Gary Thornett

Barrister Profile

Gary specialises entirely in personal injury claims, acting for both claimants and defendants.

He has extensive experience of workplace, industrial and construction accidents. He
experienced in dealing with both the bringing and defending of claims involving catastrophic injury, chronic pain conditions, industrial disease, RSI and employers’ liability generally. His instructions span all levels of value and complexity.

He also acts for both claimants and defendants in road traffic accident litigation, again at all levels. His detailed and effective style of cross examination means he is frequently instructed in cases where dishonesty, fraud, staged accident or malingering is suspected.

Gary is the editor for Sweet & Maxwell’s weekly online Personal Injury Law Bulletin.

He initially qualified and practised for short while as a solicitor.

Gary is a Deputy District Judge and sits in the London court region.

Appointments

Deputy District Judge - London

Qualifications

London University, Royal Holloway College

Professional Membership

Personal Injuries Bar Association

Midland Circuit

Interesting Cases

Examples of recent advisory and successful court work include acting for:

Barber v Ali [2010] QB. Acting for claimant. Led by Allan Gore QC. Serious brain injury of claimant when an infant in an RTA. Lifetime care regime required. Settled at JSM for a periodical payments order. Capitalised value of claim about £5M. 

Carman v West Sussex CC [2011] QB. Acting for defendant. Led by William Featherby QC. Serious RTA involving claimant who was 16 at date of accident. Successful applications to qualify pre-action admissions. Quantum issues about future employability and prospects of leg amputation. Settled shortly after JSM for in excess of £600,000. 

Humphries v Harley Davidson UK [2011] QB. Acting for defendant. Led by Andrew Hogarth QC. Product liability claim against importer of US motorcycles. Allegation that metal failure caused mechanical failure and consequent collision, leading to leg amputation. Complex metallurgical and accident reconstruction expert evidence. Claim included contemplated third party claims against US manufacturers.

Accident Exchange v Parvaiz & Others [2011] Cardiff County Court. Acting for defendant. Preliminary issue trial owing to suspected staged accident. Quantum claim ongoing. Substantial credit hire claim (in excess of £100,000) for a damaged Ferrari. Expert evidence as to vehicle damage and its likely cause. 

Sabre Insurance Co v Various [2011] QB. Claim for declarations against over three hundred defendants to void policies of insurance obtained by fraud. 

Sidhu v Clarks [2011] Ongoing. Complex pain syndrome claim. Accident 2005. Numerous and complex medical reports. Issue as to whether unrelated psychosocial factors account for claimant’s continuing disabilities. Acting for defendant. 

Clayton-Evans v Myanger [2011] Northampton CC. Acting for defendant. Chronic pain case with allegation of malingering. Covert surveillance evidence. Ongoing. 

Jalal v Mahwad (1) Zurich (2) [2011] Lambeth CC. Recorder Williams QC. Acting for defendant. Successful strike out application of RTA and credit hire claim for non-compliance with extensive disclosure orders previously obtained. 

Newmarch v Aviva UK Ltd [2011] Kingston CC. Acting for defendant. Application to strike out claim for abuse of process owing to second action having been brought directly against insurer under The European Communities (Rights against Insurers) Regulations 2002 when first action had been struck out. 

Flowerday v Office of National Statistics [2010] Portsmouth CC. Acting for claimant. Successful s.33 application and dismissal of defendant’s application to strike out. 

Kane v Hoyle (1) Bytheway [2010] QB. Acting for claimant. Fatal accident of cyclist. Issues as to liability between defendant drivers, each of whom struck the deceased. Ongoing quantum claim. 

Turner v Thompson [2010] Moderate brain injury and arm injury with scarring. Settled at JSM a sum in excess of £400,000.