A former IT boss has received more than £500,000 in damages after banging his head on a doorframe at work.
Stephen Long, from Norwich, sued his ex-employers Elegant Resorts Ltd after sustaining what he described as a "traumatic brain injury" while at the company offices at Old Palace in Chester in March 2015.
The 48-year-old said he'd gone to help a colleague lift a large and awkward item when he struck his head against a dome-shaped doorframe in the cellar.
He continued working but claimed he felt unusually sleepy in the following days and was later admitted to hospital.
He attempted to return to work in April 2015 but only lasted a few hours, and was subsequently told he was to be made redundant from his £50,000-a-year job the following month.
Mr Long appealed redundancy on the grounds of disability discrimination, and Elegant Resorts was said to have settled the claim by paying £5,575 to Mr Long on terms that were expressed to be "without admission of liability".
Earlier this year, a seven-day High Court trial heard Mr Long "remains unfit to work at the level that he did prior to his accident".
The court also heard he was most recently employed as a part-time gardener at a National Trust property on a fraction of his previous salary.
In its defence statement, Elegant Resorts said it was "sceptical as to both the accuracy and the honesty of the (Mr Long's) account relating to the accident and its aftermath".
The travel company admitted liability for injuries caused by the accident, but said this was no more than a bump to the head of a kind that people suffer regularly and which has led to no long-term consequences at all.
But the judge concluded that Mr Long had likely not exaggerated his symptoms.
Judge Pearce said he was satisfied that Mr Long suffered significant injuries and that he had not been guilty of fundamental dishonesty.
Mr Long was awarded total damages of £509,957, including £298,379 for future loss of earnings.
Latest Stories
-
Cecilia Dapaah has the bigger responsibility to clear her name – Dr Asante
1 min -
GHS reminds public of ongoing national COVID-19 vaccination exercise
10 mins -
Tema-Mpakadan train accident: State waiting for manufacturers to conduct assessment
25 mins -
Greater Accra REGSEC declares Ramsar sites security zones
32 mins -
Embracing Africa’s indigenous knowledge is key to true development – Al-hassan Seidu
32 mins -
‘You’ve taken our time, energy for nothing’ – Court dismisses Thaddeus Sory’s preliminary objection in anti-LGBTQ case
33 mins -
Societe Generale Ghana exit rumours not coming from Group Head in France – MD
1 hour -
Do not be intimidated by NPP – NDC National Vice Chairman to party faithful
1 hour -
AstraZeneca withdraws Covid-19 vaccine citing low demand
1 hour -
We didn’t go to court to force President to sign Anti-LGBTQ+ bill – Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo
1 hour -
UCL: Real Madrid chase another final with Bayern in the way
1 hour -
NCC Deputy Director bemoans overlapping roles among culture, creative, tourism agencies
2 hours -
I once went to a cemetery at 2am for a love charm – Amerado
2 hours -
GPL: Kotoko’s Mukwala sets sight on top scorer award with 5 games left
2 hours -
50 Cent sues ex-girlfriend for defamation over accusations of rape and physical abuse
2 hours