GOLD COAST BULLETIN

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

A GOLD Coast Hospital security guard sued for $205,000 after his chair collapsed at work.

But the state government said the 43-year-old was swinging on the seat and that he was “obese”. In a statement of claim lodged to the Southport District Court, the guard alleged the hospital was using defective chairs on June 7, 2012, when one broke underneath him.

“The chair broke and the plaintiff fell backwards on the chair, becoming jammed between the desk and the chair,” the statement of claim says.

“(The hospital) had been warned that the chairs in the security office were in poor repair and constantly breaking.”

The man, who weighed about 104kg, complained of ongoing back pain as a result of the incident and alleged professional negligence on behalf of the state government department.

But state government lawyers painted a different picture in a response to the allegations lodged to the Southport District Court.

“The incident occurred as a result of the plaintiff applying excessive pressure on the chair by leaning back in the chair such that its front legs

were raised off the floor,” the document said. “Prior to 7 June 2012, the (hospital) had issued an oral and written instruction to the plaintiff not to lean back on the chairs supplied for his use at work.”

The state government also said $205,000 compensation, factoring in future and past economic loss due to the man being “disadvantaged on the labour market”, was excessive.

The man declined to comment when approached by the Bulletin outside his home.