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Dramatic increase in Irish personal injury cases

The volume of cases heard in the High Court increased by 26 per cent. The High Court was brought to an increased number of venues outside Dublin during 2007, which gave the court an additional 200 sitting days, allowing a larger volume of work to be dealt with.

The most dramatic increase in its workload was in personal injury actions, up from 2,673 in 2006 to 5,951 last year. The figure was 746 in 2005.

All personal injury cases must first go to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board before being certified to go to the courts.

Medical negligence cases rose by 70 per cent, from 334 in 2006 to 566 last year.

Asylum judicial reviews also increased, with 1,024 entered, compared with 909 the previous year. However, the increase in cases where leave was granted doubled, up from 139 in 2006 to 263 last year, with 343 settled (normally on the basis of the State conceding on a contested matter), giving a total of 706 successful judicial reviews of asylum decisions in 2007. Leave to apply was refused in 56 cases.

Legal costs were reduced by an average of 39 per cent on application to one of the two Taxing Masters, from a total amount claimed of  Euro 41,258,000 to an amount allowed of Euro 29,735,000.

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