Worker who faked pothole injury hit by £12k legal bill
A WORKMAN who falsely tried to claim compensation for tripping over a three-inch-wide pothole has been handed a £12,000 legal bill.
Kevin Richer, 47, said he had snapped his Achilles tendon in the fall and attempted to make the council pay thousands in compensation.
But council staff who visited the road in the village of Burton Bradstock, Dorset, realised it was unlikely Richer had tripped over such a small hole. His former partner later told them he had simply fallen over in the road while running after her.
A county court judge ruled that Richer, a self- employed bathroom fitter, had been ‘fundamentally dishonest’ over the incident in September 2013.
Richer withdrew his claim just days before a hearing was due to be held at Weymouth County Court but council lawyers asked for the hearing to go ahead so they could pursue him for costs. The district judge ordered Richer to pay the council’s legal bill of £11,985 within 28 days.
Dave Watson, corporate insurance manager for Dorset County Council, said: ‘This particular claim raised our suspicions because the photograph of the alleged pothole showed a three-inch-wide hole in the carriageway.’ He added: ‘ When we contacted Richer’s ex-partner she shed a different light on the accident. She said that after dropping a key off at Richer’s home, he chased after her along the road and, as he reached out to grab her, simply fell over.’
Mr Watson added: ‘The council decided that deliberately withholding information and withdrawing his claim after receiving contradictory evidence suggested Richer had been dishonest.
‘On hearing the council’s evidence, the court criticised Richer for making no effort to explain why he was withdrawing his claim, for not attending the hearing and not seeking to dispute the evidence.’
Councillor Tony Ferrari said: ‘It is saddening that some individuals would try to deprive key services of the money they so badly need.’
Richer also tried to sue Dorset County Hospital over treatment he received for a dislocated shoulder in 2011. The outcome is not known.