Lee John Cunliffe (on his own behalf, as administrator of the estate of his late wife and on behalf of his 3 children) – v- West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Abstract

The Claimant was widowed when his wife died, aged 33, as a result of an admitted negligent failure to treat her skin cancer. The Claimant was left to bring up three very young children on his own. The case was settled on the basis that but for the admitted negligence the Claimant's wife would have been cured of her cancer, and have had a near normal life-expectancy. The settlement included sums to compensate for the reduction in income which the Claimant's late wife would have brought into the family, and also the extra costs of employing childcare for the children, plus £70,000 for the Claimant's late wife's pain and suffering prior to her death as a result of the admitted negligence.