13/03/2008

'Sour Grapes' As Claim Slips Up

A man who was suing Marks & Spencer after he claiming that injured himself by slipping on a grape has lost his High Court claim for damages.

Alexander Martin-Sklan, a 55-year-old accountant from Golders Green in Barnet, north London, said that he suffered a ruptured quadricep tendon in the incident, which happened in the car park of the Finchley Road branch of Marks & Spencer in June 2004.

He claimed that he found a squashed piece of fruit on his shoe after the fall and claimed that this could have been picked up inside the store or in the store's car park.

Mr Martin-Sklan was claiming £300,000 in damages over the incident, for loss of earnings, general damages and "adverse psychological effects and depression" that he suffered as a result of the injury.

Marks & Spencer contested the claim and, at the High Court on Wednesday, Deputy Judge John Leighton Williams QC, ruled against Mr Martin-Sklan.

He was ordered to pay around £15,000 towards Marks & Spencer's costs.

(KMcA)


Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

05 August 2013
Met Reach Out-Of-Court Settlement With Family Of Ian Tomlinson
The family of Ian Tomlinson have reached an out-of-court settlement with the Metropolitan Police over his death in London in 2009. Mr Tomlinson died shortly after being struck with a baton and pushed to the ground by a riot officer during G20 protests in the city. Mr Tomlinson was not involved in the protests and was just making his way home.
20 May 2015
Rise In Profits For Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer has reported a rise in its full-year profits. The retailer said it had made "good progress" during the year, with its underlying profit before tax increasing to 6.1% to £661.2m for the year to 28 March.
02 April 2015
Marks & Spencer Records Sales Growth
Marks & Spencer has said its sales for the three months to 28 March 2015, increased by 1.9%. Publishing its trading statement for the fourth quarter of 2014/15, the retailer confirmed that on a like-for-like basis over the period, its general merchandising sales – which includes women's clothing – increased by 0.7%.
08 November 2011
Marks And Spencer Announce Profit Fall
The food and clothing retailer Marks and Spencer has reported a fall in profits and sales, blaming the "challenging economic environment". Although the shop made a pre-tax profit of £320.5m in the six months to 1 October, the result was 8% lower than the same period last year.
15 October 2008
Marks & Spencer To Launch Energy With SSE
Marks & Spencer has announced a partnership with Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) to launch M&S Energy. M&S Energy will supply electricity and gas to domestic customers and reward them with M&S store vouchers for helping the environment by reducing their energy usage.