Harvey Ingram turns in a magic performance for client

A BIRMINGHAM law firm has successful acted for a client in an unusual personal injury case.

Harvey Ingram stepped in when nationally-renowned magician Kyle Summers had a serious hand injury mis-diagnosed by medical staff at the George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton.

Problems emerged when Mr Summers was discharged from the hospital after doctors failed to spot he had a severed hand tendon.

He later discovered a chronic loss of movement and on-going loss of dexterity in his left hand. Medics were obliged to re-examine his hand before when they correctly diagnosed the injury.

Mr Summers then underwent two bouts of corrective surgery. The law firm said this resulted in his left arm being put in a sling and needing intensive physiotherapy.

Personal injury specialist Dawn Slow said the operations had caused a temporary loss of dexterity in the magician’s left hand briefly making some of his tricks – the so-called overhand shuffle and full pack glide – difficult to perform and hitting his livelihood.

“Given Kyle is one of the country’s most in-demand close-up magicians, the original incorrect diagnosis had the potential to have a huge impact on his livelihood and critically slowed up the moves for nearly two years. It also affected his ability to drive to and from events,” she said.

Mr Summers said: “Suffering even the slightest hand impairment is an absolute nightmare for any magician. In my case, it happened at a critical time in my career, although I had been able to continue working albeit with a fair bit of discomfort in my right hand. I am now returned to full flexibility and audience feedback suggests the injury isn’t obvious.”

“I would hate anyone else to find themselves in my position simply because a medic missed and failed to deal with something as relatively straightforward as a severed tendon. I am delighted with the way Harvey Ingram quickly dealt with my case and the compensation goes some way to the stress, inconvenience and loss of earnings during the past two years.”

After the firm’s intervention, it successfully secured a £15,000 settlement for the magician.

“I am very pleased with the result. Kyle is a hugely talented individual and it would have been a tragedy if the injury had a long-term impact on his ability to perform,” added Ms Slow.