£3,000 compensation for councillor who fell over a wet mat in Asda
a TORY councillor has been awarded more than £3,000 in compensation after he slipped on a wet rubber mat in asda. andy Heer was shopping in the supermarket last year when he fell after stepping on the sodden mat at the entrance to the store.
He banged his head and was left unable to walk after suffering damage to his right ankle following the tumble.
the incident happened at the asda store in glenrothes, Fife, in February as Mr Heer, 63, was shopping for groceries on his way home from a council meeting.
Mr Heer, who represents the Conservatives on Fife Council, launched a lawsuit against the company at Kirkcaldy sheriff Court.
asda stores admitted liability and he has been awarded £3,018 in damages following a hearing before sheriff alastair thornton.
Mr Heer said: ‘I was on my way back from a council budget meeting and I went into asda to get some messages. as I walked in I stepped on a rubber mat. I didn’t realise at the time, but it was absolutely soaking underneath.
‘I fell over and banged my head and I was unable to get back up. I couldn’t walk, it was very painful.
‘It was two days before Valentine’s Day and there was a display of flowers there, so I assume water from them had got on to the mat.’
Mr Heer was taken to hospital following the fall and could not wear shoes for 12 days afterwards. He could not walk unaided for a month after the accident.
the politician said he still has pain in his ankle, adding: ‘I thought it was sensible to seek some compensation. My ankle still feels pretty weak and I can’t go on long walks with the dog like I used to.
‘I hope asda have procedures in place to make sure an incident like this doesn’t happen again.’
sheriff thornton ruled Mr Heer was entitled to compensation because of the disruption the injury had caused to his life.
He said: ‘the pursuer was effectively housebound for that 12-day period. It was difficult for him to put weight on the ankle for about one month after the accident. He used the walking stick for most of that month.
‘For that period the pursuer’s activities were substantially restricted In addition, he was unable to attend to his duties as a councillor for two weeks.’
‘It was absolutely soaking’