Illegality in Personal Injury Claims - Lessons from Lewis-Ranwell v G4S Health Services (UK) Ltd & More

Introduction

This webinar provides an in-depth and practical examination of the defence of ex turpi causa in personal injury claims, analysing how illegality and wrongdoing affect liability, causation, and recovery.

With a particular focus on the latest Supreme Court guidance, this webinar explores when the defence will succeed, when it will fail, and how it interacts with related concepts such as fraud, fundamental dishonesty, admissions, and contributory negligence.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• Understand the modern legal framework governing ex turpi causa
• Identify when illegality is relevant to liability and/or quantum
• Distinguish between illegality, fraud, and fundamental dishonesty
• Assess the viability of the defence in common personal injury scenarios
• How to apply recent case law to live claims with confidence

Overview of the Supreme Court’s modern stance

• Key case - Lewis-Ranwell v G4S Health Services (UK) Ltd and others [2026]

Illegality vs Fraud - Drawing the Line

• When fraud and illegality overlap - and when they do not
• Why not every dishonest act engages ex turpi causa
• Tactical considerations - pleading fraud, illegality or both
• When should defendants be concerned?

Relationship with Fundamental Dishonesty

• Distinguishing ex turpi causa from s.57 CJCA 2015
• Can both defences succeed together?
• Procedural and costs consequences
• Key case - Conjanu v Essex Partnership University NHS Trust

Is Ex Turpi Always a Complete Defence?

• Partial recovery and apportionment of loss
• Situations where the defence limits, rather than defeats, a claim
• Judicial reluctance to deny recovery outright
• Key case - Dormer v Wilson [2025]

Impact of Illegality on Losses and Quantum

• Causation and the ‘tainted’ loss analysis
• Future losses arising from illegal activity
• Key case - Ali v HSF Logistics Polska sp zoo

This pre-recorded webinar will be available to view from Thursday 5th March 2026

Alternatively, you can gain access to this webinar and 2,300+ others via the MBL Webinar Subscription. Please email webinarsubscription@mblseminars.com for more details.