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Surrey facelift woman Penny Johnson awarded £6m damages | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A woman has won more than £6m in damages against a plastic surgeon who she said "played God" with her life. | A woman has won more than £6m in damages against a plastic surgeon who she said "played God" with her life. |
Penny Johnson, from Godstone, Surrey, brought the High Court case against Le Roux Fourie who she said carried out "experimental surgery" in 2003. | Penny Johnson, from Godstone, Surrey, brought the High Court case against Le Roux Fourie who she said carried out "experimental surgery" in 2003. |
The businesswoman said she suffered nerve damage in a facelift, which led to her financial and IT consultancy business going into administration. | The businesswoman said she suffered nerve damage in a facelift, which led to her financial and IT consultancy business going into administration. |
Mr Fourie admitted liability but denied the surgery in Leeds was experimental. | |
At the High Court, sitting in London, Mrs Johnson asked Mr Justice Owen to award her a proportion of the £54m she said was her potential loss, as a 50% shareholder, when Bishop Cavanagh Ltd failed in 2009. | At the High Court, sitting in London, Mrs Johnson asked Mr Justice Owen to award her a proportion of the £54m she said was her potential loss, as a 50% shareholder, when Bishop Cavanagh Ltd failed in 2009. |
She said the stress of the litigation had made her condition worse. | She said the stress of the litigation had made her condition worse. |
The judge gave his ruling in the case on Monday, awarding her £6,190,884.92. | The judge gave his ruling in the case on Monday, awarding her £6,190,884.92. |
During the hearing, Mrs Johnson said her face was constantly contracting as a result of the operation carried out at Bupa Methley Park Hospital in Leeds. | |
Lost earnings | |
"I don't sleep and I have a permanent buzzing around my eye which can be so intense that I can't think about anything," she said. | "I don't sleep and I have a permanent buzzing around my eye which can be so intense that I can't think about anything," she said. |
Alain Choo Choy, QC for Mr Fourie said his client put the potential business loss at only £9m. | Alain Choo Choy, QC for Mr Fourie said his client put the potential business loss at only £9m. |
During her absence, the company was managed by her husband, Peter, with whom she now owns another business, BC Direct. | During her absence, the company was managed by her husband, Peter, with whom she now owns another business, BC Direct. |
The bulk of the damages award relates to lost earnings, both past and future. | The bulk of the damages award relates to lost earnings, both past and future. |
In his ruling, the judge said Mrs Johnson was formerly a confident, happy and outstandingly successful woman. | |
'Different person' | |
The negligent surgery had serious physical and psychological consequences, resulting in anxiety and depression and had affected her marriage. | |
As well as injuries to her face, Mrs Johnson suffered pain from the replacement of pre-existing breast implants which was carried out at the same time as the facelift. | |
"Their marriage has survived; but the claimant said in evidence that she is no longer a wife to her husband," the judge said. | |
"He says that she is now a completely different person and that their marriage is not what it used to be. | |
"They no longer go out together as they used regularly to do, and have become detached from the close knit group of friends whose company they used to enjoy." |