Edward Ramsay

Edward is ranked as Leading Junior for Inquests and Inquiries in the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners.

In May 2018 his cross-examination of a DVSA witness in the Gurung case was reported on the front page of The Times. The inquest received extensive media coverage and led to the recall of over 300,000 vehicles in the UK and a separate Parliamentary Select Committee Inquiry.

Edward represents interested parties at all types of inquest (including Article 2 and Jury), but with particular expertise in hospital inquest cases, principally in the areas of mental health, emergency care, and other serious untoward incidents, but also including primary care, cancer misdiagnosis, failed organ transplantation, obstetric and neo-natal care, and paediatrics.

Edward is also instructed to represent care homes, local authorities, RTA insurers, and fire and rescue services. He has particular experience of cases involving fire safety.

In most of Edward’s inquest cases, he is instructed to then bring or defend a potential civil action.

Many of Edward’s cases have been reported in local and national media and he appears regularly as sole counsel (often against senior juniors and KCs).

He frequently provides advice on issues of evidence and procedure, and has extensive experience in the drafting of written submissions (both at pre-inquest review and final hearings).

He has delivered seminars on the legislative changes to the coronial system following implementation of the CJA 2009. He has detailed knowledge and experience of post-inquest remedies including JR and Section 13 applications.

Past instructions include:

• the Michael Zawadski Inquest (Coroner returns conclusion of unlawful killing at inquest into the death of Michael Zawadzki)
• the Dev Naran Inquest (Coroner questions safety of smart motorways after 8 year old killed).
• the Gurung BMW Inquest (Ed Ramsay represents family of Narayan Gurung in widely reported BMW safety recall inquest)
• the Amy Allan GOSH Inquest (Amy Allan death: Significant failings in care by Great Ormond Street Hospital)
• the Alex Pavlou Inquest (death of a 19-year-old from drowning in the River Tawe (Article 2 jury inquest) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-42427996)
• the St Michael’s Hospice Inquests (the deaths of three residents at an East Sussex hospice following a large fire (instructed by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (issues concerning criminal prosecution, suspension of inquest, Article 2 and obligation to sit with jury))(St Leonards hospice patients unlawfully killed in fire, inquest finds);
• the Chris Dunning Inquest (the death of a mental health patient (non-MHA) following a fire in the residential care home (issues concerning criminal prosecution, Rule 22 and adjournment of inquest))(Chris Dunning: Secure unit patient’s drug death ‘accidental’);
• the Diane Parkhouse Inquest (the fire-related death of a resident in sheltered accommodation)https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/woman-died-fire-after-dropping-21128490
• the Bradley John Inquest (death of school boy on school premises)
• the Kathleen Parkinson Inquest (the death of an elderly patient following emergency admission to A&E (issues concerning complex histopathology, police investigation; judicial review) – being led by Michael Rawlinson KC.;
• the James Rawlings Inquest (the death of a neonate from hypoxic birth injuries following prolonged labour and inadequate resuscitation);
• the Michael McVey Inquest (the death of a 29-year-old man in ITU following allegations of drug-overdose (issues relating to medical cause of death, adequacy of original investigation and inquest, application under Section 13 Coroners Act 1988). Ed appeared before the Divisional Court in Jones v HM Coroner for Mid Kent and Medway [2020] EWHC 3733 (Admin) and obtained the quashing of the original inquisition);
• the Sian Hollands Inquest (the death of a 25-year-old mother of three from pulmonary embolism following admission to Accident and Emergency (issues regarding delayed diagnosis and treatment, Article 2 and need for jury; 4 PiPs))
  – 12KBW press release: ‘Edward Ramsay represents the family of Sian Hollands at Article 2 inquest into her death’
• the Koula Christou Inquest (the death of a 53-year-old woman in hospital from GI bleeding whilst awaiting transfer to another hospital site for emergency interventional radiology (2-week Article 2 inquest));
• the Zara Alam Inquest (the death of a 13-month baby from meningococcal septicaemia following inadequate discharge from A&E);
  – Evening Standard article: ‘Doctors must be more aware of meningitis so another baby does not die’
  – Daily Mail article: ‘Doctor sent 13-month-old girl home without fully examining her five hours before she died of meningitis’
• the Denise Griffiths Inquest (the death of a 47-year-old patient following elective hemi-colectomy as a result of a possible morphine overdose);
• the Angiss Legrand Inquest (the death of a 44-year-old male in ITU from alleged over-dose of antihypertensive medication (issues of systemic failure concerning fluid overfill in ITU and delayed treatment for sepsis));
• the Claire Masters Inquest (the death of a patient detained under s.3 of the MHA 1983 following emergency admission from psychiatric hospital (8 day Article 2 jury inquest)
  – Northampton Chronicle & Echo article: ‘Inquest into the death of Northampton patient whose fractured spine went undiagnosed finds care failings’
• the Dorothy Pope Inquest (the death of a patient in hospital following pancreaticoduodenectomy or ‘Whipple procedure’ (issues include consent and appropriate post-operative care));
• the George Robson Inquest (the death of an elderly patient in hospital following an upper GI bleed (issues of systemic neglect/failure concerning the over-administration of an NSAID without gastric protection));
  – 12KBW press release: ‘Edward Ramsay helps secure rider of neglect for bereaved family in hospital inquest’
• the Herbert Chandler Inquest (the death of an elderly patient in hospital following an erroneous wrong site aspiration to the chest (issues of systemic failure and Article 2)).
  – 12KBW press release: ‘Edward Ramsay represents family in hospital ‘Article 2’ inquest’
• the George Watson Inquest (the death of an elderly patient in a care home following fall and complex hospital discharge (intracranial bleeding, fracture and infection, issues of neglect, involvement of Health and Safety Executive and Chief Coroner as regards to the statutory obligation to sit with a jury)
  – Coventry Telegraph article: ‘Dementia sufferer’s death fall blamed on University Hospital neglect’

