Man awarded €90,000 compensation for damages in brawl

A man who was injured in a Paceville brawl in 1999, when he was hit on the head with a bottle,  has been awarded over €90,000 in damages by Mr Justice Joseph Zammit McKeon in the First Hall of the Civil Court.

David Pace filed his writ for damages against Sheldon Falzon claiming that the latter was responsible for permanent injuries he had suffered.

The court heard that the two men had previously had a brawl in Blata l-Bajda.  Some months later, on December 11, 1999, Mr Pace had gone to Paceville and had entered the Bamboo Bar after midnight. An argument developed between him and Mr Falzon and the security guards had to intervene.

Mr Falzon had broken a glass bottle and hit Mr Pace on the head with it. This version of events, as given by Mr Pace to the court was corroborated by another witness.

The court found Mr Pace's version of events credible and declared that Mr Falzon was responsible for the damages.

The court-appointed medical expert concluded that Mr Pace had suffered a 34 per cent permanent disability and the court ordered Mr Falzon to pay Mr Pace €91,781.77 in damages. Mr Pace suffered partial loss of vision in one eye and a loss of sensation in part of his face.