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Corin is an expert personal injury barrister who is experienced in all areas of personal injury litigation with particular expertise in the following areas:

Severe Injury

Corin represents Claimants and insurers. He has considerable experience in cases of head injury and spinal injury in particular. Also regularly involved in cases where pain conditions are diagnosed or suspected. He is sensitive to tactical and evidential issues, especially those concerning care, Court of Protection and rehabilitation. Corin regularly advises in conference with experts; clarifying their evidence and ensuring their reports focus on the principal issues in the case. He works collaboratively with solicitors, case managers and deputies in these difficult cases.

Employer’s liability

Corin is an expert in all aspects of employer’s liability litigation and has practiced in this area for over 25 years.  Reported cases include Threlfall v Hull City Council [2010] EWCA Civ 1147 (leading authority for “suitability” of PPE) and Heeds v Chief Constable of Cleveland Police [2018] EWHC 810 (width of application of Hide v Steeplechase in PUWER).

Fatal claims

Represents Claimants and Defendants at Inquests and in claims arising from fatal injury.  Corin is currently involved in a series of fatal claims where liability and quantum are in issue. 

See separate profile for further details.

Motor Insurance and Employer’s Liability Fraud

Corin is an expert civil fraud barrister. He is Head of Chambers' Civil Fraud & Credit Hire Team. Frequently represents Defendants in cases across the country where a fraudulent claim is alleged or suspected. These include staged and induced accident claims, bogus passenger claims, exaggerated claims and fraud rings. Corin has a keen interest in evidential and tactical issues in these cases and for many years has worked closely with solicitors and insurers to develop methods for identifying and exposing fraud rings. He is fully conversant with the intricacies of defending these cases and the latest developments of the law in this field; including telematics and ANPR.  Corin is acutely aware of the potential for 'bent metal' fraud and exaggerated non-protocol vehicle costs in the new OIC and works with solicitors and insurers to combat this type of fraud.

See 'Civil Fraud' profile for further details including cases where Corin has secured a finding of fundamental dishonesty.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals

Corin has represented victims of crimes of violence since the beginning of his practice. Consequently he is experienced in cases administered under the old and new procedural rules. Now concentrates on cases where Applicants have suffered serious criminal injury (head injuries in particular).

A sample of Corin's recent/current cases

• Representing Claimant who suffered a career ending injury to her hand after it became trapped in an unguarded machine. Case continues.

• Representing Claimant who suffered severe injury to her knee with CRPS after a fall at work. Case continues.

• Representing Defendant in a fatal claim with high value dependency claims for lost earnings and pension loss. Case continues.

• July 2021. Successfully represented Defendant resisting Claimant's application for summary judgment in multi-party litigation following the Claimant's fall from a scaffold.

• July 2021. Represented Defendant in fatal claim brought by co-habitee for dependency and other losses. Case settled following written advice.

• May 2021. Successfully represented a Claimant in a liability only trial when he was struck by an articulated wagon and knocked off his cycle. 

• April 2021. Successfully represented a Defendant Council in an application for a finding of fundamental dishonesty following discontinuance. 

• March 2021. Successfully defended an appeal against a decision to dismiss a claim for fundamental dishonesty in a RTA.

• February 2021. Successfully defended an appeal against a decision to dismiss a claim for fundamental dishonesty in a highways tripping case.

• February 2021. Represented a Defendant at a JSM in a fatal case where the Claimant sought substantial damages for deceased's pension loss.

• November 2020. Successfully represented a Defendant in a hybrid multi track trial where the Claimant alleged injuries after a slip at the Defendant's premises.  Claimant found to be dishonest and the claim was dismissed. 

• May 2020. Represented a Defendant at a JSM in a case where the Claimant alleged serious spinal injuries and continuing somataform disorder. 

• April 2020. Successfully represented a young girl who suffers a conversion disorder with a complete loss of sight in one eye. Case settled.

• March 2020.  Successfully represented a Claimant in an application by the Defendant to resile from an admission of liability in a high value injury / retirement claim. Case continues. 

• February 2020. Represented Defendant at a JSM in a case where the Claimant alleged chronic pain following accident at work.

• February 2020. Represented local authority at a JSM in a case where the Claimant alleged hip fracture following trip / fall. 

