I agree with the recent comments of Peter Tassart regarding the proposed change to the personal injury small-claims limit (see [2006] Gazette, 26 January, 14).

In the last four weeks, I have settled four accident at work cases, each for between £1,500 and £2,000. In all cases it was necessary to issue, as the defendant insurance company denied liability, and the matter only settled when it was referred to external solicitors. Had the arbitration limit been £2,500 - or worse, £5,000 - then none of these clients would have received legal representation, and their claims would have failed at the first hurdle.


If the arbitration limit is changed, it will result in thousands of high street law firms closing, and those in authority must recognise that this will in turn lead to a dearth of family lawyers and criminal practitioners across large swathes of the country.


Peter Core, EXL Law Firm, Liverpool