Frances Frost
Frances joined the Civil Liberties, Human Rights and Police Actions Department at Tuckers as a consultant solicitor in 2012. Prior to joining Tuckers, Frances was an experienced personal injury and clinical negligence lawyer.
Frances’ work covers the full span of cases undertaken by the department including claims for assault, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and misfeasance, as well as breaches of the Human Rights Act and the Data Protection Act. Frances has been involved in many of the high-profile cases pursued by the department including the civil claim brought by the family of Ian Tomlinson, as well as a claim by a woman who was the victim of a sexual relationship with an undercover police officer.
Frances also undertakes judicial review claims, seeking to challenge the decisions of public bodies which are irrational or unreasonable. A recent notable case is:
R (on the application of Torpey) v Director of Public Prosecutions (2019) – successful judicial review of CPS decision not to prosecute any police officer following the death of Lewis Johnson. Lewis died following a pursuit by a police officer who was not trained and not authorised to engage in the pursuit of a moped. The matter has been remitted back to the CPS to consider afresh whether the police officer should be prosecuted for causing death by dangerous and/or careless driving.
Frances works alongside other members of the department in order to achieve substantial compensation payments for victims. With her background in personal injury and clinical negligence, Frances is highly experienced in dealing with high value claims arising from catastrophic injury or death. In the claims involving more serious injury, Frances conducts all quantum investigation, dealing with difficult medical issues and causation. Frances is particularly skilled at preparing complex schedules of loss.
Frances also represents victims of violent crimes in claims to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. Frances has been successful in obtaining substantial compensation payments for many victims, whose lives have been irreparably damaged by violent crime. In relation to one CICA claim, Frances was able to achieve on appeal, an award ten times that which was originally offered by the CICA.
Frances uses her considerable analytical skills and attention to detail to maximise compensation awards for Claimants. Her aim is to achieve the best quality of life for the injured client or bereaved family. Frances has been instrumental in a number of key settlements achieved by the department including:
PH v Metropolitan Police (2018) – claim for misfeasance, breach of confidence and breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998 in respect of unlawful disclosures by police officers to the Claimant’s employer.
Deslandes Family v CICA (2017) – claim by family following a horrific gun attack in the family’s pub on New Year’s Day 2010 in which the family’s eldest son lost his life and the family’s middle son sustained a significant and life-changing brain injury as a result of gunshot wounds to the head.
EB v CICA (2015) – claims by a victim of gun crime which resulted in substantial payments.
AB & Others v Metropolitan Police (2014) – claim for negligence and breach of Article 8 right to family life following mismanagement of witness protection scheme, the matter was settled out of court.
The case of “Jacqui” v Metropolitan Police (2014) – claim by a woman who had a sexual relationship and a child with an undercover police officer. Frances provided assistance on this case, undertaking the quantum investigations and preparing the Schedule of Loss. The case was subsequently settled for £425,000.
Family of Ian Tomlinson (2013) – fatality following contact with Metropolitan Police at the G20 protests. Frances was involved in the negotiations which concluded the civil claim, in which the family received a full apology and an undisclosed financial settlement.
Sheehan v Metropolitan Police (2012) – assault claim by criminal solicitor who was forcibly removed from the custody suite at a London police station which resulted in a substantial damages payment.