More compo. for injured man

Press, 21 July 1989, Page 35

More compo. for injured man

PA Wellington The Accident Compensation Appeal Authority has increased compensation for a Wellington man who said social restrictions from a 1982 rugby knee injury included inability to play with his children. After the injury, John McMahon, then aged 20, was left with restricted instability in his left knee, precluding sport. After two operations and an orthopaedic report, he was awarded $6OOO by the A.C.C., increased to $BOOO after review.

Mr McMahon appealed, stating he was entitled to $lO,OOO on the basis that other cases similiar to his had received as much. In submissions to the Appeal Authority, Mr McMahon emphasised the restrictions on his domestic, recreational and social life.

He said he could only manage limited involvement in his children’s activities and could not dance, for fear of the consequences. He was in continuous pain. The authority was told, while surgery had eliminated Mr McMahon’s previous knee instability, he was still limited by his injury and faced the likelihood of early degenerative changes. The authority expressed doubts about Mr McMahon’s claims of a restricted social life, but said the loss of mobility in a young, sporty person was serious. That, with the pain suffered over a long time, convinced the authority to allow the appeal and award a further $2OOO. <. A ■