A teenage boy left brain damaged after being kicked on a bouncy castle is likely to receive more than a million pounds in compensation.
Sam Harris, now 13, suffered a broken skull when a 15-year-old boy struck him at a birthday party in Strood in 2005.
Mr Justice David Steel ruled in the High Court this morning that Timothy and Catherine Perry, who hired the castle for their triplets’ 10th party, had not provided enough supervision.
Sam brought the case against the Perrys, of Jersey Road, Strood, through his mother Janet, who now lives in Spalding, Lincolnshire.
Damages are likely to exceed £1 million.
Mrs Harris and husband David, who are separated, released a statement after the High Court hearing today.
It read: “We are both very relieved that the court has found that Mr and Mrs Perry were negligent as this will now enable us to obtain the specialist support and treatment that Sam needs.
“While we never wanted the case to conclude at trial, we are pleased that this has provided an opportunity to highlight just how dangerous bouncy castles can be if they are not supervised properly.
"We appreciate thousands of children enjoy playing on bouncy castles every year and we would not wish to stop that happening.
"But it is vital that those hiring them supervise them properly if accidents like Sam's are to be avoided."
Sam was struck on the left side of his head when the 15-year-old boy attempted a somersault.
The Perrys argued Mr Harris, also of Jersey Road, Strood, should have ensured his son, who has Asperger syndrome, did not go on the inflatable.
However, this claim was dismissed.
The judge said he found it probable that Mrs Perry gave Sam permission to use the castle but the level of supervision was inadequate.
He gave the Perrys permission to appeal because of the ruling’s “potential significance” to anyone operating inflatable equipment.
He added that if the appeal was not pursued, Sam should receive an interim payment of £100,000.
POSTED: 08/05/2008 14:35:42