Edward has extensive experience in all aspects of personal injury law, including employers’ liability, public liability, slipping claims, defective premises, road traffic accidents, psychiatric injury claims, as well as related procedural and costs issues and appellate work.

Edward receives instructions from respected national firms representing both claimants and defendants and their insurers. Edward has also represented many private sector businesses, local authorities, and care homes. His cases cover a variety of claims including the following:

• Complex orthopaedic and psychiatric injuries (including amputations);
• Brain and neurological injuries;
• Fraud and exaggerated claims;
• Fatal Accidents;
• Pain disorders including “CPRS” Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, somatoform disorders, chronic pain and fibromyalgia.

Edward is frequently instructed to advise on liability and quantum in high value claims, draft pleadings, schedules, and counter-schedules, as well as Part 18 and 35 questions to experts. He is routinely instructed to lead conferences with multiple experts.

Edward has extensive experience representing clients at trial, joint settlement meetings and mediations.

Edward has an established clinical negligence practice covering the full range of cases – from orthopedic injuries, obstetric, gynaecological and urological injuries, misdiagnosis and cancer cases, and hospital fatalities.

Many of his instructions arise out of his hospital inquest work where there is a follow-on civil action. Through his inquest practice Edward has extensive experience examining expert witnesses in court and has particular expertise in cases where hospital systems errors are raised.

Edward acts for large insurers including multi-track and appellate work. He was junior counsel for the Respondent in the leading case of McBride v UK Insurance Ltd [2017] EWCA Civ 144 concerning the approach to the calculation of Basic Hire Rates.

Edward is regularly instructed in cases where fraud is alleged. The majority of these instructions relate to fraudulent and fundamentally dishonest whiplash and credit hire / storage claims. Edward has extensive trial experience cross-examining claimants on these issues. He has appeared in many cases where ancillary costs issues have arisen (including obtaining wasted costs orders against solicitors, third party costs orders, and disapplying QOCS).

Ed’s practice includes representing claimants and defendants in personal injury and fatal accident cases involving defective products, including claims with an international/cross border dimension. Ed had particular expertise in fatal accident cases arising from defective products where there may be related coronial proceedings.

