Claims news

£1.274 million professional negligence claim dismissed as time-barred

A large professional negligence claim against a prominent Birmingham law firm has been dismissed on the grounds of being time-barred. The case revolves around a claimant who brought a £1.274 million claim against Martineau Johnson (now known as Shakespeare Martineau), claiming the firm had failed to provide proper guidance during her 2008 divorce settlement negotiations. The claim challenged the solicitors’ recommendation for a “clean break” settlement, which included funds obtained from the sale of a previous family home, a £4,000 lump payment for marital support, and 80 per cent of potential proceeds from a separate claim against builders. According to law firm Nelsons, the settlement prevented any future rights to ongoing maintenance, capital, or pension provision.