Fiona Ashworth

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Year of Call: 1988

Practice Areas:

Personal Injury
Clinical Negligence.

  

Particularly detailed knowledge of

·         Chronic Pain cases including Fibromyalgia
·         Industrial disease litigation
·         Limitation

 Professional personal injury-related negligence.


Profile:  

Fiona Ashworth is a leading personal injury practitioner, specialising in chronic pain cases. She is experienced in road traffic accidents, employers' and public liability cases, particularly claims of the utmost severity, including spinal and brain injuries. She has extensive experience in disease work having been involved in numerous cases of asbestos related disease (including mesothelioma), HAVS, deafness, dermatitis and occupationally induced cancers.

Over the last 10 years, Fiona has developed the specialism of acting in cases involving Chronic Pain Syndromes, Complex Regional Pain Syndromes, Chronic Fatigue Syndromes, Somatoform Pain Disorders and Fibromyalgia as well as other rheumatological conditions. These conditions are often little understood and extremely challenging. Fiona has built up a deep knowledge and understanding of these chronic pain cases through dealing with claims and working with medical experts of all different specialisms over several years.  She has been involved in 100's of such cases, both at first instance and on appeal, acting for both Claimant and Defendant. She has lectured extensively over the country and has contributed articles on the topic and has been invited to attend the pain summit at Westminster. She is considered to be a leading expert on chronic pain. 

Fiona practises in all aspects of Claimant clinical negligence litigation, having dealt with many complicated claims successfully. She has considerable experience of birth injuries, misdiagnoses (including cancer, orthopaedic and strokes), and inappropriate prescription of medication. She has also dealt with many dental cases involving negligent treatment.

She  has wide experience in sporting injuries of all varieties. She has a wide and detailed knowledge of fitness and dance related injuries, including inappropriate teaching, preparation, equipment and flooring.

Fiona advises and appears in many limitation cases throughout the country and has lectured extensively on recent developments in limitation.    

Fiona is also very experienced in acting in personal injury related professional negligence cases.

Fiona also sits on the Legal Services Commission Appeal tribunal and was an external examiner for 3 years for the City Law School BVC course. She is now an external examiner for MMU.

Fiona was appointed as Recorder on the Northern Circuit in November 2008.

Significant Reported Cases:

Ellen Baker V Caroline Sumner (2010) Lawtel (Fibromyalgia, Total Damages £120,247)

Rahima Siddique V Bvba Rimotrans (2010) Lawtel (Fibromyalgia, Total Damages £350,000)

Chapman v Moulton [2011] Lawtel, (Fibromyalgia, Total Damages £595,000)

Jennifer Kolodziejcak V (1) Escolme (2) The Livesy Group [2007] Lawtel, (Fibromyalgia, Total Damages £137,500)

Jennings v Forestry Commission [2008] EWCA Civ 581 (Accidents; assumption of responsibility; Contract of employment/for services; work equipment) 

Bennett v Smith (2003) LTL 11/3/2003 (At first instance and on appeal before Smith J Andrew) (Fibromyalgia and chronic pain syndromes)

Thorpe v Weightman [2000] CLY 416 (QBD) (local authority liability; road traffic obstructions)

White v Eon (Court of Appeal) November 2008 (Limitation)

Recommendations:

Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession
"A fine junior who hates to lose."

Memberships:

Legal Services Commission Appeals Committee
Member of the Personal Injury Bar Association
Member of the Northern and North Eastern Circuits

 

Career & Education
University:	Leeds
Degree:	Law
Called:	1988 (Lincoln's Inn) Hardwicke Scholar
Joined Chambers:	1989