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Geoffrey Brown
Year of call: 1981
“Geoffrey is an extremely able and vastly experienced advocate. He is an excellent pleader and has a great ability to influence and control the court.” The Legal 500, 2022
Geoffrey deals with relatively technical and complex cases, primarily in the fields of injury, damage, insurance and commercial work centred on claims for business losses of one form or another.
Areas of expertise
Personal Injury
Geoffrey has many years’ experience across a wide range of personal injury litigation. This extends to employer’s, public, products and motor liabilities, as well as accidents abroad. Areas of particular interest include construction and transport industry accidents (highways/rail industry), stress claims and (latterly) labour trafficking. He deals with a full gamut of credibility and honesty issues (up to and including fundamental dishonesty). Often, there are overlapping issues with insurance coverage. Brain injuries or pain states are a common feature, while he also deals with the more serious orthopaedic injuries (including amputation).
Cases of note:
- Czernuska v King [2023] 4 WLR 26 - Sports Injury. Liability for catastrophic injury arising from tackle in women's rugby match.
- Jenkinson v Hertfordshire CC [2023] EWHC 872 (KB) - Tort. Test for and application of novus actus (in context of alleged supervening negligence in hospital treatment).
- Jennings v Otis and Bristol CC [2023] EWHC 2039 (KB) - Procedure. Power to order Further Information and unilateral disclosure of witness statements.
- Komives v Hick Lane Bedding [2022] I.C.R. 588 [2022] I.C.R. 588 - Labour trafficking claim against employer’s liability insurer. Insurer’s avoidance upheld.
- Morrow v Shrewsbury Rugby Club [2020] EWHC 379 (QB) - Brain injury claim. Issues in regard to whether complaints in fact down to brain injury, role of treating neuropsychologist, exaggeration of symptoms. Also, consideration of role of intermediary.
- Kasabaqi v Westway Community Transport [2021] EWHC 3614 (QB) - Amputation claim. Alleged non-cooperation in regard to examination by defendant’s medical expert.
- Aspen Insurance v Mann (QBD, Middlesbrough, 4 September 2020) - Committal to prison for fundamental dishonesty at personal injury trial (in relation to accident circumstances and impact of injury).
- Dalton v Nottinghamshire CC [2011] EWCA Civ 776 - Highway authority liability. Relevance of its post-accident actions to consideration of breach.
Property Damage
Geoffrey has many years’ experience of cases arising from damage by fire, flood and other perils in the civil liability context. This spans a wide range of liability claims, including professional (and contractors’) liability and product liability, claims arising from construction projects and claims against energy companies. It also covers a wide range of associated insurance issues and disputes, including in relation to alleged fraud, policy avoidance, breach of warranty and coverage.
Cases of note:
- Rushbond plc v JS Design Partnership [2021] EWCA Civ 1889 - Professional liability claim against architects in relation to security of a building during an inspection visit – issue as to whether any relevant duty of care imposed.
- Al Iqra v DSG [2019] EWHC 429 (QB) - Product liability claim against suppliers of a fan heater in respect of fire attributed to an unidentified defect therein.
- Maritsave v NFU Insurance [2011] EWHC 1660 - Claim under insurance policy arising from fire damage to building – issue in regard to alleged breach of warranty (in relation to security precautions for unoccupied property).
- Shepherd & Neame v EDF [2008] EWHC 123 - Claim against energy company in respect of fire damage to buildings attributed to loose wiring.
- Jockey Club v Willmott Dixon [2016] 4 WLR 43 - Claim for wind damage to new stand at Royal Ascot. Consideration of issues in regard to Part 36 offer and indemnity costs.
Insurance and Reinsurance
Geoffrey takes on free-standing insurance disputes, while at the same time dealing regularly with the insurance issues that arise in conjunction with personal injury and property damage claims on which he is instructed.
Cases of note:
- Komives v Hick Lane Bedding [2022] I.C.R. 588 [2022] I.C.R. 588 - Labour trafficking claim against employer’s liability insurer. Insurer’s policy avoidance upheld.
- Sahota v Ergo Versicherung (2021 Commercial Court) - Claim under fire insurance policy. Avoidance based on non-disclosure in relation to user and non-compliance with planning notices, etc. Settled in run-up to trial.
- Maritsave v NFU Insurance [2011] EWHC 1660 - Claim under insurance policy arising from fire damage to building – issue in regard to alleged breach of warranty (in relation to security precautions for unoccupied property).
- French v Groupama Insurance [2011] EWCA Civ 1119 - Claim under proper insurance policy in respect of subsidence damage. Consideration of a pre-litigation costs-inclusive offer made by insurers.
Recommendations
- "His technical understanding is very impressive." Chambers and Partners, 2022
- "A very effective advocate." Chambers and Partners, 2022
- “He is a good, solid senior junior who can be relied upon to deliver great results on every occasion."
- “Geoffrey is an extremely able and vastly experienced advocate. He is an excellent pleader and has a great ability to influence and control the court.” The Legal 500, 2022
