Freeport worker wins €224,000 compensation

Malta Freeport has been ordered to pay a port worker almost €224,000 after a court ruled that he suffered permanent disability during an incident while a container was being unloaded in April 2008. Victor Fenech, who at the time was 42 years old, filed his action for damages in the First Hall of the Civil Court against the Malta Freeport Terminals Limited. He told the court, presided over by Mr Justice Anthony Ellul, that he was inside the cabin of his truck at 9am on the day in question, waiting for a container to be loaded onto his truck by a large crane, known as a gantry crane. He explained that the 20-foot container was lowered onto his truck but when the crane moved back up, the container rose too as it had not yet been unlocked. As a result, the container became dislodged and fell onto the truck with a bang. The sudden weight caused the truck to jolt and he was “violently slammed” around inside the cabin, sustaining severe injuries to his back, neck and hipbone, resulting in a permanent disability.   According to a medical report exhibited in court, Mr Fenech suffered a 15 per cent disability as a result of the incident. Doctors told the court Mr Fenech rrquires a hip...