Personal Injury Compensation
High Court advice to coroners when litigation is pending
Matthews v Collins (t/a Herbert Collins and Sons) and others [2013] EWHC 2952 (QB)
A recent case has raised some important issues for coroners dealing with deaths caused by industrial diseases. A High Court
judge has advised that coroners should explain to the family of the deceased that if a claim was pending in respect of the
death, they should consult a solicitor before agreeing to the disposal of histological samples. The guidance also indicated
that it was good practice for solicitors to advise both their clients and the relevant coroner’s office, when instructed in
such cases, that any samples should be retained until confirmation was received that they were not required for the purposes
of the claim.