Recent instructions include a large fatal accident claim involving a defective vehicle ramp, a fatal claim relating to a defective hospital device for administering IV medication, and claims against BMW in connection with the B+ cable issue and 2018 recall.

Ed Ramsay represents family of Narayan Gurung in widely reported BMW safety recall inquest

Ed is a member of the Travel and International Law Group and accepts instructions in relation to accidents abroad brought under the Package Travel Regulations and Montreal/Athens Conventions. He is also advises on questions of applicable law, jurisdiction and service.

Ed has experience in motor insurance and insurance indemnity work. He is regularly instructed by motor insurers, and by the MIB, on issues of indemnity and the liability to satisfy judgments in road traffic claims.

He has experience of cases involving the Third Party (Rights Against Insurers Act) 2010 and the Insurance Act 2015.

Edward has acted for claimants and defendants in noise induced hearing loss claims and has experience in cases concerning exposure to asbestos.

He was junior to Frank Burton KC and Harry Steinberg KC. Greenway & Ors v Johnson Matthey Plc [2016] EWCA Civ 408 (platinum sensitisation) exploring the limits of actionable injury in claims in tort and contract.

Bar Professional Training Course, (Outstanding).

Graduate Diploma in Law, (Distinction).

MA (Oxon) (History & Politics; First Class; 1^st place in year).

Major Scholar, Inner Temple (2012)

Scholar, St. Catherine’s College, Oxford (2007-2009)

Assistant Coroner for Swansea Neath Port Talbot

PIBA

Huge attention to detail with a razor-sharp intellect and fantastic on his feet – Legal 500, 2024

Edward’s knowledge of coronial law is unrivalled and he can handle the most difficult of coroners or witnesses with ease. His advocacy is clear and concise – Legal 500, 2024

He has a good instinctive grasp of matters in the coroner’s court – Chambers & Partners, 2024

He is really good on his feet and really impressive with coroners in inquest hearings – Chambers & Partners, 2024

Edward is a fantastic advocate and is always well-prepared and focused. He is good with clients in emotive and difficult situations and is a safe and trusted pair of hands – Legal 500, 2023

Edward has a superb and in-depth knowledge of coronial law, and passionate about achieving justice for families needing representation at Inquest. Prepares the best submissions for Article 2 inquests, and really goes the extra mile for instructing solicitors and lay clients – Legal 500, 2023

Utter and dogged commitment to leaving no stone unturned when considering a case’s strengths and weaknesses, and an innovative thinker in respect of inquests – Legal 500, 2022

Very proactive and gives clear and concise advice. Easy to approach and communicate with. Very good on his feet and with witnesses – Legal 500, 2021

A natural instinct of which lines of inquiry to pursue with witnesses – Legal 500, 2020

Holt v Allianz Insurance Plc [2023] EWHC 790 (KB) – landmark decision on the use of pre-action disclosure applications by putative defendants facing claims for credit hire.

Jones v HM Coroner for Mid Kent and Medway [2020] EWHC 3733 (Admin) – successful application under s.13 of the Coroners Act 1988 to quash inquisition on grounds of insufficiency of inquiry and new expert evidence as to the medical cause of death.

R (on the application of Parkinson) v HM Senior Coroner for Kent [2018] EWHC 1501 – leading case concerning the domestic application of ECtHR jurisprudence on Article 2 in hospital inquests

McBride v UK Insurance Ltd [2017] EWCA Civ 144 Whether the Court should revisit its earlier decision in Stevens v Equity Syndicate Management [2015] EWCA Civ 93 regarding the correct approach to the calculation of Basic Hire Rates in credit hire litigation.

Greenway & Ors v Johnson Matthey Plc [2016] EWCA Civ 408. Whether platinum sensitisation is an actionable injury and/or capable of giving rise to more than nominal damages in contract and/or an exception to the rule against recovery for pure economic loss in tort.

Contributor Asbestos: Law & Litigation, Sweet & Maxwell, 2019 (Chapter; Practice & procedure)