• February 2020. Successfully represented local authority in claim brought arising from alleged trip and fall. Fundamental dishonesty found.

• January 2020. Represented local authority in claim brought arising from alleged trip and fall. Claimant discontinued after service of Mr Furness' skeleton argument. 

• January 2020. Successfully represented employer at trial for alleged accident at work. Fundamental dishonesty found.

• December 2019. Successfully represented insurance company in application to strike out claim on grounds of res judicata / issue estoppel.

• November 2019. Represented Claimant train driver who suffered psychiatric injury arising from train crash.  Case settled shortly before trial.

• October 2019. Successfully represented local authority in claim brought arising from alleged trip and fall. Fundamental dishonesty found.

• September 2019. Represented Defendant at a JSM in a case where the Claimant alleges serious spinal injuries. Claimant's credibility in issue. 

• July 2019. Represented a local authority at a 2 week Article 2 Inquest arising from the death of a child in the local authority's secure children's home.

• April 2019. Successfully defended an appeal against a decision to dismiss a claim for diminution in value of a prestige motor vehicle.

• March 2019. Successfully represented Claimants in an application to strike out a limitation defence in a 'tree nuisance' case.

• March 2019 & June 2018. Represented a schoolteacher who suffered career ending injuries following assault by a child. Successfully defended an appeal in the High Court following a three day trial.

• February 2019. Represented auxiliary nurse who suffered career ending injuries in a fall in a bar. Case settled at JSM.

• January 2019. Represented rope maker who suffered severe burns and psychiatric injury. Case settled at JSM.

• January 2019. Represented engineer who suffered career ending injury to his hand with CRPS. Case settled at JSM.

• December 2018. Successfully represented local authority in claim brought arising from trip and fall. Fundamental dishonesty found.

• November 2018. Represented Defendant in case where Claimant suffered brain injury and audiovestibular injury. Case settled at JSM.

• October 2018. On behalf of a Defendant, successfully resisted a claim in fatal case where the Claimant sought substantial damages for increased inheritance tax liability.

• October 2018. Represented Defendant in case where Claimant suffered severe life changing leg injury. Case settled at JSM.

• September 2018. Represented Claimant who suffered injuries in RTA in Cape Verde Islands. Case settled shortly before trial.

   

Corin represents Claimants and Defendants in a wide variety of costs disputes; especially where there is a dispute of substance or principle concerning the recovery of costs in multi-track cases.

Head of the Chambers' Civil Fraud & Credit Hire Team, Corin is an expert civil fraud barrister. He is one of Chambers' most experienced and skilled barristers in defending alleged fraudulent claims and high value credit hire claims.

He frequently represents Defendants where a fraudulent claim is alleged or suspected. 

Corin has successfully defended local authorities and utilities in the North East of England in dozens of trials where spurious and fabricated claims were made for personal injury from alleged slips and trips.  He worked collaboratively with solicitors and local authority officers to expose and break up a series of fraud rings in this region. 

Corin is well placed to advise in cases where fraudulent Claimants and witnesses may be committed for contempt of court. He recently represented a bus company in the Midlands where a Claimant who fabricated a claim for personal injury was sentenced to a term of imprisonment (suspended) for contempt of court.

Corin’s practice as a civil fraud barrister includes advising and representing Defendants in a wide range of cases where fraud is suspected:

• Claims farming and Google spoofing.
• Inflated and exaggerated claims.
• Phantom passenger claims.
• Staged accidents.
• Slam-ons and LVI.
• Fraud rings (including multiple claims made by criminal gangs).
• Familiar with using and deploying telematics and ANPR evidence.
• Striking out claims on the grounds of ex turpi causa.
• Striking out claims where hire agreements and statements are signed without an appropriate certificate of translation.

Corin 'cut his teeth' in the 1990s defending claims for credit hire and 'bent metal' and has continued to fight these claims for insurers across the country ever since; frequently deploying new and effective legal arguments to reduce recovery in these claims.

He has a keen interest in evidential and tactical issues in fraudulent and credit hire cases and works closely with solicitors and insurers to develop methods for identifying and exposing fraud rings. Corin is fully conversant with the intricacies of defending these cases and the latest developments of the law in this field; including telematics and ANPR.  Corin is acutely aware of the potential for 'bent metal' fraud and exagerated non-protocol vehicle costs in the new OIC and works with solicitors and insurers to combat this type of fraud.

