Bodybuilder drops €60,000 claim after court views workout video

A CHAMPION bodybuilder, who claimed he had difficulty lacing his shoes since a car accident, dramatically withdrew a €60,000 personal injury case against a motorist after video evidence of workouts was presented.

Relu Gauca (37), of Old Burrin, Carlow, told Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke yesterday that he still has to ease himself out of soft, low chairs because of ongoing pain in his lower back.

He told counsel for the insurers of David Naughton, Millford Park, Ballinabranna, Co Carlow, that despite continuing weight-lifting and bodybuilding coaching in a local gym, he still suffered pain in his lower back.

When cross-examined by Shane English, who appeared with Hayes McGrath Solicitors, Mr Gauca denied lying to the court about the extent of his injuries. He said that neck and shoulder pains resolved about three months after his accident on January 30, 2016, on Dublin’s Infirmary Road but his lower back pain persists to this day.

Mr Gauca (right) said he had to undergo a regime of stretches each night before going to bed and every morning to ease his pain which radiated down his right leg.

He still had a restricted range of movement regarding his lower back and found it difficult to pull on his socks or lace his shoes in the morning.

He told the court he had to undergo a series of sessions with MMA champion Conor McGregor’s physiotherapist which had helped him, but “even now in the witness box” he felt pain in his lower back. Sitting and standing caused him problems and had led to him giving up a job in the security business. When shown a number of photographic grabs from his Facebook posts and a video of him working out in a gym since the accident and participating in and presenting national bodybuilding shows as well as coaching activities, Mr Gauca said he was able to do so because of his stretching regime and in a way that protected his lower back. Medical reports presented to the court revealed that Mr Gauca had undergone an MRI scan which had shown degenerative changes in his lower spine resulting in a bulge of one of his vertebrae. He said he never had this complaint prior to the accident.

Judge Groarke had been told that liability was conceded in the case which had become an assessment of damages for injuries suffered in the crash when a friend’s car, in which Mr Gauca was a passenger, rear-ended another vehicle.

He had been taken by ambulance to the Mater Hospital and had been discharged into the care of his own GP following initial examination and treatment.

Following oral and video evidence in court, Judge Groarke said he accepted that Mr Gauca had received injuries to his neck and shoulders as confirmed by his medical team. However, he was being asked to make a medical finding with regard to Mr Gauca’s lower back injury and its association with his continuing gym training.

Judge Groarke said the doctors who had provided medical reports on behalf of the defendant had not seen the video evidence presented to the court and he felt they should before the court was asked to assess what figure of compensation he should award.

Following talks between the parties, Mr Gauca’s legal team withdrew his case.