Jonathan West

Ms Dando had been unemployed and had been sent by the Job Centre in Chesterfield to do work experience at Villa-Mar Riding School/TBG Training.  She owned horses and rode herself so she was pleased with this.

Slip on ice when arriving at work

On the first day of her third week of working there, her partner dropped her off at the yard, where there was ice and frost on the ground.  She walked to the boot of the car to get her things out and slipped, landing heavily on the concrete on her right hip.  She was in immediate pain and had to be helped up by her partner and the yard owner’s husband.  They tried to sit her on a chair, but it was too painful and so her partner took her to see her GP.  She was in so much pain the following day that she attended Chesterfield Royal Hospital, where soft tissue injury was diagnosed.

Yard not cleared of ice

The yard and stables in front of the disabled owner’s house had been icy on the days previous to Ms Dando’s accident and some of the other people on work placement there had been told to clear the area.  However, they had not cleared the area where she slipped and no grit or salt had been spread

Ms Dando was in pain, and off work, for the next two weeks, but then went back to work.  However, her pain remained for a couple of months and exaserbated her hip displacia, which had been diagnosed when she was young.  She was unable to continue with her riding and dog walking – which she loved – for some time.

Jonathan negotiates settlement

Ms Dando contacted Jonathan who pursued the stables and issued court proceedings.  Whilst the stables did admit liability, it offered only £7,500.  Jonathan arranged for Ms Dando to be seen by 2 orthopaedic surgeons who confirmed her injuries and recommended an operation, which she was keen on having.  The stables then increased its offer to £15,000 but Jonathan was able to negotiate a settlement of £16,500.

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