You Reap What You Sow

[lancsdave]

The king of compensation claims


10/ 4/2007


FOR a man who built his fortune on accidents, Mark Langford's death brings to an end a life of fast money and fast cars.

Full details of the smash are not yet available.

What is known is that Mr Langford had previously been convicted of drink-driving, and was fined for careless driving after he hit and killed a pensioner in his Ferrari.

Mark Langford became famous after a meteoric career saw him quickly build a £100 million business empire - an empire seemingly built on sand - and the famous line, "Where there's blame, there's a claim".

Brought up in Greater Manchester, he initially trained as a solicitor in a law firm, although he did not qualify.

Instead, he started Motorlaw, a claims company, at the age of 27, before launching The Accident Group (TAG) in 1999.
Compensation culture

The high-pressure sales operation in claims was branded 'ambulance chasing' and blamed in part for a creeping compensation culture.

In 2003 TAG collapsed - infamously sacking 2,500 staff by text message.

Staff were told, via mobile phone: "Urgent. Unfortunately salaries not paid. Please do not contact office. Full details to follow later today."

Thousands were left without a penny - but Mr Langford, and his wife, Debbie, a fellow director of the firm, were not. As staff began ransacking TAG offices in Manchester, Birmingham and Leicester, they headed for the Spanish sun.

Already with a 24-acre estate in Cheshire, they forged a new life befitting multi-millionaires amongst the designer shops and exclusive golf clubs in Marbella.

Mr Langford lived in a five-bedroom rented villa with a sweeping drive in Marbella's exclusive Zagaleta estate.

He had reportedly been seen driving into the swish port, which boasts shops by Versace, Armani and Gucci, and their two daughters attend the £11,000-a-year King's School just outside Marbella.

Mr Langford was also a regular at the Real Club de Golf Las Brisas, near Marbella, a club which costs £80,000 to join and has hosted the Spanish Open three times.
Legal challenges

But Mr Langford had been fighting off a slowly tightening noose of legal challenges and court hearings, brought by the British tax authorities.

He was coming under increasing pressure to explain how the company folded owing around £100m just months after he helped himself in millions in dividends.

Just last month, as Mr Langford prepared to host a party aboard their £1.4m, 80ft yacht, Mermaid's Whisper, in Puerto Banus harbour, a British tax official came aboard to hand over two writs totalling £4.1m.

In early 2006 liquidators froze Mark Langford's assets and the Department of Trade and Industry were seeking to disqualify the couple from holding company directorships.

In October 2006, their spread at North Rode, Cheshire was put on the market, at £3.75m for the five-bedroom manor house with indoor pool, Jacuzzi, gym plus paddock and lake.

Last month Mr Langford did not attend a bankruptcy hearing at the High Court in London, hi s solicitor telling the court his client was suffering from depression and too unwell to face the hearing.

Years before his death, Mr Langford had been involved in a crash which claimed the life of a pensioner. He was convicted of careless driving in June 2000 but cleared of causing death by dangerous driving.

William Thornley, 73, was struck by Langford's red Ferrari 355 F1 Spyder as he was crossing a road, in November 1998 near the Manchester United football ground as Mr Thornley was on his way home from a Conservative club.
Impact

The pensioner was thrown 15 feet into the air by the impact, and died two hours later in hospital from multiple injuries.

Eyewitnesses claimed in the run-up to the accident Langford had weaved in and out of traffic, and "floored" his car straight ahead from traffic lights in a turn-right-only lane.

The court heard Mr Langford's licence had been returned to him six months earlier after he served a 22-month drink drive ban.

Mr Langford said the pensioner stepped out in front of him, and there was nothing he could do to avoid a collision. Passing sentence, judge John Burke said Langford was driving a powerful car like "a frustrated teenager."

Mr Langford had to be cut free from the wreckage of the Ferrari convertible, and suffered serious cuts to his face, a broken shoulder, thumb and finger.

But his death in another crash will not end the taxman's inquiries into his affairs.

