Tariq represented the claimants, a married couple, who sought damages from a firm of solicitors for professional negligence. It was alleged that the firm had failed to advise the claimants to issue a claim prior to the expiry of the limitation period. The result, it was alleged, was that the claimants had lost the chance of bringing a solicitors negligence case against a different firm of solicitors, for their negligent handling of an immigration matter. Breach of common law duty of care was admitted by the defendant solicitors, with the case turning on whether the claimants had lost a real or substantial chance of a successful claim against the immigration solicitors, or alternatively, whether that immigration claim had been doomed to failure, or at least exaggerated on quantum.
The trial was heard before His Honour Judge Pearce, sitting as a Judge of the High Court at Manchester Civil Justice Centre, on 13th, 14th, 15th, 18th and 20th March 2019, with judgment handed down on 26 April 2019.
The judgment is reported as Waraich v Ansari Solicitors (A Firm) [2019] EWHC 1038 (Comm); [2019] 4 WLUK 394; [2019] P.N.L.R. 24 and it can be read here.
The case has been featured in Civil Litigation Brief on a supplemental point that arose in the case, in respect to signatures on witness statements.