Season’s greetings and best wishes for the New Year from all at Enigma Solicitors!

Season’s greetings and best wishes for the New Year from all at Enigma Solicitors!

Please note that the offices will be closed from 5pm on 24th December 2013 until 9.00 am on 30^th December 2013. The office will be closed on 1^st January 2014.

2013 Beginners Cup moot between the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter

Enigma’s Rory Smith was a judge at yesterday’s Beginners Cup intervarsity moot between law students from the universities of Plymouth and Exeter.  The co-judges were barrister Karen Gillard of Holborn Chambers and solicitor Anne Shears of Gard & Co.

A moot is a legal debate in a simulated courtroom setting and the teams from Plymouth and Exeter attempted to persuade, with reference to case law, statutes, institutional writings and legal principles, the judges of the strength of their case.

The Beginners Cup is held annually and is described by the Plymouth Student Law Society as, “… the perfect opportunity for first time mooters to practice and experience a real moot with the benefit of knowing everyone is in the same boat as everyone who will be competing will be their first moot. It is a competition between the Plymouth Student Law Society and Exeter University’s law society. Although the Beginners Cup is a competition, the day is fun and relaxed focused on giving the competitors a chance to moot on a fair playing field and to gain some insight in to the workings of a moot as well as getting feedback.”

Rory said, “While the students from both universities performed at a high level, the University of Plymouth students were worthy winners of this year’s Beginners Cup. Commiserations to Exeter, whose debating skills were impressive. I would like to congratulate all the students who took part and wish them well on their studies.”

Plymouth’s Matt Monaghan and Will Harding were the highest scoring pair and each was rewarded with a mini-pupillage at Holborn Chambers.

Plymouth Herald: “Plymouth lawyer makes 100th platelet donation”

Today’s edition of The Herald features an article about Neil Mercer, a partner at Enigma Solicitors, who has been recognised for making 100 platelet donations at  Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

The Herald states that most platelet donations are given to patients who are unable to make enough  platelets in their bone marrow, particularly people with leukaemia or other  cancers, or people who have had major surgery or suffered an extensive  injury. Platelets are often life-saving and a donation can help up to three adults or  even 12 children.

“You can donate it more frequently than you can give blood, because it takes a  lesser amount of fluid from you,” Mr Mercer said, adding, “It’s an easy thing to do and that it’s an easy way to help people.”

Work on Enigma’s second office nears completion

Enigma Solicitors’ second Plymouth office is due to become functional next week.

Neil Mercer, one of the founding partners of Enigma, will work from the new office with his staff in Alton Place in the centre of Plymouth’s busy North Hill and Mutley Plain districts.

Neil said, “The new offices have been bought by us to provide a very high level of service on large claims.  The offices are immaculately fitted out and we would like to thank Mark Williams for such an amazing transformation to the building.”

Williams Construction (South West) Ltd has undertaken substantial renovation and modernisation works to upgrade the premises following its purchase.

Enigma will continue to operate from the original offices at 77 North Hill, Plymouth with an enhanced and larger team under Rory Smith.

Neil Mercer and his team can be contacted on 01752 265232.

Enigma to open second office

Enigma Solicitors has bought new premises in Alton Place, in the heart of Plymouth’s North Hill and Mutley Plain area. The premises are currently being completely renovated and will open towards the end of June 2013.

Enigma will also continue to operate from their prominent offices at 77 North Hill, Plymouth.

Neil Mercer, a partner in the firm, said: “Enigma recently had to recruit five more members of staff to service our clients’ work and we now have a team of eleven all dedicated to litigation.

“Additional office space was obviously required. Our new offices are centrally located and because they are owned by the firm we can control overheads and this will enable us to continue deliver good value to our clients rather than pass on expensive rent bills to them.

“We do not accept the view that law firms need to consolidate, centralise and close branch offices in order to survive and I believe that we will win business by expanding our presence rather than retreating or contracting to a centralised and more remote location.”

Plymouth Herald: “Fresh allegations made of Derriford Hospital drug blunders”

Today’s edition of the Plymouth Herald is reporting that, “Claims have emerged of two further drug blunders at Derriford Hospital“, and that, “A campaign group has now been launched by two women who are calling for an inquiry into what they say are “failings” at the city’s main hospital. ‘Cure the NHS Derriford Hospital‘ has been launched by Charmian Hussey and Kim Tremaine. The Herald revealed last week how Mrs Tremaine’s father John Dudding died in Derriford three days after being given a drug to which he was allergic,” adding, “Greg Dix, director of nursing at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Derriford, said the trust was working hard to learn from its mistakes: ‘Mrs Tremaine, who has established the group, and her family were let down by the care we provided to her father because there was a serious drug error. We recognise the distress and upset it has caused and we are extremely sorry for this. When something goes seriously wrong, we try to meet with patients or their families and ask them to contribute to the investigation and work with us, if they so wish, to improve the care we provide and try to prevent future incidents.’”

Rory Smith and Hannah Slade of Enigma Solicitors are representing Mr Dudding’s family in the clinical negligence case and the inquest.

BBC News: “Derriford Hospital sorry over penicillin error”

BBC News is reporting that “Derriford Hospital sorry over penicillin error” and that the “hospital has admitted making a ‘serious error’ after a patient who was given penicillin despite being allergic to it died. John Dudding, 80, died in Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, three days after being given the drug in February 2012.”

The BBC reports that Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We let Mr Dudding down in terms of the care we provided because there was a serious drug error and we apologise sincerely for this. We don’t know how or if this drug error contributed to Mr Dudding’s death. That is for the inquest to determine. We will, of course, co-operate fully with the coroner and Mr Dudding’s family.”

Enigma Solicitors is representing Mr Dudding’s family in the clinical negligence case and the inquest.

BBC Spotlight: “We hear from the family of a man who died at Derriford Hospital”

BBC Spotlight’s lead story tonight concerns Mr John Dudding, who died in Derriford Hospital after he was given a drug that he was allergic. Justin Leigh said that the BBC will “hear from the family of a man who died at Derriford Hospital. John Dudding was given Penicillin despite being allergic to it. One Plymouth MP has been telling Spotlight there needs to be a review of way the treatment was handled.”

BBC Spotlight provides the latest news, sport, weather and features from the south west of England.

Enigma Solicitors is representing the Dudding family in their clinical negligence claim.

BBC Radio Devon reports on “drug error”

BBC Radio Devon has today reported the news of the death of Mr John Dudding  in hospital days after he was given a drug to which he was allergic.

The broadcast also states that Oliver Colvile, MP for Sutton and Devonport, MP is calling for a review into the way Derriford Hospital handled John Dudding’s treatment.

Enigma Solicitors is representing the Dudding family in their clinical negligence claim.