Welcome Catherine Dent
We are delighted to welcome Catherine Dent to Chambers. Catherine is a personal injury barrister with a particular specialism in disease litigation. She acts...
Read more
Catherine is a personal injury barrister with a particular specialism in disease litigation. She acts for both Claimants and Defendants in Fast-Track, Intermediate Track and Multi Track matters.
Catherine endeavours to be as accessible as possible to professional clients from the outset of proceedings to their conclusion. She has a busy paperwork practice, regularly advises in conference, and is also happy to discuss matters informally prior to receipt of instructions.
Catherine has a wealth of trial experience and is often instructed in complex high value cases. She is a pragmatic, down-to-earth and straight-talking advocate, and considers herself to be measured and approachable in her advocacy and her advice.
Catherine accepts instructions on a CFA bases where appropriate and regularly provides seminars to instructing solicitors in her areas of specialism.
Catherine read law at Leeds University and completed the BPTC at Manchester Metropolitan University. She was called to the Bar by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple in 2011.
Prior to completing pupillage, Catherine was an Associate at a specialist Industrial Disease firm of solicitors, leading the Asthma and Dermatitis departments.
Disease
Catherine prides herself on her close working relationships with her instructing solicitors and is viewed by many solicitors as an extension of their own team. She has extensive experience of the following areas:
- Asthma
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Cumulative Back Injuries
- Dermatitis
- Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome
- Hernias
- Noise Induced Hearing Loss
- Reactive Airway Dysfunction Syndrome
- Stress
- Work-Related Upper Limb Disorders
Catherine is regularly involved at the outset of such cases and is frequently instructed to advise on prospects; as well as draft particulars of claim, schedules of loss (often of high value/complexity), defences, replies to defence (often pleading as to limitation), CPR 18 questions and Part 35 questions. Catherine regularly goes on to attend CCMCs, application hearings and trials.
Catherine has substantial experience of conferencing with expert witnesses and is well versed with the diagnostic literature relevant to disease claims.
Cases
DC v SM: Claim for hand arm vibration syndrome arising out of exposure to vibrating tools. Presently valued at upwards of £120,000 (ongoing).
DW v BM: Claim for bilateral trigger finger arising out of prolonged use of a jet wash. Settled for £70,000.
LH v BG: Claim for stenosing tenosynovitis arising out of use of vibratory equipment. Settled week before trial £27,000.
LR v LE: Claim for acceleration of osteoarthritis of the left knee arising out of repeated kneeling at work. Settled £17,000.
TH v FS: Unusual claim for occupational asthma arising out of exposure to undiluted chemicals. Settled for £5,000.
MB v MG: Claim for occupational dermatitis arising out of exposure to latex gloves. Settled c.£10,000.
DH v GT: Claim for a hernia arising out of heavy manual lifting of car parts. Settled £16,000.
KT v BB: Claim for noise induced hearing loss. Preliminary trial on limitation. Successful at trial.
Personal injury
Catherine accepts instructions in a full complement of personal injury matters including:
- Occupiers/ Public Liability
- Employers Liability
- RTAs
- Credit Hire
- Animals Act Claims
- Highways Act Claims
- Fatal Accidents
Catherine is regularly instructed to advise in conference and undertakes advocacy, advisory work and drafting at all stages of the claim.
Catherine is regularly instructed by both Claimant and Defendant solicitors. She has secured both findings of Fundamental Dishonesty for Defendants and successfully defended allegations for Claimants.
Cases
BB v AS: Occupier’s liability claim arising out of a trip on a step. Settled upwards of £100,000.
LA v LA: Occupier’s liability claim arising out of a trip on ice at an airport. Won at trial
TM v MS: Claim for injuries arising out of a fall in a supermarket. Settled at JSM for £85,000.
VM v FN: Claim for injuries on behalf of a child who sustained injuries at daycare following a fall from a milk box. Won at trial.
HD v JE & SP: Employer’s liability claim for multiple injuries following an assault at a nightclub. Liability trial won. Subsequently settled for £85,000.
KB v ME: Employer’s liability claim arising out of electric shocks in the workplace. Won at trial.
AS v AH: Claim for negligent tattoo application. Won at trial.
AO v TB: Claim for negligent tattoos. Damages assessed at £49,000.
Tattooist’s Negligence
Catherine has recently been involved in a number of cases involving injuries arising out of negligent tattoo application. Catherine has been involved in cases from inception to their successful conclusion at trial.
Catherine has dealt with claims resulting in severe infections, tattoo fading/fanning (blowout) and scarring.
Cases
AO v TB: Claim for negligent tattoo application resulting in severe infection. Damages assessed at £49,000.
AS v AH: Claim for negligent tattoo application requiring extensive laser correction treatment. Won at trial.
Clinical negligence
Catherine has experience of claims involving negligent diagnosis, prescription/medication errors and birth and pregnancy negligence. She appreciates the importance of comprehensive conferencing with instructed experts at an early stage and is adept at getting to grips with medical terminology.
Cases
NH v Pennine Acute Hospital NHS Trust: Claimant sustained burns to his left thigh during a routine varicose vein surgery. Settled.
HF v East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust: Claim following a misdiagnosis of pneumonia. Settled.
Publications
Catherine co-authored an article examining the impacts of Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board [2015] UKSC 11
The article “Informed Consent and Causation” was published in the April 2016 edition of PI Focus.
Education
- LLB (Hons) University of Leeds
- BPTC Manchester Metropolitan University
Associations
- Personal Injury Bar Association
- Northern Circuit
