Doubles vendor awarded $265,000

A WOMAN who made a living frying doubles was awarded $265,000 by the High Court yesterday for injuries she sustained in a vehicular accident almost six years ago.

Maurisha Ali, 38, and two other employees of Ali’s Doubles in San Fernando were being transported to their workplace at  around  8 am on August 2, 1997,  in a van owned by Mustapha Ali and driven by Nazim Ali, both employees of Ali’s Doubles. According to a writ filed in the San Fernando High Court Sub-Registry, an accident occurred at Tarouba Village, near the intersection of the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway when the van she was in, collided with another vehicle. Ali sued the owner and driver of the van, as well as the owner, Fazad Khan and driver, Kooffa Khan, of the other vehicle. She named all four as defendants in her lawsuit, in which she claimed negligence.

Ali suffered multiple fractures to her right leg and left arm. Ali also claimed that she often lost consciousness.  On March 22, 2001, Justice Joseph Tam held all parties equally liable for the negligent driving of their vehicles and ordered that each pay 50 percent of damages, to be assessed by a Master of the High Court. Yesterday, the matter came up for hearing before Master Brenda Paray-Durity. The Master accepted the submission and ordered the sum be paid to Ali with interest at 12 percent from yesterday. The defendant parties were also ordered to pay Ali’s legal costs.