1COR Quarterly Medical Law Review – Summer 2020 – Issue 6 - Sep 2020
Dominic Ruck Keene has a varied practice in all the core areas of Chambers’ work, in particular inquests, public law and human rights, personal injury and clinical negligence. He also has a growing practice in the specialist areas of child abuse compensation, cyber and data protection, as well as employment and equality law. As a member of the Attorney General’s C Panel, he is regularly instructed by a number of different Government departments in cases involving a wide spectrum of different areas of law.
As a former Regular Army officer and serving Reservist Army officer, Dominic has a particular interest and expertise in all nature of cases involving service personnel, as well as National Security more generally.
InquestsDominic represents the entire spectrum of families, prisons, GPs, and healthcare providers at inquests. He has developed a particular specialism in inquests involving mental health issues, and regularly appears at Article 2 and jury inquests into the deaths of both formally and informally admitted mental health patients, as well those being treated in the community. He also frequently appears at prison inquests, including suicide and drugs related deaths.
Selected Cases
- Inquest into the death of Osman Ahmednur: Represented NHS trusts at the inquest into the suicide of former Eritrean refugee.
- Inquest into the death of Richard Handley: Appeared for family in inquest into the death of a 33 year old man with Down’s Syndrome and mental health issues who was living in supported housing and died from constipation.
- Inquest into the death of Barry Tucker: Appeared for family in inquest into death of a cancer patient who died having been discharged prematurely.
- Inquest into the death of Daniel Chapman: Appeared for NHS Trust in inquest into death of mental health patient who died while being treated in the community and living in supported accommodation from an overdose of legal highs.
- Inquest into the death of George Sutcliffe: Appeared for family in inquest into death of elderly patient where issues over whether should have been discharged earlier and avoided terminal decline while admitted.
- Inquest into the death of Glenn Jordan: Appeared for family in inquest into death of informal admitted mental health patient who hung himself while in hospital.
- Inquest into the death of Davindar Lal Seth: Appeared for family in inquest into the death of a patient who aspirated vomit while in intensive care and suffered cardiac arrest.
- Inquest into the death of Sally Ahmed-Chamberlain: Appeared for hospital in inquest into suicide of someone previously under care of mental health services.
- Inquest into the death of Henry Hughes: Appeared for hospital in inquest into death of informal admitted mental health patient who hung himself while on leave from hospital.
Dominic has considerable experience of acting in clinical negligence claims for both claimants and defendants: drafting the full range of pleadings, advising on merits, quantum and settlement; successfully representing parties at RTMs and at mediation; as well as appearing in case management hearings, application hearings, and at trial in both the County and High Courts.
Cases include those involving:
- Cerebral palsy and other catastrophic birth related injuries
- Psychiatric injury (both primary and secondary victims)
- Orthopaedic injuries (in particular delayed diagnosis of fractures)
- Delayed diagnosis and treatment of cancer
- Patients detained in prison or under the mental health act
- Retained products of conception
- Injuries to reproductive organs and ‘loss of a chance’ claims, including vaginal mesh
- Cauda equina
- Informed consent and scope of duty
Against the background of having been led by Lizanne Gumbel QC in achieving a successful settlement for hundreds of claimants against a consultant breast surgeon (Mr Ian Paterson) for negligent treatment spanning a decade given to both NHS and private patients, Dominic has developed a particular expertise in cases involving private healthcare providers. He is currently instructed in vaginal mesh claims being brought against Ian Lindsey/ Tony Dixon and Nuffield/ Spire Health.
Dominic represents both Claimants and Defendants across the entire spectrum of personal injury litigation, including workplace injuries (including asbestos related conditions and other Fatal Accident claims) and injuries resulting from data breaches.
Selected Cases
- Cyprus Emergency Litigation 2018: Instructed on behalf of the MOD and the FCO in a significant case brought by 35 claimants alleging that they were physically abused by the Security Forces during the Cyprus Emergency.
- Paterson Inquiry 2017: Dominic was led by Lizanne Gumbel QC for the claimants in respect of test cases being brought on behalf of hundreds of patients against a consultant breast surgeon (Mr Ian Paterson) for negligent treatment spanning a decade given to both NHS and private patients.
- Snatch/ Pinzgauer 2016: Dominic was led by David Evans QC for the MOD in the lead test cases for the application of negligence to combat operations following the decision of the Supreme Court in Smith & Ors v Ministry of Defence (No 2) regarding the extent of the MOD’s duty of care under Article 2 to soldiers on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Dominic represents victims of historic child abuse in actions against both local authorities and individuals. He represented a survivors’ group at the Independent Inquiry into Child Abuse (IICSA).
