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Claimants ready to sum up case
Buncefield trial day 27: The claimants in the Buncefield High Court trial began their final submissions today as they fight for damages totalling around £700million. (Tuesday, December 9)
Over the coming days the various claimants will sum up their cases against the defendants responsible for the blast, with the trial due to finish next week.
Jonathan Gaisman, acting for firms and insurance companies, told the court his clients' livelihoods were adversely affected by the cordon thrown around the blast site, resulting in a 'public nuisance'.
Mr Gaisman said the 'explosion was caused by the defendant's negligence and it affected the life, health and property of the public'.
"A public nuisance was committed for the reason a large number of people were affected by the Buncefield explosion," he told the hearing.
The cordon was in place for a number of days after the blast in December 2005, meaning many businesses could not operate normally.
During dense legal submissions Mr Gaisman accused oil giant Total of 'legal obstruction and obscurantity'.
"This is not difficult. What's happening is my friends (Total] are making it difficult," he said.
The trial continues.
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -1 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -6 C to 1 C
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Wind direction: South east
