A teacher has been awarded a substantial accident compensation claim after she tripped over a chair.
The women concerned was employed at Clare Lodge, a centre for troubled teenage girls, in Peterborough when the accident happened back in 2007.
There was a strict policy at the lodge that no member of staff would be left alone with more than two pupils, due to the unpredictable and sometimes dangerous behaviour of the pupils.
However, on the day of the incident the teacher's assistant was running late and the woman requested that another member of staff should be present with her during the proceedings. Unfortunately, this message was not passed on and two care workers brought three girls to the classroom before leaving.
She made her way to the door to shout for the attention of the care workers while they were still close in order to make them aware of the issue. In doing so, she tripped and fell and broker her hip.
Accident compensation of £16,500 was awarded following the court hearing. However, Peterborough City Council appealed the decision and claimed that while they had breached their regulations, this was not the cause of the accident.
Fortunately for the teacher concerned, the judge has now dismissed the appeal and confirmed that the woman may keep the compensation awarded to her.