The former jockey had been working at Stockland Lovell as an equestrian facilities manager for only two weeks when the two large wooden pallets he was moving fell on his left foot, resulting in the amputation of the top half of Mr Kear’s big toe.
Advising Mr Kear was Jonathan Rich, a solicitor from Pardoes, who says, “Stockland Lovell failed to provide our client, Mr Kear, with steel toe cap boots, nor did they make a proper assessment of how the task could have been undertaken more safely. There was no safe system of work in place. We are pleased that Mr Kear has received appropriate recompense for the serious injuries he has sustained.”
Mr Kear has not been able to work since the incident and last month suffered a stroke. He says, “After the pallet fell, I didn’t think much about it but it was extremely painful. When the pain didn’t cease, I saw a doctor who dressed my toe and put me on a course of antibiotics. After a few days, the pain was so intense I could not even walk, so I went to A&E at Musgrove Hospital in Taunton. There, the doctors told me that the top half of my big toe would have to be amputated because it had become so badly infected. Pardoes was recommended to me by the Citizens Advice Bureau and I have been delighted with the service and advice I have received. Jonathan Rich kept in constant contact with me and I trust him 100 per cent.”
Mr Kear has never received an apology from Stockland Lovell.
A well established South West legal firm, Pardoes has 16 partners and 86 staff across its three offices in Bridgwater, Yeovil and Taunton. It offers a full range of legal services and has expanded many of its specialist sectors in the past two years. During that period, five new partners have been appointed to head up its core business divisions in the fields of private client, family and property; increasing its expertise in employment law; and continuing the significant growth of its injury division.
