The Case Files

Kate Gerbeau looks back on a dramatic year on The Case Files, and gives a teaser of what’s to come in 2021See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They say a mother’s instinct is one of the most powerful ways to protect a child, so what happens when medical professionals tell you that your instincts are wrong? In this episode Kate Gerbeau meets a mother whose son died of meningitis after medical staff ignored her desperate pleas for help. She is also joined by Steve Dayman, founder of Meningitis Now and Victoria Beel, clinical negligence lawyer at Slater and Gordon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emma Swain was too young to be offered a screening test when she died of cervical cancer.  For months she had reported tell-tale symptoms of the survivable cancer to her GP but she was told she was worrying unnecessarily.  In this episode her father, Darren, walks presenter Kate Gerbeau through the heart-breaking failures that took his daughter’s life.  We also hear from cancer nurse Lara Perkins at CLIC Sargent, Tracie Miles from Eve Appeal and Maria Repanos, clinical negligence lawyer at Slater and Gordon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every year thousands of Brits jet off to party destinations abroad filled with hopes of partying till dawn and earning enough money to escape the mundane. Different country, different people, different laws.  So what happens when the ultimate crime is committed? Helen and Martyn, the parents of 22 year old George Low, found out that justice in Britain is different to justice elsewhere when he was stabbed to death in the streets of Ayia Napa.  In this episode Kate Gerbeau delves into their search for answers and accountability and also hears from their MP Gareth Johnson who has taken this all the way to Downing Street. We are also joined by Matthew Searle at The Lucy Blackman Trust and specialist travel lawyer Nicola Rostron at Slater and Gordon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mesothelioma is known as the ‘silent killer’. It’s a cancer that lays dormant in its victims’ bodies for decades, before extinguishing their life during their golden years. But this is a cancer that could have been almost completely avoided. In this episode of The Case Files Kate Gerbeau speaks to two families who are living with the devastating effects of unwittingly working with asbestos fibres. She also speaks with Lorraine Creech, Head of Nursing at Mesothelioma UK , and specialist industrial disease lawyer Madelene Holdsworth at Slater and Gordon , to explore how these tiny particles were allowed to rip such huge holes in so many lives, for so long.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growing up in a state of oppression, Catalonian Jordi Casamitjana says his childhood experiences made him identify closely with the animal world.  His overarching concern for animal welfare now shapes all the decisions he makes in his life. So when he discovered that his employer was investing his money into practices that were cruel to animals, he knew he had to stand up and fight. But with no law in place to protect him, Jordi embarked on the mammoth task of establishing a new legally held belief that would impact Vegans across the globe.   Kate Gerbeau speaks to Dr Jeanette Rowley of The Vegan Society, Peter Daly, employment lawyer at Slater and Gordon and Domenic Kennedy, reporter at The Times about Jordi’s landmark legal case.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being paid fairly for the work you do may seem like an obvious expectation in this day and age but for some women that simply isn’t the case. Rebecca Jarman and Julia Hanks were both dedicated employees of supermarket giant Wilko when they heard their male colleagues bantering about the noughts on their pay slips. What happens next is an on-going David and Goliath legal battle between two Welsh mothers and a multi-million pound business. Both inspiring women join our presenter Kate Gerbeau, Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of The Fawcett Society, lawyer Sarah Hexter and GMB Union Rep, Paul McGuire to discuss the grim reality of fighting for equal pay. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On 22 May 2017 hundreds of children excitedly entered the Manchester Arena to watch popstar, Ariana Grande. Sadly, 22 never made it out of the concert hall alive, after suicide bomber Salam Abedi detonated a shrapnel-laden device. As his accomplice and brother, Hashem Abedi starts his 55 year jail term, presenter Kate Gerbeau speaks with Figen Murray the mother of one victim, Martyn Hett, and the Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham about the atrocity that changed a city. Personal Injury lawyer, Shane Smith and security journalist, Duncan Gardham, also look ahead at what the pending public inquiry could mean for victims’ families and for national security across the country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Covid-19 continues to cause disruption across the globe we asked two expert lawyers to provide clarity amongst the confusion. In this second episode employment lawyer, Danielle Parsons, tackles the multitude of issues faced by all workers as we grapple with the new world order.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Covid-19 continues to cause disruption across the globe we asked two expert lawyers to provide clarity amongst the confusion. In this first episode, Mark Woloshak, consumer rights lawyer, schools Kate on how we can protect ourselves as customers in these unprecedented times. Expect answers to all refunds, cancellations and contract woes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back by popular demand, Kate spends this week exploring the evolution of the legal sector and discovering what life is really like behind all the Latin and jargon. Joined by John Hyde, deputy news editor for the Law Society Gazette, and Slater and Gordon experts, Martyn Beauchamp and Alicia Alinia, Kate gets the bottom of legal aid, the truth behind the compensation culture and whether tech has finally caught up with the law.