INVENTOR Robert Channon, who lost both his homes and had to move into an industrial estate unit after he got divorced, is waiting to hear if appeal court judges decide whether solicitors must pay him six-figure damages.
Mr Channon, 57, an engineer who developed a number of innovative ideas including an insulin pump for diabetics and mini helicopters for the military, split from his wife Carol, also 57, in 1992 after 23 years of marriage.
He had to give up both his homes in Holcombe, Somerset and move into a unit on an industrial estate, after a judge awarded his wife 60 per cent of his assets a result he blames on his then solicitors who he says inadequately prepared his case.
A diabetic himself, Mr Channon, who now lives in Edinburgh Way, Corsham, said he was also forced to give up a specialist workshop where he developed his projects.
In November last year, he sued Lindley Johnstone, the law firm that represented him during the divorce case, and was awarded £25,000 and £16,000 interest by a judge at Bristol District Registry.
Last week Mr Channon asked judges at London's Appeal Court to increase the award by about £100,000. The solicitors are also appealing, claiming Mr Channon was awarded 50 per cent too much.
Roger Ter Haar QC, acting for Mr Channon during the two-day hearing that began last Wednesday, said he had been deprived of a good chance of a better outcome from the divorce by the way his solicitors presented his case in 1992.
He said if the court had been given accurate information, the judge would have left Mr Channon and his ex-wife with a roof over both their heads.
"He had a very good chance of achieving that result, if only adequate care had been taken by the defendants (Lindley Johnstone) in handling his case," said Mr Ter Haar.
But Christopher Gibson QC, for Lindley Johnstone, told the court that Mr Channon had been overcompensated by the Bristol judge.
He said the pay-out should have been further discounted to take account of the risk of 'Mr Channon making a horlicks of it in the witness box'.
"The case could have gone horribly wrong even if properly prepared,'' he added.
Referring to £10,000 awarded for the inconvenience and physical discomfort of having to move from his home, Mr Gibson said: "On the judge's findings, we didn't deprive Mr Channon of his house because he couldn't have kept it.
"The judge was wrong to award damages, but if damages were awarded they should have been considerably less.''
After the hearing, Lord Justice Henry, Lord Justice Potter and Lord Justice Judge reserved their decision on the case until a later date.
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