Exaggerated personal injury tales land victim's family in trouble
Two witnesses who lied about the extent of a claimant’s injuries in a £1.5m personal injury claim against a bus company have been found guilty of contempt of court.
Thereza Daoud launched a claim for compensation against Brighton and Hove Bus Company after she was hit by a bus 2005. Subsequent investigation—including video footage of the claimant dancing at her daughter’s wedding, shopping and going to a local salon—revealed she had exaggerated her injuries.
In Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Co v Brooks and Ors [2011] EWHC 2504 (Admin), Mrs Daoud’s husband and daughter were found to have presented a deliberately false picture to medical experts and to be in contempt of court.
Mark Whittaker, insurance partner at DWF, that represented Brighton and Hove, says: “It is an extremely rare case because it is one of the few occasions where contempt of court proceedings have been pursued in a civil court and also as the case only related to the witnesses involved and not to the claimant herself.”