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s episode we tackle some of the biggest questions you have about your rights within the workplace. Can my boss cancel my holiday? What is a workplace grievance? What is a Whistleblower and how are they protected? What does sexual harassment really look like? These are just some of the hot topics that Slater and Gordon lawyers, Juliette Franklin and William Gubbins, will break down into bite size chunks, arming you with all the information you need to tackle workplace discrimination, harassment or unlawful treatment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keith Chapman was crossing Westminster Bridge like any other day at work, when he was mowed down by a white van. The van, travelling around 76mph was driven by terrorist, Khalid Masood, who went on to kill five people, and injure over 50 during one of the worst terrorist attacks to happen in Britain. In this episode Londoner Keith, shares the harrowing aftermath of being a victim of terror, alongside his wife Linda, who recounts her battle to support her husband through PTSD. We will also hear from Amber Braybrooke, one of the personal injury lawyers who acted for Keith in his civil case and Zac Idun, one of the Met’s most experienced family liaison officers, who was awarded an OBE for his work during numerous terrorist attacks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catrin Pugh was 19 years old when a coach crash almost claimed her life, leaving her with burns so severe that she was given just a one in 1,000 chance of survival. She spent months in hospital confined to bed and endured hundreds of painful operations, but that was only the start of her rehabilitation which was so tough at times that she says she wanted to die.In this episode, Catrin speaks to Kate about her vivid memories of the crash, her remarkable road to recovery and life now in what she describes as the "new normal". We also hear from Nicola Rostron, one of a team of lawyers who acted for Catrin in a civil case, and Catherine Deakin, director of fundraising and communications at the charity Changing Faces, which supports people with visible differences.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chetham’s School of Music, in Manchester, was once known as a prestigious private music school for gifted young musicians. But that reputation was left in tatters after a number of former pupils came forward with allegations of appalling sexual and emotional abuse by people working at the elite institution – including violin teacher, Christopher Ling. Ling would kill himself without ever facing his accusers in court. For the first time, two of his victims – who use the names Laura and Catherine to protect their identity – speak openly about the abuse they suffered and tell of the lasting impact it has had on their lives. We speak to Laura’s mum about the devastating moment she realised what had been going on. We also hear from lawyer Richard Scorer, who acted for the women during the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Namita Prakash from Trust House Reading, speaking on behalf of The Survivors Trust, and Anne Campbell who is chief executive of Embrace Child Victims of Crime. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chetham’s School of Music, in Manchester, was once known as a prestigious private music school for gifted young musicians. But that reputation was left in tatters after a number of former pupils came forward with allegations of appalling sexual and emotional abuse by people working at the elite institution – including violin teacher, Christopher Ling. Ling would kill himself without ever facing his accusers in court. For the first time, two of his victims – who use the names Laura and Catherine to protect their identity – speak openly about the abuse they suffered and tell of the lasting impact it has had on their lives. In Part 1, we speak to Laura’s mum about the devastating moment she realised what had been going on. We also hear from lawyer Richard Scorer, who acted for the women during the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Namita Prakash from Trust House Reading, speaking on behalf of The Survivors Trust, and Anne Campbell who is chief executive of Embrace Child Victims of Crime. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every year thousands of women are penalised at work, simply for getting pregnant. We hear from a woman who was forced to quit her job after months of prejudice from her manager and from another mother who tirelessly campaigns to stamp out the motherhood penalty. Kate speaks to Pregnant Than Screwed founder, Joeli Brearley and employment lawyer, Remziye Ozcan from Slater and Gordon, to find out how this widespread problem is leaving many women facing the choice of seeking justice, or, protecting their baby.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson is at the centre of one of the most shocking clinical scandals in British history. For more than 14 years, he exaggerated or invented the risks of cancer for perfectly healthy people to convince them to go under the knife or performed dangerous techniques which meant patients with cancer were much more susceptible to tumours returning. As many as 1,000 people are thought to have been victims of Paterson, who was sentenced to 20 years after being convicted for unlawfully wounding patients in 2017. In this episode, we speak to John Hynes, whose wife Deborah died due to Paterson’s treatment, and two women, Jade Edgington and Carole Johnson, who underwent numerous needless operations. We also speak to leading medical expert, Prof Gordon Wishart, who reviewed hundreds of the disgraced surgeon’s cases, as well as clinical negligence lawyer Emma Doughty, who represented more than 100 victims in legal action against Paterson’s employers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Louise Harvey-Smithwas told her toddler Reuben had tonsillitis when in fact he was fighting for his life against sepsis. With sepsis every hour counts – how could the doctors get it so wrong? Kate is also joined by Dr Ron Daniels, from the UK Sepsis Trust(https://sepsistrust.org/about/) and Global Sepsis Alliance as well as the family lawyer Matthew Smith from Slater and Gordon (https://www.slatergordon.co.uk/our-experts/matthew-smith/) and Lisa O’Dwyer from Action Against Medical Accidents (https://www.avma.org.uk/help-advice/ ).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tragic story of 18 year old Shahida Shahid. Despite explaining her allergy to dairy to restaurant staff she was killed after being served a burger that was covered in buttermilk. Kate is joined by her brother Rasel Shahid, the family lawyer Michael Hardacre from Slater and Gordon (https://www.slatergordon.co.uk/our-experts/michael-hardacre/) and Professor Adam Fox from Guy's & St Thomas' Hospitals, London. (https://www.allergylondon.com/)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.