Last week’s Obiter brought you what was almost undoubtedly history’s longest-running lawsuit – Crown v City of London. (James I issued proceedings in 1613 claiming ownership of Smithfield Market. Judgment was given some 379 years later.)

This week Obiter has a new challenge – the fastest resolved personal injury claim. Richard Biggs, from Manchester firm Ralli, puts himself forward as a contender for ‘fastest lawyer in the land’. He was instructed by a road traffic accident victim on 8 January and his client, who suffered back, neck and chest pains after her car was involved in a multi-vehicle crash, was awarded £1,584 on 17 March. That’s a nine-and-half-week turnaround. Can anyone beat that?