Philip Banks wins praise as a "charismatic and very talented" individual. He focuses on injuries abroad, as well as acting for groups of clients who sustain illnesses whilst on holiday.
Chambers and Partners Directory (2012)
Compensation Awarded After Holiday Village Turkey Illness
Published date:
17 Dec 2009
Expert travel law solicitors have repeated calls for a tour operator to stop sending tourists to Holiday Village Turkey after a court agreed compensation for 14 Britons who made claims after being hit by food poisoning in 2005.
The holidaymakers, including seven children, all stayed at the Holiday Village in 2005 and developed illnesses including salmonella and cryptosporidium.
Travel lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have represented 1,300 people who have fallen ill while staying at the Holiday Village Turkey in the last five years.
Clive Garner, head of the travel litigation team at Irwin Mitchell, welcomed the decision to settle the cases but called on First Choice to agree settlements immediately for tourists who stayed at the hotel in subsequent years.
First Choice has admitted it was at fault for illnesses suffered in 2006 and 2007, but the tour operator continues to deny liability for the outbreak in 2008 and has yet to confirm whether it will accept responsibility for the outbreak of illness in 2009 that affected 700 people. Read more about the 2009 outbreak.
Mr Garner said: “The decision by First Choice to settle these claims will go some way to helping our clients put their horrific holidays behind them but it is time the hundreds of people affected in 2008 and 2009 were compensated in the same way.
“That these settlements date back to holidays in 2005 reflects the dreadful record of this hotel and it really is time for First Choice to stop taking any more bookings at this hotel unless standards are improved sufficiently to enable guests to take holidays there without the risk of contracting illness.
“These are not minor complaints but large outbreaks of serious illness. How many more innocent children, parents and couples have to fall seriously ill and be left with long-term symptoms at this hotel before adequate action is taken?”
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I thought Irwin Mitchell was extremely professional throughout our claim. They were friendly and approachable and always there to help. If I ever had any queries or needed any assistance I knew I could call up and there was help available. My husband and I were over the moon with our compensation and would like to thank the team for all their hard work.
Mrs Giovanna Warwicker, Kent