As a former Regular Army officer he has a particular interest and expertise in cases involving the military and national security issues. Dominic is security cleared.
He has been instructed by the MOD in a number of cases brought on behalf of injured or killed servicemen alleging breach of their Article 2 rights. Dominic was led by David Evans QC in the lead test cases for the application of negligence to combat operations following the decision of the Supreme Court in Smith & Ors v Ministry of Defence (No 2) regarding the extent of the MOD’s duty of care under Article 2 to soldiers on operations.
Dominic represents serving and former service personnel in service complaints and civil claims brought against the MOD.
Dominic has also represented individual claimants (and their families) in a number of claims brought against a variety of state bodies alleging breach of their Article 2 and Article 3 rights.
Dominic is building an immigration practice, and has represented both applicants seeking leave to remain and also the Home Secretary in immigration proceedings before both the Immigration Appeal Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal.
Dominic represents claimants in cases against local authorities and other public bodies relating to breach of confidence, misuse of private information and breach of the Data Protection Act. He also advises clients regarding the implementation of GDPR and the management of data loss incidents.
Listen to Dominic discuss the right to be forgotten on episode 32 of our podcast Law Pod UK here.
Dominic represents both employers and employees in disciplinary and employment proceedings, in particular in cases alleging constructive dismissal or discrimination.
As well as representing claimants and defendants at the Employment Tribunal, Dominic has appeared before the GMC, and representing a potentially affected person at an Army Board of Inquiry into alleged discrimination and mismanagement. Dominic’s military experience gives him a particular insight into representing claimants and defendants in cases involving service complaints and employment claims brought against the MOD.
Dominic Ruck Keene has developed a varied practice in all the core areas of Chambers’ work, in particular inquests, public law and human rights, and clinical negligence. He also has a growing practice in the specialist areas of child abuse compensation, cyber and data protection, as well as employment and equality. As a member of the Attorney General’s C Panel, he is instructed by a number of different Government departments in cases involving a wide spectrum of different areas of law.
Dominic accepts direct instruction from lay clients across a range of practice areas, with a particular interest in representing families at inquests. For more information, please view his profile here.
1COR Quarterly Medical Law Review – 2020 – Special Issue – Part 3 - Jul 2020
Welcome to this COVID-19 special issue of the Quarterly Medical Law Review, brought to you by the barristers at 1 Crown Office Row. Given the fast moving nature of this situation, we will likely...
Have you read the latest AvMA Newsletter featuring Sarabjit Singh QC, Robert Kellar QC & Dominic Ruck Keene? - Jun 2020
In the latest AvMA Newsletter, Sarabjit Singh QC, Robert Kellar QC & Dominic Ruck Keene examine key cases, themes and implications during COVID-19 for medical negligence cases. Get the...
1COR Quarterly Medical Law Review – Spring 2020 – Issue 5 - May 2020
Welcome to the fifth issue of the Quarterly Medical Law Review, brought to you by the barristers at 1 Crown Office Row. In this packed edition you will find: Download the Spring 2020 newsletter...
Dominic Ruck Keene examines whether the lockdown is compliant with the European Charter of Human Rights? - May 2020
In response to this post on the UK Human Rights Blog, Dominic Ruck Keene examines where the lockdown is compliant with the European Charter of Human Rights (ECHR). Download his analysis here and...
1COR Quarterly Medical Law Review – 2020 – Special Issue – Part 2 - Apr 2020
Welcome to another special issue of the Quarterly Medical Law Review, brought to you by the barristers at 1 Crown Office Row. Given the fast moving nature of this situation, we will produce a number...
LawPod UK Ep. 108: Renewed lockdown, new guidance - Apr 2020
In this latest episode we consider the probable attitude of the judiciary to any challenges regarding the government’s responsibility for providing sufficient PPE, the risk imposed on individuals,...
1COR Quarterly Medical Law Review -2020 – Special Issue - Mar 2020
Welcome to this special issue of the Quarterly Medical Law Review (QMLR), brought to you by the barristers at 1 Crown Office Row. We are endeavouring to provide legal analysis of changes caused by...
1COR Quarterly Medical Law Review – Winter 2019/20 – Issue 4 - Mar 2020
Welcome to the fourth issue of the Quarterly Medical Law Review, brought to you by barristers at 1 Crown Office Row. This quarterly publication aims to provide summaries and comment on recent cases...
