises in clinical negligence, personal injury, and healthcare law; inquest and professional regulatory law; and Criminal Injury Compensation Authority Appeal Panel claims. She has extensive advisory and advocacy experience in a broad range of clinical negligence, personal injury, occupational illness and disease, fatal accident, product liability, and dangerous animal claims. She has a particular interest in employers' liability law, and experience of catastrophic injury litigation. Linda is instructed by both claimants and defendants, although her practice is predominantly claimant based. She accepts work on a conditional fee agreement basis. Prior to being called to the Bar, Linda was a Sister in Intensive Care in one of London's leading teaching hospitals. Her specialist medical knowledge and experience means that she is comfortable dealing with complex medical facts and issues, expert evidence, and difficult quantum cases. Linda has attended the Standing Conference of Mediation Advocates workshops on Mediation Advocacy.

Court Work: Linda has extensive experience of fast-track and multi-track trials and has appeared in the High Court and County Court. She is often instructed in interlocutory hearings in high value claims; examples include Mead v Dr Lai and Dr Beck [2006] in which Linda successfully argued for the instruction of a second GP expert in a case of an alleged failure by a GP to refer a teenager with rare osteomyelitis/ "Potts puffy tumour". Liability was disputed and the case settled for a seven-figure sum; and in Majdabadi v Trustee of the London Clinic and O'Donoghue (2007) she successfully argued for a clinical negligence claim to be reinstated after it had been struck out.

Inquests and Professional Regulatory Work: Linda has substantial experience of representation at inquests into deaths in hospitals (including deaths during surgery and childbirth) and care homes; accidents at work; and road traffic accidents. She has represented bereaved families; and hospital and nursing home staff. Linda is junior standing counsel for the British Psychological Society, and has gained expertise in advisory work and representation in professional conduct matters at interim and final hearings. Linda has also acted for a doctor facing disciplinary proceedings before the GMC, and her previous experience in the NHS is invaluable in this area. Linda was a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants' Disciplinary Committee for 5 years and a member of the Appeals Committee for 2 years.

CICA/CICAP: Linda regularly advises on criminal injuries compensation and appears before the Criminal Compensation Appeals Panel. In Cowell v Cowell [2007] she advised the High Court in ancillary relief proceedings about eligibility and quantum in an ongoing CICA claim. Linda has lectured representatives from the Free Representation Unit (with Roger Goodier, Chairman of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel) on CICAP claims and assists FRU representatives with difficult points in this area on a pro bono basis.

Linda is reading for a LLM in Legal Aspects of Medical Practice at Cardiff University. Her dissertation is a comparative study of investigations into death and inquests in different jurisdictions. She has written and lectured on various PI and clinical negligence topics, and is on the editorial committee of the AvMA Medical and Legal Journal.

Recent Cases of Interest

L v Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust (2009)

Inquest and Clinical Negligence Claim
L was admitted with respiratory difficulties. When she was initially intubated, she received inadequate artificial ventilation and suffered a cardiac arrest. L died four weeks later.

K (A Child) v Dr W (2009)

GP failed to refer K when she was a baby to a specialist for investigations of a urinary tract infection. K later developed a reduction in renal function, and underwent a neprectomy.

R v Governing Body of A School (2009)

Teacher injured by a pupil on a day trip. Limitation raised by the Defendant. Negotiated settlement.

A v British Psychological Society (2008)

Application for an Interim Suspension Order

L v Dr M and University Hospital Leicester NHS Trust (2008)

As a result of the failure by the GP and hospital to refer and investigate, the claimant was treated for about 10 years for ischaemic heart disease, a condition that he did not have. L took unnecessary medication and suffered side-effects; and developed a psychological injury. Limitation raised by the Defendant.

S (A Child) and S v Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust (2008)

Inquest and Clinical Negligence Claim
S (A Child) was injured in a RTA and died several days later in intensive care following a respiratory arrest. A fatal accident claim, and a claim on behalf of S's mother who suffered a psychological injury, were brought against the defendant.

Locke (A Child) v Oxbode Housing Association: Lawtel 2008

Nine year-old child sustained a deep laceration to her left buttock when she fell onto a bolt that was protruding from a gate. She was permanently scarred (advised on settlement).

S v Oxford and Buckingham Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (2008)

Psychiatric patient detained under Section 2 MHA 1983 escaped from the ward and sustained injury.

Deadman v Bristol City Council (2007)

Psychiatric harm at work. Led by Andrew Buchan.

S v S Town Council (2007)

Seven year-old child injured falling from a climbing frame. The injury might affect her ability to pursue a career as a dancer and damages were awarded to reflect a potential loss.

Cowell v Cowell (2007)

Advised the High Court on an ongoing CICAP claim in ancillary relief proceedings. H had been found guilty of a serious assault on W.

Starbutts v Thames Luxury Charters Ltd (2006)

Chef injured as he boarded a workboat on the River Thames.

Inquest into the Death of J (2006)

Death of a psychiatric patient who fell out of an upper floor window of a medical ward. He had taken an overdose and was receiving medical treatment.

A v B NHS Hospitals Trust: Lawtel 2004

A delay in diagnosing a meningococcal infection resulted in septicaemia, bilateral below the knee amputations, loss of fingers, renal failure, and psychological problems. The claimant received £1,250,000. Led by Simon Taylor QC.