15 January 2010

News Release 

The Accident Management Association expressed opposition to many of the proposals in Sir Rupert Jackson’s final report “Review of civil litigation costs” published yesterday.

Tony Baker, Director General of the AMA, commented:

“The positive proposals in the report are dwarfed because of the overwhelming detrimental consumer aspects.  The abolition of recovery of success fees and ATE premiums would reduce access to justice. The legalisation of contingency will be misused and also reduce access to justice. A ban on referral fees is unwarranted and impractical.”

He added:

“It would be amazing if any government sought parliamentary time to carry forward these proposals.”

-ENDS-

Notes for Editors

1. Enquiries to:

Tony Baker

Director General, Accident Management Association

www.amassociation.co.uk

Email: thetonybaker@gmail.com

Tel: 01920 465000

Mob: 07725 462 528

2. AMA has 45 full members and 16 associate members. Members account for around 70% of credit hire and credit repair business in the UK.

3. The credit hire industry provides a service to people by assisting them with an insurance claim where their vehicle has been damaged in a motor accident.  The main elements of the service are the provision of a replacement vehicle (credit hire) and arranging repairs (credit repair).