A Hong Kong court has awarded HK$6.29 million in compensation to a dancer who suffered “catastrophic” disability and permanent total disability after being hit by a giant falling screen during a concert by the popular boy band Mirror nearly four years ago.
In a written ruling on Monday, District Judge Phillis Loh ordered Studiodanz to pay 31-year-old Li Kai-yin, better known as Mo, the maximum amounts under the city’s Workers’ Compensation Ordinance. of The accident at work happened on July 28, 2022when a hanging LED display panel fell and hit Li, leaving him with life-threatening injuries.
Calling the accident “a disaster for an energetic young person,” Loh assessed Li’s claim for damages using the maximum legal limits in several categories. They included his total disability, the attention required for his condition, the loss of income during the temporary leave and his medical expenses.
The evidence before the court supports “the plight of (Li) in his permanently disabled condition, the need for lifelong ongoing attention and assistance in personal care and activities of daily living, and the requirement of the current 3-caregiver regimen, along with medical personnel and his parents,” the judge wrote.
“He is incapable of leading or appreciating an independent adult life,” Loh wrote.
Honest witness
The judge found Li to be a “sincere and honest” witness and accepted his claim that he had made an average of HK$66,857 a month, including HK$3,200 in cash payments, in the year before the accident. Li testified via video link at a hearing last month.
She also accepted the written testimony of Li’s father, Pastor Li Shing-lam, who died on April 25, shortly before the hearing.
Li’s father was employed as an interim senior pastor at Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church in Canada with an annual income of CA$89,441 (HK$500,165) before the accident. He returned to Hong Kong and had to resign from his job to take care of his son full time.
“Since the Accident, as parents, his father and wife had devoted all their time to accompanying (Li) to treatments and caring for him at all times,” the judge wrote.
Care around the clock
Li was 27 at the time of the accident and currently needs three caregivers to provide round-the-clock assistance, according to the trial.
His lawyer submitted to the court that, based on the official life expectancy projection for men in Hong Kong, a 31-year-old like Li could live another 53.29 years.
Li’s future longevity warranted the maximum amount of compensation for medical attention required under city law, Loh said.
Loh ordered Studiodanz to pay HK$3.4 million for Li’s total disability, HK$644,710 for the attention he requires, HK$1.97 million to cover work leave and HK$254,400 for medical expenses, for a total of HK$6.29 million.
The judge also ordered the company, which was absent throughout the proceedings, to pay interest and legal costs.
Something for studio dancing was fined HK$132,000 in 2023 after pleading guilty to five offenses in connection with the incident. Two other firms, Engineering influence AND Hip Hing Loongwere fined HK$220,000 and HK$420,000 respectively for occupational safety violations.
Li has also filed claims in the Supreme Court against 11 companies as well as the Department of Leisure and Cultural Services in connection with the accident. A hearing has not yet been scheduled.