Legal experts say repayment of tax will now be pursued through his estate.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Yes, it must be a case of what goes round,comes round.

[Tinkerbelle]

I had heard this on the news yesterday ...... my first thought was "it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy"

[Margaret Pilkington]

Tinks, I'm sure you weren't on your own either.

[MargaretR]

This is an instance of the ancient Wiccan belief that any distress you cause to an other person will 'rebound' on you.

I don't lie (it diminishes the 'soul') and I never cause anyone harm intentionally and sincerely regret it if it ever happens (sometimes truth hurts)

I am anti religion in all its forms. I find it quite 'creepy' that in my long lifetime any person who has done me harm has come to a sticky end (one early accidental death and several had prolonged painful ill health). Maybe just coincidence, but it has happened so often that it seems more than coincidence. Perhaps this is what some people would call the action of a 'guardian angel' - I just think it is the ancient celtic 'Law of Rebound' in action.Here is a Wiccan article on the subject

http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.htm...=words&id=3801

I am not promoting paganism here - I am a 'humanist' . but this phenomenon of bad deed rebound has been around since civilisation began.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Margaret.....I too, believe in something similar. I would never go out of my way to harm anyone...and it is amazing to find out that people who have done me down have had their own little episodes of misfortune.

[MargaretR]

The man who caused me more harm (mental and physical) than any person in my 65 years came to a sticky end thus

http://archive.lancashireeveningtele...+Anthony+Place

I was not the only person who was a victim of his selfish/sadistic actions - so the rebound effect must have reached enormous proportions by the time of his early death.

I was relieved to learn of his death - no more people will suffer. The 'accident' was never explained - perhaps another victim got revenge - will never know.

[Flash]

I had no prior knoweldge of this man nor of what has happened to him. He doesnt sound like a very decent human being but thre seems to be a sense from previous respondents that you are happy he is dead- That cant be right can it. I too am not religious but it seems like an odd belief system that advocates taking pleasure or a degree of reassurance from the death of another. Odd world.

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by Flash

I had no prior knoweldge of this man nor of what has happened to him. He doesnt sound like a very decent human being but thre seems to be a sense from previous respondents that you are happy he is dead- That cant be right can it. I too am not religious but it seems like an odd belief system that advocates taking pleasure or a degree of reassurance from the death of another. Odd world.

Not 'pleasure' - relief!! - ie -no more victims

[accymel]

Does it work on evil X's margaret????

[MargaretR]

LOL - he was one (had a conviction for fraud when I married him - love is blind )

[Margaret Pilkington]

Well, Accymel...i don't quite know what the other Margaret will say...but personally, I think it does. I know someone who is very close to me...her Ex was a complete and utter b'stard...he intimidated her, followed her around, harassed her, told lies about her to people who knew nothing better than to believe him...he cheated on her, told her she was ugly and worth less and that he had wasted his life on her.....she went from a strong woman to a nervous wreck in six months. Eventually she picked herself up and ditched the abuser...she is now in a happy and fulfilled relationship with a guy who adores her,buys her presents and thinks about her all the time......the guy, well he is with someone who is doing all the things to him that he did to my close friend......so I guess the answer is YES!!!!!

[Ianto.W.]

Originally Posted by Flash

I had no prior knoweldge of this man nor of what has happened to him. He doesnt sound like a very decent human being but thre seems to be a sense from previous respondents that you are happy he is dead- That cant be right can it. I too am not religious but it seems like an odd belief system that advocates taking pleasure or a degree of reassurance from the death of another. Odd world.

I'm with you on this Flash, rather a sadistic outlook on life that can bring good to no one. If you cannot do someone a good turn, or help them, maybe because they do not wish it, do not wish them ill.

[accymel]

Awwww how cool would that be, just nice to know what goes around come around to bite ya on the butt, cheers both margarets so theres hope yet

[Margaret Pilkington]

No one is wishing anyone ill - we are just making a comment that those who do not live responsibly sometimes come to a sticky end....a little bit of devine intervention perhaps.