Amy Grattan wins damages for woman injured in supermarket doors
Who? Amy Grattan, 29, personal injury and clinical negligence solicitor at Nelsons in Nottingham.
Why is she in the news? Won damages for the estate of Margaret Buxton, 84, who died from complications after automatic doors in a supermarket closed suddenly and injured her.
Buxton visited the Tesco Extra Store in Long Row, Nottingham in May 2008. On leaving the shop, automatic doors trapped her right leg and threw her to the floor. She underwent surgery for her injuries and was then readmitted to hospital suffering from dehydration and a suspected chest infection. Buxton’s daughter said her mother had difficulty walking, was frightened to go out and lost her ‘confidence and spark’ after the accident. She died in hospital in December 2008.
The case was settled out of court, with Tesco agreeing to pay undisclosed damages. A Tesco spokeswoman said: ‘The safety of our staff and customers is always our top priority. This was a terrible accident that we investigated fully at the time and this is now settled with the family.’
Thoughts on the case: ‘Before the accident, Mrs Buxton was in good health and living independently in warden-controlled accommodation. Our expert said that for the elderly, accidents and injuries like these can be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. This clearly appears to be the case for Mrs Buxton, whose health and general demeanour diminished following the incident. Had she not suffered the injury, she may well have continued with a good quality of life for several years.’
Dealing with the media: ‘Daunting and exciting in equal measure. The journalists were compassionate and sensitive to the issues.’
Why become a lawyer? ‘A teacher at school put the idea in my head. I started off as a family lawyer, then employment and finally personal injury and clinical negligence.’
Career high: ‘Working on head injury cases. Obtaining a settlement can make a real difference to someone’s life.’
Career low: ‘When, as a trainee, I almost had a summary judgment application struck out because I had missed the hearing. I had failed to check in properly with the clerk and was sitting in the advocates’ room reading magazines. I begged the judge to hear the application and he relented. And all without my supervisor knowing a thing about it…’
