Man sues Hinds for driving over ankle

LAVENTILLE West MP Fitzgerald Hinds has been given 28 days to compensate a man who alleges the minister ran over his ankle with his Porsche Cayenne SUV in December 2015.

The deadline for the settlement of damages was contained in a letter sent to Hinds by attorneys for David Seemungal, who claimed Hinds drove over his left heel, causing serious ligament damage.

Seemungal is asking for over $60,000 in compensation to pay for his medical bills.

Hinds, who is a Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs, was given seven days to respond to the lawyer’s letter, which was sent last Monday by attorney Saira Lakhan.

Lakhan said on December 16, 2015, at about 6 pm, Seemungal was a passenger in his father Satyernand Seemungal’s vehicle when it developed mechanical problems near the intersection of Anderson Terrace and Saddle Road, Maraval.

The vehicle stalled at the intersection, and drivers in both the northbound and southbound lanes of Saddle Road stopped to allow the Seemungals to move their car into a parking lot at Boissiere Place.

Lakhan said a black Porsche Cayenne (PCY 8828) drove behind the Seemungals’ car and swerved in front of them to head north.

While doing so, it made contact with David Seemungal’s left heel, causing his ankle to twist, the lawyer said.

The letter said the driver of the Porsche Cayenne did not stop to help, in violation of provisions of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act. Lakhan said Seemungal received the contact information of a witness to the incident, and reported it at the Maraval Police Station and later at the St Clair Police Station. Seemungal also visited Dr Hugh Spicer for treatment.

The lawyer said two days after the accident, police contacted Seemungal and told him Hinds had been the driver of the Porsche.

Seemungal and his lawyers then contacted Hinds in an attempt to resolve the matter amicably. Hinds acknowledged that he owned PCY 8828, but did not say who was driving the car on December 15, the letter said.

The letter said Hinds said he would be willing to meet with the Seemungals to discuss what happened and months later, in May, Hinds told them that he was “treating” with the matter.

“My client first attempted to settle this matter amicably since at the time of the accident you were the Minister of Works and Transport and he did not wish to cause you or your office any embarrassment.”

Lakhan said the Seemungals contacted Hinds again in April, June and July 2016, by letter, asking to have the matter settled.

Hinds is being accused of negligence and Seemungal is seeking compensation for injury and damage to his ankle. Seemungal’s lawyer said he now needed to wear custom orthotics for an indefinite period because of the structural damage to the tendons and ligaments around the ankle. Lakhan also said there were no surgical options open to her client and he was likely to continue to suffer over time.