Virgin loses glass door appeal

Virgin Holidays has lost its appeal over a damages award to a woman from West Sussex who walked into a glass door in her bikini.

Moira Japp, 53, had been relaxing with a book on the balcony of her room at the Crystal Cove Hotel, Barbados, in September 2008 when the phone rang inside and she went to answer it.

She accidentally walked into the sliding glass doors, which she had closed behind her, and they shattered, causing lacerations all over her body.

A judge at Brighton County Court found the tour operator liable for her injuries - subject to a 20% deduction for contributory negligence - and awarded £19,200 compensation.

Virgin asked the Court of Appeal to overturn the ruling on liability but Lord Justice Richards, Lord Justice Tomlinson and Lord Justice Lewison dismissed its case.

The action focused on whether the glass in the balcony doors complied with local safety standards.

Mrs Japp, of Worthing, contended that safety glass should have been used.

Giving the court's ruling, Lord Justice Richards rejected Virgin's challenge to the judge's finding of fact that the doors did not comply with local standards at the date of their installation.

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