Bid to axe solicitor from sexual abuse case failsGROUP LITIGATION: High Court gives Grove the go-aheadA social worker turned solicitor who faced the chop from a case in which he is representing victims of sexual abuse can continue to act, the High Court ruled last week.Cambridge sole practitioner Andrew Grove began work on the case in 1996, when he represented 19 victims against Cambridgeshire County Council over abuse by its employee Keith Laverick.

Laverick was jailed for 18 years in 1997, and the council paid 1 million in an out-of-court settlement.Conflict arose when Mr Grove brought proceedings for 12 more claimants this year.

The council argued that Mr Grove should be removed from the case as he was a social worker for the council at the time of the abuse and may be called as a witness.

But following a two-day hearing last week, Mr Justice OBrien said the council was in cloud cuckoo land if it considered calling Mr Grove totestify, and ruled that Mr Grove could continue to act for his clients.Mr Grove said he was very positive about the case.

This is a major victory for the claimants, who can now move forward in their fight for justice and recognition, he said, adding that the councils action had only served to delay matters and run up unnecessary costs.A spokesman for the council said it may appeal.

The county councils application to the court was based purely on a desire to ensure legal representation for all sides was entirely independent and to avoid any conflict of interest, he added.Paula Rohan