Man sues British Airways over Baileys blunder

A Swiss man is suing British airways for £5 million after he slipped on a puddle of Baileys Irish Cream at the check-in area at Heathrow, resulting in him being unable to work.

As reported in Live And Let’s Fly, Andreas Wuchner claimed that in 2017, as he was preparing to travel from London Heathrow to Zurich, he walked into a puddle of spilt cream liqueur, slipping. Exactly how the Baileys ended up on the floor is yet to be ascertained, though the crux of the issue is that it was not cleaned up by the airline.

Wuchner said that the accident resulted in him suffering severe headaches, lasting a fortnight at a time, as well episodes of memory less and greater difficulty concentrating, and that as a result he was unable to run his office supply business. His lawyers also claim that, as a direct consequence of the “traumatic brain injury” he received, Wuchner is unable to work again.

Although he was compensated with £130,000 in 2021, his legal team are now seeking special damages in the ballpark of £5m.

The case pivots on the 1999 Montreal Convention, which establishes the liability of airlines when it comes to the injury or even death of passengers.

Tom Bird, the barrister for British Airways, said: “There are significant factual disputes between the parties, going not only to the circumstances of the accident but also to the nature and extent of the claimant’s injuries on his employment prospects and the reasons for the insolvency of his company, as well as the company’s past and future performance.”

“These issues will need to be explored in cross-examination in some detail, particularly given the sizeable damages being claimed,” added Bird.

During the trial, due to take place over four days in Central London County Court, medical professionals, including neurologists and orthopaedic surgeons, will testify.

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