She has over 15 years litigation experience and has taken numerous cases to trial, the longest one involving a six week trial relating to a complex multi-party action regarding dust exposure in the glass industry.
Harminder successfully gave evidence on behalf of her client in court after being cross-examined by the defendants in a limitation trial.
Several of her cases have set precedents and have been reported. Notable cases are as follows:
- Frank Baker v Tate & Lyle PLC - Ground-breaking judgment against Tate & Lyle, sued as occupier for victim of mesothelioma
- Najib v John Laing – the highest award to date for general damages for a mesothelioma victim and innovatively obtained an award for photodynamic therapy, i.e. alternative treatment.
- Beesley v New Century Group – the highest care award to date in a mesothelioma case.
- Sloan v Halsen Insulation – This is the first case in which periodical payments have been awarded to a dependent in a fatal case. Periodical payments to be paid annually to the widow for life for the loss of companionship and day-to-day practical needs.
- A v B – a complicated brain injury case in which an interim payment in excess of £700,000 was obtained. The case settled for over £3million. The case involved complex issues regarding mental capacity. The capacity was split, i.e. the brain injured client was found to have capacity to litigate but not capacity to deal with financial affairs.
- C v D - Obtained just under £6 million for a young man who sustained a serious brain injury as a result of a car crash. This was enough money to cover the cost of a new home, loss of salary and ongoing expenses for the rest of his life.
Costs cases include:
Legal directory Chambers UK 2012 describes Harminder as an “excellent negotiator” and Legal 500 2012 refers to Harminder as being “courageous and dedicated”.
Harminder has personal experience of the cancer mesothelioma as her own father died from the disease having been negligently exposed to asbestos whilst working for the MOD in the naval dockyard in Chatham, Kent. She has helped to set up DBL, a Charitable Trust, to raise funds for mesothelioma/cancer research. To date, she has helped to raise £60,000.
Harminder is an APIL Fellow and advises the Parliamentary Asbestos Committee and is active in lobbying the Government on numerous issues.