A 70-year-old man who was left partially paralysed after sitting on a bad chair at the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, has received a $40,000 settlement.Carl Ali Hosein, of Forest Avenue, Cocoyea Village, San Fernando, agreed to drop his personal-injury lawsuit, which was before Justice Charmaine Pemberton in the Port-of-Spain High Court, after state attorneys offered to settle.
Hosein was injured at the Supreme Court on November 24, 2005.In an interview at his attorney Om Lalla's chambers at Edward Street, Port-of-Spain, last week, Hosein said on the day of the incident he went to the customer service desk at the court to request some information."I sat down on a chair at the reception and it just topple over and I fell on my back," Hosein said. He said since the fall he had lost all movement in his left index finger and now has to walk with a cane.
"I am happy with the settlement, but I still have no one to help me. My wife died several years ago and my children are married and have their own families," Hosein said as he grimaced while making himself comfortable on a chair.Hosein said he had consulted several doctors after he was injured and had been told his condition was permanent and could not be reversed even with surgery.
Hosein was also represented by attorney Dereck Balliram.