£1million pay-out for brain-damaged Stanmore man

A man who fractured his skull and was left severely brain damaged after
falling off a ladder at work could receive £1million in compensation.

Kantilal Mistry, from Stanmore, who was left unable to communicate with
others and needing 24-hour care after the accident, was guaranteed a pay-out at the Royal Courts of Justice, in London, on Tuesday (November 11).

Mr Mistry was working for Team Q Maintenance Ltd, a building services
company based in Hertfordshire, when the incident occurred.

His wife Damini Mistry said: "Kantilal requires long term personal and
medical care and our lives have been shattered. The financial and practical
effects are huge.

"I have lost my husband. I have to live with this for the rest of my life
and so does he."

Mr Mistry fell from a ladder whilst repairing an air conditioning unit at
an advertising company in London.

The unit was on a roof platform and had been assessed as a risk by his
employers, but despite this Mr Mistry was not told of the danger. He was
later found on the floor with his foot caught in the ladder.

Jill Greenfield, of law firm Field Fisher Waterhouse said: "It was a very
serious fall, walking and talking is not possible for him. He fell about
eight foot and his head hit concrete and we do not know how long he was
lying there for.

"This was a difficult case. There were no actual witnesses to what
happened, but what was clear was that Mr Mistry's employer had already
assessed access to the unit as difficult and dangerous."

Mr Mistry will receive a £100,000 damages down payment and a larger sum
after his compensation payout is assessed, his lawyers believe it could be
a seven-figure sum.

Team Q Maintenance accepted 80 per cent of the blame, when contacted by the
Observer the company declined to comment.