Herjit Khinda
Legal Director
Nottingham
Herjit.Khinda@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)115 976 6017
Herjit specialises in defendant insurance litigation, with a particular expertise in defending fraudulent claims. She has a portfolio of high value claims involving staged/contrived accidents and EL/PL insurance fraud claims. Herjit also deals with claims pursued through kidnap and ransomware policies; and under the Equality Act 2010, including race, sex and disability discrimination, victimisation and harassment.
Herjit has a busy caseload of complex litigation, acting on behalf of local authorities, NHS Trusts, education clients and commercial insurers. She is known for her robust but fair approach to litigation, as well as a keen eye for detail, with an enviable track record for defending claims where there is a suspicion of fraud and securing findings of fundamental dishonesty. She has also developed an expertise in handling sensitive claims in a care setting.
Herjit is passionate about social mobility and ensuring that everyone is given a fair and equal opportunity to develop and she is part of the BJ Reach Mentoring Group mentoring students as they embark on a career within the legal sector.
Featured experience
Commercial declarations
Herjit was involved in commencing declaration proceedings against a policyholder where the policy had been voided ab initio - whilst there was prolonged litigation from the third party, the claim was ultimately discontinued.Â
Defence of claim where veracity of claimant’s evidence was in question
Herjit defended a public liability claim brought against a well-known high street store in which the claimant alleged he tripped. Proceedings were issued and served on the brink of limitation but social media evidence questioned the veracity of the claim and links were found with his acquaintances who had pursued similar claims - the claim was dismissed and the claimant ordered to pay costs in excess of £22,000.
Staged accidents
Herjit repudiated three claims where the policyholder of the insurer client had been complicit in the fraud of staging accidents. The 'fraudster' has a history of contrived accidents and criminal convictions as a result of which, we secured a fraud saving for the client in excess of £300,000.
Successful defence of contentious employer’s liability claim
Herjit defended an employer’s liability claim in which the claimant alleged that he had suffered injury having slipped on an icy floor. Following a contentious trial in which suspicions as to the circumstances of the claimant’s account were developed, his evidence was ultimately discredited leading to his case being dismissed.Â