Barrister who suffered a serious head injury obtains a significant award from Fleet Street wine bar
17 December 2012
Michael Waterworth, was a practising Barrister when he suffered
catastrophic head injuries following a fall at Daly's Wine Bar
owned by Chancery Inns Limited. The evidence suggested that
Michael had fallen backwards down stairs whilst returning from the
bathroom.
The head injury was extremely severe and Michael required brain
surgery and remained in a coma for 3 weeks. He is now at Northwick
Park hospital neuro rehabilitation ward. He is making slow but
steady progress. It is expected that he will need lifelong care and
support.
The Claimant's case was that these particular stairs were steep
and that at the point at which the stairs narrowed (in a winder
fashion), there was a gap in the handrail. The allegation
from the Claimant was that had there been a continuous handrail and
better lighting, then this accident would have been prevented and
Michael would have been able to prevent his fall.
Liability was denied by the Defence.
Michael's lawyer Jill
Greenfield, a brain injury partner with Field Fisher
Waterhouse solicitors, was instructed in June 2012 and was able to
reach an agreement with the Defence in October in which a
substantial sum in settlement was accepted by the Claimant's wife,
Caroline, without an admission of fault. That settlement was today
approved by the Honourable Mr Justice Ramsay.
Michael’s wife Caroline says, “Michael and I would never have
imagined that this could have happened from something as simple as
climbing a flight of stairs on an evening which should have been a
celebration of legal achievement for some of his professional
friends. We are immensely grateful for all of the support and good
wishes we have received during the last six months and we are
particularly thankful for the compassionate and efficient manner
with which Jill Greenfield at Field Fisher Waterhouse working with
Elizabeth Ann Gumbel QC and Henry Witcomb have brought the matter
to a conclusion. This will allow us and our family to adjust to the
new set of circumstances we face.”
Jill Greenfield
says, "This is such a dreadfully tragic situation. I just hope that
Michael is able to make some progress and to have some quality of
life. Falling down the stairs is a serious cause of head injuries
and in our view something as simple as a continuous hand rail could
have made a very real difference."
For further information, please
contact:
Jill
Greenfield, Partner, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP on
0207 861 4557/ 07917 769 474
Ibrahim
Kamara, PR & Communications Manager, Field Fisher
Waterhouse LLP on 020 7861 4120