Peter Hodson

"‘approachable’ ...‘commits totally to his clients’ cases' "

Legal 500 2010

"...recommended for occupational injury and disease claims."

Recommended for personal injury (Northern circuit) - Legal 500 2010, 2009 and 2008

"...an advocacy style that is both 'persuasive and realistic'...invariably instils confidence in the clients"

Chambers & Partners 2009

Practice

Occupational diseases and injuries (Personal Injury)

Concentrates on claimant matters involving occupational injuries and diseases and has a particular interest in claims arising from asbestos exposure, post-traumatic stress and accidents suffered in the course of employment including those relating to Health & Safety at work. Undertakes work throughout England & Wales and has a wealth of experience in running and quaitifying claims.

Other Personal Injury

Experienced in a wide range of cases arising from occupiers liabilities and defective premises, road and other traffic accidents, product liability, catastrophic and fatal accident claims and assessment of damages and infant settlement.

Housing

Undertakes housing law with a particular interest in disrepair and associated personal injury claims.

Civil actions against the police

Experience includes civil actions against the police and other detaining authorities, particularly where there are associated personal injury claims for damages.

Other areas of work

Professional and clinical negligence, including cases arising out of the alleged negligence of solicitors. Also undertakes work involving employer's liability, occupier's liability and highways.

Notable cases

F v CC & Others (2011) - Widow of a worker employed by a contractor to CC who was exposed by CC to injurious quantities of asbestos and developed mesothelioma. The case involved complex procedural, evidential and quantum issues and a negotiated settlement of £350,000 was achieved.

DD v Keir North West (2008) Represented the widow of an employee who fell from an unsafe scaffold and died from the injuries suffered. A negotiated settlement of £200,000 was achieved.

G v D (2007) Represented the widow of a company director who died from mesothelioma resulting from exposure to asbestos while in earlier employment. Quantum issues were complex given the remuneration package the deceased enjoyed and the fact that the company the deceased worked for was in its infancy. A £575,000 settlement was achieved.

Rolls Royce Industrial Power (India) Ltd v Cox [2007] EWCA Civ 1189 (mesothelioma; minimum duration of exposure to asbestos) > judgment , news item

Appeared for Javaherifard in Javaherifard and Miller, described by Blackstones Criminal Practice 2006 as "a leading case on the construction of s. 25 of the Immigration Act 1971" (2005)

Openshaw v British Coal (2002) and Jackson v British Coal (2003) - PTSD claims against British Coal following a mining disaster.

Barber v Barrow, Nottingham and Exeter Councils is believed to be the first case where substantial damages were recovered on behalf of the estate of a Building Control Officer exposed to asbestos in the course of his duties and sets date of knowledge in respect of building control officers.

Wright and others v British Coal and UK Coal in which Peter appeared as Junior Counsel on behalf of a series of claimants seeking damages for non-disabling pneumoconiosis against British Coal and UK Coal.

Recommendations

Regional bar - Northern Circuit - Personal injury (2010) "At Garden Court North Chambers, the ‘approachable’ Peter Hodson has a busy claimant practice and ‘commits totally to his clients ’ cases’. He specialises in industrial and occupational injury claims." Legal 500 2010 more

Regional bar - Northern Circuit - Personal injury (2009) "“Garden Court North Chambers’ Peter Hodson is recommended for occupational injury and disease claims; he successfully represented the widow of an employee killed by a fall from scaffolding in DD v Keir North West.” Legal 500 2009 more

Leading junior in Crime : Northern (2009) "Peter Hodson has an advocacy style that is both 'persuasive and realistic'. Solicitors favour him as he 'invariably instils confidence in the clients'." Chambers & Partners 2009 more

Regional Bar - Northern circuit- Personal injury (2008) "Garden Court North Chambers' Peter Hodson appeared for the successful respondent in the Court of Appeal mesothelioma litigation, Rolls Royce Indistrial Power v Cox". Legal 500 2008 more

Articles and media comment

> 4/11/11 - Court confirms law will not recognise assignment of bare right to litigate (Lexis Nexis Current Awareness)

> 13/10/11 - Supreme Court rejects insurers' Article 1 challenge to Scottish Act on damages for asbestos-related conditions

> 12/10/11 - Ogden Tables updated to reflect changes in mortality predictions

> 22/12/10 - Personal injury claims - increasingly exaggerated? (Lexis Nexis Current Awareness)

Other Activities

Has taught a range of skills including Advocacy and Professional Conduct on the Bar Vocational Course at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Registered Pupil supervisor

Professional Associations

Personal Injury Bar Association

Background and personal profile

Before being called to the Bar, worked as a Welfare Rights Officer for Newcastle City Council.