Rosalie Reading

I have worked on a wide variety of cases and for me they would all be regarded as notable as each case turns on its own facts and requires a nuanced approach. I have been involved in many high value complex birth injury claims resulting in injuries such as cerebral palsy and Erb’s palsy.

I recently led a successful birth injury case caused by a failure to recognise that the CTG trace monitoring the baby's heart could not be properly interpreted. As a result, delivery wasn’t carried out quickly enough, causing my client to sustain severe neurological injuries. They suffered from dyskinetic cerebral palsy, which caused them to suffer continuous involuntary movements including arching, severe dystonia, severe bulbar impairment and some degree of learning difficulty.

My client was wheelchair dependent, had no purposeful speech, and needed help with all aspects of daily living. We secured a large lump sum, together with periodical payments for life to fund care and future case management needs.

I’ve also been the lead solicitor in spinal injury cases. I successfully led a case involving the mismanagement of a spinal infection after my client suffered a fall at home. Despite undergoing spinal surgery, my client was left with permanent spinal cord damage that resulted in paraplegia. We secured a multi-million-pound settlement to support their long-term rehabilitation and care needs.

In another recently settled case, a delay in treating a brain aneurysm led to my client suffering a severe brain haemorrhage. The resulting injuries were catastrophic, leaving her dependent on round-the-clock care and unable to live independently. Despite complex disputes over the value of the claim, we secured a multi-million-pound settlement and guaranteed annual ongoing payments to fund her future care needs for the remainder of her lifetime.

I was lead fee earner in the landmark case of Evans v Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust. This involved the withdrawal of a Part 36 settlement offer (a formal offer to resolve a dispute) during the relevant acceptance period due to an ex parte order. This case raised many technical legal issues, but the matter was successfully resolved with a great settlement outcome for my client.

From the outset, I place my client at the heart of the case. It’s important to recognise that one size doesn’t fit all as each case is different and brings its own unique challenges.

In my view, it’s important to appreciate that each client will be aiming for different outcomes and have different concerns. Because of this, each case deserves its own tailored approach and level of dedication.

I believe honesty and openness with my clients are key to a successful outcome. The claims process can often be long, and it can be particularly emotionally and physically demanding on those involved. I consider managing my clients’ expectations and being there to guide them through their case journey every step of the way is vital to achieving the best result for them.

I’m based at our Birmingham office, but many clients find it most convenient to have an initial meeting virtually, either by phone or video call. I can meet you in the way that’s most suitable for you.

During our first meeting, we’ll discuss the initial details of your potential claim, your concerns, and any relevant details that may be useful for strengthening your claim. The initial meeting is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions you have.

I would then go through the life cycle of a ‘typical’ medical negligence claim so that the process is made clear and we would discuss potential outcomes and next steps.

Most importantly, at the initial meeting we would get to know each other, discuss your main goals and reasons for bringing a claim, and how we might work together to reach the desired solution.