Michael's mother blames his autism on the MMR
jab
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A mother has complained after receiving a 'threatening' letter
from lawyers involved in her case against a drug firm over the
MMR jab.
Isabella Thomas, who has two sons with autism, complained to
the Law Society about a letter warning of legal costs and
inviting her to drop her claim.
Law firm, Lovells, acting for drug firm Merck said it was
normal procedure.
The letter was sent to 500 parents who are asking for legal
aid to be continued in their cases.
Lovells, lawyers for MMR manufacturer Merck, said the letter
"was to inform claimants about the position in relation to costs
and to make an offer which would help those who wanted to know
where they stood in relation to the litigation".
The spokesman said: "It is quite normal for defendants'
solicitors to write such letters."
But Mrs Thomas, 47, said the solicitors' letter was a
"threatening" letter to "vulnerable parents" asking them to
"sign away their children's lives".
She claims her 12-year-old son Michael and his 10-year-old
brother Terry were both damaged by the jab.
"It is bullying - they're trying to frighten us into backing
down," she said.
She said agreeing to the letter would mean never being able
to sue the drug company even if scientists later proved a link
between the vaccine and autism.
She said the letter gives until Friday to decide whether to
waive rights to compensation, or fight on and be liable for
costs.
In February, the Legal Services Commission wrote to parents
asking them, on grounds that their action had little prospect of
success, to make their case for legal aid to continue.
Mrs Thomas said that most parents were planning to fight for
legal aid and continue with action against Merck.
"They picked on the wrong ones when they picked on mothers,"
she said. |