Please see 'Insurance' profile for further details of Corin's extensive experience as a credit hire barrister.

Corin has an excellent record of securing a finding of fundamental dishonesty and has successfully defended these cases on appeal.

 A sample of the recent cases in which Corin has successfully represented insurers / Defendants where courts have found claims to be fundamentally dishonest:

• April 2021. Successfully represented a Defendant Council in an application for a finding of fundamental dishonesty following discontinuance. 

• March 2021. Successfully defended an appeal against a decision to dismiss a claim for fundamental dishonesty in a RTA.

• February 2021. Successfully defended an appeal against a decision to dismiss a claim for fundamental dishonesty in a highways tripping case.

• November 2020. Successfully represented a Defendant in a hybrid multi track trial where the Claimant alleged injuries after a slip at the Defendant's premises.  Claimant found to be dishonest and the claim was dismissed. 

• February 2020. Successfully represented local authority in claim brought arising from alleged trip and fall. Fundamental dishonesty found.

• January 2020. Represented local authority in claim brought arising from alleged trip and fall. Claimant discontinued after service of Corin's skeleton argument. 

• January 2020. Successfully represented employer at trial for alleged accident at work. Fundamental dishonesty found.

• October 2019. Successfully represented local authority in claim brought arising from alleged trip and fall. Fundamental dishonesty found.

   

Corin advises insurers in respect of 'tricky legal points' concerning insurance policy interpretation and effect.

In recent cases Corin has advised in respect of the prospects of securing costs from an ATE insurer where a Court has dismissed claims / found a Claimant fundamentally dishonest; and in cases where a policy holder has no insurable interest in a motor vehicle insured in his name.

Corin is an expert credit hire barrister. He 'cut his teeth' in the 1990s defending credit hire claims and has continued to fight these claims for insurers across the country ever since; deploying innovative and effective legal arguments to dismiss or limit the value of these claims.

As a credit hire barrister, he has presented credit hire seminars at local and national insurer forums and workshops; in recent years a regular contributor at the annual ALARM Conference.

Corin has a keen interest in evidential and tactical issues in these cases and works closely with solicitors and insurers to develop methods for identifying and exposing exaggerated and bogus claims for credit hire and associated expenses. Corin is fully conversant with the intricacies of defending these cases and the latest developments of the law in this field.  He is currently instructed in a series of cases where six figure sums are sought for credit hire.

Corin’s practice has included:

• Striking out claims for a Claimant’s failure to plead and prove his case in respect of impecuniosity (now codified in PD16.6 / 16.8).
• Striking out claims on the grounds of enforceability of hire agreements and misrepresentation made to the Claimant.
• Striking out credit hire claims on the grounds of ex turpi causa (eg failing to insure hire vehicles).
• Striking out claims where hire agreements and statements are signed without an appropriate certificate of translation.
• Advising insurers and solicitors in respect of the substance, form and timing of intervention letters, emails and messaging.
• Advising insurers and solicitors in respect of the adequacy of detailed and pro-forma basic hire evidence and reports.
• Substantially reducing the value of claims by reference to rate and especially need and period of hire.
• Devising and deploying arguments to meet and reduce claims for hackney carriage and private hire claims (eg challenging alleged bailor / bailee relationship).
• Exposing fraud and fundamental dishonesty in credit hire and associated claims.
• Deploying ANPR and telematics evidence.

Please see 'Civil Fraud' profile for further details of Corin's extensive experience as a civil fraud barrister in credit hire litigation.

Corin represents insurers, local authorities and families of the deceased as well as other organisations in inquests (including Article 2 and jury inquests) across the north of England.

He regularly represents clients in high value fatal accident claims, cutting through the statutory intricacies and giving straight forward and practical advice.

Recent inquests include:

• Represented a local authority at a 2 week Article 2 jury inquest arising from the death of a child in a secure children's unit.
• Represented a school and a local authority at an Article 2 inquest concerning a student's death after eating food contaminated with peanuts during a school trip abroad.
• Represented a national hotel chain in an alleged trip and fall in a hotel.
• Represented two police officers who suffered fatal injuries in two separate RTAs whilst driving similar patrol cars.

See Corin's 'Personal Injury' profile for details of his fatal accident practice.