Patrick Limb QC
- Year called:
- 1987; appointed Queen's Counsel 2006
- Email:
- patricklimbqc@ropewalk.co.uk
- Qualifications:
- MA (Cantab). Accredited Mediator.
- Practice areas:
- Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, Disease, Fraudulent Claims, Regulatory, Mediation
Patrick Limb was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2006, having been called to the Bar in 1987. He was also called to the Gibraltar Bar in 2010.
He is an accredited mediator.
He specialises principally in cases of personal injury, disease, fraud and regulatory work. He also acts in cases involving the police, human rights issues and judicial review.
In addition to trial work, he is a highly experienced appellate advocate. Significant recent cases, reflecting the breadth (and depth) of his practice, include:
- Zurich Insurance Co plc v Hayward [2011] EWCA Civ 641 (fraud, estoppel; res judicata).
- Baker v Quantum Clothing Group [2011] UKSC 17; [2011] 1 WLR 1003 ((employers’ liability; codes of practice; meaning of ‘safe’).
- Wilkinson v York City Council [2011] EWCA Civ 207 (highway authorities’ powers and duties).
- Smith v Northamptonshire County Council [2009] UKHL: 27; [2009] ICR 734 (work equipment; statutory interpretation).
- A Train & Sons Ltd v Fletcher [2008] EWCA Civ 413; [2008] 4 AER 699 (interest and multipliers in fatal awards).
- Cox v Rolls Royce Industrial Power (India) Ltd [2007] EWCA Civ 1189 (mesothelioma).
- Coal Mining Contractors v Davies [2006] EWCA Civ 1360; [2007] 1 WLR 3232 (group litigation orders; Part 20 claims).
- Hague v Rexam Glass (Barnsley) Ltd [2006] EWCA Civ 377 (apportionment and medical evidence in HAVS cases.
- Green v Yorkshire Traction Co Ltd [2001] EWCA Civ 1925 (employers’ liability and European Directives).
- King v RCO Support Services Ltd [2001] ICR 608 (manual handling).
Personal Injury
He has undertaken numerous serious brain damage and catastrophic injury cases, on behalf of both Claimants and Defendants. His recent case-load has included settlements (after deduction for any contributory negligence) of:
- £1.4 million acting for a Plc – claim by high-flying executive
- £2.2 m for a child injured in road accident
- £1.2 m for widow and children of company director
- £900K with PPO rising to £125K
- £2.25m for tetraplegic client
- £1.6 m for paraplegic client
He has over twenty years’ experience of work-place, rail and road traffic claims, involving accidents home and abroad resulting in death, amputations, post-traumatic stress, other psychiatric injury (including, but not limited to, ‘stress at work’ and harassment cases), severe internal injuries, paralysis, blindness and scarring.
He has considerable know-how in dealing with complex medical questions, epidemiology, care and other quantum issues, including accountancy evidence.
Disease
He deals with the full spectrum of disease claims, particularly where there are testing issues relating to actionability of injury, breach or causation.
He has dealt regularly with claims involving cancers of the lung (not limited to asbestos-related pathology); nasopharynx, bladder, bowel, skin, and throat.
Recent COSHH cases have included wood dust, silica, and legionnaire’s disease, exposure to PAHs and to organophosphate fumes. He also has very extensive experience of deafness claims, including ‘acoustic shock’.
Clinical Negligence
Expertise in issues of causation and apportionment, cross-examining experts and disclosure provides an overlap between his personal injury and disease practice, and a clinical negligence case-load. He recognises that this field of work brings its own special challenges, where his rigorous attention to detail, calm in negotiations and a realistic approach produce successful outcomes for clients.
Group Litigation
He has an established track-record of acting in multi-party or group actions including:
- AB & others –v- British Coal Corporation (British Coal Respiratory Disease Litigation – contribution claims) [2000 to 2009].
- Armstrong & Others –v- British Coal Corporation (vibration white finger – third party actions) [1999 to 2008].
- Doherty –v- Rugby Joinery (95+ claims brought against a Doncaster factory for HAVS).
- North West Shipyards asbestos litigation (against Cape Contracts Limited) [1998-99].
- North East Shipyards litigation (against T & N / Newalls Insulation Company and Darlington Insulation Company) [1996 – 1997].
Police Claims
Starting with his work as Junior Counsel for South Yorkshire Police at the Public Inquiry into the Hillsborough Disaster, the subsequent Inquests – the longest in British legal history - the Contribution Proceedings, together with the trilogy of House of Lords cases (Alcock, Hicks and Frost) [1989-1991], he has acted for many years on behalf of police forces, across a considerable range of issues, most recently in a month-long jury Article 2 Inquest.
Fraudulent Claims
He is regularly instructed on behalf of Insurers in cases of suspected malingering – both at appellate level and trial.
He has considerable expertise in dealing with claims of illness deception, where unwavering cross-examination has led (inter alia) to a doctor being reported to the GMC for gross misconduct in relation to the discharge of his duty to the Court.
He has also undertaken mediations where there were allegations of fraud entitling the insurer to void the policy of insurance.
Regulatory
He is head of the Ropewalk Chambers’ Regulatory Special Interest Group.
