Lawyers are preparing to launch a mammoth compensation battle for 180 people who claim they suffered sexual, physical and mental abuse at Staffordshire children’s homes. Solicitors are also urging other alleged victims to come forward and contact them before a cut-off date for fresh cases is imposed by the High Court.Hanley law firm Dicksons are working alongside legal experts from Derby on 180 claims against Staffordshire County Council.Proceedings are expected to begin ‘reasonably soon’ in civil courts on a mass group claim for cash concerning a catalogue of allegations, some of which date back to the 1950s.They relate to a variety of alleged abuse at former children’s homes, including Riverside at Rocester, near Uttoxeter; and sites at Penkhull and Heron Cross in Stoke-on-Trent….Earlier this year, a new panel of leading solicitors and barristers urged relatives who believe their loved ones have been wrongly convicted of abuse to contact them.The Historical Abuse Appeal Panel, Doncaster, believes about 200 men and women in the UK are the victims of miscarriages of justice and many abuse claims are bogus…

From Sentinel