Injured cop awarded $735,000

A POLICEMAN who was seriously injured in an accident in which a colleague and another man were killed was on Monday awarded $735,297 in damages. PC Dexter David, 42, who was last attached to the Barataria CID, was injured in an accident on June 3, 2001 on the Priority Bus Route, St Joseph. In that accident, PC Anthony Layne, driver of the police car, died in the crash. Some time later, Nigel Busby, 25, of King Street, Aranjuez, succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash. Another policeman, Cpl Francis Vidale also sustained injuries. PC David had sued the Attorney General, Arvin Kalloo, of Kalloo’s Rentals; and the administratrix of the estate of Nigel Busby for damages arising out of the accident. On Monday, Justice Allan Mendonca, presiding in the Port-of-Spain Civil Court, awarded the injured policeman damages and costs. He received $200,000 as general damages for pain and suffering; $353,248 for pecuniary loss; $117,092 for loss of pension; and $65,000 for future medical expenses.

Judgment was granted against the administratrix of the estate of Nigel Busby. Ken Sagar, instructed by Yaseen Ahmed, appeared for PC David. State attorney Delicia Noel represented the Attorney General, while Aftab Hosein appeared for Arvin Kalloo and Farid Scoon for the estate of Nigel Busby. On June 3, 2001, PC David was a passenger on duty in a police vehicle PBJ 2811 in company with Cpl Vidale and PC Layne. While travelling east along with the Priority Bus Route in St Joseph, PBG 6542, driven by Busby, collided with the police vehicle. PC Layne died on the spot while Busby died sometime later. PC David suffered a number of injuries which have resulted in him remaining on sick leave away from his job.

These included loss of consciousness, trauma of the right lower limb, cerebral concussion, fractures to the rib cage, significant stiffness of the right knee; he is unable to sit straight, he is unable to bend his right foot, and he is unable to lie flat on his back. According to the evidence, PC David had skeleton traction applied to his right lower limb at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Subsequently, he underwent internal fixation of the right femur and right hip on June 16, 2001. He had further surgery on June 23, 2001. PC David took an MRI scan, X-rays and underwent two surgeries at the St Augustine Private Hospital and was also required to purchase medication over a period of time all of which were reimbursed by the Finance Branch of the TT Police Service.