Alliance plans media push to oppose Jackson reforms

Legal expenses insurers, personal injury lawyers and consumer groups have set up a formidible alliance to thwart the implementation of the Jackson reforms of civil litigation costs.

The Consumer Justice Alliance, which is due to launch next week, has been established in response to the coalition government’s pledge to consult on the Jackson reforms this autumn.

The alliance is made up of legal expenses insurers Arag and Elite Insurance together with personal injury solicitors Harris Fowler; Wixted & Co; Gadsby Wicks; ProLegal; and Glynns.

The alliance is also working with injured victims’ groups, which are concerned that Jackson’s proposed shake-up will endanger the ability of maimed victims to be properly compensated for personal loss or injury.

The alliance’s formation is the first time that groups from across the personal injury litigation industry have come together to campaign against the Jackson Review. The alliance is planning a media campaign to highlight cases of victims who it claims would have been denied compensation if the Jackson Review had been implemented.

Elite group chief executive Jason Smart said: “We believe the suggested changes will leave injured victims at the mercy of large insurance companies and prevent many being adequately compensated. We are committed to finding an alternative to the Jackson Review.”

AXA claims director David Williams said: “It is disappointing that this group has set itself to resist changes that would be better for everyone.”

Lord Jackson's report was published in December last year by the previous government, which had commissioned the review.

Justice minister Jonathan Djanogly announced in July that he would be seeking views on taking forward Jackson’s recommendations focusing on conditional fee agreements, including his proposed cap on success fees and a ban on after-the-event insurance premiums.

However, Djanogly said that the consultation would not embrace Jackson’s recommendation to ban referral fees.