HR consultant sues gastropub for £4.2m after tripping over rope

Carmen Mazo was awarded £156,871 in 2013 for the incident after suing the owners of The Westbourne, Notting Hill, London, but she claims it’s ruined a career in which she could be earning £700 a day.

The 2009 incident left her with scars and post-traumatic arthritis, which have had a detrimental impact on her social life and mental health, Mazo claims.

She is seeking further compensation as she believes the money she was awarded in 2013 is less than she deserves, claiming the scars make her appear to be a self-harmer.

'Irresponsibility'

The former HR consultant claimed a “bartender’s irresponsibility” has potentially left her with no career or purpose in life.

Mazo left her job for months after the accident, and returned briefly before giving up the job altogether.  

Lord Justice Laws has ruled Mazo has a right to take her case to court.

'Very distressing'

In a statement, Mazo said: “The fact that I have been left with major scarring on my wrist, which to an unsympathetic observer might look like I am prone to self-harm, is very distressing for me.

“My career has always been my refuge to block away unpleasant circumstances in my personal life, but now I am finding that because of a bartender’s irresponsibility I could end up with no career or purpose in life.

“My mood changes are like a rollercoaster, changing from anger to sadness in seconds.

“I am easily irritated and I lose my temper very easily, then end up breaking into tears when I realise that I was never like that before.

“The accident has totally destroyed my work and social life, changing me such that I do not think that I will ever be my old self again.”