Manchester firm Pannone & Partners won £620,000 in compensation last week for a former soldier suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in a landmark judgment that could lead to claims by soldiers currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is the first time the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been ordered to pay compensation for failure to diagnose and treat PTSD.

A second soldier represented by Manchester firm Linder Myers has won a similar claim, with the amount of his compensation scheduled for a hearing in the autumn.


The two actions were lead cases taken from a group of 2,000 potential claimants. Other claimants who can show they made their commanding officer aware of their condition are now expected to take their claims forward.


Richard Scorer, partner at Pannone & Partners who acted for soldier Malcolm New, said: 'Mr New was a high-flying army officer with a very successful career. Awareness of PTSD has improved after cases like these, and more claims will arise from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan if the MoD does not diagnose and treat people properly.'


Linder Myers partner Trevor Ward, who acted for soldier Melvyn West, said he had already been instructed to proceed with similar claims by another 12 individuals, and is acting for two soldiers over PTSD claims relating to Iraq.


An MoD spokeswoman said: 'The MoD considers claims for compensation on the basis of legal liability. Where there is a proven legal liability to pay compensation, we do so.'