Richard LangtonPractice Group Leader, Group Litigation
Experience Profile
Richard Langton is the Managing Partner of the Birmingham office of Slater & Gordon Lawyers. He has previously been the President of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), having been a member of its executive Committee since 2000. He is an honorary life member and Fellow of APIL and is also a Trustee of Headway West Midlands. Alongside this he has lectured to APIL Brain Injury Conference and Headway groups on the Mental Capacity Act and decision making for patients, and the role of the Deputy.
He joined Slater & Gordon Lawyers (Formerly Russell Jones & Walker) in 1984 and has been a Partner since 1987. He has been involved in various significant cases, including Daniels v Walker, a Court of Appeal decision which defined the instruction of joint expert witnesses and also established the relevance of the Human Rights Act to personal injury claims. Richard has recently been shortlisted for the PI Lawyer of the Year Award for the Personal Injury Awards 2010. Richard's nomination for this award has received much press coverage in publications such as The Birmingham Post. Read the full article here.
Richard is issuing claims on behalf of the families that have been affected by Maclaren baby buggies due to a faulty mechanism in the product formation.
He is also leading the largest UK consumer Group Litigation Order (GLO) for claimants who have suffered rashes and burns from their sofas, as covered by BBC's Watchdog programme. Alongside this Richard has 'Outstanding knowledge and experience,' and the team represents 90% of the 5,000 claimants in the high-profile Linkwise sofa group litigation according to the Legal 500, 2009 edition. In 2011 The Legal 500 described Richard as someone who, ‘really knows his stuff.’ Chambers & Partners 2013 legal directory states that Key Individual and "Former Association of Personal Injury Lawyers president Richard Langton has an impressive national reputation due to his involvement in high-profile cases such as the Maclaren buggy group litigation, 'toxic sofa' litigation and various transport disaster claims. Defendant solicitors recognise him as someone "you can do business with and engage with." It goes on to say that Key Individual "Richard Langton is managing partner of the firm's Birmingham office and has more than 25 years' experience in claimant work. He is head of the firm's serious injury group, and has recently successfully handled multimillion-pound claimant awards. He has recently been issuing claims on behalf of families affected by Maclaren baby buggies, and is lead solicitor in the continuing toxic sofa litigation. Peers say he is "very effective" and "a pleasure to work with."
He is the lead solicitor on the Linkwise Group Litigation Order, representing claimants whose injuries include skin burns and respiratory symptoms from exposure to banned toxic fungicides used in the manufacturing of leather sofas. This is believed to be the largest ever UK product liability claim and involves contaminated imported Chinese leather furniture.
On 15th December 2010, it was agreed that compensation would be paid to 408 customers who purchased sofas, and subsequently suffered with sofa rash, which had been manufactured by Linkwise. This litigation was reported on the website of The Lawyer, and can be found at this link. The further success of this group litigation was widely reported in the media. A selection of the articles can be found below:
He also deals with severe injury claims arising from aviation, road rail and shipping accidents. Richard is recommended by Chambers and Partners and is described by sources as ‘a very capable, very experienced, intelligent chap.” His practice involves transport disaster litigation having previously dealt with rail crashes cases including those at Colwich and Paddington. According to Chambers and Partners legal directory comments, "Russell Jones & Walker's practice acts on behalf of road traffic casualties and on disease cases. Richard Langton heads the team and has been instructed to act on a pro bono basis for British families who suffered family losses as a result of September 11." He is also experienced in United States litigation procedures and has extensive contacts there.
Richard is the head of the serious injury group at Russell Jones & Walker (part of Slater & Gordon Lawyers). His expertise is in fatal accident and maximum severity claims involving head and spinal injuries.
He has dealt with numerous cases involving head and spinal injury as well as amputation and has over 25 years experience acting only for claimants. The need for total commitment to maximum rehabilitation and access to world class support for medical and care needs means he has a portfolio of experts ready to work with him and his clients to rebuild their lives. Proactive litigation if liability is disputed, early substantial interim payments and maximum damages are the objectives.
Recent successes involve awards of £8.6 million for Leanne E, who suffered severe head injury and £5.5 million for Nikki B, with incomplete tetraplegia. Both are young women with injuries which have left them with life-long care needs. Both clients preferred the lump-sum alternative to periodic payments. Richard Langton has also acted for Harry Sharma, who in 1997, was awarded record general damages for injuries which left him in a wheelchair, blind and brain damaged following a criminal assault.
Reported Cases
Buggy manufacturer pays out to 40 injured children - Richard lead the group litigation of Maclaren buggies.
Sofa Victims to Receive Record Breaking Payout - Richard led the group litigation in this case.
Injured Toddler's Family Welcome Sentencing Change for Dangerous Drivers - Richard represented the family of a child who was severely injured following a road traffic accident which was not their fault.
West Midlands PC Widow Awarded £285,000 compensation - Richard represented Ms Hunt whose partner was killed whilst working on an undercover drugs operation.
Richard Langton Comments on the Cuts to Consumer Safety Quangos - Richard Langton has spoken about his concern that the impact of cutting certain quangos will have on consumer safety.
Richard Langton Calls for Safer Window Blinds Regulations Following Fatal Accident- Richard comments on the need for window blinds regulations after another British infant is killed.
