Worker over-egged fall claim

Published on Thursday 17 February 2005 00:20

A WOMAN has failed in her bid to claim damages from her former employer after she was injured in an egg-and-spoon race.

Sarah Cutler decided to sue Zurich Financial Services after she slipped over during a mock school sports day designed to boost employees’ morale.

The judgment came after Charlie Cory-White, for Zurich, told Swindon County Court: "There is an element of over-egging."

About 60 workers took part in the event at a playing field on 16 August, 2001. As Miss Cutler, from Wiltshire, neared the finish line during an egg-and-spoon race - which came after a light shower of rain - she slipped. It was later discovered she had fractured her sternum.

Five weeks later, Miss Cutler also complained of neck pains, which she claimed resulted from her fall. Her lawyer, Matthew White, said Zurich had been negligent, failing in its duty of care towards Miss Cutler, by requiring her to race on wet grass. The claimant was "effectively at work" and in the workplace, he said.

Mr Cory-White denied the accusations and said Miss Cutler was exaggerating the extent of her injuries.

Ruling Zurich were not at fault, the Recorder said "there was not a shred of evidence" that showed the firm had failed to act with due care.