Michael was recently briefed to represent the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police in a claim brought against them as one of eight Defendants. The Claimant brought proceedings in the High Court valued at £390,000,000.00 for misfeasance in public office, fraud and other claims arising from the execution of a search warrant at his property in July 2019 which led to his arrest but no further action subsequently being taken in respect of the seizure of images and video of children engaged in sexual acts. The Claimant asserted that he had lost his employment as a social worker and suffered other losses as a consequence of the arrest and a ‘marker’ being placed on his criminal record.
At the hearing Michael was representing the first Defendant and so took the lead in opposing various applications made by the Claimant and presenting a largely unified application by multiple Defendants to strike out the claim. Ultimately the Court agreed to both refuse the applications and strike out the claim which was recorded as being totally without merit. The Court went on to impose a civil restraint order against the Claimant and award each Defendant its costs of the claim.
Michael is the Head of the Civil Litigation Team in Chambers and is regularly briefed in complex and/or high value claims. If you would like to instruct him then please contact him via his Clerks https://cornwallstreet.co.uk/contact-us/.