Man awarded Lm24,000 damages for work injury

Two corporations were yesterday ordered by Mr Justice David Scicluna to pay over Lm24,000 in damages to a man who sustained permanent disability at work.

The First Hall of the Civil Court delivered this judgment in the case filed by Grezzju Portelli against Enemalta Corporation and Telemalta Corporation.

Subsequently Elmo Insurance Agency Ltd and Middle Sea Insurance plc intervened in the suit.

Mr Portelli, who was a lineman with Telemalta Corporation, claimed he was injured in August 1991 while he was fixing a telephone wire in Zebbug (Malta).

Plaintiff stated in his writ that the telephone wire was installed at a higher level to the electricity wire, and in order to reach the telephone wire he had to rest on the electricity bracket.

This was leaking and as a result of the electrical shock he received, Mr Portelli fell a height of two storeys from his ladder.

Mr Justice Scicluna noted that the court-appointed technical expert had concluded that at no time had Telemalta Corporation provided its employees with a safety harness or safety clothing which might have prevented Mr Portelli from sustaining the electrical shock.

Furthermore, it resulted that at no time had a request been made to suspend the electrical current while Portelli was working.

The court therefore found that both corporations were responsible for the accident and for the damages suffered by Mr Portelli, which damages were calculated to amount to Lm24,440. They were ordered to pay the damages to Mr Portelli between them.