Cheadle Hulme based Abney Garsden McDonald solicitors who have the largest dedicated Abuse compensation department in the country have been nominated in three separate award categories in the 2010 Eclipse Proclaim Personal Injury Awards.
The awards provide a unique opportunity to highlight and celebrate the excellence of individuals and organisations across the personal injury claims sector.
Paul Durkin, who has been a solicitor with the firm for 10 years, has been nominated in the Claimant Personal Injury Lawyer category. Paul has specialised in Child Abuse compensation exclusively for 10 years, and has been Lead Solicitor in charge of seven Children’s Homes Group Actions, three of which have resulted in Group Litigation Orders registered by the High Court.
Paul has also received a nomination in the Outstanding Case of the Year Award for his role as lead solicitor in the Nugent Care Children’s Home Group Action, which was heard in the Court of Appeal. The case not only gave guidance on the law but also sought to provide precedent for the group of 70 Claimants who were abused in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s at St. Aidan’s in Widnes and St. Vincent’s in Southport. Asked how he felt to receive these two nominations Paul commented: “Being short-listed as a finalist is a real accolade as I’m told the number of entries this year has been the highest ever.”
A third category that the firm have been nominated for is the Claimant Personal Injury Team of the Year where the firm has had to fulfil a number of criteria including demonstrable appreciation or recognition by clients, client initiatives and contribution to the community and contribution to the legal community.
Managing Partner Peter Garsden said: “After specialising in child abuse compensation claims for the last 16 years and, helping to develop new areas of law and practice in this niche area of law, it is finally very rewarding to share with my team, who deserve most of the credit, the accreditation of being nominated as a finalist in the national Personal Injury Awards. Whether or not we win, the honour of being short listed makes all the hours of heartache and sheer hard toil, all the more worth it. Most of all it is a recognition that we are helping some of the most damaged and vulnerable members of our society.”
The winners will be announced at an awards dinner to be held on the 18th November in London’s Millennium Mayfair Hotel.
