Richard Kayser

Biography

I am a Senior Associate Solicitor based in the Medical Negligence team in London, representing individuals and their families who have suffered injury as a result of a medical accident. I have a specialist interest in the following areas:

• Adult and child brain injury
• Children who have suffered injuries at birth
• Spinal injury
• Fatal cases
• Delay in the diagnosis of cancer
• Meningitis and Encephalitis

I qualified as a solicitor in 2010, joining Irwin Mitchell in November 2014. I initially trained to be a barrister and was called to the Bar of England and Wales in September 2008. In August 2008 I joined Pattinson & Brewer Solicitors where I undertook the cross qualification training.

I manage my own varied caseload which includes representing clients who have suffered major spinal cord injury and brain damage through substandard medical treatment. I have experience with representation of families at inquests where death is suspected to have occurred due to neglect.

What Inspired You To Get Into Law?

Being able to help injured people obtain the compensation they deserve to help them rebuild their lives and put in place much needed rehabilitation.

What Is The Most Rewarding Aspect Of Your Role?

Irwin Mitchell is one of, if not the leading, medical negligence firms in the country. To be able to work with an extensive team with vast experience means we can offer our clients the best possible service. This ensures injured people get the rehabilitation they need and obtain the compensation they deserve.

What Do You Like About Working At Irwin Mitchell?

Irwin Mitchell is able to offer its clients the full range of legal services under one roof, including access to a client liaison manager, Court of Protection team and assistance with education and public law. This means I can give my clients the very best legal advice, helping them throughout their legal claim and beyond.

What Do You Do Away From The Office?

Away from the office, I love to travel and experience new cultures. Having recently become a father I spend as much time at home with my daughter.

Significant Cases

MRR v Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
The claimant suffers from severe cerebral palsy as a result of the mismanagement of Group B Streptococcus following her birth. She will remain dependent on carers for the rest of her life for all activities of daily living. Several large interim payments were obtained before the case had concluded to fund a care package, case manager and to enable the claimant to move to more suitable accommodation. The Court approved a final settlement reached between the parties out of Court which had a seven figure lump sum plus six figure yearly periodical payment.

DC v Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

I achieved a capitalised award of 1.9 million for a brain injured adult who suffered life changing injuries following failures to monitor the Claimant’s blood levels whilst on Warfarin after major brain surgery. Test results were obtained which showed the Claimant was dangerously over coagulated but no action was taken for over two hours, and when action was taken it was inadequate. Damages were obtained to put in place a care package, suitable accommodation along with funds to continue with his rehabilitation.

JL v Medway NHS foundation Trust

I achieved an award of over 2.9 million for a brain injured adult who suffered life changing injuries as a result of hyponatremia and hypokalemia following mismanagement of her sodium levels.

PW v unspecified

I worked with Rebecca Cherry to secure a seven figure settlement for a seriously disabled adult who suffered debilitating pressure sores whilst recovering from a road traffic accident. It was the highest documented settlement for a pressure sore injury case.

NB and DS v Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust

I recovered an undisclosed amount of compensation for parents who lost their son during childbirth and both suffered serious psychiatric injuries. The parents were encouraged to have a natural birth following a previous caesarean section, but this resulted in an emergency caesarean section.

AB (Deceased) v Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Legal representation was provided to the family at the inquest into the death of AB following the birth of her daughter. The Coroner found two findings of neglect in the care that she received. The legal case into her death is ongoing.

CE v various GP’s

I recovered £215,000 for a father of three who was failed by his GPs. Despite numerous attendances he was not referred for further investigation which would have led to a diagnosis of cancer. Due to the delay he developed secondary metastasis and his condition was terminal.

CD v unspecified

I secured £275,000 in compensation for a client who was administered a spinal anaesthetic directly into her spinal cord whilst already under a general anaesthetic, leaving her with permanent nerve damage and unable to return to full time work.

MP (Deceased) v Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust 2012

I secured £125,000 for the family of the deceased, who died after a severe reaction to penicillin given during surgery. The case led to full internal review of Trust policy for monitoring patients with known allergies.