- Tradesman Paul Mansell slipped in puddle of iced coffee at a Coles supermarket
- Sharp pain in Mr Mansell’s right shoulder forced him to stop running his business
- Justice Russell from NSW District Court found Coles failed to uphold duty of care
- Coles was ordered to pay Mr Mansell $293,597.30 in damages over the incident
Coles has been forced to pay almost $300,000 in damages to a tradesman injured when he slipped over in a puddle of iced coffee.
During a two-day hearing the New South Wales District Court heard Paul Mansell, a self-employed glazier, fell over in Coles’ Vincentia store on the south coast.
Mr Mansell was wearing thongs when he slipped in the spilt beverage, landing on the floor.
Coles has been forced to pay almost $300,000 in damages to a tradesman injured when he slipped over in a puddle of iced coffee (pictured is a stock image)
‘His right should and right side of his neck came into contact with the floor or a support post or his shopping basket, or perhaps all of those things,’ said court documents viewed by Nine News.
‘Only one foot slipped. He had no opportunity to put out his hands to break his fall.’
After the fall Mr Mansell gave his contact details to the junior manager, and was contacted the next day by a Coles manager who had viewed the CCTV footage.
The manager told Mr Mansell there was footage of another customer spilling iced coffee on the floor after taking a drink from a fridge inside the store.
During a two-day hearing the New South Wales District Court heard Paul Mansell, a self-employed glazier, fell over in Coles’ Vincentia store on the south coast (pictured is a stock image)
Mr Mansell asked for a copy of the footage at least five times, but never received one and was then told the video was deleted.
Medical examinations showed Mr Mansell suffered an ‘extensive tear’ in his right shoulder, and he was no longer able to run his business and forced to sell it.
Justice David Russell heard Coles employees were supposed to do a floor inspection every hour and a half.
He found Coles failed to uphold their duty of care to Mr Mansell and ordered Coles to pay him $293,597.30.
The damages cover loss of earnings and past and future out of pocket expenses.
Daily Mail Australia contacted Coles for comment.
Justice David Russell found Coles failed to uphold their duty of care to Mr Mansell and ordered Coles to pay him $293,597.30 (pictured is a stock image)