MPS position on the Lord Justice Jackson’s Final Report on Civil Litigation Costs

Lord Justice Jackson published his final report on the review of civil litigation costs in January 2010. The final report is the culmination of a year-long forensic study of the costs involved in civil litigation. MPS submitted evidence to both phases of the review and met with Jackson LJ along with other clinical negligence defendant representatives.

MPS has long held deep concerns about the way in which costs are managed in clinical negligence cases and we warmly welcome many of the fundamental changes proposed by Jackson LJ. MPS provides an indemnity and legal assistance to healthcare professionals with clinical negligence claims in over 40 countries and our experience shows that the costs associated with claims in England and Wales are among the most expensive in the world.

We believe that the costs of clinical negligence claims in this country have become disproportionate and unsustainable.  This paper sets out our views on Jackson LJ’s final report, focussing on those areas which are most relevant to clinical negligence claims.

Please see the attachment on the right for a summary of our views.