Man who falsely claimed to have tripped and fallen must pay £10,000 costs

A MAN who falsely claimed to have tripped and fallen on a public highway in Warrington has been ordered to pay the borough council’s costs of £10,000 in taking him to court.
The council successfully pursued an application for a finding of fundamental dishonesty after the man discontinued his claim.
Paul Morris,35, of  Arizona Crescent, Chapelford, was found to have made a claim of fundamental dishonesty by St Helens County Court.
Morris alleged that he had tripped and fallen on a public highway in Warrington.
The borough council had immediate concerns about the claim due to inconsistencies in the alleged incident and Morris’s apparent links to other individuals who had made liability claims against the council.
Morris was challenged about this, after which he withdrew his claim.
The council pursued an application of fundamental dishonesty through St Helens County Court, after going through a preliminary hearing.
After considering the evidence, the judge decided in the council’s favour. The reasons given were that they considered that the alleged route was illogical and the injuries sustained by the supposed fall were not consistent.
The judge also stated that Morris’s evidence that he didn’t know other claimants on social media was evasive and that he did not provide thorough evidence that he was unable to work when he was, in fact, on holiday in Majorca.
After the hearing, Warrington Borough Council leader Cllr Russ Bowden said: “This a good result – it sends the message that fraudulent claims do not pay and that they won’t be tolerated.
“To try and deceive the council by making a false claim in this way is a flagrant attempt to financially benefit at a time when we need to be focusing our resources on protecting the most vulnerable.”
Local authorities are within their rights to follow up claims that appear falsified, regardless if they have been withdrawn or discontinued by the person raising the claim.
The court determined that Mr Morris should cover the council’s costs in dealing with the matter, in the sum of £10,000.