Joshua Hedgman

Various Claimants v Lime Green Events
Ongoing instruction defending a number of claims brought following a stampede at ‘We Are FSTVL’ in 2019.

Re Kennedy
Severe traumatic brain injury claim dismissed following preliminary trial on liability. HHJ Ralton accepted Josh’s submission that there was no sufficient evidence of an assault by the defendant’s pub manager and that liability would not have attached vicariously in any event.

Re V
An interesting £1.2mn claim for significant brain injury suffered by a professional triathlete during a competitive event in which another rider caused a serious collision in the middle of a peloton. Significant neurocognitive disability.

Re P v M
Instructed for car in car versus motorcycle collision. Significant brain injury and capacity in issue. Claim presented in excess of £1mn. Successful appeal against interim costs order in favour of the claimant. Claim settled at JSM on a 25/75 apportionment against the claimant.

Re O
A fatal accident in which the deceased fell from a temporary structure. Claim presented for £2mn. Settled at JSM.

Wilson v George
Acted for the defendant in unusual brain injury claim, in which it was alleged that the accident caused decompensation of hydrocephalus. The defendant’s evidence was that the decompensation was inevitable and the accident was fortuitous in bringing it to light.

Chappell v Mrozek
Instructed in substantive claim pleaded at nearly £10mn following wrist injury. Issues of fundamental dishonesty and exaggeration.

Battersby v Stonegate Pub Company & Regency Security Services
Severe traumatic brain injury claim dismissed following preliminary trial on liability. HHJ Carr dismissed the claim by finding that the insured’s doorman had not committed an assault.

Harding v Richardson
Liability-admitted severe brain injury claim struck out for non-compliance with Court orders. Josh secured the strike out at first instance and successfully resisted the claimant’s appeal against it.

Perez v Savills UK Limited
Josh successfully defended Savills in a serious injury claim after a tenant fell from a gate as he attempted to climb over it in order to access his flat. The tenant sustained multiple injuries including several spinal fractures and a moderate traumatic brain injury. HHJ Baucher accepted all of Josh’s submissions; that there was no duty of care, no breach and no causation in light of the tenant’s decision to climb the gate, which was ‘reckless in the extreme’.

Santos v Metroline
Successful appeal against trial judge’s refusal to find fundamental dishonesty. The trial judge had misdirected himself on the standard of proof required of a defendant to show fundamental dishonesty, and had perversely speculated on reasons as to why the claimant might not have been dishonest.