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10,000. Cost of retraining as a masseuse: £ 940. Past cost of retraining as an actress: £ 6,965. Fll future costs of retraining at the Bristol Old Vic plus subsistence: £ 23,200. Cost of counselling: £ 2,180. Various other items of special damage were awarded. Total award: £ 87,315.

Judge: James Goudie Q.C. sitting as a deputy High Court Judge

Judgment date: April 2, 1996

Sollis v Hughes General Damages: £ 12,500

Female, aged 17 at the time of the accident and aged 22 at the date of the trial, sustained a whiplash type injury to the neck which affected her for a period of approximately 18 months. She also sustained an injury to her lower back which had continued to produce symptoms, which appeared to be permanent. As a result she was unable to stand for long periods or sit for long periods. She was only fit for work in which she could move around. She had had to replace her bed with a futon. She was unable to travel in a car for more than threequarters of an hour to an hour without pain. Although painkillers diminished the pain, they did not relieve it totally. S was not in work at the time of the accident and therefore had not lost any time off work. She had commenced work a month after the accident in the travel agency business, which enabled her to move around frequently, alleviating her symptoms. She had ABTA qualifications and other travel agency qualifications, and by the date of trial had some five years' experience in travel agency. She was shortly to be made redundant, however, and alternative employment with another travel agent was not going to be so financially rewarding. S had had to change her career plans as a result of the accident. She had not been able to pursue her intended career of teaching horse riding. Her main hobby had been riding and she had been forced to give it up. General Damages: £ 12,500. Smith v Manchester award: £ 2,000. (Note: contributory negligence was alleged and assessed at 100 per cent).

Court: CC (Pontypridd)

Judge: H.H.J. Huw Jones

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