Judge Criticises Solicitor Acting On Behalf Of Players With Brain Injury Lawsuits

The judge presiding complete nan 2 encephalon wounded lawsuits successful rugby convention and national has issued an bonzer disapproval of nan solicitor acting on behalf of nan injured players, saying that he had been nether a “misapprehension” astir his responsibilities and that “he seems to person a problem pinch nan English language”.

Senior maestro Jeremy Cook said that Richard Boardman, whose patient Rylands Garth is representing much than 1,000 players crossed some codes, had grounded to disclose worldly to nan defendants, World Rugby, nan Rugby Football Union, nan Welsh Rugby Union, and Rugby Football League.

Cook decided to not onslaught retired immoderate of nan claims being brought by Rylands Garth because he believes nan problems tin beryllium remedied. But he upheld nan defendants’ complaints that location had been “serious and wide failures to comply” pinch tribunal orders successful nan ugby convention lawsuit successful particular.

The defendants claimed location were “significant gaps” successful nan aesculapian records successful 90% of nan claims issued successful these cases. At nan precocious tribunal successful London, Cook ruled that nan claimants, who are being backed by a commercialized litigation funder, are liable for nan costs incurred successful nan bringing of these complaints.

“These claims mean a batch to nan claimants, and nan difficulties present person been caused by Mr Boardman’s complete misunderstanding of his responsibilities,” Cook said. Boardman, Cook continued, seemed to beryllium nether nan misapprehension that “he only had to disclose documents relied on” to nan defendants, arsenic opposed to providing them pinch each applicable material.

This has contributed to a hold successful nan case, which still has yet to travel to trial. “There has been nary admission, and nary apology,” Cook said, “and supra and earlier everything other a complete nonaccomplishment connected nan portion of Mr Boardman to recognise that each this was caused by his misreading.”

Susan Rodway KC, of Rylands Garth, based on that nan defendants had sent nan claimants connected “a four-month workout successful pursuing leads down rabbit holes” successful hunt of “some smoking gun” documents which do not exist, and that nan patient lacked nan resources to comply pinch nan intolerable task of providing afloat aesculapian records for each 1 of nan players involved.

“There’s been capable delay,” Cook said. “These claimants request their cases resolving and nan sooner nan better.”

It was revealed successful nan latest rugby lawsuit guidance proceeding that of nan 383 claimants who joined nan action since nan cut-off day this year, only 91 person received a aesculapian diagnosis. Despite this, nan ineligible teams connected some sides will now prime and work together connected a group of lead claimants to spell guardant to trial, pinch further lawsuit guidance hearings scheduled for outpouring successful 2026.

“Almost 5 years aft ineligible action began, nan claimants lawyers person coming conceded successful tribunal that galore players successful nan lawsuit person not undergone thorough aesculapian testing but alternatively what nan judge called a “self-serving tick container exercise” successful bid to motion up to this claim,” a World Rugby spokesperson said.

“They person nary substantive aesculapian diagnosis. The behaviour of Rylands Garth meant nan judge issued an bid which could yet spot galore much players having their lawsuit struck out. There must now beryllium superior doubts complete whether players’ champion interests are being served. This is simply a business that surely benefits nobody.”

In consequence a Rylands Garth spokesperson said: “We will proceed fighting for justness for our players and their families – who proceed to suffer each time pinch nan life-altering impacts of nan negligence of rugby authorities.

“We will proceed fighting for justness for our players and their families – who proceed to suffer each time pinch nan life-altering impacts of nan negligence of rugby authorities.”