Scope of Duty and Causation: Chester v Afshar Revisited in Leeds - Feb 2020
Join us for an afternoon debating the scope of duty and causation in medical claims based on Chester v Afshar [2005] 1 AC 134, which have come to the fore in recent cases (which we have also acted in)...
The 1COR Quarterly Medical Law Review – Autumn 2019 – Issue 3 - Dec 2019
Welcome to the third issue of the Quarterly Medical Law Review, brought to you by barristers at 1 Crown Office Row. This quarterly publication aims to provide summaries and comment on recent cases in...
The 1COR Quarterly Medical Law Review – Summer 2019 – Issue 2 - Aug 2019
Welcome to the second issue of the Quarterly Medical Law Review, brought to you by barristers at 1 Crown Office Row. This quarterly publication aims to provide summaries and comment on recent cases in...
Dominic Ruck Keene examines evidential difficulties in proving a Montgomery case for AvMA Newsletter - Jun 2019
In the June 2019 AvMA Newsletter, Dominic Ruck Keene writes about the evidential difficulties in proving a Montgomery Case (pg. 18). He looks at the two recent cases of Lucy Diamond v Royal Devon...
Scope of Duty and Causation: Chester v Afshar Revisited - Jun 2019
Join us for an evening looking at scope of duty and causation in medical claims based on Chester v Afshar [2005] 1 AC 134, which have come to the fore in recent cases such as Pomphrey v Secretary of...
The 1COR Quarterly Medical Law Review – Spring 2019 – Issue 1 - May 2019
Welcome to the first issue of the Quarterly Medical Law Review, brought to you by barristers at 1 Crown Office Row. This new quarterly publication aims to provide summaries and comment on recent cases...
Oliver Sanders QC and Dominic Ruck Keene analyse Big Brother Watch & Others v UK in the latest issue of Counsel Magazine - Nov 2018
In the latest edition of Counsel Magazine, Oliver Sanders QC and Dominic Ruck Keene examine the recent European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgment in Big Brother Watch & Others v UK, the...
Law Pod UK Ep. 32: The Right to be Forgotten - May 2018
Dominic Ruck Keene and Rosalind English discuss the latest case involving the internet search engine Google, and an individual’s right to be forgotten. Listen to this episode on Audioboom here. ...
1COR members featured in the latest AvMA Newsletter - Apr 2018
Rachel Marcus, Leanne Woods, Dominic Ruck-Keene and Jo Moore all contributed articles in the recently released AvMA newsletter, which you can download here : AvMA March 2018 Newsletter Leanne Woods...
The Liability of Private Hospitals and Clinics - Feb 2018
Lessons from the Paterson Litigation: Developments in the law relating to vicarious liability. Dame Christina Lambert chairs a panel of 1COR members who will discuss developments in the law...
Dominic Ruck Keene acted for the family in an inquest into the death of Richard Handley - Feb 2018
Dominic Ruck Keene appeared for the family in this high profile inquest into the death of 33 year old Richard Handley. He was instructed by Nina Ali of Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors. Richard...
Dominic Ruck Keene appointed to the Attorney General’s C Panel - Feb 2018
1COR are delighted to announce that Dominic Ruck Keene has been selected to join the Attorney General's C Panel and will be appointed from 1st March 2018.
Dominic Ruck Keene in inquest into death of a prematurely discharged patient - Jan 2018
Dominic Ruck Keene appeared for the family as a Direct Access barrister in a recent two day inquest into the death of a 71 year old grandfather. Senior Coroner for Brighton and Hove Veronica...
Dominic Ruck Keene acting for White Flowers Alba at IICSA - Nov 2017
Dominic Ruck Keene is to appear at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA) as part of their investigation into the English Benedictine Congregation. He is appearing on behalf of White...
1COR Hosts 2017 Court of Protection Conference - Sep 2017
Chambers hosted a conference in Brighton on 14th September on recent developments in the Court of Protection with Local Government Lawyers from the Orbis Group covering Surrey, East & West Sussex...
Alasdair Henderson appears in high-profile M4 Relief Road inquiry - Mar 2017
Alasdair Henderson is representing the Gwent Wildlife Trust, who are one of a large number of objectors to the proposal to build an M4 Relief Road in South Wales. The proposed new motorway would...
UK Human Rights Blog is pick of best legal bloggers by The Times - Feb 2017
1 Crown Office Row's UK Human Rights Blog and Adam Wagner have been featured in The Times today in a feature about the rise of legal blogging. Jonathan Ames has written a feature in The Times...
Paterson case listed in The Lawyer top 20 cases for 2017 - Jan 2017