October 19th, 2009
A woman who was left fighting for her life after accidentally ingesting a black worm in her fish while abroad has been awarded a record sum in compensation.
Beryl Rushton, 66, went to the Dominican Republic on what was supposed to be a luxury Christmas break with her family in 2001.
While eating at First Choice’s Tropical Beach Resort on a banquet night, she discovered a black worm with blood around it in the fish steak she had been eating. That night, she became violently ill, but made it back home to Accrington.
She was admitted to hospital where she was immediately put in a high dependency ward before being transferred to intensive care when her aorta began to leak and her nervous system collapsed.
Ms Rushton is still suffering from her illness and takes 26 tablets a day for her ongoing heart and bowel problems.
She took legal action against First Choice and her lawyers were eventually able to prove that her condition occurred as a result of poor hygiene at the hotel.
The victim has now been paid £240,000 to cover her long-term care, which is believed to be a record for such holiday illness claims.
Last month, a girl who was electrocuted on holiday at the Kilifi Beach resort in Kenya was awarded £52,000 for the pain and suffering she was caused by poor safety standards at the hotel.
Tags: Aorta, Banquet Night, Beryl, Black Worm, Bowel Problems, Dominican Republic, First Choice, Fish Steak, Intensive Care, Lawyers, Long Term Care, Luxury Christmas, Nervous System, Pain And Suffering, Poor Hygiene, Poor Safety Standards, Record Sum, Rushton, Tropical Beach Resort
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October 16th, 2009
British people caught up in terrorist attacks abroad could be awarded compensation from the government under new plans revealed this week.
It is thought that measures are being considered in parliament that would see people affected by such attacks receive up to £1 million in damages.
Currently, only people injured in terrorist operations in Britain are eligible for compensation and this is capped at £250,000.
However, along with the proposed new measures, the government has said it is looking into removing the cap and deciding compensation for each individual case.
The move has largely been welcomed, although it is not yet known if the payouts will be retrospective. If not, this could mean that people injured in atrocities like the Bali bombing will receive nothing.
Earlier this month, it was announced that the family of Helen Bennett, the British tourist killed in a PKK attack in Turkey in 2005, are to receive compensation of over £1 million from the Turkish government for their pain and suffering.
Tags: 1 Million, Atrocities, Bali Bombing, British People, British Tourist, Cap, Damages, Helen Bennett, Mean People, Measures, Pain And Suffering, Parliament, Pkk, Terror Victims, Terrorist Attacks, Terrorist Operations, Turkey, Turkish Government
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September 18th, 2009
A group of women in Lancashire are said to be considering legal action after errors by a doctor led to them mistakenly being given the all-clear for breast cancer.
One radiologist at Accrington Victoria Hospital failed to spot a number of tumours and staff became concerned about previous test results.
They recalled 85 patients from the past three years and discovered that 14 had invasive breast cancer.
It is not clear if the blunders will affect the womens’ chances of survival, but they are all now undergoing treatment.
East Lancashire NHS Trust representative Rineke Schram commented: "I would like to apologise for any distress and anxiety caused."
The 14 woman affected are considering making compensation claims, the Daily Mail attests.
Anyone who has endured pain and suffering as the result of a cancer misdiagnosis may be entitled to claim compensation and should seek the advice of a solicitor specialising in clinical negligence claims.
Tags: Accrington, Blunder, Blunders, Breast Cancer, Clinical Negligence Claims, Compensation Claims, Daily Mail, East Lancashire, Group Of Women, Invasive Breast Cancer, Misdiagnosis, Nhs Trust, Pain And Suffering, Radiologist, Schram, Solicitor Specialising, Test Results, Tumours, Undergoing Treatment, Victoria Hospital
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September 1st, 2009
One of the victims of the toxic sofa furore has been paid compensation, making him the first person in Britain to receive a payout.
Maurice Heminsley, 68, bought a sofa from a retailer called Furniture Warehouse in Dudley in November 2007, but suffered serious chemical burns to his neck, back and legs, the Birmingham Mail reports.
It emerged that the store was one of many – including Argos and Land of Leather – that imported chairs from China which were impregnated with the anti-fungus chemical dimethyl fumarate. This caused terrible skin damage and some victims had to be hospitalised.
Thousands of consumers launched legal action against the stores and Mr Heminsley’s has now become the first case in which the store has admitted liability. It has agreed to an undisclosed compensation payout for his pain and suffering.
"The settlement means I can now put this really painful episode in the past and move on with my life. However, I’m annoyed that more wasn’t done to protect consumers," he commented.
The other stores involved with claims may now follow suit, meaning that the toxic sofa victims could share a £10 million payout.
Tags: 10 Million, Argos, Birmingham Mail, Chairs, Chemical Burns, China, Consumers, Dudley, First Person, Fungus, Furniture Warehouse, Furore, Land Of Leather, Legs, Mail Reports, Pain And Suffering, Skin Damage, Sofa
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August 17th, 2009
A burglary suspect is considering suing police after having his ear bitten off by a service dog.
Leon Reid, 31, had been pursued in New Cross, South London, after being spotted acting suspiciously in a garden.
However, he was brought down by the German Shepherd and had to have his ear sewn back on when the dog bit it right off.
Legal experts have said that Mr Reid may have a case for compensation if it can be proven that officers did not exercise reasonable restraint.
Factors such as the extent of his pain and suffering, as well as whether or not the dog was properly trained, will be taken into account.
Earlier this month, it was reported by the Sunderland Echo that a group of football supporters are seeking compensation following alleged police brutality after a match.
The men claim that they were hit with batons and set upon by dogs even though they had not been causing a disturbance.
Tags: Acting, Batons, Burglary Suspect, Dogs, Extent, Football Supporters, German Shepherd, Legal Experts, Match, New Cross, Pain And Suffering, Police Brutality, South London, Sunderland Echo
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