• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

GBP1.2m Payout After Midwife Poisoned By Chinese Food Salmonella in Birthday Meal Led to Severe Disability

Posted on: Thursday, 10 November 2005, 06:00 CST

By MARTYN McLAUGHLIN

A WOMAN who was left disabled after contracting salmonella poisoning from a meal at a Chinese restaurant was yesterday awarded GBP1.2m in damages.

Margaret-Ann Reynard was crippled by reactive arthritis after being infected during a meal to celebrate her 35th birthday at Latours restaurant in East Kilbride.

The 39-year-old former widwife has had to give up work due to her ill-health.

She was awarded GBP1,243,082 in damages by Lord Hodge at the Court of Session yesterday after taking out a lawsuit against the restaurant's owner, Exquisite Quisine.

The company had previously admitted liability for the salmonella poisoning, but disputed any connection with Mrs Reynard's arthritis and contested the amount being claimed.

However, Mrs Reynard, from East Kilbride, who has been left disabled and suffers constant pain and discomfort, was told by a consultant that the salmonella had triggered one of the worst cases of reactive arthritis they had ever encountered.

Mrs Reynard said yesterday:

"I'm happy about the award, but I would give all the money away to have my old life back.

This has robbed me of all my health, hopes, and dreams. The mental and physical agony has been devastating.

"It has had a profound effect on my life. I can hardly walk and I rely on carers to look after me. I went out for a birthday meal and it changed my whole life.

Lord Hodge said: "I formed the impression that she was a lady who wished to work. She had worked all her life, valued her independence, and did not want to be a burden on others."

Mrs Reynard went to Latours in October 2000 with her fiance, Wayne. "I was very happy, " she told the court. "I was engaged to be married and I loved my job."

However, the following day, she began feeling nauseous, and developed abdominal pains and cramps. A doctor suspected she had a urinary infection but, a day afterwards, she was admitted to Hairmyres Hospital, where she was given intravenous antibiotics.

She also suffered severe diarrhoea which lasted for 17 days, and a cyst on her ovary was removed. After being discharged, she continued to suffer from cramps and pains in her hands, neck, shoulders, and back.

At Glasgow Royal Infirmary, she tested positive for salmonella, and was diagnosed as suffering from reactive polyarthritis, secondary to salmonella food poisoning.

Mrs Reynard, who has to walkwith the aid of a stick, said that she would have to sell her first-floor flat in East Kilbride and buy a modified bungalow as a result of her illness.

Mrs Reynard was forced to postpone her 2001wedding for a year due to ill health.

Maria Maguire QC, her counsel, had urged the court to consider awarding her damages of more than GBP1.6m, but lawyers acting for the restaurant firm argued that it should be in the region of GBP80,000.

Lord Hodge awarded damages, which included GBP627,730 for the loss of her earnings as a midwife until her retirement and the loss of her pension rights, and GBP397,304 for the cost of caring for her in the past and in the future.

Exquisite Quisine was incorporated five years ago by Derek Pang, then 19.

It closed two years ago, with the company being dissolved soon afterwards. It was later restored to the companies' register, pending Mrs Reynard's court action.

Last night, Judy Lee, from East Kilbride, company secretary, declined to comment on whether the firm or its director was preparing to appeal the decision. Mr Pang was unavailable for comment.

DANGER BACTERIUM

Salmonella is a type of bacterium that can be found in poultry, eggs, meat, water and unprocessed milk. It attacks the stomach and intestines.

In more serious cases, the bacteria may enter the lymph tracts, which carry water and protein to the blood. Children, the elderly, and the sick are especially likely to develop a serious infection.

Reactive arthritis is an inflammatory process provoked by a bacterial infection in the gastrointestinal tract. The disease is progressive.

People who have a fault in their immune system may find their reaction to a bacterial infection involves inflammation of other parts of the body, such as tendons.

Source: Herald, The; Glasgow (UK)

More News in this Category