Severe head injury after man is attacked in his own home

A man was attacked by a tenant and the CICA refused to pay what he deserved but was eventually rewarded £500,000.

36 year old Matthew was assaulted, quite brutally, in his own home. A tenant who had been lodging with him beat Matthew over the head with a table leg and set fire to the house with Matthew still inside.

A passer-by saw the house in flames and rushed in to save Matthew. He was lucky to be alive. The perpetrator was later prosecuted and convicted of the attack in the criminal courts.

Matthew suffered a severe head injury and was badly burned during his ordeal.

Potter Rees Dolan made a claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) on behalf of Matthew.

The CICA initially refused to pay him what we considered he was due as they did not believe he had any real problems. They argued for many years, making very low offers but we fought on Matthew’s behalf and at a tribunal hearing,

Matthew was awarded the maximum allowable under the CICA scheme of £500,000.

Matthew’s injuries mean that he has been unable to return to work as a Supermarket Manager but the award will help him with the care and support he needs to rebuild his life after this traumatic experience.

Hugh Potter acted on behalf of Matthew and commented:

The way the CICA dealt with Matthew's case can only be described as poor. The CICA should have recognised much more quickly Matthew's great needs arising out of his appalling assault and paid his award years before, Unhappily, this is too often the approach taken by the CICA for head injured applicants.