Couple ordered to pay over fire
Friday 6th February 2009, 12:40PM GMT.
A Shropshire couple have been ordered to pay out almost £20,000 after a judge ruled their negligence over a fire in their flat left a neighbour in fear of her life.
Sarah and Chris Cole, of Severn Street, Castlefields, Shrewsbury, must pay £5,000 compensation plus interest to Helen Goodall, of Cherry Orchard, Shrewsbury, along with £12,874.27 in costs, after she brought a civil case against them for personal injury, damage to property and financial loss by nuisance and negligence.
The damages were awarded at Shrewsbury County Court yesterday after a hearing in October in Stoke-on-Trent.
On June 8, 2004, Helen and her now husband Martin were asleep in their flat, when smoke alarms woke them.
The fire, in a neighbouring flat rented by Sarah, then Jones, and Chris Cole, was intense and they were trapped. The court heard that if they had been there any longer before firefighters rescued them, they would have died.
The earlier hearing ruled Mr and Mrs Cole had been negligent and the fire had started as a result of candles being placed too close to the curtains.
At yesterday’s hearing, Chanvir Shoker, for Mrs Goodall, 33, said she had suffered nightmares and flash backs.
Mr and Mrs Cole, who were unrepresented, declined to say anything, except to tell the court they had no money.
Mrs Goodall said after the hearing: “We just wanted to draw a line under it and we could not.”
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All though the couple have every right to claim compensation from this couple I do wonder what or who advised them. As if the couple are as they have allready stated broke then no money will be handed over ever especially if they declare themselves bankrupt .Also i hope they were made aware that the court were also going to award costs as this can back fire and you can win the compo but not costs then you realy do end up with egg on your face.
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Interesting point Andrew. Although I’m sure the couple who were awarded the monies were in no way motivated by the financial aspect, and purely wanted retribution for the damages caused both material and mental – probably more so the mental damage that she has.
I hope I’m right as I agree that it’s unlikely they will receive the full amount awarded if any.
Yet another sad story of injustice.
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