Luzombolo v East London Bus and Coach Company Ltd

Richard Stead successfully represented East London Bus and Coach Company Ltd in Central London County Court before His Honour Judge Holmes in a fundamental dishonesty case.

The claimant alleged that when walking towards the rear doors of the bus, in order to disembark from the bus at the next bus stop, she slipped and fell due to sudden braking by the driver of the bus.  She alleged that she had suffered extensive and life altering injuries to her back, left leg and left shoulder.  She was unable to work in her pre-accident employment as a cook.

The claimant failed in establishing liability due largely to the CCTV footage taken from the interior cameras on the bus which showed that the claimant slipped and fell before the normal braking which brought the bus to a stop at the bus stop; and also showed that she did not support herself by holding onto any handholds or supports.

The claimant was found to be fundamentally dishonest in respect of liability and quantum, having exaggerated various factors relating to liability and having been shown on surveillance footage to have exaggerated the extent of her injuries and her allegedly diminished mobility.  The surveillance showed the claimant carrying a crutch but not using it to any meaningful degree, walking normally until approaching the consultant’s premises, and using her left arm/shoulder to stretch out and scan her oyster card.  The Court dismissed the claim and ordered that the claimant pay the defendant’s costs on the indemnity basis.

Richard has expertise across a broad range of high-value and complex personal injury claims. Find out more about Richard here.