He has substantial experience of defending numerous health and safety prosecutions. He has represented corporate clients prosecuted for work-related deaths variously brought under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations and the Work at Height Regulations.
Having been appointed a Treasury Junior (Provincial Panel, Panel, 2002 to 2006), he acted in prosecutions lead by government agencies concerned with environmental protection.
In addition to his health and safety practice, he has represented clients at Disciplinary Tribunals and Professional Conduct Committees.
Professional Membership
Personal Injuries Bar Association.
Health and Safety Lawyers Association.
Nottinghamshire Medico-Legal Society.
Testimonials
"Patrick Limb QC impresses with his ‘laser-like concentration on the detail’. He handles high-value brain and spinal cord cases and occupational disease litigation."
"Has a nationally recognised industrial disease practice and is recognised as ‘a master of presentation and cross-examination who is particularly sensitive to clients' needs’. He is hugely popular on circuit."
"Superb technical skills."
"A formidable eye for detail and a knack for attracting a Judge’s attention … he is approachable and easy to speak to, can be totally relied on."
"Forensic attention to detail ensures that ‘he never leaves a stone unturned and considers all the relevant angles in a case’. … noted for his exceptional insight into disease-related matters."
"An exceptional talent."
"The ‘super bright’, Patrick Limb QC ‘knows his stuff inside-out’. He is acknowledged for his expertise in industrial disease matters."
"The major insurers keep Patrick Limb QC busy."
"A big player in the field of personal injury litigation and the ‘first port of call’ for many commentators."
Publications
He speaks regularly at conferences and seminar events at the invitation of fellow Band 1 lawyers, major Insurers and his peers. He contributes articles published in the New Law Journal and the Personal Injury Law Journal. He was Co-Author of the chapter on Psychiatric Injury Claims in the Personal Injuries Bar Association Handbook (2007 and 2001 Editions), as well as the Sweet and Maxwell title: Recovering Damages for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (2001).
In addition, he was a Co-Author on the Bar Working Party Paper on Compensation Bill (2005) and author of PIBA paper regarding the Civil Justice Council Review of Expert Evidence (2005). As an invited speaker on legal issues at a National Symposium on Vibration Injury (February 2001), he wrote a chapter in the booklet published and sold after the Symposium.
Reported and significant cases
Zurich Insurance Co plc v Hayward [2011] EWCA Civ 641 (fraud, estoppel; res judicata).
Baker v Quantum Clothing Group [2011] UKSC 17; [2011] 1 WLR 1003 ((employers’ liability; codes of practice; meaning of ‘safe’).
Wilkinson v York City Council [2011] EWCA Civ 207 (highway authorities’ powers and duties).
Smith v Northamptonshire County Council [2009] UKHL 27; [2009] ICR 734 (work equipment; statutory interpretation).
Abraham v G Ireson (Properties) Ltd [2009] EWHC 1958 (QB) (foreseeability; knowledge; mesothelioma).
A Train & Sons Ltd v Fletcher [2008] EWCA Civ 413; [2008] 4 AER 699 (interest and multipliers in fatal awards).
Cox v Rolls Royce Industrial Power (India) Ltd [2007] EWCA Civ 1189 (proof of exposure in mesothelioma).
Coal Mining Contractors v Davies [2006] EWCA Civ 1360; [2007] 1 WLR 3232 (group litigation orders; Part 20 claims).
AB v British Coal Corporation [2006] EWCA 172 (case management of group litigation; bias)
Hague v Rexam Glass (Barnsley) Ltd [2006] EWCA Civ 377 (apportionment and medical evidence in HAVS cases).
Rugby Joinery v Whitfield [2005] EWCA Civ 561; [2006] PIQR Q2 (apportionment; causation, expert evidence; measure of damages; vibration white finger).
Grieves v FT Everard & Sons Ltd [2005] EWHC 88 (QB); [2005] PIQR P25 (pleural plaques test litigation; accrual of cause of action; provisional damages).
AB v British Coal Corp [2004] EWHC 1372 (QB) (chronic obstructive airways disease; coal mining; contractors; contribution claims).
Green v Yorkshire Traction Co Ltd [2001] EWCA Civ 1925 (employers’ liability and European Directives).
King v RCO Support Services Ltd [2001] ICR 608 (manual handling).
Frost v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire [1999] 2 AC 455; [1999] ICR 216 (disaster; police officers; psychiatric illness).
Tranmore v T E Scudder Ltd CA (Civ Div) LTL 28/04/1998 (immediate aftermath in secondary victim PTSD claims).
VSEL Ltd v Cape Contracts plc [1998] PIQR P207 (discovery – agreement between two parties to litigation – whether third party is entitled discovery of the terms of the agreement).
Bannister v SGB Plc [1998] 1 WLR 1123; [1997] PIQR P165 (automatic striking out; county courts).
Bytheway v British Steel plc CA (Civ Div) LTL 26/06/1997 (deafness; whether limitation waived because claim undergoing ADR).
Hicks v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire [1992] 2 AER 65; [1992] PIQR P433 (whether damages are recoverable for pre-death terror).
Alcock v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire [1992] 1 AC 310; [1992] PIQR P1 (duty of care; foreseeability; psychiatric harm; remoteness).
