Scottish RSI victim awarded pounds 72,000

AN industrial radiographer was awarded pounds 72,000 damages for repetitive strain injury yesterday after a ruling by the Court of Session in Edinburgh, writes Martin Whitfield.

Victor Hunter, of Bridge of Weir, Strathclyde, had to undergo operations on his arms after sustaining severe injury while helping to check parts for Trident submarines for his employer, Clyde Shaw.

The ruling came after a three-year legal battle and is believed to be the first successful RSI case in Scotland. Frank Maguire, of Robin Thompson and Partners, solicitors representing Mr Hunter, said they had 'dozens' of claims outstanding.

Last year, Judge John Prosser caused uproar when he declared in an English court that RSI was 'meaningless' and had 'no place in the medical dictionary' when he dismissed a claim.

Mr Hunter, who was supported by the union Manufacturing Science Finance, said he was pleased at the outcome: 'I still have limited movement in my arms. The operations I had helped, but it could take five years to get back to how I was.' His job involved making repeated adjustments to a turntable carrying heavy metal castings.