APIL awards outstanding personal injury specialists

WINNERS: recognition for work with CJD and accident victims

David Body, a partner at Irwin Mitchell, and Arnold Simanowitz, chief executive of Action for Victims of Medical Accidents (AMVA), have been honoured for outstanding achievement by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.Both winners were described as having pushed forward the boundaries of personal injury law.

Mr Body was recognised for his work with victims of iatrogenic and variant Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease (CJD) and their families.APIL president Frances McCarthy said: 'David raised awareness of the issue to such a level that the government set up an inquiry.

He is a shining example of what can be achieved through sheer determination.'Mr Simanowitz, a solicitor who also received an OBE in last month's Queen's birthday honours, set up AVMA from his home almost 20 years ago.

The charity has since handled more than 40,000 cases.'Arnold has certainly gone above and beyond the call of duty to help victims of medical accidents,' said Ms McCarthy.

'His nominator described him as single-handedly revolutionising the ability of victims of medical accidents to claim compensation.'The awards were presented by BBC Watchdog's Alice Beer at a ceremony in London last week.

The winners were chosen by a panel chaired by Lord Tim Clement-Jones which included representatives from the Consumers Association, national charity Headway and the Occupational and Environmental Diseases Association.Neil Rose